In the end, Mercury's goal of blending a 1960s muscle car experience with the attributes of modern automotive technology has been achieved and preserved in the annals of automotive history. The 2004 Marauder is a wonderful distillation of full-size American automotive gusto. Exhilarating V8 power, dual exhaust, bucket seats, rear-wheel drive and posi-traction are the buzz words that the old-man and I salivated over some 30 odd years ago. They're back.
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| The exhilaration of V8 power, dual exhaust, bucket seats, rear-wheel drive and posi-traction bring back memories of a by-gone muscle car era, but the Mercury Marauder is doing its part to bring that feeling back. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
So is the Marauder a "poor man's" BMW 7-Series, Mercedes S Class or Audi A8? Regardless of the answer, I think it's a darn good start especially for an American auto manufacturer. I for one would be ecstatic to see the Marauder, and any other full-size American V8 sedan, evolve to the point of competing head-to-head with the imported super-sedans costing many more thousands of greenbacks. Keep up the good work Mercury.