Traction control

Smokie

Smokie

New member
There has been some question about traction control been available: Here is the sticker on available dealer stock at a local dealer.

Disclaimer: This window sticker is only representative of the information contained on an actual window sticker, and may or may not match the actual window sticker on the vehicle itself. Please see your retailer for further information.

Vehicle Description VIN 2MEHM75V83X 664006
GRAND MARQUIS 2003 MARAUDER 4-DR
4.6L SEFI DOHC V8 ENGINE
ELECTRONIC AUTO O/D TRANS Exterior
BLACK CLEARCOAT
Interior
DARK CHARCOAL NUDO LEATHER BUCKET SEATS



Standard Equipment INCLUDED AT NO EXTRA CHARGE

SAFETY/SECURITY
. PERSONAL SAFETY SYSTEM
. EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE
. SECURILOCK ANTI THEFT SYS
. AUTOLAMP SYS/BATTERY SAVER
FUNCTIONAL
. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
. POWER ADJUSTABLE PEDALS
. REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY
. POWER 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKES
. DUAL PISTON FRONT CALIPERS
. SPEED SENSITIVE VARIABLE
ASSIST POWER STEERING
. PERFORMANCE HANDLING PKG
. W-RATED BSW TIRES
. ELEC AUTO TEMP CONTROL
. 18" POLISHED FORGED WHEELS
. FRONT/REAR STABILIZER BAR
. REAR PRECISIONTRAC SUSPENS
. TRACTION CONTROL,ALL SPEED
EXTERIOR
. DUAL POWER HEATED MIRRORS
. CORNERING LAMPS
INTERIOR
. SPEED CONTROL
. ANALOG SATIN ALUM GAUGES
. UNIQUE FLOOR MATS
. NUDO LEATHER SEATING
. AUDIOPHILE AM/FM CASS/CD
. LEATHER WRAPPED STR. WHEEL
. POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS
. DUAL CUPHOLDERS
. 8-WAY PWR DRIVER/PASS SEAT
. DUAL ILLUMINATED VISORS
. AUTO DIM MIRROR
THE MERCURY COMMITMENT
. 3-YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY
. 24-HR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
. 100000 MILE TUNE-UP INTRVL
. FRT/SIDE DRVR/PASS AIRBAGS

Price Information MSRP
STANDARD VEHICLE PRICE $33,770

Key Standard Equipment
MARAUDER - 300B
18" POLISHED FORGED ALUM WH
AUDIOPHILE SOUND SYSTEM
FLOOR SHIFT W/CONSOLE/STORA
DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM
PERFORMANCE HANDLING SUSPEN
POWER ADJUSTABLE PEDALS

Optional Equipment
BLACK CLEARCOAT
DARK CHARCOAL NUDO LEATHER
.4.6L SEFI DOHC V8 ENGINE
.ELECTRONIC AUTO O/D TRANS
.P235/50R18 P245/55R18 AS BSW
JOB #2 ORDER
FRONT LICENSE PLATE BRACKET
CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS SYSTEM
6-DISC CD CHANGER/TRK MOUNTED 350
NON-CAL ORD FOR CAL REGISTRATN
__________
TOTAL VEHICLE & OPTIONS 34,120
DESTINATION & DELIVERY 725

TOTAL MSRP $34,845

Disclaimer: Option pricing will be blank for any item that is priced as 0 or "No Charge".





Estimated Annual Fuel Cost:$1,302 CITY MPG
17
HIGHWAY MPG
23 Vehicle Engine Information
2003 MERCURY MARAUDER, 4.6 LITER ENGINE, (F.F.S.) 8 CYLINDERS, FUEL INJECTION, CATALYST, ELECTRONIC 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Actual mileage will vary with options, driving conditions, driving habits and vehicle's condition. Results reported to EPA indicate that the majority of vehicles with these estimates will achieve between 14 and 20 mpg in the city and between 19 and _ mpg on the highway.
For Comparison Shopping all vehicles classified as LARGE have been issued mileage ratings from 10 to 21 mpg city and 14 to 32 mpg highway.




Ford Extended Service Plan is the ONLY service contract backed by Ford and honored by over 5,100 Ford and Lincoln-Mercury retailers. Ask your retailer for prices and additional details or see our website at www.Ford-ESP.com
 
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I am about to purcahse a new '03 MM. I did not see the Traction Control on the Sticker and the dealer didn't have any real answer oin this issue. Any thoughts from you guys would be appreciated. Also, any thoughts on my impending purchase would also be appreciated.
 
My sticker makes no mention of Traction Control, if the car was so equipped, there should be a switch to the left of the steering wheel next to the switch for the power pedals. If no switch, no traction control.

MercuryVehicles.com website, Marauder section says:

Standard four-channel ABS helps maintain steering control in severe braking situations, under a variety of road conditions. Sensors detect wheel lockup and automatically "pump" the brakes several times per second. To improve braking performance under more normal conditions, Marauder's ABS incorporates Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) to limit rear-wheel slippage, reducing the need for ABS activation. EBD operates without "pumping" the brakes, using minimal brake valve activity - as a result, you may never notice it working. But it is.
Click to expand...

That's as close as they come to any mention of traction control. I'd be willing to bet the sticker that say Traction control is a typo.

Best,

Paul:D
 
W rates tires? Mine are ZR rated. Did they "decontent" the tires?
 
Bottom line for me is, "is anyone so unhappy that they bought an MM?"

While I am definitely buying this for the fun of it, I would hate to be disspointed!:help:
 
While I am definitely buying this for the fun of it, I would hate to be disspointed
Click to expand...

