To you Mercury Marauder fans

When Ford redoes the "Panther" cars next year, the Mercury Marauder won't be coming back.

I know it wasn't supposed to continue in 2004, but it's not part of the next Panther lineup.

However, there is word that the DOHC V8 will be in the new Lincoln Towncar replacement.

Makes sense to me. :)

Yeah, that's too bad.

I was hoping they would save it with the rumored SC motor.

Originally posted by guionM
When Ford redoes the "Panther" cars next year, the Mercury Marauder won't be coming back.

I know it wasn't supposed to continue in 2004, but it's not part of the next Panther lineup.

However, there is word that the DOHC V8 will be in the new Lincoln Towncar replacement.

Makes sense to me. :)

Panther vehicles will be getting a mid-cycle enhancement for MY2006 (June 2005). The Marauder may not be included, but there may be other variants of interest. Time still needs to tell on this one...

who cares about the marauder boat,put that motor(shared with the mach 1)into the new stang with about 350hp.:)

Originally posted by IREngineer
Panther vehicles will be getting a mid-cycle enhancement for MY2006 (June 2005). The Marauder may not be included, but there may be other variants of interest. Time still needs to tell on this one...


Mid-cycle? More like mid-dynasty:D

The Panther platform has had more mid-cycle freashnings than Cher...

Originally posted by formula79
Mid-cycle? More like mid-dynasty:D

The Panther platform has had more mid-cycle freashnings than Cher...

Unfortunately for Cher, I think the Panther's mid-cycle freshenings have been more successful.

Originally posted by formula79
Mid-cycle? More like mid-dynasty:D

The Panther platform has had more mid-cycle freashnings than Cher...

You are right about that;) They actually consider the 2003 change a redesign. There was actually quite a bit of work that went into the 2003 (hydroformed frame rails, interior, etc.)

Originally posted by formula79
Mid-cycle? More like mid-dynasty:D

The Panther platform has had more mid-cycle freashnings than Cher...

:lol: Dang, your on fire today. Any tickets available for the 4:30 show? ;)

Originally posted by Z284ever
Unfortunately for Cher, I think the Panther's mid-cycle freshenings have been more successful.

I agree :lol:

I didn't know there were fans of this car?!

Originally posted by Z284ever
Unfortunately for Cher, I think the Panther's mid-cycle freshenings have been more successful.

OUCH! :lol:


Originally posted by IZ28
I didn't know there were fans of this car?!

I believe the Marauder is one of those cars that no one really actually dislikes, but just isn't on the top of anyone's list.

It's actually a nice car. It's relatively quick, has very nice interior, has a sort of sinister look, & drives pretty well.

The only thing keeping it from "must-have" status is either a supercharger on top or the 5.4 block underneath those quad cam heads.

The Marauder needed a 5.4 with the eaton blower and forged internals. Then crank up the boost!

Originally posted by Z284ever
Unfortunately for Cher, I think the Panther's mid-cycle freshenings have been more successful.

Right you are Ken....

:lol: Branden, classic.

So does this mean that the Panther chassis will just be stiffend or is there a new chassis planed. Man, Ford got there money's worth out of that thing. I think that its gotten so much modification over its "cycle" that its a totaly different chassis now? :D

Originally posted by IZ28
I didn't know there were fans of this car?!

Or Cher! :D

I don't think it will be a new chassis since Ford did some reworking and spent alot of money on it for the '03 model chassis. It is a shame that GM wasn't as decicated to the B-Bodies as Ford is to the Panther chassis. If GM was, their would be some awesome B-Bodies on the road right now.

I would still rather have a '96 ImpalaSS over the Marauder.

Well it looks like I'll still be driving a slow PI to work for the next couple of years.

That sucks. I'm a fan of big romping cars. I was waiting for the SC 4.6 to make the car worth buying.

Oh well. Guess the E55's got the market to itself.

I came across this doing some research on my Florida Highway Patrol car...
Thought it would make for interesting conversation...

