Looking at maybe picking up a Marauder in the next few months, couple questions.

S

Stew

Member
Well, 2 basically haha.

1. What kinda of average fuel mileage can one expect?

2. What are the differences between the 03s and 04s?

TIA!
 
What kinda of average fuel mileage can one expect?If you gotta ask, you prolly can't afford to drive the car. ;)
:jk:

Seriously, most owners are getting between 15 and 17 mpg in town and 21 - 23 mpg on the highway. Also, you'll need to run premium fuel.

2. What are the differences between the 03s and 04s?
Minor differences; dual knock sensors on the '04s, some transmission upgrades on the '04s. The '03s are faster, especially the blue ones...

Stew said:
Well, 2 basically haha.

1. What kinda of average fuel mileage can one expect?

2. What are the differences between the 03s and 04s?
TIA!
Click to expand...
 
SC Cheesehead said:
What kinda of average fuel mileage can one expect?If you gotta ask, you prolly can't afford to drive the car. ;)
:jk:

Seriously, most owners are getting between 15 and 17 mpg in town and 21 - 23 mpg on the highway. Also, you'll need to run premium fuel.

2. What are the differences between the 03s and 04s?
Minor differences; dual knock sensors on the '04s, some transmission upgrades on the '04s. The '03s are faster, especially the blue ones...
Click to expand...

That is basicallt what i was looking for LOL. So let's say of average of 20 for the MPG, I'd tune it anyways for 93 is no issue :) That i can handle, 10-15 average, not so much haha. I would probably go for an 04, I have a fear of transmission failure lol
 
SC Cheesehead said:
What kinda of average fuel mileage can one expect?If you gotta ask, you prolly can't afford to drive the car. ;)
:jk:

Seriously, most owners are getting between 15 and 17 mpg in town and 21 - 23 mpg on the highway. Also, you'll need to run premium fuel.

2. What are the differences between the 03s and 04s?
Minor differences; dual knock sensors on the '04s, some transmission upgrades on the '04s. The '03s are faster, especially the blue ones...
Click to expand...
People who drive blues start:beer:early.

'03 300A's have a remote fuel filler door,
not sure if '03 A's and B's have long head consoles(shortened for moonroof in 04's as an option,
03's have a map pocket on the front of the front seats.
04's have traction control
There's probably more cosmetic stuff like clock location in the 300A's stuff like that
 
Stew said:
That is basicallt what i was looking for LOL. So let's say of average of 20 for the MPG, I'd tune it anyways for 93 is no issue :) That i can handle, 10-15 average, not so much haha. I would probably go for an 04, I have a fear of transmission failure lol
Click to expand...

Keep up on the fluid changes and the 03 tranny is just as strong.
 
i was going to take my MM to the dealer this week for a tranny fluid filter change. i have almost 130,000 on the clock and i think the last time it was done was 60,000. some of my "gearhead" friends keep saying not to do it, changing the fliud will only make it worse??
 
03blackmerc said:
i was going to take my MM to the dealer this week for a tranny fluid filter change. i have almost 130,000 on the clock and i think the last time it was done was 60,000. some of my "gearhead" friends keep saying not to do it, changing the fliud will only make it worse??
Click to expand...

Older transmissions used to have that problem, you would leave the fluid in for over 50k miles and changing it would cause the transmission to slip. Newer tansmissions are less likely to have that happen.
Do a full trans flush and you'll be fine.
I also heard this weekend from a local tranny builder and from my mechanic that you don't need to change the trans filter. It was something sold to the public in the 60s and 70s as something that has to be done. I was told that if the clutches fall apart, the filter is there to prevent that material to go into the valve body to prevent further damage and if the clutches fall apart then you'll be pulling it all apart anyways. He said its a sealed unit and transmission fluid don't create carbon deposits that would clog the filter and that new transmissions don't even have a filter, just a pickup screen like the oil pickup tube.

Do the flush and you'll be fine. The filter swap is up to you. Im just relaying what I was told over the weekend.
 
03 300A's have a map pocket on the front of the front seats.
'03 300B's, all Canadian Marauders, and 04's have traction control.

I've got a 300B and it has the long overhead console, my '04 had a moonroof, so it had the shorty overhead console.

Oh, and did I mention, the '03s, especially the Blue ones, are faster...;)
Mr. Man said:
People who drive blues start:beer:early.

'03 300A's have a remote fuel filler door,
not sure if '03 A's and B's have long head consoles(shortened for moonroof in 04's as an option,
03's have a map pocket on the front of the front seats.
04's have traction control
There's probably more cosmetic stuff like clock location in the 300A's stuff like that
Click to expand...
 
Stew said:
Well, 2 basically haha.

1. What kinda of average fuel mileage can one expect?

2. What are the differences between the 03s and 04s?

TIA!
Click to expand...

You've been here 8 years Stew. Figured you would have picked up just a few things just by osmosis. ;)

MPG depends more on your right foot than most any other factor. I get about 15-16 around town -- but I tend to like to hear the exhaust. :D
 
Bluerauder said:
You've been here 8 years Stew. Figured you would have picked up just a few things just by osmosis. ;)

MPG depends more on your right foot than most any other factor. I get about 15-16 around town -- but I tend to like to hear the exhaust. :D
Click to expand...

osmosis -----------

Dang Charlie--Haven't heard that word in so long..........I laughted my AXXxxx off after reading that-----Thanks a lot------and your right on with that comment--....carry on ...........
 
Really? No one posted the closest thing we have to a definitive answer on the differences question? Not even the man Blackend himself who made it?

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=31102

Although it addresses specifically the split between the two '03 models and those in between, the 300B is essentially the same as an '04 and I know of no differences besides blue was only on the 300Bs and red was only offered in '04, and how trans was (nominally upgraded).

Also the millage really depends a lot on how you drive it, if you drive slow and easy (which is not a problem in a highway-cruiser that is the Marauder) you'll be bumping right up against 30 or tearing up city asphalt at the stop light 500 you'll suck down the gas, all in all I usually see about 19 or 21 mpg on a weekly basis (I tend to have a lead foot close to home).
 
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Bluerauder said:
You've been here 8 years Stew. Figured you would have picked up just a few things just by osmosis. ;)

MPG depends more on your right foot than most any other factor. I get about 15-16 around town -- but I tend to like to hear the exhaust. :D
Click to expand...

Bwahaha, been a while since I browsed here, I sold my CV hell and forever ago and been through 3 vehicles, now in a 2007 Jeep Patriot 4x4, good little SUV, but it is an SUV haha.

Anywho, one more question. When looking at a used Marauder is there any paricular things I need to look for, ie known issues to check for.
 
looks are deceiving, listen to it, drive it, run it to redline from a 20 mph roll, have a good mechanic check it, and then enjoy it................
 
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