Looking to buy

[Jaguar]

I'm currently looking into buying a new '04 Marauder before they're gone. I'm looking to do 0% financing and would like my payments to be around $350 a month. I have around 7k to put down. So I worked it out, I would need to get the dealer down to around 29k-28k flat without rebates or trade-ins. I did try searching the forums, but not having much luck seeing how much people have managed to get off the price. Any chance of me actually getting 7k off the sticker? I see people writing about a 4% dealer profit, could anyone help clear that up for me? Also any other tips for me when I go to the dealer would be great. Thanks for your time.

(Really sorry if this has been asked before but I couldn't find it anywhere)

[mad man]

I'm currently looking into buying a new '04 Marauder before they're gone. I'm looking to do 0% financing and would like my payments to be around $350 a month. I have around 7k to put down. So I worked it out, I would need to get the dealer down to around 29k-28k flat without rebates or trade-ins. I did try searching the forums, but not having much luck seeing how much people have managed to get off the price. Any chance of me actually getting 7k off the sticker? I see people writing about a 4% dealer profit, could anyone help clear that up for me? Also any other tips for me when I go to the dealer would be great. Thanks for your time.

(Really sorry if this has been asked before but I couldn't find it anywhere)What state are you in .

[Jaguar]

Florida/Georgia

[jgc61sr2002]

Jaguar - Welcome to the MM site. You definitely come to the right place. 7K of sticker may be possible, but most have gotten approximately 6K off with all rebates. IMO 7K off sticker is not out of the question. Good luck on your search.

[jrc50]

I'm currently looking into buying a new '04 Marauder before they're gone. I'm looking to do 0% financing and would like my payments to be around $350 a month. I have around 7k to put down. So I worked it out, I would need to get the dealer down to around 29k-28k flat without rebates or trade-ins. I did try searching the forums, but not having much luck seeing how much people have managed to get off the price. Any chance of me actually getting 7k off the sticker? I see people writing about a 4% dealer profit, could anyone help clear that up for me? Also any other tips for me when I go to the dealer would be great. Thanks for your time.

(Really sorry if this has been asked before but I couldn't find it anywhere)

Well, there is the $3K rebate instead of the 0% financing of course, and it will likely get better as the summer comes. There has lately been some "marketing money" Ford has been giving to dealers directly as well as Ford Credit giving rebates as well if you finance with them.
So, the trick is stay tied to a couple of dealers you want to work with-especially the Internet sales people-they usually can do better than conventional salesmen. Find a couple of stock units that fit what you want and get some conversation going with the dealers and be ready to move quick.
The dealers have a 3% holdback that is paid to them based on invoice (dealer cost), so if the dealer cost is $32K, then they get a check for $960 once the car is delivered. Usually the dealers will not give this up unless you are very good at negotiation or they really want a unit off the floor, but it lets them sell a car at "invoice" and they still make money!
Mercury has been smart enough to seemingly reduce production of the 2004's, otherwise there would be deals all over the place.
I am in a similar mode, between now and Sept want to replace my work car, an 02 Crown Vic LX Sport with 90k miles now (120 in Sept probably), with either the same thing; a Marauder; or a leftover Cobra (there are a ton of 03 and 04 leftovers-everybody wants the new body style Mustang)
Happy Hunting!! :banana:

[MarauderMark]

Doesn't dennis have one allready done up for sale???

[Bigg Cellus]

JRC50-I am also looking to get into a 04 marauder in similiar fashion. So , based on your opinion do you feel there will be an ample number of new 2004 marauders hopefully through the summer with rising rebates throughout also?

[HotrodMerc]

$28,056.00, everything except f. moonroof. Has dealer added spoiler and a very nice light gold window tint job. Sale price was actually $28,955.00, with part of the deal being that I got a check at closing (paid cash, though am financing all but $9,500.00 thru' a teacher's credit union - my wife is a teacher) for installation of a factory type moonroof (Wabatso), dealer cost $899.00, according to the dealer.
- I drove this car 3-12-04, talked to 4 other dealers on phone 3-13 to about 3-16, and agreed to a deal with the salesman that showed me the car/rode with me on 3-12. He was persistent and came up with the best deal buy at least $700-800. I paid cash, no trade, because the trade value on my wife's car was too low to trade it.
- I don't have the sticker with me at present, it is in the car, which is on my trailer in the dealer's service drive, inside, due to nearby hail storms after I got it strapped on the trailer on my fourth (4th) attempt to bring it home for good today, so can't tell you the MSRP, but it has all factory options except the moonroof, plus the spoiler and tint. It had 250 miles on it at closing, about 235-240 at closing. After being in/back to paint shop for 2+ wks., today had 273 mi.
- Rebates & discounts were as follows:
$2,500.00 L-M advertised discount in March.
500.00 AARP or AARP eligible discount
500.00 L-M owner loyalty discount ( i own a '64 Lincoln Continental convert., basket case, which my dad bought in '68 and i drove home about 800 mi.)
- dealer discount, i'm not sure how much, havn't written down the MSRP, etc.
- hope this is helpful, rebates are probably diff. now, as indicated in jrc50's comments. Follow his advice, and mine is to call at least 3-4 dealers, and let them know you're Right Now serious as a heart attack about buying, but savy to prices.
- Next big decision, and about as hard imo: which size jacket to order. Good luck!