LINKY (http://www.fhp.state.fl.us/PhotoGallery/PG011604.htm)

Imagine... a Mercury Marauder pulling you over! :D

PS - notice... they are STILL using Mustangs too... there's a red unmarked unit behind and left of the Merc!;)

Geez, they'll pull you over for weaving in and out of traffic??? I wouldn't keep my license long in Florida...

I liked the merc, it was slow yes, but it was your only alternative if you wanted a full bodied rwd v8 car that had some spunk to it other then a crown vic. I would have bought one as a daily if they kept makein it. Lots of room for friends and a big back seat;)

Both Marauder and Towncar NEED a 5.4 DOHC...Or the 5.4 SOHC Supercharged motor. The 4.6, even in DOHC form isnt sufficient to move that car. Thats always been my opinion of them.

Originally posted by MissedShift
Both Marauder and Towncar NEED a 5.4 DOHC...Or the 5.4 SOHC Supercharged motor. The 4.6, even in DOHC form isnt sufficient to move that car. Thats always been my opinion of them.

I agree 100%

239hp is very lame for the town car. They should have at least had the DOHC 4.6L six years ago.

Most 60 y/o retired couples don't need 300hp to cruise to the local cafeteria for dinner at 4pm...:blah:
And frankly, I don't WANT them gunning 300+hp down on me with cateracts and coke-bottles on their noses either. :no:

Cabbies don't WANT 300 hp to go stop light to stop light, it makes their meter run less.;)

Look at the market guys...
Now the Marauder, I agree - it DOES need more HP because it is marketed towards the "sinister" crowd, with a muscular appearance. In fact, the name hearkens to a muscle car of yesteryear.

But the average Panther car - no more is req'd.
The 4.6 in my folk's Towncar will MORE than get you busted on an open highway!:D

I remember riding around in my friend's dad's Lincoln with a 460. Dang that car could cruise at 110 mph and it felt like you were going 55 mph while sitting on a waterbed.

It will be interesting to see how the Full size Zeta cars compare....they should be leaps and bounds above the Panther in terms of design.

Originally posted by ProudPony
Most 60 y/o retired couples don't need 300hp to cruise to the local cafeteria for dinner at 4pm...:blah:
And frankly, I don't WANT them gunning 300+hp down on me with cateracts and coke-bottles on their noses either. :no:

Cabbies don't WANT 300 hp to go stop light to stop light, it makes their meter run less.;)

Look at the market guys...
Now the Marauder, I agree - it DOES need more HP because it is marketed towards the "sinister" crowd, with a muscular appearance. In fact, the name hearkens to a muscle car of yesteryear.

But the average Panther car - no more is req'd.
The 4.6 in my folk's Towncar will MORE than get you busted on an open highway!:D

While true, I think they would sell more if you could get a 300+hp 5.4 SOHC motor in those things. I mean Chrysler is making a 345hp sedan that almost runs 13s stock for 35k, and they are giving them to the cops!:eek: I know I might consider a Vic if it had a 300hp 5.4 in it.

Originally posted by ProudPony


PS - notice... they are STILL using Mustangs too... there's a red unmarked unit behind and left of the Merc!;)

If you look closely it looks more like a new Rouch Mustang that they are using for this special enforcement team. There hasn't been an offical Police Pkg. Mustang since '93. I doubt that they still have any of those in use, but you never know there could be a few around. Last year when I was down there I still saw a few '96 Caprice 9C1 LT1s running around on the interstate still in service. FHP bought 70 some '02 Camaro B4C too, they will be around for quite some time doing pursuit duties.

Originally posted by mastrdrver
While true, I think they would sell more if you could get a 300+hp 5.4 SOHC motor in those things. I mean Chrysler is making a 345hp sedan that almost runs 13s stock for 35k, and they are giving them to the cops!:eek: I know I might consider a Vic if it had a 300hp 5.4 in it.


The '04 Crown Vic PI now has 250hp out of the 4.6 SOHC engine, I've driven one and it didn't seem any faster than last years 239hp Crown Vic PI. They are still way slower than a Caprice LT1.
Everything is about to change though when the Hemi starts hitting the police market next year.

I wonder if Chysler is planning on being competive with the prices for the police market, if not I believe Ford will retain most of the police market.

