Bought a 2004 DTR today...

[a_d_a_m]

Earlier this week, I got a call from Darla, wife of tjg442, saying she needed to sell his car as she had purchased a new one (he is currently in a nursing home and no longer drives). A few days later, I'm with my dad looking at this 2004 DTR with moonroof, heated seats, 6CD changer, traction control.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w110/jackiegleason/DTR_zpsb9d9164d.jpg

I only have this picture - it was dark by the time the deal was done.

The bad stuff:
1. The adjustable pedals don't work and I'm not sure it's worth the $100 for me to pay for the Curless cure. I always leave my pedals in the lowest position, so if I can figure out how to force 'em down, I'll likely do that.
2. Center console is torn up. I know a guy who should do a reasonable repair for this...I think.
3. 170k http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/default/hairraising.gif But it pulls hard for a stock Marauder. It feels like a black one, not a slow DTR!
4. Cigarette smell. Nothing over the top; I can get it to livable or better with minimal effort.
5. Rear speakers are blown. Will try to source a used pair here or in the junkyard.
6. Paint is okay, but has a few problem areas. A couple of them are super easy to address (I've done similar correction/repair on my '04 Marquis), one of them may require someone with a little more skill than me.
7. The following bulbs are burnt out: gauge cluster behind the tach, volt meter in the center console, one of the HVAC bulbs (may just swap in a unit I have on hand), left fog light.

I've made the car sound bad based on all of those things, but I think this is a really solid car I can have some fun with for a while. At the price I got it, when I fix the issues, I should come out ahead when it's time to sell...I hope.

[cer0413]

Good grab sir

[chief455]

Hope tgj442 is alright, and the sale of his car is a positive thing for him.
Sounds like you got a nice driver, that needs a few easy tweaks. Probably at a good price, and it can go from a forum member to another again...
DTR with a roof? NICE ;)

[Big Mercur]

Nice DTR, can't wait to see more pic's!

[Blaine B.]

Ozone generator inside the car for a few days to eliminate the smoke smell?

[Bigdogjim]

Nice find Santa!

[MERCURY 2003LSE]

Looks nice :beer:

[RF Overlord]

Nice find, a_d_a_m....

Try a shallow pan full of ground coffee (not used coffee grounds) to get rid of the cigarette smell.

[HammerDown]

Nice find, a_d_a_m....

Try a shallow pan full of ground coffee (not used coffee grounds) to get rid of the cigarette smell.

or vinegar--

Congrats--the DTR looks beautiful, even in evening light

Enjoy your "Christmas" present!!!!

[Mr. Man]

Congratulations and don't forget to register it in the 2004 Marauder registry. ;)

What # is it?

[VMARAUDER]

Happy for you...and it's a DTR. Yeah

[Merc-O-matic]

Adam...

Looks like "Santa Claus" stopped at your house first this year!

Enjoy.....MERRY CHRISTMAS:burnout:

[VMARAUDER]

Adam...

Looks like "Santa Claus" stopped at your house first this year!

Enjoy.....MERRY CHRISTMAS:burnout:

Not me, I have had mine since July 2010

[FastMerc]

Way to go guy, now find a blue and silver and a collection you will have.

[Bruce Wayne]

you might have got a DTR Marauder with a black Marauder engine in it, That would explain the quickness of your car. I heard a few of these got out of the factory.

[blkZooM]

Nice pick up

[a_d_a_m]

Thanks for the congrats and tips and stuff, folks!


What # is it? I haven't actually called for the information yet, I know, total slacker!


Looks like "Santa Claus" stopped at your house first this year! He did, but he left me a project and not a showroom car. I asked for a Trilogy!!! :D


Way to go guy, now find a blue and silver and a collection you will have. Don't tempt me!


you might have got a DTR Marauder with a black Marauder engine in it, That would explain the quickness of your car. Ha!






I spent today stretching its legs out on the highway. After a few years of mostly putting around town and then sitting unused for a while, I wanted to shake the car down and get everything nice 'n' hot. The car is at home on the highway, and drives just as good at cruising speed as my '03 with 50k less miles. Around town is a slightly different story, as there is a slight shudder around the 3-4 shift that feels like the classic torque convertor shudder. The solution at this time is just to hit O/D off around town and drive the car in a manner that doesn't manifest the shudder. No big deal.

The heat and A/C were working fine until this morning when I had zero fan speed. I was panicking about the blower motor resistor because I know it's in a tight spot and I have fat hands (and everything else). I turned the ignition on and put the fan on high, then jiggled the plug. Apparently, it was loose. Full heat and A/C again. Total cost: $0.

I removed the Yellow Trucking decal from the rear window today and found it had recently passed emissions, that's the only other stuff I have to update on at this time.

The to-do list is fairly long, but here's what I can remember for now: shampoo carpet and trunk (I've vacuumed it but I want to really do it nicely), clean exhaust tips, bumper tuck, get those goddamn pedals down to the floor (not sure I wanna go the whole route of fixing them as I never use them), obtain and install rear speakers, claybar/wax, address the rust on the driver's side rear (by the passenger door -- I did this repair on my Marquis earlier this year with great success, not a big deal nor a difficult repair), trans fluid/filter (maybe a J-mod), replace tach light bulb, replace volt meter light bulb, replace HVAC light bulb (if that's a do-able thing - if not, I have an HVAC unit on hand to swap in), replace driver's side fog light bulb.



More pictures for those who care to look...

