Is Mercury Done? (Official, dead)
#61
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I didn't know that; I think Ford has a better shot w. Lincoln anyhow becuase it has a better image (I think?)
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All in all I think this is a great move on Ford's part. However I don't think it should end there. I honestly feel that they should attempt to move their Lincoln brand further upmarket. Hell, Hyundai is taking on and slowly achieving their goal of being a Luxury player in the market. I see a void for them especially after selling off their premiere automotive group with Jag, Land Rover a few years back. Tata is doing better numbers with their Jags and Range Rovers continue to be strong sellers while actually improving their build quality and reliability. It seems as though Tata is living off of the fruit of Ford's labor.
I see what GM has done with reviving the Cadillac brand and I think Ford can and should do the same with the Lincoln. They can start with building some real V-8 RWD coupes and sedans. And completely overhaul that Fail of a truck in the Navigator. Interestingly enough the Navi was a huge success and helped kick off the Luxury SUV craze along with the MB M-class and such. Good Move Ford...Please keep it going.
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#63
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This is a bad decision, in my opinion. Mercury isn't suffering in sales the way Saab was suffering. Even without advertising, Mercury was doing fairly well for itself, given its limited lineup. It just seems as if Ford has decided to give up on it and devote all its resources to Ford and Lincoln. However, I believe there is a market for understated near-luxury vehicles, like Buick, Mercury, Volvo, and dare I say, Acura. Do they really believe their customers are either going to step up to Lincoln or step down to Ford? I wouldn't bet on it. I think they may lose potential sales to Buick, Volvo, & Acura by doing this. ![Thumb Down](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsdown.gif)
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Originally Posted by Pearlpower
Here come the petition drives.
I remember back, in the late 1980's, when Ford was going to replace the Mustang with the FWD, Mazda-derived Probe coupe. We heard the same excuses from the Ford marketers, back then, for dropping the Mustang, that we hear today for Mercury......that there was "No Market" for it, and it was "wasting money". The outcry from the public was was tremendous, and Ford quietly cancelled the Mustang-dropping plans with great embarassment and a red face....but ended up keeping the Probe. The Probe, ironically, was dropped a few years later, because IT couldn't keep up with Mustang sales.
Last edited by mmarshall; 06-02-10 at 04:50 PM.
#64
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Derrick Kuzak, Ford's product development chief, said Lincoln will have seven new or revamped vehicles in the next four years, including the brand's first compact car.
Ford's board of directors approved ending the brand Wednesday morning. Ford Americas President Mark Fields said the decision was made this spring as part of a regular annual business review. He said Mercury's sales make up such a small percentage of North American market share, and that the profile of Ford and Mercury shoppers is so similar, that it makes more sense to focus on accelerating the Ford brand and growing Lincoln.
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Ford's board of directors approved ending the brand Wednesday morning. Ford Americas President Mark Fields said the decision was made this spring as part of a regular annual business review. He said Mercury's sales make up such a small percentage of North American market share, and that the profile of Ford and Mercury shoppers is so similar, that it makes more sense to focus on accelerating the Ford brand and growing Lincoln.
Originally Posted by Sense4Miles
Do they really believe their customers are either going to step up to Lincoln or step down to Ford? I wouldn't bet on it. I think they may lose potential sales to Buick, Volvo, & Acura by doing this.
#66
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I support Ford's decision. The main fans of Mercury here are people that have never owned a Mercury for at least 25 years, which makes for long-winded internet chatter even if it's poor business. I do understand people have different opinions on this, but I respect Ford's decision in the interest of improving the business.
Note: so much of the weak and declining Mercury sales were rental/fleet sales at little or no profit.
Key word is "dead".
Note: so much of the weak and declining Mercury sales were rental/fleet sales at little or no profit.
Key word is "dead".
Last edited by IS-SV; 06-02-10 at 05:08 PM.
#68
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I support Ford's decision. The main fans of Mercury here are people that have never owned a Mercury for at least 25 years, which makes for long-winded internet chatter even if it's poor business. I do understand people have different opinions on this, but I respect Ford's decision in the interest of improving the business.
Key word is "dead".
Key word is "dead".
(And I respect your opinion, BTW)
people that have never owned a Mercury for at least 25 years, which makes for long-winded internet chatter even if it's poor business.
