New Ford Focus Badged as Mercury Tracer Due in 2011
02-16-10, 10:26 AM
#31
Lexus Fanatic
02-16-10, 10:29 AM
#32
Lexus Fanatic
I'm not sure if the closings are just due to Mercury, or because of Lincoln as well, since both are usually sold out of the same dealerships. Though the Navigator is popular (mostly by image/stereotype) with entertainers, professional athletes, and musicians, Lincoln, in general, has lost a number of customers lately....and the dropping of the popular Town Car just made it worse. Mercury also compunded the problem by dropping (or greatly restricting) the Sable, Grand Marquis, and, yes.........the earler Tracer.
Don't agree about the crappy Sable, Grand Marquis and earlier Tracer, all are crap cars that contributed to the state of Mercury and to continue with them would just accelerate a death spiral.
02-16-10, 10:53 AM
#33
Lexus Fanatic
Actually, I didn't intend for it to be funny.
We both know that buisness/market research, as to what will and won't sell, can be a complex buisness, and there are a lot of factors involved. But, in the end, no matter how you look at it you have to have cars available if customers want to buy them.
That's how GM got in trouble with the 2010 Camaro SS. To make only 5000 of them in the first year was ludicrous.....especially when there were lines a mile long at Chevy dealerships waiting to sign on the dotted line. Despite a number of CL requests for a full-review, I never did get an actual test-drive of an SS, or even an RS, and had to settle for (and write up) a static review without the test-drive.
We both know that buisness/market research, as to what will and won't sell, can be a complex buisness, and there are a lot of factors involved. But, in the end, no matter how you look at it you have to have cars available if customers want to buy them.
That's how GM got in trouble with the 2010 Camaro SS. To make only 5000 of them in the first year was ludicrous.....especially when there were lines a mile long at Chevy dealerships waiting to sign on the dotted line. Despite a number of CL requests for a full-review, I never did get an actual test-drive of an SS, or even an RS, and had to settle for (and write up) a static review without the test-drive.
02-16-10, 10:56 AM
#34
Lexus Fanatic
Actually, I didn't intend for it to be funny.
We both know that buisness/market research, as to what will and won't sell, can be a complex buisness, and there are a lot of factors involved. But, in the end, no matter how you look at it you have to have cars available if customers want to buy them.
That's how GM got in trouble with the 2010 Camaro SS. To make only 5000 of them in the first year was ludicrous.....especially when there were lines a mile long at Chevy dealerships waiting to sign on the dotted line. Despite a number of CL requests for a full-review, I never did get an actual test-drive of an SS, or even an RS, and had to settle for (and write up) a static review without the test-drive.
We both know that buisness/market research, as to what will and won't sell, can be a complex buisness, and there are a lot of factors involved. But, in the end, no matter how you look at it you have to have cars available if customers want to buy them.
That's how GM got in trouble with the 2010 Camaro SS. To make only 5000 of them in the first year was ludicrous.....especially when there were lines a mile long at Chevy dealerships waiting to sign on the dotted line. Despite a number of CL requests for a full-review, I never did get an actual test-drive of an SS, or even an RS, and had to settle for (and write up) a static review without the test-drive.
02-16-10, 11:05 AM
#35
Lexus Fanatic
Not really an update.....that's been the case for years. Of course, it's not a complete stereotype (the Navigator sells to others as well), but there is some truth to it. In fact, the first time I reviewed/test-drove a Navigator some years ago, the salesman who handed me the keys told me he had sold two of them just the previous day...one to a member of the Washington Redskins (I won't say who) and another to a member of the Washington Wizards basketball team.
