2004 JD Power Survey Results For Marauder

[BlueMarauder]

JDPower.com lists the initial quality survey for the 2004 Marauder. The overall quality rating after the initial 90 day ownership is two out of five stars. The categories of mechanical quality as well as body & interior quality are also 2 stars. Feature & accessory quality is 3 stars.
Conversely, the overall quality rating for the 2004 Grand Marquis is five out of five stars. In fact, all of the 2004 Grand Marquis ratings are 5 stars except 4 stars for mechanical quality.
Do you think that we Marauder owners have higher expectations than Grand Marquis owners? Maybe there are actually quality differences between the two? Are the two cars made on the same assembly line in the same plant? :shake:

 

[Fourth Horseman]

Just speaking for myself here. Not trying to be negative or a downer. But for $35k, I expected better. Don't get me wrong, I love the car and would buy one again. I paid full price knowing what I was getting, so obviously it was worth it to me. But for $35k I think the fit and finish, quality of interior trim, paint, etc. could have been a lot higher. I'd give the quality 3 out of 5, personally. The car definitely gets a 5 out of 5 for style, comfort, fun and attitude.

 

[prchrman]

2 stars...about right IMHO...paint, squeaks, brakes, alignment, fogged up headlights, idiot service managers...I like the car but expected more...with the MM being their premier car you would think they would have done better...I have owned several mercs (1968 cyclone, 1970 marauder) and this one has the worst quality of all...flame me if you want but just being honest...best thing about the car is the new friends I have met through this site and some I have not met yet...you guys are pretty straight up...willie

 

[SergntMac]

I've bought two now, and I think the Marauder is the best damn car on the road, if you are a high performance freak like me.

It's just 5K overpriced...

 

[Macon Marauder]

Sad. Particularly since Powers results are based on owner surveys. Yeah, I had a few problems with my '03, but I gave it high marks on the survey. Some of us apparently weren't very kind.

 

[jerrym3]

cyclone

Willie, I also owned a 68 Cyclone GT fastback, Madras blue, white stripes, black buckets.

It was only a 302-4V (didn't want the 390 and the 351 wasn't available until 1969), but I put on the functioning ram air scoop and hood tape stripe from the 69 CJ428, hood locking pins, dual point distributor, a 3:50 rear, removed the lower tape stripe between the front/back wheels, added Keystone Classic wheels with Goodyear Polyglas tires, blacked out the four headlamp rims, converted to a 4V Holley, removed the smog pump (4 speed car), and added the 1969 right/left side view mirrors (painted teardrop shape instead of chrome). (My employer was Ford at that time.)

Also installed functioning gauges across the dash (vacuum, temp, oil, and amps-similar to the 70 Cyclone Spoiler), and the shorter Mustang gearshift.

At the dragstrip, they made me run Modified Production because Ford never listed the 302-4V in the 1968 Montego/Cyclone NHRA information. Instead, they used the Torino specs, which did not offer a 302 4V option.

Very sharp, peppy car which really stood out in a sea of Pontiac, Chevy, Olds, and Chrysler cars. Highway mileage, not that anybody cared in 1968-69, was almost 30 MPG.

What was yours like?

 

[Ross]

I never got a survey. I'm obviously very happy overall, and intend to keep this car for a long time. If asked by Powers, I would have had to complain about fit and finish. The GM is a quiet car, not much wind noise at high speeds. My MM is pretty noisy at highway speeds. Also, the obvious complaint about the subwoofer.

 

[jerrym3]

Crown Vic

How could the GM get noted and not the Crown Vic? They're twins.

 

[TripleTransAm]

I think it's a combination of both.

Firstly, we have different expectations and are coming from a different customer base. So far based on my first year of ownership, my feelings on the interior fit and finish are that they are of good quality. I think I'd give it a 4 (or 4.5) out of 5, and this is based on prior and present ownership of many Honda products, several Trans Ams, and many previous North American automobiles. Why not a perfect 5? Because of the seat squeak, which they did not address on the assembly line quickly enough (ie. I suffered this even though my car was a Feb build), and the seat cover front flap coming loose for some reason.

The other aspect is that this is a unique combination of powertrain and chassis. Being the only application of the DOHC 4.6 in the Panther chassis, you get nasty things as harness-slicing incidents (it's a much fatter engine sitting in that bay). Possibly the increased power can bring out the weak C-clip transmission issue. The axle recall? Not sure, it's not Marauder specific, right?

