Totally Off Topic (new ride)

[cyclone]

I love the car so far. I have about 3k on it. It is made for highway trips. You can't really expect it to be snappy out of the hole, weighing in at 4200 lbs with a 4.6  The car is great for long drives, and entrance ramps to freeways. It really sticks, and is so smooth. I leave overdrive off around town, and there is an OBD tuner tool for 300$ that has Marauder mods programmed in. You can change shift points, fuel curves, etc. You can also use it to read OBD2 codes from your other vehicles. I was going to buy one anyway:)

Lots of people immediately change the rear for a 4.10, stock is 3.55

I found lots of good info here.. www.mercurymarauder.net

[re-pete]

Sounds good, Pete.  You are right about the weight vs engine size.  Didn't realize the car was that heavy--doesn't feel like it in the corners!  Any idea on what kind of gas mileage you are getting?

And what about the GS 400 Lexus with the VVTi 4.0 liter screamer in it?  Surely someone must have an opinion on that vs. the American Iron?

[toyotafreak]

The second big Lexus I rode in was just a few months ago, and of course brought up the fact that our boat's got the same engine. His response was something like, "for a car this pricey, it just ain't fast enough. Not as quick as a Bimmer, ya know?"

So I killed him and removed his engine for spare spark plugs and a mass airflow sensor. Think I'm kiddin - I live in LA. The Dirty West.


:-)

[re-pete]

I knew if I tried hard enough, I could get you to bite, Derek!

That guy probably deserved it, spare parts or no spare parts,  for that comment.....

[re-pete]

Pete-

Just read an article in AutoWeek saying they are stopping production of the Marauder in June due to lack of sales and to focus on the production ramp-up for all the new Mercury models coming out in the late summer...

Looks like you got in at the right time...

[re-pete]

Pete-

Drove a new Marauder today.  Got to drive it alone, and get on it, and you are right--it does go like stink!!  It was a ball.

I took the wife and one of my daughters over to see it after and guess what?---They HATED it (looks like a cop car, looks like an old people's car,wheels are too big, yadda, yadda, yadda).  This sounds familiar....  This must be a Venus and Mars thing.

The complicating factor is that the best 'deal' I could get on a Silver one with the charcoal interior and  2 options(heated seats and cd changer) was $28,800, including Ford rebate and dealer cash.  And that includes the Ford x-plan which I can get through work.  Oh, wait--the salesman asked how old I was, and when I told him 44 he said "I can probably get you the $500 AARP rebate, if you sign up as an Associate Member!!  Ouch!

Anyway, I am looking for your counsel:  Do I go for it in spite of the family resistance, or keep looking at the used GS 400 with that SWEET 4 liter engine we all love?   Help...

[jordys skiboat]

hello all you epic skiboat owners i put a toyota 4 litre 1uzfe in my ski boat i am happy with the engine but it lacks a bit of touqe so thats why i am superchargering it i looked at the pics of the epic and i recken a eaton m90 will fit really nice. i am making my own manifold to fit the m90 witch will be 25mm or 1'' lower than the stock plenum i will run 5 to 6 psi and see how it goes but if it needs more i will lower my compression and run 10 to12 psi then no chev will match it i will round up some photos in a few weeks so good by from barooga on the murray river in australia.

[toyotafreak]

You must be from lextreme.com. Welcome!!

So many things to lust over!

[jordys skiboat]

are you thinking of supercharging your epic

[toyotafreak]

There are 1,050 other things I would do that. That being said, I love daydreaming about it. Would be downright awesome.

Check out the 'GOT BOOST?' thread so we don't hijack this one.

[cyclone]

Re-pete,
I can't make that decision for you!