Marauder vs newer SHO.

Vortech347

Vortech347

I shouldn't have sold mine.
So part of the "Plan" the wife and I have we've now gotten her something pretty new. (11' Escape) Once we have it paid off in about 2 years I'll be selling the Merc to get an Eco Boost SHO. As fun as this sounds I have reservations, and you guys may think they are stupid.

#1. I love knowing I can fix this car without any special tools. The drive train is not unique to one specific or limited. The last SHO I had parts were a NIGHTMARE.

#2. V8 Sound and RWD. I start my car up and people are like "Damn..." and cruising around its such a great sound and... BRAKESTANDS (need I say more?)

#3. The SHO's look so damn plain jane, they blend in. Looks Camry/Impala/Taurus, some may disagree.

#4. Last but not least, the uniqueness. Some of you guys see other MM's around all the time. Here in Utah, it doesn't happen much. I like that.

Anyone here go from a MM to eco-SHO? What were your thoughts?
 
Not exactly

I didn't go from-to, but I did a both-and. I have the Lincoln MK-S with the 'red' S. It's the Lincoln equivalent of the SHO. Clear advantages to the Ecoboost are 10 mpg better on the highway, better w/all-wheel drive in the bad weather, great off the line at the drags, and fancy electronics-lots of electronics.
It will cost $500 to reprogram the computer to get low 13's and decent shifts. The car comes with paddle shifters that are useless because of sloppy factory shifts. Then you can spend under $1k to improve exhaust & air intake, both of which will lose you the best part of the car-its quiet cabin. And (as you said) its not a V8 sound.

Marauder advantages-its paid for, and you know how to fix it. Marauder still attracts more attention than the potato-shape of the MK-s/SHO. I personally love the loud exhaust and the whine of the Trilogy.

Bottom line, you will like both. Get what you want, and enjoy it.
 
Vortech347 said:
So part of the "Plan" the wife and I have we've now gotten her something pretty new. (11' Escape) Once we have it paid off in about 2 years I'll be selling the Merc to get an Eco Boost SHO. As fun as this sounds I have reservations, and you guys may think they are stupid. NOT STUPID AT ALL.

#1. I love knowing I can fix this car without any special tools. The drive train is not unique to one specific or limited. The last SHO I had parts were a NIGHTMARE. LOTS OF BELLS AND WHISTLES ON THE SHO. LOTS OF ELECTRONICS. ALL WHEEL DRIVE COMPLICATES THE DRIVE TRAIN. THIS IS THE FIRST CAR THAT I GOT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON .... EVER !!!

#2. V8 Sound and RWD. I start my car up and people are like "Damn..." and cruising around its such a great sound and... BRAKESTANDS (need I say more?) YES, THE ROAR FROM THE MARAUDER IS A SOUND THAT I LOVE TO HEAR. IT IS A HIGHER PITCHED TONE FROM THE 3.5L ECOBOOST. STILL A NICE SOUND WHEN THE TURBOS GET SPOOLED UP. AT 365 HP AND 350 TQ WITH A CURB WEIGHT OF ABOUT 120 POUNDS MORE THAN THE MARAUDER, THE SHO ACCELERATION IS IMPRESSIVE. MUCH QUICKER THAN A STOCK MM. WITH A LIVERNOIS TUNE IT'LL GET YOU TO 400 HP. I'VE HAD MINE OVER A YEAR AND I DON'T THINK I HAVE GONE MUCH PAST 3/4 PEDAL 'CAUSE IT JUMPS TO 100 MPH IN A HEARTBEAT. 30 MPG Highway. About 20-22 MPG in town. GO TEST DRIVE ONE.

#3. The SHO's look so damn plain jane, they blend in. Looks Camry/Impala/Taurus, some may disagree. YEP, I FEEL INVISIBLE IN THE TAURUS SHO. FEW PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. EVEN LESS KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO. SHO BADGING ON MY 2012 IS JUST ON THE REAR AND TWO LITTLE ONES ON THE REAR WINDOW TRIM. IT DOES BLEND IN WITH ALL THE OTHER STUFF ON THE ROAD. IT DOESN'T REALLY DRAW ATTENTION ..... TOO OFTEN. IN ONE YEAR, I HAVE HAD TWO PEOPLE COMMENT ON THE CAR. THE DAMN ECOBOOST BADGE MAKES PEOPLE THINK IT IS A "HYBRID" ECONOMY CAR. WTF???

