Piston Slap: Panther Love is a Siren Song?
TTAC Commentator cc-rider writes:
Hi Sajeev- Happy New Year. A local 2003 Marauder popped up next to me for a very nice price. It is a one-owner car with 113k. I spoke to the owner and it just needs a bit of cosmetic work. The grill is busted up a little bit. He bought a new car and wants to unload the Marauder before the new one comes. He has it listed for $4995. It seems way underpriced by me from what I have seen. It seems that the going rate would be more like 8-9k at least.
Sajeev answers:
Smells fishy! I hopped onto the online Manheim auctions to see what the current crop of Marauders are doing, and yes, it’s a fair bet this one is possibly 2-5 grand under retail. If it could be reconditioned well enough to be classified as “very good condition”, of course.
Which this one is most certainly not. Maybe the grille only needs to be replaced, or probably that’s the tip of the iceberg. A good indication of a decent vehicle–that needs a little TLC for maximum profit–is to check the interior, namely the leather seats and vinyl bits. Cracks or tears? You don’t want to replace them, it will kill your profit margin. Luckily these Panthers are a far cry from the upscale trimmings of the “Fat Panthers” of the mid 1990s, so they can handle abuse and still clean up quite well.
Another good indication? Accident damage. If there’s any sign of frame, fender aprons or any other portion of the crumple zones receiving repair, walk away.
Usually a vehicle needing a quick sale, usually being sold at a “retail-like” number such as anything ending in “95” gives me plenty of pause. This could very well be the work of a curbstoner.
Good luck with your further research into this one: I bet you won’t like what you see. Furthermore, you better pull an Odysseus and tie yourself to something when you see this Panther, as its Siren song might be rather alluring…but I am pretty sure you want none of it.
Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.com . Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you’re in a hurry.
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One aspect of curbstoning is jump titles. A jump title is a titled signed over by someone other than who you buy from. For instance, Joe sells John a car, John replaces the little part that made it idle rough and therefore a steal for John, and then John sells Mary the car and the title is still in Joe's name, occasionally with no date or mileage just a signature. John never registers it in his name or takes any responsibility for the vehicle. This practice may be illegal in some areas and at minimum should raise concerns that the car you are buying has issues or history you should know about. Licensed dealers never do this and people who actually drive a car for any amount of time don't either. I see a house on the street where a car salesman lives. He brings home trades that he buys super cheap and flips them. A major curbstoner for sure.
if it were an '04, I would buy it in a second. The '04's had traction control which is big help on my '02 Grand Marq, so I imagine it would be even more necessary with something with more power. Would love one of these or an '03 LSE