Trading in a 2008 GMQ

[crownvic97]

So I am thinking of trading in my 2008 for a Marauder because I want one so bad. I bought it in May and Unfortunately I am about $3-4,000 upside down on a trade in for my car because I rolled the sales tax and the warranty cost into my financing plus re-sale sucks. I would be willing to roll that into my new financing for the right Marauder.

The biggest hurdle is finding one at a dealership and then finding one with under 100,000 miles. I would prefer for it to be stock, but the common mods would be fine.

Also, this would be my DD for the rest of my life if all goes well.

So, I know this is a terrible decision: my car is newer, and likely to serve me better in the short and long term, certain Marauder parts are hard to come by (bumpers), and as a DD a marauder is 10 years old a least.

All that said, I can not get over my love of the Marauder. It's been 10 years since they came out and 6 since I found out about them (I'm 22). The feeling I get when one drives by is the worst kind of jealousy that actually changes my day sometime.

So, who can talk me out of this bad idea? :D

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

What you should do is get some decent wheels and exhaust maybe for your GM this is cheaper and may hold you over for a while, at least until you can afford to have a Marauder as a cruiser and keep the GM as a daily beater.

I have a 03 GM I use everyday, its comfortable, reliable, and don't mind if it gets wrecked because it's not a Marauder. Good luck.

[crownvic97]

What you should do is get some decent wheels and exhaust maybe for your GM this is cheaper and may hold you over for a while, at least until you can afford to have a Marauder as a cruiser and keep the GM as a daily beater.

I have a 03 GM I use everyday, its comfortable, reliable, and don't mind if it gets wrecked because it's not a Marauder. Good luck.

The problem is I already have a "project car/Summer Driver" a 79 Trans Am that isn't going anywhere.

My fear is by the time I can afford to buy one outright they will be impossible to find.

I have a Magnaflow catback on the GMQ and I had some 18" 11' Mustang wheels last summer. It still just wasn't a Marauder.

Most likely your suggestion is what I will do because most Marauders at dealers are high miles or way overpriced

[clmrt]

I don't know about you, but why kill yourself financially just to get an older car. Instead, dress up the GM and supercharge it. Then race a Marauder and smoke it.

Owning a Marauder can be a pain in the ass. I mean, best car ever, but it's so much more that it begins to take over your life.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

I don't know about you, but why kill yourself financially just to get an older car. Instead, dress up the GM and supercharge it. Then race a Marauder and smoke it.

Owning a Marauder can be a pain in the ass. I mean, best car ever, but it's so much more that it begins to take over your life.

I agree with this, because I feel that although I love the car to death, that itself is the problem. I can't drive it just anywhere. Yesterday I drove it around for the first time in weeks and am noticing small scratches and squeaks while driving which makes me :mad2: because I barely use it... Its good to have your dream car, but at the same time it is a headache if you are going to daily it.

[Mac-MerC]

Its good to have your dream car, but at the same time it is a headache if you are going to daily it.

I disagree with this part of your post... Why is it a headache?... I drive mine EVERYDAY and it gives me nothing but smiles. And everyone that I know that daily drives theirs loves it. Some of us don't have the luxury of having 2,3,4 cars to choose from... And even if i did i would still drive this one till the wheels fell off... It's cool to drive a car that only a select few have... Everyday

[crownvic97]

I appreciate the input guys!

The Marauders appeal to me is not performance. I could easily get my GMQ into the 14's NA and there are plenty of power adders to choose from.

I could do some appearance mods and run an eaton M112 with the Tork Tech kit. But it is my fear that I still will feel like it's just not a Marauder.

Do you guys think Marauders will still be findable for the foreseeable future? Are values going to keep going down? It seems to me that unless it's really low mileage that prices are not going to rise or they would have started going up by now.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

I disagree with this part of your post... Why is it a headache?... I drive mine EVERYDAY and it gives me nothing but smiles. And everyone that I know that daily drives theirs loves it. Some of us don't have the luxury of having 2,3,4 cars to choose from... And even if i did i would still drive this one till the wheels fell off... It's cool to drive a car that only a select few have... Everyday

That's the problem, having a car that only a select few have... meaning parts are getting harder and harder to find...I don't want to deal with no insurance having asshats rear ending me and having to slap a crown vic bumper on because there are no replacements in the country. If you can afford to have a decent car to beat on everyday (I rack up a ton of miles for work) you would understand.

