2004 MERCURY MARAUDER NEW CAR BUYER'S GUIDE

What's New for the 2004 Mercury Marauder?
Minor changes for the 2004 Mercury Marauder include a new transmission that purports to improve shift response, standard traction control and an upgraded stereo system. Two new exterior and interior colors also debut.

Advantages of the 2004 Mercury Marauder:

• Traditional muscle car drivetrain layout
• Roomy interior
• Huge trunk
• Surprising handling capability

Objections to the 2004 Mercury Marauder:

• Lacks a strong bang-for-the-buck equation
• Purists decry inability to fry the tires from a standstill
• Rental car quality cabin materials
• Sky-high price tag

Editor's Advice:
Alas, a lack of low-end, tire-spinning, anger-the-neighbors torque and a rather hefty sticker price have conspired to generate total enthusiast apathy for the Mercury Marauder, a performance-oriented version of the Grand Marquis that should have found the same cult success as the 1994-96 Chevrolet Impala SS but didn't. In response to this outcry by potential buyers, Mercury has decided to kill it after this year's model run rather than revise the current powertrain, a 4.6-liter V8 making 302 horsepower and 318 pound-feet of torque, to make it perform the way the target consumer wants it to. That said, the Marauder is a unique, enjoyable, purely American expression of performance that tames a twisty road in a way about which the Impala SS could only dream.