#4. Last but not least, the uniqueness. Some of you guys see other MM's around all the time. Here in Utah, it doesn't happen much. I like that. I RARELY SEE ANY MMs ON THE ROAD HERE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA UNLESS I AM HEADED TO A CAM MEET OR AN MM EVENT SOMEWHERE. I HAVE SEEN PROBABLY ONLY 10 MMs ON THE ROAD IN 10 YEARS OUTSIDE OF EVENTS. IN THIS AREA, I SEE 2-3 SHOs EVERY DAY IN TRAFFIC. PLUS A CRAPLOAD OF LIMITEDS AND SELS. JUST ORDERED MY CERTIFICATE FROM FPG SO I CAN SEE HOW MANY WERE MADE AND IN WHAT COLORS.

Anyone here go from a MM to eco-SHO? I KEPT THE MARAUDER AND GOT A SHO AS A DAILY DRIVER. What were your thoughts?
Click to expand...

I kept my Marauder and got a 2012 Taurus SHO as a daily driver. I like 'em both but for very different reasons. I like all the creature comforts on the SHO. Sirius radio, Sync, Back-up camera (absolutely necessary), Ambient lighting/multi-color with dimming, Adaptive cruise control, Collision warning, Moonroof, heated and cooled seats, dual zone climate control, and much more. It is a very comfortable car and nice to drive. Looks and feels very plush IMHO.

Kinda wish that I had waited until the 2013 models were released. I like the grille and the side badging better on the 2013 SHO vs. the earlier models. Grill is not interchangeable from what I've seen.

The Marauder well .... that's my weekend and show car now. Love the roar and the handling. Interior is almost "austere" when compared to the SHO. Visibility all around is much, much better than in the SHO which is one huge blind spot on the highway. Handles like a much smaller car. Sounds great. Looks great. Draws attention.

2003 Mercury Marauder MSRP $35,385. Paid $27,500.
2012 Ford Taurus SHO MSRP $42,145. Paid $37,000.

Both cars will be making the trip to 2013 Carlisle All Ford Nationals this year. Update: Both cars took 2nd Place in their class at Carlisle 2013 "All Ford Nationals".

 
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I have gone through the same thought process. here is what I have came too (and yes I like my MM for exactly the same reason you said.) I will dump money in my MM and maybe I wont get it back out but if you buy a new mass produced car you will loose money there as well. Here is the thing when it comes to cars there are no good decisions so you have decide what will make you happy and at what cost. i like my cars to stand out without me looking like a tool and the MM does that for me better than any 15k cost car could. All that being said, if your going to make the move have you looked at the CTSV?
 
F2F said:
I have gone through the same thought process. here is what I have came too (and yes I like my MM for exactly the same reason you said.) I will dump money in my MM and maybe I wont get it back out but if you buy a new mass produced car you will loose money there as well. Here is the thing when it comes to cars there are no good decisions so you have decide what will make you happy and at what cost. i like my cars to stand out without me looking like a tool and the MM does that for me better than any 15k cost car could. All that being said, if your going to make the move have you looked at the CTSV?
Click to expand...

I have strongly considered the G8 and CTS-V. A friend of mine has a M112 on his CTS-V and its pretty damn fast. Hell, even stock they are faster than an MM. However....I just don't see myself putting a GM in my driveway unless its a C6.

Thank you for the input guys. I wish I could keep the MM when the time comes to move on but we have enough cars. Plus I plan on using the MM funds plus whatever to keep a healthy down payment. I refuse to keep car loans more than 2 years.

I've been tossing the idea around about just keeping it, not doing an SHO and Eaton swap in it. But at the same time I worry about modding my daily bread winner vehicle to much. Most of you that have modded cars/trucks know once you reach a certain point the chances of breaking stuff increases 10 fold. I can't show homes with a Mustang.

