https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFxI2MWYGJ4
Interesting video. Especially around 3:50...
Motorweek - Retro Review: '03 Mercury Marauder
Re: Motorweek - Retro Review: '03 Mercury Marauder
lol. I see what you did there.
Re: Motorweek - Retro Review: '03 Mercury Marauder
Didn't realize these had HIDz
Re: Motorweek - Retro Review: '03 Mercury Marauder
The Marauder offers some clear modern hardware advantages over the SS, mainly in the suspension/steering department. The interior is also a little more up to date, but that isn't saying much.
That said, it has no torque, and in my opinion, it doesn't look as good. And it will never be as cool because it was a FAR less significant car and effort. It was 9 years too late when the entire market had moved on, except for a small group of Ford fanboys who were still irritated that the SS came and went with zero response from Ford. Which was painfully ironic because the pillow soft civilian versions of the 94-96 B-body still used the LT1 which was in another league from the lame SOHC 4.6. They needed something pretty bad and GM is the one who delivered.
GM, followed by a passionate fan base, were doing interesting hot rod things with the SS in the mid 90s, bringing back the fullsize muscle car in the same vein as the 60s. They had all these different special variants (not for sale) with bigger engines, manual transmissions and so on, which probably directly influenced what owners did with theirs. Tim Allen famously had the LT5 SS. There was Lingenfelter. There was so much going on. Again, it was like the 60s, just in a small envelope. They didn't have race on Sunday, sell on Monday, but this was as close as it got in the 90s. The Marauder brought none of this by comparison. It was just a car.
The Marauder may, under objective terms, be a "better car," stock vs stock, than the SS. But that argument holds no water with me because you could argue a 1995 Maxima was a "better car" than a 95 SS, a meaningless statement that doesn't change my opinion of either car.
That said, it has no torque, and in my opinion, it doesn't look as good. And it will never be as cool because it was a FAR less significant car and effort. It was 9 years too late when the entire market had moved on, except for a small group of Ford fanboys who were still irritated that the SS came and went with zero response from Ford. Which was painfully ironic because the pillow soft civilian versions of the 94-96 B-body still used the LT1 which was in another league from the lame SOHC 4.6. They needed something pretty bad and GM is the one who delivered.
GM, followed by a passionate fan base, were doing interesting hot rod things with the SS in the mid 90s, bringing back the fullsize muscle car in the same vein as the 60s. They had all these different special variants (not for sale) with bigger engines, manual transmissions and so on, which probably directly influenced what owners did with theirs. Tim Allen famously had the LT5 SS. There was Lingenfelter. There was so much going on. Again, it was like the 60s, just in a small envelope. They didn't have race on Sunday, sell on Monday, but this was as close as it got in the 90s. The Marauder brought none of this by comparison. It was just a car.
The Marauder may, under objective terms, be a "better car," stock vs stock, than the SS. But that argument holds no water with me because you could argue a 1995 Maxima was a "better car" than a 95 SS, a meaningless statement that doesn't change my opinion of either car.
Re: Motorweek - Retro Review: '03 Mercury Marauder
Thread cleaned up.
Re: Motorweek - Retro Review: '03 Mercury Marauder
The Mercury Marauder wasn't a bad vehicle. It wasn't exceptional either, and I would argue the base should have been as good as this, and the Mercury Marauder should have been a step above, but there wasn't much competition in this platform segment in 03, so that is what happens. The thing is though, it is a decent starting point for a full sized performance car on a '03 platform. What would be an alternate in '03? Kevin that is really to you. What would be the next full sized RWD Sedan if you moved passed the B-Body to a newer platform? Is the new SS big enough? Is the G8 big enough? Is the new CT6 the only real replacement for the B-Body segment? I don't know the measurements but the CT6 seems bigger. Otherwise the Marauder seems bigger than the SS and G8. Maybe that is just exterior size perception.