Stanley, if you have driven and liked the Marauder, I do not think you will be disappointed. What else is out there like it? Nothing...............
Buy and enjoy, fact is no matter what you have, someone else will have something faster, or better equipped. Keep your eyes on this side of the fence and enjoy your possible purchase.

Best,

Paul:D
 
Paul:

I didn't mean to suggest that I would be dissapointed because someone else has a better toy. I am a firm believer that its not just the toy, but how you play with it!

I just wasn't sure if someone out there had such huge problems with an MM that I should stay away.

I have a 2000 Durango R/T (5.9 and tricked up). It's a lot of fun, but my girlfriend (fiance) says can't see over the steering wheel and she keeps slipping off of the phonebooks I put on the seat for her, so it is time for a change.

No doubt I will finish negotiating with the dealer on Monday and spend my next day off enjoying my new car!

By the way, the screen name is for one of my dogs (Stanley). My name is Marty.

Thanks again for the help and input.
 
^^^what Beemer said^^^

I love mine, and the potential it has...there's no fun in buying a car that's absolutely perfectly complete in every way...any nitwit with the cash can buy one of those...I, like most of the members of this forum, like to make my cars better, and more distinctive, with my own hands.

The MM gives me a damn good start...
 
Traction Control

As Logan stated in a previous thread all MM"s manufactured after Oct.9,2002 have traction control. The early MM"s are designated on the window sticker as Marauder 300A and the ones after Oct 9, 2003 are 300B. All 300B Marauders have T.C. as stated on the window sticker. John P.S Thanks Logan for this site,It's the best.
 
Thanks for the input. I did not know about the distinction between the "A" and "B" designation. This will come in handy when I am back on the telephone with the dealers tomorrow.
 
Here is a picture of the 2003 MM WITH Traction Control. You will see the TC switch next to the pedal adjustment switch.

It was made in November.

I think the difficulty getting one with TC now is that they have too many MM's to move without it.

Mercury might not ship the newer ones with TC until the earlier ones move.
 

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What to do then? Do I proceed with the purchase of an "A" designated model and just kick the mess out of the dealer on pricing???? Is the traction control worth the wait (which may convert into a price issue if I can really can get the dealer down on a no traction control model??
 
As far as seeing over the steering wheel. I'm somewhat vertically challenged at 5'7" and the height adjustable seat gives me great visibility, so I doubt if you'll find any problems in that area.

As far as traction control goes, ALL Canadain MM's come with standard with TC, for good reason. If you live in a snowbelt area, I'd definately wait to get a TC equipped MM, otherwise not.
 
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My .02 cents?

Height challenged? I'm not tall enough for this car myself, and I really appreciate the adjustable pedals. Between that, and the highly adjustable seat and steering column, I can dial in just the right seating for what I'm doing at the time. No dead pedal yet, but that's only a matter of priorities. Nonetheless, I can get my Indy car seat of the pants feeling at the push of a few bottons.

As for the Traction Control, under some cir***stances, it can work against the benefits of a Limited Slip differential and become a problem. Don't let that keep you from the overall experience of ownership, this is one fine car, a remarkable drive. For me, the T/C was as important as tinted windows, something I can live without.

I'd like to hear more about the W rated tires, sup wid dat?

StanleyK, my advice is to negotiate a low as you can on the oldest car in stock, and don't forget to check other dealers within reasonable driving distance for comparasion too. You can buy one any where and get service close to home. So, buy one, mod it with the basic Reinhart package, and enjoy the time of your life.

Road trip to the Poconos for the honeymoon?

Okay, a nickle's worth...cha-ching.
 
My .02 rational why I did not care I don't have TC.

I have had mine since Dec 20th in Indiana. We have had a fair amount of snow. I have some weight in the back and with the bigger tires on the back, I am having no problems getting around. I have been driving for 20 years and started with a 67 Impala SS Convertable. All my cars except for my 97 CV did have TC (I had one front wheel drive car for 8 months and got read of it for a Mustang). The CV was only good from 15 to 30 mph anyway. That is why the advertise all speed traction control, did not use to be that way.

If you leave it stock, the setup with the high Torque converter keeps the tires from spinning, unless you power break or really really try hard. If you start with the add ons, you will go through back brakes anytime you start off hard and the tires start slipping which kicks in TC, so you will probably keep it off anyway.

So, my point to a long story, weight in the trunk, starting off in 2 second gear and driving with good judgement you can get around very well. Other then winter driving, why do you need traction control in these cars? As much driving as I do, I see more front wheel drive cars in the ditches than I do anything.
 
This car goes just fine in snow without TC. I know, I've had it in several inches of the stuff here in SE PA and it pulled up hills without spinning. The M&S tires help alot.
 
Here’s my .02! I'm a firm believer in traction control when it comes to driving in slippery conditions with rear wheel drive. My 1990 POS Buick handles well without the TC, but I’ve owned a 96 Camaro that handled poorly due to no TC. When I bought my 99 TransAm it came with TC, and it was an absolute pleasure to drive it in rainy weather and even snow. I know TC isn’t for everybody, but it is a great feature and when the time comes for me to purchase my MM (which should be soon) I'm going to get it with TC. If this means I wait till the summer to get it, so be it. The bottom line is if you want it wait for it. Since MM's aren’t moving in the sales department, I'm sure you will get one pretty cheap even with TC.
 
Another consideration is that the cars with t/c are later production and will have a space-saver type spare instead of the full-size spare that comes with the early ones.
 
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