Three things. First, a new Sable would probably be considerably less "crappy" (as you use the term) than previous models...the new 2010 Ford Taurus, which it (would) be based on, gets high marks from the auto press and testers....I reviewed a new Taurus myself some months ago and was generally impressed with it. Second, earlier Tracers were not "crap" cars either, but reasonably well-built, and based on well-designed versions of Ford and Mazda compacts. Third, you may not care much for the Grand Marquis (it would not be on my shopping list either) but it was popular with two groups of buyers.....older people/senoir citizens, and those who still wanted a full-frame, RWD, V8 car..........the likes of which are almost impossible to find now still selling brand-new.
Don't agree about the crappy Sable, Grand Marquis and earlier Tracer, all are crap cars that contributed to the state of Mercury and to continue with them would just accelerate a death spiral.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-16-10 at 11:11 AM.
02-16-10, 11:09 AM
#36
Lexus Fanatic
Well, not just the Camaro. I think a new Cougar, for Mercury, would have a fair amount of appeal to those who like ponycars but want a little more overall class and better interior materials than the Mustang/Camaro/Challenger class. The last Cougar, an awkwardly-styled coupe spinoff of the Mondeo/Contour/Mystique, was, IMO, a joke. This time, they need to do it right.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-16-10 at 11:12 AM.
02-16-10, 11:11 AM
#37
Lexus Fanatic
Three things. First, a new Sable would probaly be considerably less "crappy" (as you use the term) than previous models...the new 2010 Ford Taurus, which it (would) be based on, gets high marks from the auto press and testers....I reviewed a new Taurus myself some months ago and was generally impressed with it. Second, earlier Tracers were not "crap" cars either, but reasonably well-built, and based on well-designed versions of Ford and Mazda compacts. Third, you may not care much for the Grand Marquis (it would not be on my shopping list either) but it was popular with two groups of buyers.....older people/senoir citizens, and those who still wanted a full-frame, RWD, V8 car..........the likes of which are almost impossible to find now still selling brand-new.
The 2010 Taurus is another thread. Rebadges are rebadges.
Popular amongst geezers (expected to expire and/or buy cars so infrequently it doesn't matter) doesn't equate to profitable sales levels obviously.
As a Ford insider, I'm glad to see Mercury make crisper decisions that give some hope for survival.
02-16-10, 11:11 AM
#38
Lexus Fanatic
Well, not just the Camaro. I think a new Cougar, for Mercury, would have a fair amount of appeal to those who like ponycars but want a little more overall class and better interior matrials than the Mustang/Camaro/Challenger class. The last Cougar, an awkwardly-styled coupe spinoff of the Mondeo/Contour/Mystique, was, IMO, a joke. This time, they need to do it right.
02-16-10, 11:17 AM
#39
Lexus Fanatic
Depends on what you mean by "backward-looking". Recent Mustangs, with retro-60's styling, instrumentation, big V8s, and even 60's-style live axles have been enormously popular in the marketplace. The difference was that Ford committed enough resources to their production......unlike GM with the new Camaros.
02-16-10, 11:19 AM
#40
Lexus Fanatic
Depends on what you mean by "backward-looking". Recent Mustangs, with retro-60's styling, instrumentation, big V8s, and even 60's-style live axles have been enormously popular in the marketplace. The difference was that Ford committed enough resources to their production......unlike GM with the new Camaros.
I thought this was about Mercury and the new Tracer.
02-16-10, 11:21 AM
#41
Lexus Fanatic
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02-16-10, 01:05 PM
#43
Tracer?? really? Not Mystique? lol. Ford's gotta stop recycling names and just come up with a fresh one. I'm not sure if I were in a market for a small car, I'd buy a Mercury Tracer. "Oh you mean the rebadged Ford Tempo of the 80s?" is not exactly what I'd like to hear. Focus sounds better.
02-16-10, 01:51 PM
#44
Lexus Fanatic
I like that suggestion, at least Lincoln has a bit more brand (positive) recognition. The Mxx alphabet soup naming system is worthless, not even the enthusiast can be bothered to figure out what is what and the average car buyer probably knows less.
02-16-10, 02:50 PM
#45
Lexus Fanatic
