Car and Driver
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mad man
Guest
And thirty years ago i should have bought a hemi car . $$$$$ 
o:
o:jgc61sr2002
Contributing Member
The MM's are still not selling like they should. FMC is the only one to blame, lack of advertising and the lazifair attitude of the dealers who could care less about a sale. John
mdmarauder
Senior Member
It's weird, I got complimented about my MM four times this weekend. But nobody actually buys them. I love mine, but no advertising and the press killed it. I don't miss the supercharger that badly.
RCSignals
Senior Member
I finally picked up that issue of C+D. They give the thumbs up to the Hummer H2, and cite it's sales figures, emphasising that it is only part year figures, and will be higher.
For the Marauder they give the 2910 figure as though it is for the end of the model year, total sales. Typical C+D. Then of course their stupid "V-6 Accord is quicker" comment.
You think they are upset that Ford didn't credit them with "inventing" the Marauder, as in "their" Lounge Lizard project car came first? One things for sure, they are wrong about the Accord.
For the Marauder they give the 2910 figure as though it is for the end of the model year, total sales. Typical C+D. Then of course their stupid "V-6 Accord is quicker" comment.
You think they are upset that Ford didn't credit them with "inventing" the Marauder, as in "their" Lounge Lizard project car came first? One things for sure, they are wrong about the Accord.
Bigdogjim
Back in the game!
HIt the nail on the head!
You think they are upset that Ford didn't credit them with "inventing" the Marauder, as in "their" Lounge Lizard project car came first? One things for sure, they are wrong about the Accord. [/B][/QUOTE]
I agree! I think they fogot that Ford/Mercury had RWD V-8 Power before.. like in the '60's
As for the Accord I had a kid want to race race me to 60MPH the other day
I said "kid I know where you come from but, the race ain't to just 60":flamer:
Rice it what's for dinner
Big Dog
You think they are upset that Ford didn't credit them with "inventing" the Marauder, as in "their" Lounge Lizard project car came first? One things for sure, they are wrong about the Accord. [/B][/QUOTE]
I agree! I think they fogot that Ford/Mercury had RWD V-8 Power before.. like in the '60's
As for the Accord I had a kid want to race race me to 60MPH the other day
I said "kid I know where you come from but, the race ain't to just 60":flamer:Rice it what's for dinner
Big Dog
G
ghost
Guest
I saw the Impala SS mentioned when discussing production figures so I thought you guys might find this interesting:
It really is a shame that the MM isn't getting it's due credit for what it is - an attempt to capture the market that Chevrolet dropped when they cancelled the Impala SS (B-body) program.
The MM is a cool car and the car mags should be encouraging automakers to stick out their necks and manufacture cars that are different and exciting, rather than these I wanna be like everyone else and have no personality cars like the Accord and practically everything else coming from Japan. Chrysler is doing a good job of being more daring and different with their styling, like the PT Cruiser, Viper, Dodge trucks (with the big front end, remember when they came out?) and Prowler. It doesn't matter if you like the styling or not, the important thing is that Chrylser is taking chances, just like Mercury is with the Marauder, and I applaud their efforts.
European cars have a lock on styling, for the most part, and many of them are excellent performers that deserve the praise they receive from the auto magazines. But they should also praise risk-taking ventures like the Marauder and encourage sales if they wish to see any more of this coming from the USA.
Pisses me off.
Eric
It really is a shame that the MM isn't getting it's due credit for what it is - an attempt to capture the market that Chevrolet dropped when they cancelled the Impala SS (B-body) program.
The MM is a cool car and the car mags should be encouraging automakers to stick out their necks and manufacture cars that are different and exciting, rather than these I wanna be like everyone else and have no personality cars like the Accord and practically everything else coming from Japan. Chrysler is doing a good job of being more daring and different with their styling, like the PT Cruiser, Viper, Dodge trucks (with the big front end, remember when they came out?) and Prowler. It doesn't matter if you like the styling or not, the important thing is that Chrylser is taking chances, just like Mercury is with the Marauder, and I applaud their efforts.
European cars have a lock on styling, for the most part, and many of them are excellent performers that deserve the praise they receive from the auto magazines. But they should also praise risk-taking ventures like the Marauder and encourage sales if they wish to see any more of this coming from the USA.
Pisses me off.
Eric
D
DLoreanMARAUDER
Guest
I'm with you Ghost.
Almost every C+D article bashes the Marauder, but no 2 articles are alike. one day they say the seats are too firm, the next the seats are too soft. they just don't like the car, and they want to see if fail. i've seen SOME other mags give the car good ratings, but they were no name mags, or mags only guys like us (car guys) would buy anyway. theres alot to blame.
almost NO advertising, dealers KNOW NOTHING, WHEATHER sucked all winter, car has only been out less than a year! come on give it a chance to grow on people! Its still eairly in the game and the nice weather is coming, plus the dealers are getting anxious to get rid of them so i think sales will climb a bit. I never heard anything from FMC itself about the discontine of the car, so there still might be a chance, but only time will tell.