The rest of the problems... have me scratching my head (and not because of lice). Headlight housing moisture? Groaning hood latch? Ticking valve guides? The weak paint? Doesn't this stuff happen to Grand Marquis owners too? I understand that wheel alignment perhaps isn't the most important thing on a Marquis owner's mind (hence they don't notice the new aluminum front end's propensity to lose alignment specs at stock bolt torque), but still...

So there doesn't seem to be a clear cut answer to this dilemma.

Assembly quality: I'd give it a 3 out of 5 (just because of the harness issue and the hood groan and other assembly glitches, and the paint quality).

Powertrain quality: well.... I'm not terribly proud of the ticking issues I've had... and I'm not impressed with the tranny C-clip issue... and the failing axle bearings... the single knock sensor... the overheating rear cylinders.... if it wasn't for the fact my car is capable of pulling good results on a track, I'd not feel guilty for wanting to give it a 2.5 out of 5.

 

[Ross]

if it wasn't for the fact my car is capable of pulling good results on a track, I'd not feel guilty for wanting to give it a 2.5 out of 5.

Yep, it's funny how a lot of those complaints slip to the back of your mind after one good high speed run!

 

[REpson]

BlueMarauder:

Thanks for the information. I had to go to the web site myself and just see how they did the rankings. Not that I did not believe you but just for informational purposes.

MM Owners:

Below is the link. Click the icon that states "I know what I want and follow the menu prompts".


http://www.jdpower.com/cc/auto/index.jsp#
:beer:

JDPower.com lists the initial quality survey for the 2004 Marauder. The overall quality rating after the initial 90 day ownership is two out of five stars. The categories of mechanical quality as well as body & interior quality are also 2 stars. Feature & accessory quality is 3 stars.
Conversely, the overall quality rating for the 2004 Grand Marquis is five out of five stars. In fact, all of the 2004 Grand Marquis ratings are 5 stars except 4 stars for mechanical quality.
Do you think that we Marauder owners have higher expectations than Grand Marquis owners? Maybe there are actually quality differences between the two? Are the two cars made on the same assembly line in the same plant? :shake:

 

[prchrman]

Willie, I also owned a 68 Cyclone GT fastback, Madras blue, white stripes, black buckets.

It was only a 302-4V (didn't want the 390 and the 351 wasn't available until 1969), but I put on the functioning ram air scoop and hood tape stripe from the 69 CJ428, hood locking pins, dual point distributor, a 3:50 rear, removed the lower tape stripe between the front/back wheels, added Keystone Classic wheels with Goodyear Polyglas tires, blacked out the four headlamp rims, converted to a 4V Holley, removed the smog pump (4 speed car), and added the 1969 right/left side view mirrors (painted teardrop shape instead of chrome). (My employer was Ford at that time.)

Also installed functioning gauges across the dash (vacuum, temp, oil, and amps-similar to the 70 Cyclone Spoiler), and the shorter Mustang gearshift.

At the dragstrip, they made me run Modified Production because Ford never listed the 302-4V in the 1968 Montego/Cyclone NHRA information. Instead, they used the Torino specs, which did not offer a 302 4V option.

Very sharp, peppy car which really stood out in a sea of Pontiac, Chevy, Olds, and Chrysler cars. Highway mileage, not that anybody cared in 1968-69, was almost 30 MPG.

What was yours like?

Mine was a dark green and maybe a pinstripe...but had GT wheels... and also a 302-4v...I know it was stock but like you say no one believe that there was a 4v 302 put into 68s...bench seat...auto on column...sold it to a good friend with it having over 160,000 miles on it...he drove it another 40,000 miles before retiring it...I never had one problem with it, HONEST...and the guy only retired it because he was a little drunk (not too smart) when it blew a hose and he would not stop driving...the only problem he had with it was I liked country back in those days and listened to KVOO country out of Tulsa...he liked rock and roll and soul music...he said it took him 2 weeks before he could get it to pick up a rock and roll or soul station...wish I still had that car and the 70 marauder...willie

 

[deerejoe]

03 Marauder 300A

Not being overly critical on any American automobile having come through the late 50s to the present 2K+, I find the build quality AND the technical advances to be outstanding.
FOMOCO like the other American manufacturers all have their growing problems with ever newer models and performance issues.

