Car Craft Magazine calls mercury "dead"

[whd507]

pg 19 in "straight scoop" feature. calls Mercury "dead Brand walking"

they have been eerily correct in the past.


abandoning the MM and scrapping the mustang-based cougar idea are only two obvious signs to me.

[Bradley G]

A few years back, Ford claimed Mercury would have exclusive models offered.
The same vehicle with different names does not "FOOL" anybody
(That's Anybody)

[whd507]

every time Mercury had "exclusive" models, they were foreign flops.

they need to build Lincolns with suicide doors, and mercurys that Mc Garret would drive, then I might buy a new one again...

[FastMerc]

Ya I agree all they have is upscale versions of what Ford has. BUT what Ford has is cheaper. Nothing exciting in a Mercury dealer!!!

[whd507]

how could a mustang-based cougar go wrong? Hello! the accountants have taken over and are busily destroying the company (look at the stock price for proof)

[whd507]

they want mercury to be Ford's "saturn". who the hell wants a saturn?


(gee, when I grow up, I'm going to get a saturn...) yeah right.

pontiac might have been a better choice. or buick meets pontiac even.

[Aren Jay]

Welcome to Canada the only place you can get the Ford Grand Marquis, with Mercury waterfall, and labels.

[Cordoba1]

Yeah -- Clearly the marketing people have made Mercury Ford Motor Company's Brand-For-Woman. The marketing for the last 5 years has been unmistakable. Just check out the spokespeople in their commercials. I wish the Marauder would have ended up a Ford as the original concepts (before the two-door convertible) were penned. When I tell people what I drive, I tell them I have a "Marauder" -- and leave off the Mercury part. :)

When my buddy bought a used Mountaineer, I kidded him by telling him he bought a "Girl SUV." -- I know, I know -- It's just a re-badged Ford Explorer -- but again, check out the marketing! :)

I agree with Car Craft. Mercury has lost their identity. In this age of so many options -- so many very good options, Ford should concentrate on Ford and Lincoln -- and their premium brands that they decide to hold on to. Anything that we *think* Mercury *should* be -- it's probably better left to the Ford brand.

[FormulaMarauder]

Mercury was always the rich mans Ford, and the poor mans Lincoln.

Explorer---> Mountaineer--->Aviator Basically a luxury step latter.<MOUNTAINEER<AVIATOR p luxury.< in progressive thing, Same>

[Mike Poore]

Want further proof? Go to the L/M website and try to build a new Towncar, their bread & butter cash cow, since ...forever dead & gone.
We turned in our '03 Aviator too early, in favor of an '05 because it was the last year for that fabulous vehicle.
It's as if they hired 'ol Roger "how can I kill a company, let me count the ways" Smith, of GM fame, to run the division.
Instead, they luckily happened upon soccor mom, Elana. The thinking? Let's kill off this division; but first, we gotta find a scapegoat. :beatnik:

[safado]

They have this deal now where all the cars are either FWD or AWD... And the amount of Lincoln Mercury dealers closing down is another tell tell sign... The Last fun car to drive for me from LM was the LS v8... thats been gone now for awhile... The Zephyr/MKZ and the new MKS ==== Yawn

[whd507]

ford's stupid ideas are saving me a freaking fortune in new car payments.

thank you ford family. soon I will be calling Dave Ramsey to yell I'm debt free...

[DetroitMarauder]

I remember when I got word that DCX was shutting down Plymouth operations.

I think I actually had a tear run down my cheek that day.

Maybe it was sweat cause I was in St. Louis Mo. putting in a Caster/Camber machine that I designed for DCX during the Fourth of July weekend.

I remember feeling really bummed... not cause DCX was closing the Plymouth division but because of all the crap Plymouth had to put out in they're final years by no fault of their own.

They were the Mercury of Chrysler and nobody gave a crap about them.

To me, Plymouth was Road Runners, Barricuda's, Bored out Valiants, Belvideres, Dusters and Satellites... Real Hotrods.

Today nobody gives a sh-it that Plymouth is gone.

I figure the same thing will happen when Mercury passes from the planet.

