[Shotimes] (OT) Marauder

[Ron Porter]

Not really sure that I agree. I feel that the Marauder is priced OK for the
market, maybe a few grand high at best, but a regular loaded GM is around
$30K.

If the Marauder turned a 14.8-14.9 @ 95 or better right off the showroom
floor, it would definitely be on my list. I just can't see spending the
bucks to get something that is no quicker than what I have now. For the low
$30K range, I can buy a used 540i 6-speed that runs around 14-flat......and
has a 6-speed.

Ron Porter

-----Original Message-----
From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
[mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Ron Nottingham
Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 10:56 AM
To: shotimes@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] (OT) Marauder


I'll tell you exactly WHY it isn't selling...  Because Mercury isn't a brand
that is associated with the young-middle agers.  Mercury is more associated
with either retirees (or people closely associated), or people that would
rather have a Lincoln, but just can't afford one yet.  So far, the Dalton,
GA area has sold many (local Mercury dealer says they have sold 12 so far),
and there are three people that go my church that have bought them.  And
I'll give you one guess as to their ages: hint (all above 55).

If the Maruader were priced some $5k to $7.5k cheaper, and badged a Ford,
with Crown Vic styling cues, you would end square in the middle of the
Marauder's intended target segment (+- 40-somethings).  I'm 34, and the
above would appeal to me.  I would buy a Crown Vic right now, as they sit on
the lot, but my wife doesn't like them (I know, she doesn't have to drive
it), but if it had all the Marauder stuff, I would have one, and she could
just get over it.

Right now, Ford has tons of great cars, IF you are either an older
baby-boomer, or a Gen-Xer (27 and younger, I consider 28 - BB's as tweeners,
as I have nothing in common with GenX, but too young to be a real Boomer).
I see the Focus line as the GenX car, and the rest as Boomer cars (except
for the Mustang, but it does not really fit in as a daily driver in my mind,
just my opinion, I don't care how other people use the cars, or if your
opinion is different, but my opinion is the Mustang cannot be used to carry
4 people comfortably, or go on a business lunch).  BTW, I am talking about
their CARS only, no trucks, SUVs, vans, or whatever else (I'm not really
interested in those, I don't get emotionally attached to those, to me they
are an appliance).

I can live with the Marauder's short comings on the performance side, if it
were priced a little lower ($27k to $30k), and the brand was not almost
entirely associated with the "blue haired set" (if you are part of this
"set" or feel you are part of this "set", I don't really care, I know I'll
be there someday, but right now, I'm not, and I am not rushing it any, I am
enjoying life right here, right now),  I would buy one... But as it sits, I
will pass.

Ron N. - Dalton, GA
90 SHO

----- Original Message -----
From: <BJamesjr@aol.com>
To: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 11:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] (OT) Marauder


> I wonder why this car isn't any faster than it is.  On paper doesn't it
have
> a better horsepower to weight ratio than the SHO?  Is it a problem with
> gearing?  Is it a problem with the automatic transmission taking out too
much
> power.  Is it a problem of the engine not performing as well as it should
for
> its rated horsepower?
>
> Sounds like they COULD have made it work right but they didn't  I think
the
> car has potential and could be modified with aftermarket parts to improve
it,
> whether a supercharger or lower rearend gears or whatever.  Of course the
> other problem is that the car is priced too high so by the time you buy
the
> car it isn't feasible to spend additional money to modify it.
>
> Despite all of this I wonder why the car isn't selling better.  It LOOKS
good
> and has a popular engine in it.  The average buyer probably doesn't read
the
> magazines and doesn't know that it performs below par.  The average buyer
> ought to be buying it anyway.  I'm thinking that maybe there isn't that
much
> market for a large performance car.  Most people probably want the image
of a
> big SUV or pickup, or an expensive luxury car.  People who want
performance
> are probably buying Mustangs, Mitsu Eclipses, etc.
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