Re: Motorweek - Retro Review: '03 Mercury Marauder
Before I have that theoretical conversation, I must point out that anything that is possible on the Marauder, is possible on the 90s SS/B-body. Other than traction control (which the D-bodies had, standard, anyway), what does the Marauder really offer? Safety features are close enough in my opinion. ABS (standard since 91 on the B-body). Comfort and convenience is about the same. The B-body can easily be modernized in the chassis areas that matter, to include steering and handling. That doesn't concern me at all. Despite some on paper differences, there is nothing architecturally that automatically grants the Panther as something that a B-body can never be. They are more similar than they are dissimilar.billgiacheri wrote:The thing is though, it is a decent starting point for a full sized performance car on a '03 platform. What would be an alternate in '03? Kevin that is really to you.
The new SS is big enough, yes. It's bigger inside, except possibly for hip room. Definitely in the front and rear seat legroom. The G8 is the same dimensions as the SS. The Holden VE/VF (short wheel base) is probably a mid to fullsize car on the outside but fullsize inside. Contrast to something like the Taurus which probably has similar exterior dimensions but is actually more a midsize car on the inside, because it's terrible.billgiacheri wrote:What would be the next full sized RWD Sedan if you moved passed the B-Body to a newer platform? Is the new SS big enough? Is the G8 big enough? Is the new CT6 the only real replacement for the B-Body segment? I don't know the measurements but the CT6 seems bigger. Otherwise the Marauder seems bigger than the SS and G8. Maybe that is just exterior size perception.
CT6 is probably bigger than the Holden VE/VF, but probably not bigger than long wheelbase (WM/WN) variants.
The Marauder is more or less similar to the B-body in foot print (inside and out). Inside, like the B-body, it is smaller than the Holden.
The new SS is my dream daily driver, if there is such a thing. A G8 GT is a practical goal but falls short on amenities. I also find them to be a bit pricey still, though I should look that up. The Caprice PPV is a practical goal, but also falls short on amenities. The thing is, I have so many future expenses at the new house that I couldn't justify even spending $7k on something like a G8 GT, for myself, as a daily.
A B/D-body is still available in daily driver condition (body and powertrain), and despite being 20 years old, still passes as a "modern era" car in terms of safety, amenities (more so the RMS and Fleetwood but even my 9C1 has things that passed as luxury features less than a decade before it was made) and power. They are also comfortable and spacious, which are still things people want in cars. I am still interested in these cars, and they are fairly cheap to buy and own. Seems like a good formula.
And let's also remember, an LS-swapped B/D-body is still something I'd like to do someday.
Re: Motorweek - Retro Review: '03 Mercury Marauder
Four camshafts.kevm14 wrote: Other than traction control (which the D-bodies had, standard, anyway), what does the Marauder really offer?
Re: Motorweek - Retro Review: '03 Mercury Marauder
That's not an advantage. That's just more cams.
And I'll tell you something relating to those camshafts (that you already know): You can easily bolt-on your way to 300hp in the B-body LT1 (an addition of 40 hp) but you can't go from 300 to 340 in the Marauder with just bolt-ons. Perhaps more importantly, you can't bolt-on torque at all, unless you count a converter (it is already fairly loose), better gears (it's already 3.55) or nitrous.
And I'll tell you something relating to those camshafts (that you already know): You can easily bolt-on your way to 300hp in the B-body LT1 (an addition of 40 hp) but you can't go from 300 to 340 in the Marauder with just bolt-ons. Perhaps more importantly, you can't bolt-on torque at all, unless you count a converter (it is already fairly loose), better gears (it's already 3.55) or nitrous.
Re: Motorweek - Retro Review: '03 Mercury Marauder
The only reason I mentioned it is due to the fact that they made them more recently so finding one that doesn't need a lot of cosmetic things that you are complaining about on the B-Bodies should be easier. Also, since an LS swap is in your head, this platform is practically begging for one. Then you could put Impala SS badges on it to let Ford fan boys know. Does this already come with the Ford 9 inch rear that everyone wants?