[clmrt]

I have a feeling that five years from now the only Marauders worth more than $10K will be supercharged with less than 100K miles. And it won't be a 2003 with original black paint. An above-average, clean, southern 80-120K MM will still go for $7-10K.

93 octane will be $5/gallon by then anyway, which will help keep values down a bit. You can get 300hp+ and 25mpg+ in more than a few cars right now, and in 5 years they'll be on to their 2nd and 3rd owners. In 2019 I'd like to have a 2013 SHO for example. You could then buy my Marauder for $6-8K easy. By then it'll have 130K on it. Call me.

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see truly broad appeal. A lot of the existing stock is being driven into the ground, making the better examples worth more for the collector looking for a fine example in the future. But the run-of-the-mill yet well-maintained cars like mine will be affordable enough.

[lji372]

Here's my .02.

Make two columns, label them want and need.

Every time you want to purchase something write it in the appropriate column.
Don't buy it if it's in the want column unless all of your debts are paid.
Live by it or spend the bulk if not all of your life in debt.
Yeah it sucks but it is the truth.

[crownvic97]

Some pics of my car for reference in my situation:

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2008%20Grand%20Marquis/ED9E44C4-E4E8-47C2-9C0A-1A459A95C57F_zpsmom0vy2t.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2008%20Grand%20Marquis/ED9E44C4-E4E8-47C2-9C0A-1A459A95C57F_zpsmom0vy2t.jpg.h tml)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2008%20Grand%20Marquis/null_zpsb13776e1.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2008%20Grand%20Marquis/null_zpsb13776e1.jpg.html)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2008%20Grand%20Marquis/ACF9922B-BF78-4F3A-994B-9E14A5D85B44_zpsbxczknee.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2008%20Grand%20Marquis/ACF9922B-BF78-4F3A-994B-9E14A5D85B44_zpsbxczknee.jpg.h tml)

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv45/Markd20000/2008%20Grand%20Marquis/61B93CFB-7814-494B-88BE-6E0989E55621_zpse6c2vpfd.jpg (http://s668.photobucket.com/user/Markd20000/media/2008%20Grand%20Marquis/61B93CFB-7814-494B-88BE-6E0989E55621_zpse6c2vpfd.jpg.h tml)

[crownvic97]

The wants and needs is great advice. When I bought the 2008 it was because I graduated college and I had a daily commute close to 100 miles. My 97 CV was pretty tired and I was afraid that it could let me down as it had close to 200,000 miles. I looked for Marauders but I couldn't find any at the time. The silver birch and charcoal interior drew my hard to my GMQ and that was that. Plus I have a 3 year warranty that I bought with it.

[clmrt]

It's an LS? You put duals on it?

Personalize it, get a tune and be done with it. That's a great car there. I really wish the MM came with that speedo cluster.

[crownvic97]

It is an LS.

I got a deal on a used Magnaflow exhaust system for $300 on CVN. Sounds pretty good. I want to add Marauder like tips instead of turn downs.

I love the cluster as well, best part of an 06+ panther.

I will wait out my urge, could be awhile before a low mileage one pops up at a dealer near me anyways.