[JimmyXR7]

Welcome to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region> the only place you can get the Ford Grand Marquis, with Mercury waterfall, and labels.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The Lincoln Mercury dealers are gone in my area. They are replaced by the Ford dealers servicing and selling the Mercurys including the Grand Marquis.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Joe Kerley, McHugh, and the Capitol LM (Bob Lewis) are gone. The web refers me the Ford dealer in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gilroy</st1:place></st1:City> as the closest LM service/sales location even though Capitol/Friendly Ford is still there.
<o:p> </o:p>
It is getting tough for Ford. If Ford goes under, the Ford name goes with the loan, so <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> could be selling Fords here in the future.<o:p></o:p>

Jim<o:p></o:p>

[safado]

I have some idea that Nissan will pick the blue oval right up...

[UncleLar]

The Town Cars will be around in 2009 but they'll all be pretty well de contented versions of the Signature.
The Grand Marquis have had most of the good options dropped such as the handling/performance package and the Ultimate Edition has been gone for a couple years now.
A new Cougar based on the Mustang platform would've been nice,'specially if Mercury would've given it the spirit of the first Cougars,they had 427's and 428's available when the Mustang was lucky to get the 390.:cool:
BTW,I'm going to look a 2004 DTR Marauder tomorrow after work,we'll see what shape it's in and play the numbers game.

[whd507]

the marauders are the newest cars that really get my attention, followed closely by the new mustangs. the mustang is so very common though, the marauder is more exclusive, and I like a big car. I qualify for X-plan, but literally nothing ford makes excites me enough to make a car payment. if they still made the Grand Marquis with console and floor shift I'd have one, I scouted out an 07 CV sport, but I just couldn't get excited about the payments.

so long ford, it was a great ride while it lasted

[hdwrenchtx]

the marauders are the newest cars that really get my attention, followed closely by the new mustangs.

my thought exactly. initially anyway... new mustangs are a dime a dozen and I'm glad I didnt get one.

i pretty much thought mercury was dead before the marauder, nothing has changed.

[Taemian]

A few years back, Ford claimed Mercury would have exclusive models offered.
The same vehicle with different names does not "FOOL" anybody
(That's Anybody)

Ummm..really? You should take a look at the Lincoln pickup truck. More reflectors and a few badges =$6000 premium that sells. Go figure?!?

[hdwrenchtx]

Ummm..really? You should take a look at the Lincoln pickup truck. More reflectors and a few badges =$6000 premium that sells. Go figure?!?


does it really sell? i live in TX probably more trucks around here than anywhere. I have seen maybe 3 of those things since they came out.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

When I tell people what I drive, I tell them I have a "Marauder" -- and leave off the Mercury part. :)

I do this too, but the problem is then people think I'm talking about a motorcycle.

[ahess77]

Automotive News just had on the cover that the last Mercury only dealer is gone, gave up his new car franchise and just does used cars now.

Mercury has 5 models; Milan, Mariner, Sable, Mountaineer, and Grand Marque. These are all rebadged Fords, nothing unique in this line-up. Based on Ford's financial position there's no reason to think that Mercury as a brand will continue. Ford needs to downsize to accomodate the marketshare that they have and that means they will need to eliminate Mercury and/or eliminate some vehicle across all their brands like Chrysler's going to do.

But, that just makes our cars more collectable like Oldsmobile and Plymouth.

[captain]

When the artist dies, the paintings become valuable. Perhaps there is still hope for the MM investor. Me... I'm driving it like I stole it. What good is money if it aint fun?

[RCSignals]

pg 19 in "straight scoop" feature. calls Mercury "dead Brand walking"

they have been eerily correct in the past.


abandoning the MM and scrapping the mustang-based cougar idea are only two obvious signs to me.

They have been saying that for years. They also didn't like the Marauder much as I recall.

[Aren Jay]

Mercury died in Canada in 1999.

[whd507]

they didn't like the Marauder as it arrived, since it was hyped with a blower and a series of special editions like mustang is doing, but ford didn't deliver.
nobody likes over-promising and under-delivering

[sicilianmarquis]

well i work at a Merc Dealership. and the MKZ is a Badass car. The Cougars are Very ****ty and they dont look appealing.theres a different one in everyday.Mercury is just the "older brother" version of Ford. and Lincoln is its own thing, you guys should read up on the new Lincoln MKS.And its pretty hypicritical to be talking bad about the people who make your car that u love so much.and u gotta understand .WE (the members of this website) and probubly the biggest Mercury Enthusists out there.