If the assembly teams could keep their acts together with the ever changing complexities and government mandates of new design plus the increased volume required to make a 'projected' profit, there might be time for uniform quality across the line.

I don't know about anyone else, but I lost the ability to keep up with ALL the various models each manufacturer puts out a long while ago!!
Thats not to say that we (consumer) want 'cookie cutter' cars.
I still find it amazing that parts assembly can be so transitional from one year to the next.

Aircraft assembly is much more sequential and labor intensive, yet glitches surface there as well.

The DIFFERENCE between my FIRST automobile; a 1947 Cadillac convertible and the Marauder I drive today is beyond my ability to describe.
There is no way that I would go back to that era except to chase the same women all over again...maybe excepting a few!!

 

[Marauderjack]

I got a bunch of surveys and a couple congratulated me on my new Grand Marquis!!!!!!! :shake: :uzi:

I refused to answer any questions until they figured out what car I have!!??

Could be they just translate this into all bad answers??? :down:

Hope not!!

The ones I answered....I GAVE THE CAR GREAT MARKS!!! :rock:

Now that I have the transmission and TC under control.....THE CAR IS TRUELY GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rock: :bows: :bows:

Marauderjack :rasta:

 

[woaface]

Have any of you sat in one of the new Acura TLs?

I'd buy a Marauder over it...but I agree, it could have been done better.

But I don't think Ford expected it to go for long, and/or expect to fix/update the quality issues if/after it really took off in sales...which it never did. This is common with most manufacturers I think.

 

[mcb26]

Interesting the 2003 ranked better in Mechanical and feature quality, They both get 5's in the issues I was looking for Perf,comf,style,features.

 

[JamesHecker]

I absolutely love my car! I did not get a JD Powers survey, but if I had I probably would have given the car higher marks than it deserved for fit, finish and quality. I am very dissatisfied with the axle, the tire wear and alignment issues, the paint quality, the sagging rear bumper, the intermittently disfunctional power windows, the woefully inadaquate winshield wipers, the moisture in the headlights, the hole in the carpet on the passenger side of the console, the soft shifts from second to third (before the chip), and the lack of a moonroof! All that and I still love this car!

 

[Bradley G]

I got at least 4 surveys j.d. powers being one of them . I brought the curve up for us . sweated rear tail light lens, align front(center steering wheel) didn't pull. I hit a deer Two months ago still have slight steering wheel shake . Just had all four tires balanced yesterday . I didn't notice any shake up to 80mph . today after work (raining) just above 60 mph it still shakes slightly . I notice a couple small pits in the wheels . and the chrome is'nt uniform in the corner of the spokes .I asked the dealer (now where I work) to replace the instrument cluster screen due to scratches and they did but there is a piece of plastic stuck on the inside . And the tech scratched the trim bezel in a couple of places in the process. Am I being too picky? I also hear tick at an idle only sometimes its not real loud but I still notice it when it does occur.I love this car was built 10/30 . I want to come to indy and asked the owner about time off he said to ask his brother, so tomorrows the day!:rock:

 

[junehhan]

I probably got nearly 12 surveys on my Marauder including the JDPower one, and I gave it very high marks. Of course, it always helped that I had just came back home from a WOT run when I saw the survey in my mailbox..........

 

[teamrope]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=595 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=23>


</TD><TD>[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mechanical Quality [/font]</TD><TD width=122>

</TD><TD width=209>[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Comfort[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]**[/font]</TD><TD width=122>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width=18 height=23> </TD><TD width=209>[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Feature & Accessory Quality [/font]</TD><TD width=122>

</TD><TD>[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Features & Instrument [/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Panel[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]**[/font]</TD><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width=18 height=23> </TD><TD width=209>[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Body & Interior Quality [/font]</TD><TD width=122>

</TD><TD>[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Style[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]**[/font]</TD><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width=18 height=23> </TD><TD>[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Overall Quality [/font]</TD><TD>

</TD><TD>[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Overall Appeal[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]**[/font]</TD><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD height=23> </TD><TD>[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Performance[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]**[/font]</TD><TD>

</TD><TD> </TD><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>At least it gets 5 stars for overall appeal