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w110/jackiegleason/DTR%20Mercury%20Marauder/napa1_zpsa84f1938.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w110/jackiegleason/DTR%20Mercury%20Marauder/napa3_zps3f8a81fd.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w110/jackiegleason/DTR%20Mercury%20Marauder/napa2_zps409d4167.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w110/jackiegleason/DTR%20Mercury%20Marauder/int3_zps2013b47d.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w110/jackiegleason/DTR%20Mercury%20Marauder/int2_zpsd1003311.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w110/jackiegleason/DTR%20Mercury%20Marauder/int1_zps1cbcf2d3.jpg

Had to test the limited slip out:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w110/jackiegleason/DTR%20Mercury%20Marauder/burnout_zpscdd1475c.jpg

[Bruce Wayne]

Nice car, congrats!, Replace fuel filter, that may get rid of that shudder you mentioned, worked for me

[a_d_a_m]

Probably a good idea to just replace it as a course of maintenance.

Guess I'll put that on the list too. :D

[STEPS]

Have fun with nice car to play with congrats

[a_d_a_m]

Got a good coat of wax on the car and noticed a puddle of oil where the car was parked.

Crawled under, traced the leak, sure looks like the oil filter adapter gasket has shat the bed. I guess that is to be expected at 171k.

I've also struck out thus far with the adjustable pedals. I can't figure out how to get the cap over that gear off without removing the pedal assembly...and all I want to do is force the pedals all the way to the floor.

Guess it's sitting until 2015...because I'm busy between now and then. :(

[HappyMerc]

Great to have a new toy for Christmas!

[03blackvegas]

Never hesitate to post pictures, some of us DO care.

[chief455]

Never hesitate to post pictures, some of us DO care.

Oh, we LUST for pictures - of anything related to MM or cars or...;)

[a_d_a_m]

Well, I'm glad you liked them. Will take more after I give it another coat of wax. First coat really brought a lot of shine out in the paint. I think there's more left.

Also, found this thread about it: http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=40060

[1Marauder]

Great JOB!

Nice pick up. Keep posting on the progress!

[CHSurvivor]

I am a Marauder Virgin. What is a DTR and why are they slow?
And congrats ! Still keeping the 03?

[whitey]

I am a Marauder Virgin. What is a DTR and why are they slow?
And congrats ! Still keeping the 03?

Its the 'Don't Try Racing' model, they are factory slower than others. You can tell by the red color.

[CHSurvivor]

Why are they slower???? What am I missing?

[RubberCtyRauder]

You are missing like the past 5-10 years of mm.net. DTR , Dark Toreador Red marauders have an ongoing joke here of being the slowest color made. They even have special parking by the hotel dumpster at marauder events .

[CHSurvivor]

Ouch !!!! I bet that's gotta hurt! I have gathered that silver birch is highly desired.
Thanks for the info. More dumb questions to come.

[whitey]

Ouch !!!! I bet that's gotta hurt! I have gathered that silver birch is highly desired.
Thanks for the info. More dumb questions to come.

Blue is highly desired, due to the lowest production number(~250), but a black car(jpb--just plain black) with a light flint interior is the rarest of them all(a little over a hundred ever made)

[a_d_a_m]

327/328 DBP actually.

And CHSurvivor, yeah, I'm keeping the '03. It's in for paint as we speak.

[8UWITH6]

Congratulations. Looks like a nice car to start with. Dark Charcoal and a hole in the roof you are winning sir. Enjoy.

[Shornaday]

There was a Black Marauder with Light Flint interior with a little over 50,000 miles on E-Bay not long ago. They wanted $22,000 for it and it was one gorgeous car.

I have the 04 Silver Birch, but I would have to say everytime I see a Marauder with a good spit shine on it, doesn't matter what color it is. I still get wobbly in the knees. Love them all...

It's one of those things where one is not enough. Happy Holidays all.

[RF Overlord]

Calling a DTR "the slowest colour" is just a long-standing joke here...no offence is meant to any DTR owner.

Anyone else remember the infamous white Marauder?

Or the guy who said his mom's Sable was faster than his Marauder?

[Bruce Wayne]

I got a black one with a silver birch engine in it, fastest of them all

[Spectragod]

You are missing like the past 5-10 years of mm.net. DTR , Dark Toreador Red marauders have an ongoing joke here of being the slowest color made. They even have special parking by the hotel dumpster at marauder events .

Mines so slow, the oil gets rusty.....:rolleyes:

[CHSurvivor]

Well I am happy for Adam...I know him personally sort of. Nicest Marauder owner I have met in person....
See you next Crown Vic day....and no I wont be running the 03MM at sparta....I already know my Caprice(now sold) was faster,
thanks for the history lesson fellas

[whitey]

327/328 DBP actually.

And CHSurvivor, yeah, I'm keeping the '03. It's in for paint as we speak.

I stand corrected. Somewhere on here is a spreadsheet....one came with no radio:confused:

[whitey]

Yeah, spectragods dtr is one of the slowest. I raced him once, and beat him, on foot.:D

[a_d_a_m]

See you next Crown Vic day....and no I wont be running the 03MM at sparta....I already know my Caprice(now sold) was faster Not sure if there will be one in 2015, that's up to Serge I guess. I might consider making the trip up anyway, I love that track.

Throw a couple mods at your car. Driving a stocker around can be a drag!





I threw the DTR on Craigslist a few days back. Listed it at $6500 on the off chance that someone might bite. I doubt it, but we'll see. :D

[CHSurvivor]

I have zero desire to change a single thing....100% stock....
I have owned Fast cars/trucks/bikes before....
I am perfectly happy with it as it sits....
if I ever sell it, might be more appealing to the buyer.

[JBeezy]

Congrats on your purchase.

[jaydees]

Nice find. Enjoy the DTR and welcome to the "slow group."

[a_d_a_m]

It's been sitting in the garage since last week. Too much snow + brutal temperatures, and I haven't tested the car enough to trust it in those conditions.