The Disrespect Continues -- now in Consumer Reports

Bluerauder

Bluerauder

CAMaraudin' in Virginia
:mad2:
The April 2004 Annual Auto Issue of Consumer Reports, p. 61 rated the Grand Marquis/Marauder luke-warm with a good reliability, fair satisfaction, and fair depreciation. Apparently this was based on a last full report dated Feb 2003. Identical words were used for the Crown Vic and the Grand Marquis/Marauder in the appropriate manufacturer sections.

Consumer Reports says:
"The Mercury Grand Marquis/Ford Crown Victoria twins are among the last big rear-drive sedans with a full frame and a noisy V-8. Both are a bit dated. The ride is stiff and jiggly. Handling is safe enough but feels ungainly, despite a revised suspension and steering gear that arrived for 2003. Standrad traction control helps in slippery conditions. The soft front bench seat could use more support, and the rear seat isn't as roomy as you'd expect, though the trunk is cavernous. The Marauder is a pseudo-sporty version that is quicker but feels little different from the regular model." :fire:

Well, I guess I am fairly satisfied with my pseudo-sporty MM. Anybody think these people have ever been in a Marauder let alone capabile of driving one. :shot:

And besides that --- I thought "stiff and jiggly" was a Good Thing. Oh, I must have been thinking of something else. :P

If the Marauder is as plain vanilla as these reports would have you believe, why do I feel so good driving it. :up: A conspiracy by the Clueless 98%??
 
Consumer Reports

"...little different from the regular model. " That is truly a disrespectful statement. I am consitently amazed at how different the feel a base GS is from my CV LX HPP. Plus, the difference between my car and a Marauder is another amazing jump so the numb skull who did the review either never did drive a Maruader or has no idea how to eavluate a car.

Don
 
Amsoil_Dealer said:
"...little different from the regular model. " That is truly a disrespectful statement. I am consitently amazed at how different the feel a base GS is from my CV LX HPP. Plus, the difference between my car and a Marauder is another amazing jump so the numb skull who did the review either never did drive a Maruader or has no idea how to eavluate a car.

Don
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Consumer reports benchmark car is an electric hybrid box. Never take anything they say about cars as relevant.

Bob
 
67435animal said:
Consumer reports benchmark car is an electric hybrid box. Never take anything they say about cars as relevant.

Bob
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Benchmark for what? Fuel efficency, or the #1 reason why people fall asleep at the wheel while passing you?
 
I get Consumer Reports....and you have to keep prospective on the mag....it is great for giving you a bunch of information...but to me it is geared towards high mileage more fuel efficient cars.....And definately slanted towards the 20,000 to $30,000 sticker range......

I was kind of bummed because my fantasy car the BMW 745L got rated terrible...said reliability was terrible......heck my Marauder is decent.....
 
Bigdogjim said:
I have a "friend" that works for CU I'll have to run this by them:lol:
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Yeah --that sounds good --do it--if he was my friend working there I would hand him the mag. and say read this article and while doing so, light it up , saying , Oh BTW , "This is really how hot the MM is..trust me..."...oh well, my .02 worth...
 
Come on guys I know the MM is bad ass but a true performance car? We are a different breed. Most people now want ricers but a select few do not and want to relive the old american muscle. The marauder is unfortunatly a dying breed and although cool and very pretty is not considered a performance car by most. It's big and bulky. it handles good but not spectacular and although fast it's not a rocket. Sorry guys. I love the car but I am not disillusioned
 
tstrat99 said:
Consumer Reports says:
"The Mercury Grand Marquis/Ford Crown Victoria twins are among the last big rear-drive sedans with a full frame and a noisy V-8. Both are a bit dated. The ride is stiff and jiggly. Handling is safe enough but feels ungainly, despite a revised suspension and steering gear that arrived for 2003. Standrad traction control helps in slippery conditions. The soft front bench seat could use more support, and the rear seat isn't as roomy as you'd expect, though the trunk is cavernous. The Marauder is a pseudo-sporty version that is quicker but feels little different from the regular model."
Click to expand...


While I cannot speak on the 2003+ Crown Vicky or Marquis de Sade, I have to admit that the reason I nixed the Town Car from my list of potentials (pre-MM-purchase) is because of the jiggly ride. I mentioned this last year, but it almost seemed like the suspension was vibrating at two frequencies at every jolt... one quick and jiggly, the other slow and wallowing.

