Mercury....on life support
#16
Pointless duplicate brand that needs to be killed. Just offer everything available in Mercury as an additional trim level.
Multiple brands made a lot of sense when there was no foreign competition. At that time it was each brand for a particular type of buyer. None of this makes any sense anymore as the market has settled into a few key segments. (the number and nature of these segments change over time)
Multiple brands made a lot of sense when there was no foreign competition. At that time it was each brand for a particular type of buyer. None of this makes any sense anymore as the market has settled into a few key segments. (the number and nature of these segments change over time)
#17
Lexus Fanatic
Here are the Fords in the UK, http://www.ford.co.uk/ie/all_cars/-/-/-/-/-/-
It was a nice car, and sold extremely well, though the U.S. models lacked the wagon-body option that the Europeans got.
I personally like the Mondeo and the KA, along with the European Ford Fiesta, especially the turbocharged version, we get all 3 of those here in Mexico and they have a very good following. Even the small Brazilian-made Ford Ecosport SUV is quite popular down here, too, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_EcoSport
Perhaps Ford WILL bring the KA stateside if the Smart-for-two first does well here...we'll have to wait and see. But even so, it clearly would not do well with a Mercury nameplate...the thread topic.
I remember the Merkur, I had a friend in high school with the XR4Ti, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xr4ti and it was a PITA to fix.
#18
Lexus Fanatic
rosskoss
Multiple brands made a lot of sense when there was no foreign competition.
Multiple brands made a lot of sense when there was no foreign competition.
You and I, of course, being car knowledgeable, know that the industry is global these days, and that it makes little difference today where a car is designed or built (in fact, many "foreign" cars are designed and built right here at home). But, many car shoppers buy hook, line, and sinker into the "buy American" theme, and, to them, that means an American nameplate, regardless of where it is built. This is not the case along both coasts, but in many Midwestern states, especially in and around the traditional carmaking areas of the Great Lakes, there is intense pressure from neighbors and colleagues to "buy American", sometimes with penalties to pay if you don't.
#19
Buy America is actually a dirty word (or two) in this country.
I spend a few months outside the US most years. You will not believe how incredibly patriotic some people from other countries are when it comes to even the smallest product decisions.
I strongly believe that in this day and age, we could use a little more of that in this country.
I spend a few months outside the US most years. You will not believe how incredibly patriotic some people from other countries are when it comes to even the smallest product decisions.
I strongly believe that in this day and age, we could use a little more of that in this country.
#20
Lexus Fanatic
Depends on where you are. In Michigan and parts of Ohio and Indiana, you risk social ostracism (and sometimes even vandalism to your car) if you don't put something with an American nameplate in your driveway. They look at you (obviously, with ignorance) like you are supporting Osama Ben Laden.
My own uncle, in Indiana, for a long time, like many of his neighbors, has believed this nonsense...I have tried to educate him more than once, wth only limited success.
And....what does he drive? The thread topic.....a MERCURY. A big Grand Marquis.
Like I said earlier, though, the industry is so global that, for the most part, despite "patriotism", there really is no such thing as a truly American, European, Japanese, or Korean car any more. Vehicles are often planned in one country, designed in another, built in another, and sold in yet another. And some vehicles go even further than that.....they are partially assembled in one country, with final assembly in another. To put it bluntly, it can be a real mess to try and keep up with it.
Take Mexico, for instance.....vehicles from American, European, and Asian design all three are asembled there. Same with Brazil.
So, in more instances than you would think, those "incredibly patriotic" people you speak of from other countries may only be deluding themselves.
My own uncle, in Indiana, for a long time, like many of his neighbors, has believed this nonsense...I have tried to educate him more than once, wth only limited success.
And....what does he drive? The thread topic.....a MERCURY. A big Grand Marquis.
I spend a few months outside the US most years. You will not believe how incredibly patriotic some people from other countries are when it comes to even the smallest product decisions.
I strongly believe that in this day and age, we could use a little more of that in this country.
I strongly believe that in this day and age, we could use a little more of that in this country.
Take Mexico, for instance.....vehicles from American, European, and Asian design all three are asembled there. Same with Brazil.
So, in more instances than you would think, those "incredibly patriotic" people you speak of from other countries may only be deluding themselves.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-10-08 at 03:49 PM.
#22
Lexus Champion
I prefer most of the exterior and interior trim differences in Mercurys vs. their Ford and Lincoln counterparts.
If any Merc was my cup of tea, I'd hesitate buying one primarily for resale purposes, even if the brand stays in business. If/when Ford drops the brand, resale would really take a dive.
If any Merc was my cup of tea, I'd hesitate buying one primarily for resale purposes, even if the brand stays in business. If/when Ford drops the brand, resale would really take a dive.
#23
Lexus Fanatic
I prefer most of the exterior and interior trim differences in Mercurys vs. their Ford and Lincoln counterparts.
If any Merc was my cup of tea, I'd hesitate buying one primarily for resale purposes, even if the brand stays in business. If/when Ford drops the brand, resale would really take a dive.
If any Merc was my cup of tea, I'd hesitate buying one primarily for resale purposes, even if the brand stays in business. If/when Ford drops the brand, resale would really take a dive.
You prefer the Mercury trim to LINCOLN?
I can see your preference to Ford, but Lincolns, by far, have the plushest interiors of the three. But......everyone's taste is different, and I respect your point of view.
I also understand your concerns about resale value if Mercury is dropped, but keep two things in mind. First, though you might not get much on a dealer trade-in, there may be auto collectors, especially on E-Bay, that may want to grab up something with the Mercury nameplate for vintage purposes, and, Second, the more people that actually BUY new Mercurys today, the less chance there will be of the brand being dropped (hint: ).
#24
Lexus Fanatic
The Montego/Sable, and its Ford Five Hundred/Taurus brother, is a nice car...one of my favorite domestic models....though sport-sedan enthusiasts may find it a little boring. Its repair record with both FWD/AWD has been average...but avoid the CVT models and get one with the conventional 6-speed auto.
The Mariner used to be quite nice (and used to also be one of my favorite domestics), and has an average to slightly better-then-average repair record for the last few years.....but the general fit/finish and the rather cheaply done interior on the new ones don't impress me much.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-11-08 at 04:39 AM.
#25
Lexus Champion
You prefer the Mercury trim to LINCOLN?
I can see your preference to Ford, but Lincolns, by far, have the plushest interiors of the three. But......everyone's taste is different, and I respect your point of view.
I also understand your concerns about resale value if Mercury is dropped, but keep two things in mind. First, though you might not get much on a dealer trade-in, there may be auto collectors, especially on E-Bay, that may want to grab up something with the Mercury nameplate for vintage purposes, and, Second, the more people that actually BUY new Mercurys today, the less chance there will be of the brand being dropped (hint: ).
I can see your preference to Ford, but Lincolns, by far, have the plushest interiors of the three. But......everyone's taste is different, and I respect your point of view.
I also understand your concerns about resale value if Mercury is dropped, but keep two things in mind. First, though you might not get much on a dealer trade-in, there may be auto collectors, especially on E-Bay, that may want to grab up something with the Mercury nameplate for vintage purposes, and, Second, the more people that actually BUY new Mercurys today, the less chance there will be of the brand being dropped (hint: ).
As I mentioned it isn't my cup of tea, but if I were in the market for a Lincoln or Merc, I'd choose the Merc. I'm currently driving one of those dreaded ES350's and after nearly two years I'm a satisfied owner and would probably buy another one usless something else catches my eye when the time comes.
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