[jwibbity]

i bought mine when i was 20, never looked back, yes its a rare car and parts will become expensive down the road but hey if its the car you want then take the appropriate steps to get it, dont listen to these old guys :D :D you dont have to be debt free to purchase something you want, just financially stable, the two are not the same

[crownvic97]

As a graduate of a private 4 year college, debt free is not something I will know for, at minimum, 10 years. But, I make more money than I spend every month so that must count for something :D

[lji372]

i bought mine when i was 20, never looked back, yes its a rare car and parts will become expensive down the road but hey if its the car you want then take the appropriate steps to get it, dont listen to these old guys :D :D you dont have to be debt free to purchase something you want, just financially stable, the two are not the same

In debt^^^^^^ :D :D

:lol:

I'm not saying don't reward yourself, but if your already backwards well........ Use the columns

[lji372]

As a graduate of a private 4 year college, debt free is not something I will know for, at minimum, 10 years. But, I make more money than I spend every month so that must count for something :D

Well then

Here you go

What color you want?


http://www.carsforsale.com/used_cars_for_sale/advancedsearch.aspx?make=Mercu ry&model=Marauder&fromyear=2003&toyear=2004&zip=&fromprice=-1&toprice=-1&radius=500&fueltypeid=

[crownvic97]

In debt^^^^^^ :D :D

:lol:

I'm not saying don't reward yourself, but if your already backwards well........ Use the columns

What's a little more backwards anyways? :D

I probably could come up with $4000 in a few months. I could also sell my GM privately if I could get my loan Down a few thousand.

[crownvic97]

I have no color preference, they are all beautiful!

[clmrt]

Funny how all of them are at the local car shack and not the "big three" used lot. The best place to get an MM is right here, private sale from this board.

If you need to buy an MM from a lot, you'll be a bottom-feeder from Krazy Frank's Auto Barn with the rare opportunity of a Ford/Lincoln trade-in. I've seen two MMs at local big three dealers in the last two years. Both had more miles, more defects than mine did and were both $2K more. One was a blue and for some reason the guy sold it for a loss 6 months later.

[crownvic97]

True, none of them are at big dealers. I am only a couple thousand away from being able to sell my 08 at a price that would cover my loan so I may take care of that and then go from there.

[lji372]

37529

Picked this one up from one of those off the wall dealers. He bought it from a local credit union auction. It was a repossessed 2 owner vehicle with 6?,000 miles.

Judge every car on its own merit.

Good luck in your search :beer:

[jwibbity]

In debt^^^^^^ :D :D

:lol:

I'm not saying don't reward yourself, but if your already backwards well........ Use the columns

I am a little but I think of myself as financially stable and able to buy parts from you!!!!

[lji372]

I am a little but I think of myself as financially stable and able to buy parts from you!!!!

Haha. Good point!

Store is still open :D

37530

:woohoo:

[J-MAN]

Here's my .02.

Make two columns, label them want and need.

Every time you want to purchase something write it in the appropriate column.
Don't buy it if it's in the want column unless all of your debts are paid.
Live by it or spend the bulk if not all of your life in debt.
Yeah it sucks but it is the truth.


The wise one speaks. :bows:

[lji372]

The wise one speaks. :bows:

Wise....lol


Learned from my mistakes :beer:

[J-MAN]

Wise....lol


Learned from my mistakes :beer:

Little Timmy made me post that!

[Mac-MerC]

That is a clean ass Grand Marquis, i like it

[Mac-MerC]

That's the problem, having a car that only a select few have... meaning parts are getting harder and harder to find...I don't want to deal with no insurance having asshats rear ending me and having to slap a crown vic bumper on because there are no replacements in the country. If you can afford to have a decent car to beat on everyday (I rack up a ton of miles for work) you would understand.

Insurance tried that with me and u know what?... I found a place that repaired bumpers. So i ended up with a $1k check due to insurance not being able to repair my car to original form. I have Progressive.
I drive mine everyday... all around Atlanta, non stop.
It just seems like so many of you all are afraid to drive these cars... why baby it?... You never know when u will have an accident. You can drive 2 days out the year and have an accident while I drive 365 and not have one. I will never get the idea to drive a POS everyday and look at a cool car in the garage.

And i can afford it. When and if I total mine out im giving u first dibs on parts so u can drive yours just a bit more :)

[jwibbity]

Insurance tried that with me and u know what?... I found a place that repaired bumpers. So i ended up with a $1k check due to insurance not being able to repair my car to original form. I have Progressive.
I drive mine everyday... all around Atlanta, non stop.
It just seems like so many of you all are afraid to drive these cars... why baby it?... You never know when u will have an accident. You can drive 2 days out the year and have an accident while I drive 365 and not have one. I will never get the idea to drive a POS everyday and look at a cool car in the garage.