[Bluerauder]

I'm currently looking into buying a new '04 Marauder before they're gone. I'm looking to do 0% financing and would like my payments to be around $350 a month.

Believe it or not, I used the website at Edmonds to get a quote from 3 different L/M dealers on a Marauder. I asked for hard numbers, rebates, incentives, etc. I think the site allows you to select up to 6 dealers at one time. I had quotes back in less than 30 minutes from the best folks and a couple phone calls.

Edmonds is at: "http://www.edmonds.com".

[HotrodMerc]

Pardon my typing - i meant it had about 235-240 mi. when i drove it. Anyway - had been used enough to have plastic off the seats and wheel, but definitely new by smell and look of interior otherwise.

[Lowell]

Just an input. Explore AARP discount $500.00. Delphi discount. In December 02 I paid under 30K with taxes etc. I would shoot for 29K without moon roof, including tax. At the time of my purchase, I was unaware of the
AARP discount. I coud have been under 29K out the door. Buy it! You won't like the car, You will love it. Be prepared, the car will change your priorities. :D

[jrc50]

JRC50-I am also looking to get into a 04 marauder in similiar fashion. So , based on your opinion do you feel there will be an ample number of new 2004 marauders hopefully through the summer with rising rebates throughout also?
Hot Rod Merc has some great input on how to do it. The key to the rebate levels and the marketing to dealer $ support is both the production levels of the 04 MM and the sales. My sense from being on the Mercury website and using their locator function is that there are not a lot on dealer sites in the deep South. If you are hung up on a particular color or options set, you probably better make your deal soon (by July, when the final June production stock units hit the dealers).
A lot of dealers had to take, it sounds like from this site, pigs, cows, and chickens in trade to move them out the door in 03. The reasons for this are well discussed on documented on this site, but it is a shame as the MM is a nice ride. It is not quite as sad a story as the Lincoln Blackwood launch, but close. Between the two specialty vehicles (the Blackwood and the MM) hopefully some "Marketing Genius" who led these programs is now on working for Toyota!
My last 4 cars I bought off the net (or using the net-not using any buying service) :banana: and you cannot beat it for making dealers honest! I bought a 98 Cobra, a 2000 CVHpp, 2002 LX Sport, and 2003 AE Corvette this way. You save time, money,and a tremendous amount of BS factor that still sadly exists in car sales.

[Bigg Cellus]

JRC50- Man, I appreciate all the info you are providing for me and other near future marauder owners. I like to thank all the other guys that continue to give me and others so much support info as well as new life lessons that are learned. I am really hoping for the best soon. Thanks again ya'll. By the way, does anybody think that there is a chance we could experience deja vu with rebates and stuff again this year end?

[Jaguar]

Thanks for the help everyone. Seems like I'll only be able to get around 31k without any rebates. I guess I'll have to hold out for better deals in a couple months.

[Bluerauder]

Just an input. Explore AARP discount $500.00. "snip" :D

Absolutely. The AARP discount is the best return on a $12.50 investment that I have ever made. I was able to bump it up against the customer loyalty discount and also the "Discontinued Model" discount for my son's 2001 Cougar by just flashing the registration.

[woaface]

There are Two MMs at the Lincoln Mercury dealership here. Red and Silver. They're going for about $36k, but the dealer said someone else walked off the lot with another just the other week for $30k. One they had in the showroom.

This is in Greenville, SC.

http://www.heritagegreenville.com/pages/present/flm/notlocalized/home/default.asp?pagewidth=386&pageheight=200

They're inventory says 3, so I guess they have a new one!
http://www.heritagegreenville.com/pages/present/flm/notlocalized/searchinventory/doSearch.asp?year=2004&make=Mercury&vehicletype=Passenger+Car&model=Marauder&bodystyle=4+Dr+Sedan&count=10

[Bluerauder]

Believe it or not, I used the website at Edmonds to get a quote from 3 different L/M dealers on a Marauder. I asked for hard numbers, rebates, incentives, etc. I think the site allows you to select up to 6 dealers at one time. I had quotes back in less than 30 minutes from the best folks and a couple phone calls.

Edmonds is at: "http://www.edmonds.com".

Sorry ... should have been Edmunds at "http://www.edmunds.com"