I guess no matter how I look at it. Even with today's cool tech/power. The Marauder STILL stands out as being a unique, cool, and classy car. It may end up just being a great chapter in my book of great journeys made with cars.
 
Would never even consider trading or selling the Merc for an SHO.

Nothing unique about them.
Dime a dozen.
Gotta be expensive to fix. And it will break.
Already having lots of issues with the Ecoturd and trans.
Plenty of TSB's on it.
Marauders are easy to fix.
Marauders are a penny for every 10,000 instead of a dime a dozen.


Marauder really stands out, is super unique and bad ass looking.

If I (and it is a big IF) were to get rid of my Merc. It would have to be for a BMW M5. A car that is truly bad ass. But is $$$

Just my opinion.



Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom
 
guspech750 said:
If I (and it is a big IF) were to get rid of my Merc. It would have to be for a BMW M5. A car that is truly bad ass. But is $$$

Just my opinion.



Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom
Click to expand...

After my first MM I almost pulled the trigger on an E39 M5. But the maintenance scared the **** out of me. My mom has always had beemers and never leaves the shop with less than a 2k bill
 
Vortech347 said:
After my first MM I almost pulled the trigger on an E39 M5. But the maintenance scared the **** out of me. My mom has always had beemers and never leaves the shop with less than a 2k bill
Click to expand...

I hear ya. I really want to buy an M5 but I too am scared of the maintenance costs.

My wife wants to buy a 535 or 550 as a gift to herself for finishing her two masters programs this year.

I'm a little scared.


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom
 
I have often wondered what we might get when Ms.D retires as she won't need the AWD gas hog Aviator. I'm thinking the Hyundai Equus. By then they should have the cheapness the magazines have been complaining about resolved. 400+ HP seating for 4 real Americans, 5 in a pinch. V-8 RWD. Looks like a Mercedes at a fraction of the cost. Might be worth a look.
 
Motorhead350 said:
No marketing team will ever make a profit from my demands.

Marauder for life, NO substitutes.
Click to expand...

That's cool Dom but when your band hits the big time will that still apply?

I didn't even know about that hyundai:confused: sounds cool though. We had a sonata it was a great little car till the daughter totalled it. I wanted the loaded élantra but it was her car her choice :(

I like the electronics of the new stuff. I'll have to get the wife something nice like that. I'll stick with a work truck and the marauder.

I think I will go test drive a sho for the heck (fun) of it :D
 
Vortech347 said:
I have strongly considered the G8 and CTS-V. A friend of mine has a M112 on his CTS-V and its pretty damn fast. Hell, even stock they are faster than an MM. However....I just don't see myself putting a GM in my driveway unless its a C6.

Thank you for the input guys. I wish I could keep the MM when the time comes to move on but we have enough cars. Plus I plan on using the MM funds plus whatever to keep a healthy down payment. I refuse to keep car loans more than 2 years.

I've been tossing the idea around about just keeping it, not doing an SHO and Eaton swap in it. But at the same time I worry about modding my daily bread winner vehicle to much. Most of you that have modded cars/trucks know once you reach a certain point the chances of breaking stuff increases 10 fold. I can't show homes with a Mustang.

I guess no matter how I look at it. Even with today's cool tech/power. The Marauder STILL stands out as being a unique, cool, and classy car. It may end up just being a great chapter in my book of great journeys made with cars.
Click to expand...

An Eaton swap will net you a healthy increase in power and you'll still have a very reliable vehicle if you keep a conservative tune in it. I used mine as a DD for several years before getting my pick up and had no reliability issues with it.

IMO, that's the route to go.
 
Bluerauder said:
I kept my Marauder and got a 2012 Taurus SHO as a daily driver. I like 'em both but for very different reasons. I like all the creature comforts on the SHO. Sirius radio, Sync, Back-up camera (absolutely necessary), Ambient lighting/multi-color with dimming, Adaptive cruise control, Collision warning, Moonroof, heated and cooled seats, dual zone climate control, and much more. It is a very comfortable car and nice to drive. Looks and feels very plush IMHO.