So.....DID I buy a Mercury? No....you win on that point. But WOULD I have if Subaru was not in buisness? Quite possibly, yes. And, I'm always been a firm believer in the axiom that an auto company cannot sell what it does not produce.
(Of course, as far as axioms go, the ISUZU Axiom certainly did not sell)
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Last edited by mmarshall; 06-02-10 at 05:19 PM.
#70
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Problem is; we heard the same argument from the Ford marketers when they tried to ax the Mustang, and look what happened.
(And I respect your opinion, BTW)
You might be surprised to know that, when I bought my Outback 5 years ago, I considered both an AWD Ford Escape and a Mercury Mariner.....I liked the basic design of both, but thought the Mercury was a little nicer inside. They rated about a 5 or 6 on my Top 10 consideration list.
So.....DID I buy a Mercury? No....you win on that point. But WOULD I have if Subaru was not in buisness? Quite possibly, yes. And, I'm always been a firm believer in the axiom that an auto company cannot sell what it does not produce.
(Of course, as far as axioms go, the ISUZU Axiom certainly did not sell)![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
(And I respect your opinion, BTW)
You might be surprised to know that, when I bought my Outback 5 years ago, I considered both an AWD Ford Escape and a Mercury Mariner.....I liked the basic design of both, but thought the Mercury was a little nicer inside. They rated about a 5 or 6 on my Top 10 consideration list.
So.....DID I buy a Mercury? No....you win on that point. But WOULD I have if Subaru was not in buisness? Quite possibly, yes. And, I'm always been a firm believer in the axiom that an auto company cannot sell what it does not produce.
(Of course, as far as axioms go, the ISUZU Axiom certainly did not sell)
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#71
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Problem is; we heard the same argument from the Ford marketers when they tried to ax the Mustang, and look what happened.
(And I respect your opinion, BTW)
And, I'm always been a firm believer in the axiom that an auto company cannot sell what it does not produce.
(Of course, as far as axioms go, the ISUZU Axiom certainly did not sell)![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
(And I respect your opinion, BTW)
And, I'm always been a firm believer in the axiom that an auto company cannot sell what it does not produce.
(Of course, as far as axioms go, the ISUZU Axiom certainly did not sell)
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
I'd like to refrain from responding to the above about your firm beliefs, that is a train wreck of a business model when nearly the entire product line is redundant/substandard/unprofitable, that often leads to bankruptcy and failure (Saturn, Pontiac, Saab, Hummer are some recent examples). I do agree about the Axiom model though, lol, and what happens in the end when decisions aren't made crisply.
As I said, nobody here bought a Mercury in 25 years, that's a very simple and accurate statement. If the people that claim to support Mercury won't buy the products (they were/are plenty cheap especially since discounted so heavily), that is sad. I know, would have, could have, now it's EOL.
Good night Mercury.
Last edited by IS-SV; 06-02-10 at 11:02 PM.
#72
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btw - I drove a V6 Escape for a week in Arizona, drove it hard on lightly traveled highways at 90 mph and found it to be a very capable SUV. The AWD worked great too in the snow in the early days of my trip.
#73
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It's like the amount auto companies pay their workers. You can't expect them to buy or lease new cars (including those from your own company) if you pay them lousy wages.
#74
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That is not simply a belief, but a fact. While other factors, of course, also come into play (and I don't deny that), an auto company cannot sell what it does not produce.
It's like the amount auto companies pay their workers. You can't expect them to buy or lease new cars (including those from your own company) if you pay them lousy wages.
It's like the amount auto companies pay their workers. You can't expect them to buy or lease new cars (including those from your own company) if you pay them lousy wages.
This is more like trivia (as usual) and too many other factors come into play (agreed).
That is the most horrible business strategy that I have heard in decades, a sure fire method to bring a company to bankruptcy, destroy shareholder wealth, a perfect real example of what happens when that strategy is applied is GM.
It had nothing to do with the amount auto companies pay workers, another horrible business strategy to prop up sales.
#75
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Now back to the topic of Mercury, speaking of the dead.
Are there any unique and good products in the Mercury division that should be moved over to Ford? I can't think of any off the top of my head.
Are there any unique and good products in the Mercury division that should be moved over to Ford? I can't think of any off the top of my head.
Last edited by IS-SV; 06-03-10 at 09:40 AM.