2004 Mercury Marauder
Expert Review

Mercury has done a surprisingly good job turning its revamped 2003 Grand Marquis sedan into a modern version of a 1960s muscle car to cash in on the high-performance car boom and draw younger buyers.

Ford Motor's floundering Mercury division hopes the Marauder will give it a sexier, younger image. Most Mercury buyers are a long way from their youth and younger buyer blood is desperately needed.

Some analysts feel that troubled Ford Motor should drop Mercury. But the parent company says Mercury will get attractive new products in coming years to make it more appealing.

Muscle Car Throwback
The $33,790 Marauder is a throwback to the celebrated 1960s muscle car era because that period was filled with fast cars that had a V-8, rear-wheel drive and body-on-frame construction. Moreover, such cars were derived from standard models to keep costs down.

Few American body-on-frame cars with a V-8 and rear-drive are left. However, Mercury has such an auto with its upscale Grand Marquis sedan, which mainly draws buyers near retirement age—or older.

So Mercury figured that it may as well tear a page from the 1960s and make the Marauder a hot, limited production version of the 2003 Grand Marquis. After all, the last old-style big American muscle car was Chevrolet's 1994-96 Impala SS sedan, which was a hit despite being derived from the unpopular Chevy Caprice family car.

High-Performance History
While it's generally known that Chevy has a high performance history starting in 1955, many have forgotten that Mercury has a genuine high-performance history that goes back much farther than that and gives the Marauder a legitimate background.

For starters, Mercury models had slicker styling and more power than Fords when the division arrived in 1939. The customized 1949 Mercury coupe featured in James Dean's "Rebel Without a Cause" movie of the early 1950s gave Mercury a hot car image. But the real action for Mercury was in the 1960s, when Ford Motor was on high-performance road car and racing car binges with its Ford and Mercury divisions.

Past Marauders
The big 1963-64 Marauder coupes and sedans with V8s that generated up to 425 horsepower helped usher in the muscle car era of the 1960s. The large 1969-70 Marauder X-100 with its conservatively rated 360-horsepower V8 helped see that era out.

Mercury had such an array of 1960s muscle cars, other than the Marauders, that you almost couldn't tell the players without a scorecard. They included the 1962-63 S-55, 1964-65 Comet Cyclone, 1966-67 Cyclone GT, (revived) 1966 S55 and the 1967 Monterey S-55.

There also were a number of high-performance versions of the 1967-69 Mercury Cougar—along with the 1966-67 Cyclone GT and revamped 1968-69 Cyclone GT.

Era Vanishes
But the muscle car era virtually vanished when stiff federal emissions regulations and high muscle car insurance premiums arrived about 1970.

Mercury then concentrated on conservative, upscale, mainstream family cars that were disguised versions of Ford models.

Until now, with.the arrival of the Marauder. This model benefits from changes made to the 2003 Grand Marquis. They include a stronger frame, improved suspension, better brakes and more accurate rack-and-pinion steering. There also have been minor front and rear styling revisions for a slicker look.

Special V8
Most importantly, the Marauder has a 302-horsepower V8. It's a dual-overhead-camshaft, 32-valve version of the new Grand Marquis' 4.6-liter, single-overhead-camshaft V8, which has 220-235 horsepower.

The Marauder's 281-cubic-inch V8 produces a decent 310 pound-feet of torque, But, despite its lower (260) horsepower rating, the Impala SS had a 5.7-liter, 350-cubic-inch V8 and 330 lb-ft of torque for faster off-the-line acceleration, which is historically what a muscle car is largely all about.

While generally fast, the Marauder's initial acceleration isn't neck-snapping because it weighs 4,165 pounds and has a rather small engine. A performance 3.55:1 rear axle ratio helps initial acceleration. But what's really needed is the supercharged V8 in the concept Marauder convertible displayed at this year's auto shows. That engine produces 335 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque.

Fun To Drive
Still, the Marauder is fun to drive. It has good acceleration above 35 mph, athletic handling and short stopping distances.

The speed-sensitive variable-assist steering is quick, although the turning circle diameter is large. The firm suspension allows a generally comfortable ride, but irregular road surfaces can cause it to become jerky.

The modified transmission is generally responsive but upshifts too quickly for a high-performance car during part-throttle acceleration, as if to allow the highest possible EPA fuel economy ratings.

Still, estimated economy is nothing to shout about: 17 mpg in the city and 23 on highways. Premium fuel is called for because the V8 has a fairly high 9.85:1 compression ratio.

Special Features
The Marauder has a sport suspension, large 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels and oversized chromed dual exhaust tips. It comes only with black paint and has a monochromatic look, with even non-functional headlight unit areas blacked out. Dark blue paint will be added this fall.

Some 1960s Mercury muscle cars were only subtly distinctive. That's the case with the Marauder because it shares the conservative styling of the Grand Marquis.

Check the Garage
Those interested in the Marauder best check their garage space because the car is longer than nearly all mid-size sport-utility vehicles at 211.9 inches.

The Marauder comfortably seats four tall adults, and the trunk is large—although the full-size spare tire eats up a fair amount of cargo space.

The interior is quiet and comfortable, except for excessive tire noise. It looks businesslike and has special gauges, front bucket seats, large console with cupholders and a floor shifter.

Long Reach To Radio
Most controls are well-placed, but the special secondary gauges are hard to read quickly and sound system controls call for a long reach from the driver's seat, even for those with long arms.

The Marauder is well-equipped. The only options for it are a $350 trunk-mounted, 6-disc CD player and a $200 trunk organizer. A $305 leather coat with Marauder logo is offered for the passenger to go with the similar leather jacket that comes standard for the driver.

Mercury hopes to sell 18,000 Marauders annually. The car is generally exciting and practical, although a more powerful engine is needed if it really wants to stay in step with Mercury's high-performance history.