Kinda wish that I had waited until the 2013 models were released. I like the grille and the side badging better on the 2013 SHO vs. the earlier models. Grill is not interchangeable from what I've seen.

The Marauder well .... that's my weekend and show car now. Love the roar and the handling. Interior is almost "austere" when compared to the SHO. Visibility all around is much, much better than in the SHO which is one huge blind spot on the highway. Handles like a much smaller car. Sounds great. Looks great. Draws attention.

2003 Mercury Marauder MSRP $35,385. Paid $27,500.
2012 Ford Taurus SHO MSRP $42,145. Paid $37,000.

Both cars will be making the trip to 2013 Carlisle All Ford Nationals this year.

Click to expand...
You convinced me I should keep my Marauder. I also like the longer look of the Marauder vs the plug look of the eco-boost. How does the horsepower/performance of a supercharged Marauder compare to the eco-boost?
Jim
PS I do not use any of these items "Sirius radio, Sync, Back-up camera (absolutely necessary), Ambient lighting/multi-color with dimming, Adaptive cruise control, Collision warning, Moonroof, heated and cooled seats, dual zone climate control, and much more" on my wife's Navigator except the back-up sensor which I have to turn-off when trailer towing. I do not listen to music while driving my Marauder but use the CD player alot in the driveway. I will have to notice if it is because of the engine/exhaust sounds.
 
JimmyXR7 said:
You convinced me I should keep my Marauder. I also like the longer look of the Marauder vs the plug look of the eco-boost. How does the horsepower/performance of a supercharged Marauder compare to the eco-boost?
Jim
PS I do not use any of these items "Sirius radio, Sync, Back-up camera (absolutely necessary), Ambient lighting/multi-color with dimming, Adaptive cruise control, Collision warning, Moonroof, heated and cooled seats, dual zone climate control, and much more" on my wife's Navigator except the back-up sensor which I have to turn-off when trailer towing. I do not listen to music while driving my Marauder but use the CD player alot in the driveway. I will have to notice if it is because of the engine/exhaust sounds.
Click to expand...

I had a different objective. Wasn't looking to "replace" the Marauder. Was looking for something nice and performance oriented for daily use to reduce the exposure of the MM to the idiots in Northern Virginia. Figured it was only a matter of time before I was rear-ended or side-swiped. Getting parts for the Taurus is easier. :)

Taurus SHO is probably around 310 RWHP (assuming about a 15% loss). Might be closer to 340 RWHP with the Livernois tune. Car should run well against some of the fastest N/A Marauders in the low-mid 13s. Taurus is about 125-150 pounds heavier than the MM. Quickest N/A MMs are at about 305 RWHP. It would be a close match. The tune might put it near 13.0 flat with a peek into the 12s. Most S/C MMs would be faster.

Understand about the "amenities" on the SHO. I didn't need them either; but after a year I am leaning more and more on them. Sirius for the 60s and 70s music, Sync for voice activated/hands-free calling, cooled seats for the tingly factor ;), back-up camera 'cause I can't judge the rear end position worth a crap using the mirrors because of the high azz end, ambient lighting at night 'cause it looks cool, adaptive cruise adjusts to the speed of the surrounding traffic, collision warning .... have used this a couple times. :o

Guess I am just getting to be an old softie. :P
 
guspech750 said:
Would never even consider trading or selling the Merc for an SHO.

Nothing unique about them.
Dime a dozen.
Gotta be expensive to fix. And it will break.
Already having lots of issues with the Ecoturd and trans.
Plenty of TSB's on it.
Marauders are easy to fix.
Marauders are a penny for every 10,000 instead of a dime a dozen.
Click to expand...

The new Taurus SHO is not a "dime a dozen" car.
 
Bluerauder said:
I see quite a few of them too .... but I can absolutely guarantee it ain't "a dime a dozen". I saw the bill and wrote the check. :P
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The reasons the MM is not seen a lot on the streets:

1. It has been outta production since 2004.

2. It was never a big seller thus the short 2 year production run.
 
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