While this kind of suspension may not behave the same on glass-smooth roads, the reality of harsh pavement made that car undriveable in some parts of San Diego last year.

The Marauder, while exhibiting extra damping to reduce the wallow, still displays some jiggle. I guess it was to be expected: some of the components have been swapped out for lighter-weight equivalents for 2003, and perhaps they'd need to dial things in a bit better.

No big deal, I had an ultra stiff suspension on my 1985 Parisienne and expected some of the harshness with a large car having to be stiffly sprung. But I can see where someone used to lighter cars being put off by the dynamics of 4500 lbs having to be controlled in a high-performance manner. Mass is mass...

I suspect the author of the article only had a few minutes behind the wheel to evaluate the differences between a Marquis and a Marauder, or perhaps was limited to a slow speed cruise through the parking lot at a press event. Or perhaps didn't drive the car at all... we all have, at one point, alluded to this possibility.
 
Other than the mention of suspension changes for 2003, and mention of the Marauder, there is little difference in what they have written on the CV/GM going back at least to '97, probably farther back. It's almost word for word.
I doubt they even drove one for this most recent report.

Since when is "traction control" standard? certainly not on all CVs/GMs.
 
hey djcloak asnwer me this

What other 4 door car can compete with MM in HP, Looks, Interior, Price, Comfort, Members and respect.

I already know what you are going to say the impala ss can, yes due to years of getting mods perfect for it. I wonder what the MM will be like in 5 years

Then tell me what other car gets escorted by the highway patrol when headed towards Crawford Ranch down here in in the GREAT STATE because they think the MM is Secret Service!
 
RCSignals said:
MYSTA KANG the old Impala SS does not match the Marauder in handling at all
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Is this based on subjective or objective testing? Not arguing, just wondering...
 
I'd like to know if they even drove a Crown Vic/Grand Marquis, or Marauder before spewing this crap. Again, this is automotive bias as I bet they've already judged the car before writing their crap. I'd like to know what's so noisy about the V8 in the Crown Vic? Note they also didn't comment on how smooth the actual motor itself is. As far as a stiff and jiggly ride, I don't see how they could have come to that conclusion in the standard Grand Marquis/CV as those have a fairly muted and smooth ride. I can understand the jiggly part, but that's probably going to be true of nearly any body-on-frame solid rear axle car when driving on flawed pavement. The front seat actually could use more support as lateral support is just nonexistant on the GM/CV, and still not enough on the MM. Rear passenger space is a bit less than you would expect in such a huge car, but I do like how the trunk is just downright HUGE!

tstrat99 said:
:mad2:
The April 2004 Annual Auto Issue of Consumer Reports, p. 61 rated the Grand Marquis/Marauder luke-warm with a good reliability, fair satisfaction, and fair depreciation. Apparently this was based on a last full report dated Feb 2003. Identical words were used for the Crown Vic and the Grand Marquis/Marauder in the appropriate manufacturer sections.

Consumer Reports says:
"The Mercury Grand Marquis/Ford Crown Victoria twins are among the last big rear-drive sedans with a full frame and a noisy V-8. Both are a bit dated. The ride is stiff and jiggly. Handling is safe enough but feels ungainly, despite a revised suspension and steering gear that arrived for 2003. Standrad traction control helps in slippery conditions. The soft front bench seat could use more support, and the rear seat isn't as roomy as you'd expect, though the trunk is cavernous. The Marauder is a pseudo-sporty version that is quicker but feels little different from the regular model." :fire:

Well, I guess I am fairly satisfied with my pseudo-sporty MM. Anybody think these people have ever been in a Marauder let alone capabile of driving one. :shot:

And besides that --- I thought "stiff and jiggly" was a Good Thing. Oh, I must have been thinking of something else. :P

If the Marauder is as plain vanilla as these reports would have you believe, why do I feel so good driving it. :up: A conspiracy by the Clueless 98%??
Click to expand...
 
I used to buy Motor Trend, Car & Driver and all the other Magazines. One would say this a good but one would say good but this could be better! :mad: If you see something you like go drive it and make your own decision They say thier making this reports on the basis of no influenace from outsiders :bs: :bs: .
 
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