[whd507]

all the MK's may very well be awesome cars, but dumping all new names on the product all at once wasn't a great idea. I have know idea which is which, and having looking them over briefly, I'm not inclined to make the effort to figure out which is which. they should have called it a Mark-something if they wanted name recognition. but that isn't what they wanted, they wanted to capture a new customer base, people who could care less about Lincoln's past, and be European I guess. gee I didn't know there was a euro-trash shortage here. trying to fill a void that does not exist isn't a great business plan. Lincoln-Mercury started going down hill when they departed from the nitch they nurtured for 50 years, and was allowed to drift aimlessly for 15 years. Mercuries used to look a bit different than the fords they shared platforms with, Lincolns used to have substantial differences than the fords that shared (few) parts with, and didn't drag body styles for 15 years. that works for pickups, not for exclusive transportation costing $50k. the current Town Car isnt stately, its overly feminine, and hasn't changed much more than a grille in a decade. give it a more square, stately look, offer an optional v-10 for bragging rights and people will come. the 95-97 TC looks better that current offerings, and they are killing that off anyway. the truck never sold as promised, the navigator while nice, never competed with the Escalade (might be a mixed blessing) it should have been on the Excursion platform with a v-10, and the Avatior was great, but under advertised until it was too late (a ford theme).

I bleed ford blue, but ford offers nothing at this point worth making a car payment over possibly excepting the mustang, and its overpriced with options. looking at recent sales figures I cant be alone in feeling this way.

[safado]

all the MK's may very well be awesome cars, but dumping all new names on the product all at once wasn't a great idea. I have know idea which is which, and having looking them over briefly, I'm not inclined to make the effort to figure out which is which. they should have called it a Mark-something if they wanted name recognition. but that isn't what they wanted, they wanted to capture a new customer base, people who could care less about Lincoln's past, and be European I guess. gee I didn't know there was a euro-trash shortage here. trying to fill a void that does not exist isn't a great business plan. Lincoln-Mercury started going down hill when they departed from the nitch they nurtured for 50 years, and was allowed to drift aimlessly for 15 years. Mercuries used to look a bit different than the fords they shared platforms with, Lincolns used to have substantial differences than the fords that shared (few) parts with, and didn't drag body styles for 15 years. that works for pickups, not for exclusive transportation costing $50k. the current Town Car isnt stately, its overly feminine, and hasn't changed much more than a grille in a decade. give it a more square, stately look, offer an optional v-10 for bragging rights and people will come. the 95-97 TC looks better that current offerings, and they are killing that off anyway. the truck never sold as promised, the navigator while nice, never competed with the Escalade (might be a mixed blessing) it should have been on the Excursion platform with a v-10, and the Avatior was great, but under advertised until it was too late (a ford theme).

I bleed ford blue, but ford offers nothing at this point worth making a car payment over possibly excepting the mustang, and its overpriced with options. looking at recent sales figures I cant be alone in feeling this way.



+1:stupid:

[MM03MOK]

UNCLELAR!!!! So good to hear from you!! :welcome1: back!! Best of luck!! I know you've been admiring the MM since the beginning!!
BTW,I'm going to look a 2004 DTR Marauder tomorrow after work,we'll see what shape it's in and play the numbers game.

[OneBADLsE]

Ummm..really? You should take a look at the Lincoln pickup truck. More reflectors and a few badges =$6000 premium that sells. Go figure?!?

The mark LT stickers around the range of a loaded king ranch or Lariat crew cab loaded. Price difference is minimal. ALso, the LT has STRONG REBATES that make it a much better buy

[stryker]

:mad: And that Magazine I changed the name to CRAP MAGAZINE they don't worth nothing Mercury will last many, many years that's the envy of many of this crap of magazine and the editors car craft magazine----> :flamer:<-----Mercury Marauder & STRYKER



STRYKER. :mad:

[ncmm]

Car Craft? Is that the free magazine I see when exiting the grocery store?

[JonW]

Yeah, but just think. We can go to the orphan car shows now and park with the 442s and Super Bees :)