And i can afford it. When and if I total mine out im giving u first dibs on parts so u can drive yours just a bit more :)

+20...............

[RubberCtyRauder]

I live in an area that is harsh on cars in winter..salt, calcium chloride, brine sprays and ice pretreater plays hell on cars..I don;t care what you do to it..it's going to corrode, eats electrical connections. I see "new" cars all the time with headlight out, fog light out, tail ights out etc. So I drive another car because I can..and my Marauder is not a glistening show car and was driven thru a few winters before I got it. I choose not to let it get worse. I haven't even washed my car with water in about 2 years..just have not been thru an envirionment that need washing after driving..still clean it though. I have a co-worker who has a 62 409 Impala ss..original owner and original car..he has not washed it with water in over 30 years and it looks mint.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

And i can afford it. When and if I total mine out im giving u first dibs on parts so u can drive yours just a bit more :)

Sweeeeeeet.

But like Rubbercityrauder said, the winters up north eat through cars with the amount of salt thrown on the roads in the winter, huge potholes bend rims and ruin suspension, icy roads and dumbass drivers on over-congested roads... not good combinations for a car I have worked so hard to get and keep in decent condition.

Plus the extreme temperatures aren't good for your motors either. It was below 20 for a couple days this winter and like 3 weeks below 0. The winter is mainly why I don't daily mine, exposing it to these conditions is just dumb if you have the means to beat up some other car. If I lived in Florida or Cali I'm sure I couldn't resist and would drive mine alot more.

[jwibbity]

I live in an area that is harsh on cars in winter..salt, calcium chloride, brine sprays and ice pretreater plays hell on cars..I don;t care what you do to it..it's going to corrode, eats electrical connections. I see "new" cars all the time with headlight out, fog light out, tail ights out etc. So I drive another car because I can..and my Marauder is not a glistening show car and was driven thru a few winters before I got it. I choose not to let it get worse. I haven't even washed my car with water in about 2 years..just have not been thru an envirionment that need washing after driving..still clean it though. I have a co-worker who has a 62 409 Impala ss..original owner and original car..he has not washed it with water in over 30 years and it looks mint.

no to hijack but how do you clean it without water.....:confused:

[RubberCtyRauder]

no to hijack but how do you clean it without water.....:confused:


Not driven in rain so it's only dust..califonia duster, detailer spray, wax, bug and tar remover for the front..if i drive it and it rains, it will get washed then or if some other event gets it dirty..but as of late it has not.

[RF Overlord]

the winters up north eat through cars with the amount of salt thrown on the roads in the winter, huge potholes bend rims and ruin suspension, icy roads and dumbass drivers on over-congested roads... not good combinations for a car I have worked so hard to get and keep in decent condition.

The winter is mainly why I don't daily mine, exposing it to these conditions is just dumb if you have the means to beat up some other car. Agreed 100%

[mnrauder]

I wouldn't want to buy a stock marauder. It's a better car with a tune.

[Mac-MerC]

I was born and raised in Gary, Ind. so I know the weather up there.
East Chicago, Gary, Hammond Ind.
I'm just a different type of person... don't see myself hanging onto this car until my last day on earth.

sorry for derailing the tread.

[crownvic97]

Not really derailed, it was interesting! I like reading everyone's opinions

[crownvic97]

So my current thinking is to personalize my car a little and drive the wheels off of it. Probably smart for now.

[tbone]

The warranty you bought is refundable. The unused portion is prorated and you must contact the warranty company, not the dealer for the refund. You can cancel it tomorrow but they will not refund it until the vehicle is traded, sold etc. Proration starts the day you cancel it. Be patient for your refund. They will sit on the refund as long as possible.

[crownvic97]

I bought the car and warranty from Ford, does that change anything?

[tbone]

No. Same rules.

[crownvic97]

No. Same rules.

Thank you for that information :cool: