Marauader sales below expectations because "not enough power".
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Marauader sales below expectations because "not enough power".
It's a slow news day, but this seemed interesting.
http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=4438
"But industry experts say the Marauder, named for a Mercury muscle car from the late 1960s, hasn't sold because it doesn't have enough power or sophistication for its price, and too many customers see it as just another Grand Marquis.
"While in concept it's a good idea, in execution the car is woefully short of anything they have any right to promote as a serious enthusiasts' car," said Jim Wangers, an auto industry consultant....
...Art Spinella, an industry sales analyst with CNW Marketing Research, said there was demand for a full-size, rear-wheel-drive performance car, but that the Marauder was not the right answer. "
"While in concept it's a good idea, in execution the car is woefully short of anything they have any right to promote as a serious enthusiasts' car," said Jim Wangers, an auto industry consultant....
...Art Spinella, an industry sales analyst with CNW Marketing Research, said there was demand for a full-size, rear-wheel-drive performance car, but that the Marauder was not the right answer. "
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 581
From: New York, NY
I'm not surprised. I have only seen one on the road so far. But it is so heavy that the old 32V 4.6 won't be enough for it. Throw in the Cobra S/C 4.6, rate it at 400hp, and watch them fly out the doors.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 143
From: Marietta, GA
Why buy a Maurader when you can buy any Crown Vic from 1980 up and do the same thing?
It is a good idea, but not well executed. They needed to do that on a new platform. The Crown Vic/Maurader/Grand Marq days have long passed.
It is a good idea, but not well executed. They needed to do that on a new platform. The Crown Vic/Maurader/Grand Marq days have long passed.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 564
From: Fletcher, NC, US
Originally posted by IZ28
Its no Impala SS. We need a car like that back in GM so much.
Its no Impala SS. We need a car like that back in GM so much.
I know that a few extreme purists got upset at the fact that it had 4 doors, but the SS in my view was a car worthy of the SS badge if ever I saw one.
I'm getting off-topic but I'll tell you one thing: GM's stated goal of offering a performance family sedan would be much better accomodated with the 96 Impala SS even today than with the Snoopy-faced SS Concept.. back to the drawing board.
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 102
From: Baltimore, MD, USA
Just not enough power. I think it looks cool, and i woulnd't want one in anything but black, but if i bought one I'd swap that weak 4.6 for a carb'd big block. The thing needs to be mean not just look mean.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
Personally, I like the Marauder....and I think Mercury did an admirable job in it's execution.
It's not short on power....it's just short on torque. I think a torque biased 5.4 would have been just right for this cool Merc.
It's not short on power....it's just short on torque. I think a torque biased 5.4 would have been just right for this cool Merc.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 244
From: From Akron, OH to Raleigh, NC
Another example of a car company taking something everyone is going to fall in love with and changing it just enough so that no one wants it anymore...
I remember seeing a slightly more powerful engine in the Marauder at the Cleveland Auto Show last year...
I remember seeing a slightly more powerful engine in the Marauder at the Cleveland Auto Show last year...