Almost every C+D article bashes the Marauder, but no 2 articles are alike. one day they say the seats are too firm, the next the seats are too soft. they just don't like the car, and they want to see if fail. i've seen SOME other mags give the car good ratings, but they were no name mags, or mags only guys like us (car guys) would buy anyway. theres alot to blame.
almost NO advertising, dealers KNOW NOTHING, WHEATHER sucked all winter, car has only been out less than a year! come on give it a chance to grow on people! Its still eairly in the game and the nice weather is coming, plus the dealers are getting anxious to get rid of them so i think sales will climb a bit. I never heard anything from FMC itself about the discontine of the car, so there still might be a chance, but only time will tell.
Maybe I'm missing something, but the automagazines that I subscribe to had a lot of positive things to say about the MM starting from its early announcement.
Then, when finally available, every magazine had at least one road test, and the automobile TV shows followed suit; however, not all the reviews were great. Plus, since there's really nothing new in the car for 2004, there was no reason for additional reviews.
Were the magazine reviewers biased against the Marauder? I don't think so. They reported what they felt and observed.
(Besides, positive reviews and "Car of the Year" status certainly didn't help the new TBird.)
Mercury mailed out Marauder DVDs, even going so far as to leave some of the less than glowing remarks (about standing starts) in the DVD.
How much of their advertising budget should Ford have given the car when a first year model run of only 18,000 units was projected? They even discontinued the Marquis LSE model so that, in order to get a full sized Merc with bucket seats, you had to consider the Marauder or a less powerful CV LX Sport.
The economy, some so-so reviews, initial dealer greed, and our love of SUVs all combined to hurt sales. (I wonder how the car would have performed or looked if some of the money spent on the Lincoln "pickup truck" disaster, the Aviator, and/or the new Explorer/Mountaineer platform had been spent on the Marauder?)
But, "it ain't over till the fat lady sings", so maybe there's still hope.
Then, when finally available, every magazine had at least one road test, and the automobile TV shows followed suit; however, not all the reviews were great. Plus, since there's really nothing new in the car for 2004, there was no reason for additional reviews.
Were the magazine reviewers biased against the Marauder? I don't think so. They reported what they felt and observed.
(Besides, positive reviews and "Car of the Year" status certainly didn't help the new TBird.)
Mercury mailed out Marauder DVDs, even going so far as to leave some of the less than glowing remarks (about standing starts) in the DVD.
How much of their advertising budget should Ford have given the car when a first year model run of only 18,000 units was projected? They even discontinued the Marquis LSE model so that, in order to get a full sized Merc with bucket seats, you had to consider the Marauder or a less powerful CV LX Sport.
The economy, some so-so reviews, initial dealer greed, and our love of SUVs all combined to hurt sales. (I wonder how the car would have performed or looked if some of the money spent on the Lincoln "pickup truck" disaster, the Aviator, and/or the new Explorer/Mountaineer platform had been spent on the Marauder?)
But, "it ain't over till the fat lady sings", so maybe there's still hope.
although there are really good things about having low production number cars. the ego stroke (you all know exactly of what i speak) when a BMW (substitue any foreign carbon copy look alike) pulls along side, drool comming from the drivers side and the question pops out "what's that"?
i had a local sheriff follow me to the gas station just to talk about the car 2 days ago and the week before a motorcyclist just about fell of his bike giving the thums ups.
So i'm sorry C&D and some of the other air headed low ciculation trade rags didn't like it and that FMC couldn't market flood insurance to the alka seltzer factory, i do.
and man that pains me to say as (confession time) i've been a GM and Mopar fan (read into that ford basher) for all 43 years of my life.
i had a local sheriff follow me to the gas station just to talk about the car 2 days ago and the week before a motorcyclist just about fell of his bike giving the thums ups.
So i'm sorry C&D and some of the other air headed low ciculation trade rags didn't like it and that FMC couldn't market flood insurance to the alka seltzer factory, i do.
and man that pains me to say as (confession time) i've been a GM and Mopar fan (read into that ford basher) for all 43 years of my life.
russ in VA
Member
I would not say they have mistreated the car or caused it's sale problems. They are always critical even of the cars that are their favorites (such as the BMW 3 series and the accord) and don't hesitate to point out their shortcomings too. I think they have made a few catty comments (such as the beaten to death v6 accord is faster comments) that I don't appreciate but overall I think they have been fair and treated our favorite car just like they do all the rest. If you think all they have done is beat up our car, you need to start reading Beadard's column too. He loves the marauder and he owns a Honda Insight! Then there were Egan's coments in R&T a few months back when he went "driving Mercurys". The mainstream press is not all bad, I read their comments to hear all sides and I think they have been fair. The car SHOULD have more grunt off the line (4.10's), and as far as I am concerned the seats do leave something to be desired (try flinging it around an on-ramp then go do the same in a honda and see which one holds you in place better). My two cents.
RCSignals
Senior Member
russ in VA said:
I would. I've talked to people who have said they were interested in the Marauder until they read magazine reviews.
We've have people post here saying the same thing, and they bought a Nissan Maxima or something instead, while later admitting they never even looked at a real Marauder.
I do believe the magazine reviews can effect sales.
jgc61sr2002
Contributing Member
RC I agree that any commercial (news paper,mag,etc) will influence the public to buy or not. That is what advertising or the lack of is all about. John
Now I know why I stopped reading them, and never renewed my subscription after expiring a while ago. It's the bias that is clearly evident that makes me upset. It's upsetting when some products don't get a fair evaluation because the journalists evaluating it have already judged the book by it's cover.