All of this is very bad news for the Impala 9C1, unless it gets the 5.3 V8 in '05?

Originally posted by 30thZ286speed
If you look closely it looks more like a new Rouch Mustang that they are using for this special enforcement team. There hasn't been an offical Police Pkg. Mustang since '93. I doubt that they still have any of those in use, but you never know there could be a few around. Last year when I was down there I still saw a few '96 Caprice 9C1 LT1s running around on the interstate still in service. FHP bought 70 some '02 Camaro B4C too, they will be around for quite some time doing pursuit duties.

I don't see anything in those pics that looks like a Roush exclusive part. What is tipping you that way? Looks like a 2000 or so GT to me, with standard 5 spoke alloys.

As for the SSP package - you are exactly right about 1993. I was just making the comment that LEA's are still using the Mustang - even today's models. Everybody thinks that because the SSP was eliminated in 1994, that there are no more Mustang's used in policing the roads - and it's not true. We have a Black 2001 Mustang GT in Forsyth County, NC (Winston-Salem area) that has full dress, light bar, and strobes - and it's a Sherriff's car no less. Car looks awesome IMO - black with gold and tan stripes, tan interior.

I recall much hullabaloo was made when the SSP was dropped in 1993 due to the new bodystyle (the SN95) that offered no notchback, storage space, and seating posture. Looking at the Camaro's they ordered since then, and the current Mustangs in use, it didn't seem like the big deal it was in 1993, eh?

Originally posted by guionM


I believe the Marauder is one of those cars that no one really actually dislikes, but just isn't on the top of anyone's list.

It's actually a nice car. It's relatively quick, has very nice interior, has a sort of sinister look, & drives pretty well.

The only thing keeping it from "must-have" status is either a supercharger on top or the 5.4 block underneath those quad cam heads.

It's too big. It won't fit in my garage or a lot of local parking lots. I like the looks of the car, but I wouldn't buy one because of its size.

If they could lop 20" off, I'd consider it along with the Chrysler 300. They'd probably have to do something about the big price, too, though.

Originally posted by 30thZ286speed
The '04 Crown Vic PI now has 250hp out of the 4.6 SOHC engine, I've driven one and it didn't seem any faster than last years 239hp Crown Vic PI. They are still way slower than a Caprice LT1.
Everything is about to change though when the Hemi starts hitting the police market next year.



Is there any difference in acceleration test results?

Imagine being pulled over by a musclecar?!

Originally posted by ProudPony
I came across this doing some research on my Florida Highway Patrol car...
Thought it would make for interesting conversation...

LINKY (http://www.fhp.state.fl.us/PhotoGallery/PG011604.htm)

Imagine... a Mercury Marauder pulling you over! :D

PS - notice... they are STILL using Mustangs too... there's a red unmarked unit behind and left of the Merc!;)

The other day on the road I saw a car almost like that. Except it wasn't quite a Marauder. It had what looked like the normal Grand Marquis alloys, and the bumpers were off of a GM as well. The badging said Grand Marquis, but all of the trim was blacked out like a Marauder. It had lights behind the grill just like those cars. It also had big chrome exhaust tips and CA EXEMPT plates confirming it was the govt of some sort.

I'd buy a Grand Marquis in Marauder guise

Originally posted by ProudPony
I don't see anything in those pics that looks like a Roush exclusive part. What is tipping you that way? Looks like a 2000 or so GT to me, with standard 5 spoke alloys.

Well, I am not a big Mustang expert but I can say that what is in that pic. is not a GT or GT wheel. It is either a Roush or a Cobra. The wheel in that pic. is mostly blocked by the trooper's leg but you can see enough of it to tell that it isn't the stanard GT 5-spoke wheels. I don't know if its Cobra wheels or not they have had so many 5-spoke wheel designs in the past I can't tell them apart.

Also notice the high profile rear spoiler, it looks more like a Roush or Cobra style spoiler.
I don't see or can't really tell from the pic if the Mustang has a body kit, Roush cars have body kits so I am leaning more towards Cobra now.