Ford Motors Discontinuing Mercury

[Megafast13]

It's official now

Mercury sure was great back in the day, but in the last 10 years they haven't been very impressive and they only sold 94,000 last year.

Thoughts?

[new2detailing]

Re: Ford Motors Discontinuing Mercury

The problem with the Mercury brand , was that Ford really didn't have a definitive vision for the brand. So, Mercury had slightly different versions of the Taurus(Montego), Escape(Mariner), and Fusion(Milan). While nice cars in their own right, they did little to distinguish themselves from the Ford versions.

[Tex Star Detail]

Re: Ford Motors Discontinuing Mercury

Not to mention that the Cougars were an eyesore....

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Ford Motors Discontinuing Mercury

In a way it was like GM. Too many look a likes. It is a shame.

[boiler7904]

Re: Ford Motors Discontinuing Mercury

Without a way to differentiate themselves from Ford and Lincoln products, I'm surprised Mercury didn't get killed sooner.

On the GM front, Buick's only saving grace is that they have vehicles unique to them based on platforms used for other brands.

[Barry N]

Re: Ford Motors Discontinuing Mercury

Didn't know that they were still building Merc's
and to think their highlight was the Mercury Marauder. ugh

[Bunky]

Re: Ford Motors Discontinuing Mercury

As of late Mercurys were just Fords with a different grill and tail lights. The cost was about the same but Mercury came with more standard features. The mercury marketing was non-existent so no wonder it never sold.

The Lincoln-Mercury dealers are going to have to carry a new line to stay viable. Maybe when Ford starts using the euro imports they make get a new brand to sell.

[ziggo99]

Re: Ford Motors Discontinuing Mercury

Without a way to differentiate themselves from Ford and Lincoln products, I'm surprised Mercury didn't get killed sooner.

On the GM front, Buick's only saving grace is that they have vehicles unique to them based on platforms used for other brands.

Buick's saving grace was China. For some reason, the Chinese were buying them at a ridiculous rate and made Buick profitable. GM knew they couldn't axe them. I personally wanted them too. They should've axed Buick back in 2002 and kept Olds. They had a good family sedan with the Intrigue and the Aurora was a sleeper with the v8. It could've been a BMW fighting brand. Cadillac, Chevy, GMC, and Olds. Saturn would've been a stretch to keep in there. But what do we know about operating a car company

[Tex Star Detail]

Re: Ford Motors Discontinuing Mercury

Saturn was just a low budget, snap together car. Guess they thought they could market to the fuel efficient or young crowd. Styling cues just weren't there. They did make the RedLine Ion? Right? Never heard too much about it....

Yea, I never really got the whole Ford/Merc. look a likes, same with GMC/Chevy. Seemed sort of pointless. I'm sure there was some sort of meaning. For the GMC/Chevy, I preferred the looks of the GMC front ends for some reason. Loved the grilles. Everyone thought they should axe the GMC brand. Some say GMC was the more luxury of the 2 in the style dept. Not sure, they seemed pretty much alike to me, minus some badges and Front ends... Though GMC only makes Trucks and Vans and such.

Merc should have been ditched a long time ago and Olds kept, as stated above. Olds could have came back with some of there old school designs. Seems like the other Brands are doing well with their "Old School" looks. Some of the Olds. vehicles marketed to the "older folks" and I thought did well? Maybe not....

[Bunky]

Re: Ford Motors Discontinuing Mercury

Mercury like Olds suffered from brand image. I do agree Olds had some interesting cars (not your father's Oldsmobile) but again people shop by brand so no matter how good the cars may have been they just could not catch on. The older GM buyer had 3 brands: Chevy, Buick, and Olds so I understand why they tried to change Olds. Cadillac was premium price. When you are trying to save the business, there is no patience for something to possibly catch on.

[ziggo99]

Re: Ford Motors Discontinuing Mercury

Saturn was just a low budget, snap together car. Guess they thought they could market to the fuel efficient or young crowd. Styling cues just weren't there. They did make the RedLine Ion? Right? Never heard too much about it....

Yea, I never really got the whole Ford/Merc. look a likes, same with GMC/Chevy. Seemed sort of pointless. I'm sure there was some sort of meaning. For the GMC/Chevy, I preferred the looks of the GMC front ends for some reason. Loved the grilles. Everyone thought they should axe the GMC brand. Some say GMC was the more luxury of the 2 in the style dept. Not sure, they seemed pretty much alike to me, minus some badges and Front ends... Though GMC only makes Trucks and Vans and such.

Merc should have been ditched a long time ago and Olds kept, as stated above. Olds could have came back with some of there old school designs. Seems like the other Brands are doing well with their "Old School" looks. Some of the Olds. vehicles marketed to the "older folks" and I thought did well? Maybe not....

GMC is kept around so it could be sold with the Buck/Cadilac/Olds dealers, which had no trucks to sell. It made sense. And at the end, Saturn really turned around. I happen to own a 2008 Aura XR. The 3.6 engine with the 6 speed automatic and paddle shifters is an amazing combo. The car is solid. Just too little, too late.