Mercury Death Cancelled

wescoent · 07-22-2008, 08:28 AM

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/...ess/22ford.php

"The company will also end speculation about its Mercury division by making the brand an integral part of its new small-car strategy, according to these people, who spoke on the condition that they not be quoted by name because of the timing of the official announcement on Thursday."

At long last, the media backs up what I've been hearing about for months.

In the Lincoln-Mercury franchise, Lincoln will sell large premium cars, and Mercury will sell small premium cars.

Buick61 · 07-22-2008, 08:36 AM

This brand has been killed and brought back so many times.

Uzzy · 07-22-2008, 08:57 AM

I said it before, I'll say it again. They killed Mercury up here about 8 years ago. Nobody noticed, or cared. I don't think it would be that different in the US.

GMC-70 · 07-22-2008, 09:51 AM

Actually, here on Long Island Mercury sells very well. So I guess it all depends on the region.

Uzzy · 07-22-2008, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMC-70

Actually, here on Long Island Mercury sells very well. So I guess it all depends on the region.

Ya, but what do they have that Ford and Lincoln don't? More or less chrome and lightly different tail lights. That's all.

mikmak · 07-22-2008, 10:11 AM

I like Mercury but I don't know why.

Perhaps for the same reason I like Lincoln.

mikmak · 07-22-2008, 10:13 AM

On a serious note, if they do it right and bring in sharper versions of the FOcus et. al. they are probably going to become a big part of the company. Then again, they may get stuck with a leather trimmed Transit Connect. Some times you just never know

wescoent · 07-22-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uzzy

Ya, but what do they have that Ford and Lincoln don't? More or less chrome and lightly different tail lights. That's all.

1) Lincoln-Mercury dealer experience at Ford prices

2) Better interiors than Fords, but not costing any more

**T-Type** · 07-22-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wescoent

2) Better interiors than Fords, but not costing any more

Not to be a smart aleck, but if they could do better interiors for the same price, why shouldn't Ford get them too?

HoosierRon · 07-22-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wescoent

1) Lincoln-Mercury dealer experience at Ford prices

"StateWide Ford Lincoln Mercury is the most aggressive and competitively priced dealer in Northwestern Ohio."

Ford customers please use the side entrance. The front door is reserved for people looking to trade in the Topazes and Lynxes.

wescoent · 07-22-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Type

Not to be a smart aleck, but if they could do better interiors for the same price, why shouldn't Ford get them too?

They do... it's called the Limited trim on Fords.

The difference is, Mercury stocks more high-level trim models, and Ford stocks more lower-level trim models. So even though the models are identical, the average Mercury transaction price is higher.

There are MANY people who would not consider a Ford, but would have no problem in a similar priced Mercury.

emh · 07-22-2008, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wescoent

1) Lincoln-Mercury dealer experience at Ford prices

My local Lincoln-Mercury dealer also sells Kia. Maybe I could get the Lincoln-Mercury experience at Kia prices too

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Type

Not to be a smart aleck, but if they could do better interiors for the same price, why shouldn't Ford get them too?

I agree -- why should people have to go to 2 dealerships to see what are effectively different trim levels? They don't have to at Toyota or Honda. This artifically-enforced brand hierarchy at Ford/GM is part of the problem why their mass-market brands (Ford and Chevrolet) can't compete effectively against the Toyotas and Hondas of the world.

Canyonaro · 07-22-2008, 11:09 AM

Well they would need to drop their best seller the Milan to make it back to something Lincoln doesn't sell (if they are doing the small lux cars). No offense, but this brand is waning at best. That said I see a few Milans around, moreso then the Fusion.

**Ming** · 07-22-2008, 11:14 AM

Mercury needs a major re-imagining, and I think management now at Ford is up to that task.

Mercury could be a premium small car maker, like MINI...

megeebee · 07-22-2008, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wescoent

1) Lincoln-Mercury dealer experience at Ford prices

2) Better interiors than Fords, but not costing any more

Then why keep Ford if Lincolns and Mercurys are nicer and just as cheap?

.

07-22-2008, 08:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
wescoent 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,225	Mercury Death Cancelled http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/...ess/22ford.php "The company will also end speculation about its Mercury division by making the brand an integral part of its new small-car strategy, according to these people, who spoke on the condition that they not be quoted by name because of the timing of the official announcement on Thursday." At long last, the media backs up what I've been hearing about for months. In the Lincoln-Mercury franchise, Lincoln will sell large premium cars, and Mercury will sell small premium cars. __________________ "It's only when the tide goes out that you learn who's been swimming naked." -Warren Buffet

07-22-2008, 08:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
Buick61 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: DC Metro Area Drives: 58 Belvedere; 61 LeSabre; 96 Fleetwood; 07 SRX Posts: 8,495	Re: Mercury Death Cancelled This brand has been killed and brought back so many times. __________________ Used to own: 1959 Cadillac Series 62, 1960 AMC Rambler Six, 1998 Chevrolet Malibu, 2000 Saturn LS2, 2005 Chrysler 300C, 2006 Pontiac G6 GTP

07-22-2008, 08:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
Uzzy 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Windsor Ontario, Canada Drives: 2004 Chevy Silverado Z71; 1987 Plymouth Reliant Posts: 3,816	Re: Mercury Death Cancelled I said it before, I'll say it again. They killed Mercury up here about 8 years ago. Nobody noticed, or cared. I don't think it would be that different in the US. __________________ eXcelon inside ... Aut viam inveniam aut faciam Always Part of the Solution If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find him, maybe you can hire Uzzy.

07-22-2008, 09:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
GMC-70 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: USA Drives: 07 HHR and a 96 Formula Convert Posts: 652	Re: Mercury Death Cancelled Actually, here on Long Island Mercury sells very well. So I guess it all depends on the region.

07-22-2008, 10:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
mikmak 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pacific Paradise, Australia Drives: VZ Wagon and JSII sedan Posts: 8,022	Re: Mercury Death Cancelled I like Mercury but I don't know why. Perhaps for the same reason I like Lincoln. __________________ You start a conversation you cant even finish it. You're talkin a lot, but you're not sayin anything. When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed. Say something once, why say it again?

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07-22-2008, 10:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
mikmak 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pacific Paradise, Australia Drives: VZ Wagon and JSII sedan Posts: 8,022	Re: Mercury Death Cancelled On a serious note, if they do it right and bring in sharper versions of the FOcus et. al. they are probably going to become a big part of the company. Then again, they may get stuck with a leather trimmed Transit Connect. Some times you just never know __________________ You start a conversation you cant even finish it. You're talkin a lot, but you're not sayin anything. When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed. Say something once, why say it again?

07-22-2008, 11:09 AM	#13 (permalink)
Canyonaro 3.6 Liter V6 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: SKI Utah Drives: '04 Mali '07 Canyon CC 4x4 Z71 SLT Posts: 1,218	Re: Mercury Death Cancelled Well they would need to drop their best seller the Milan to make it back to something Lincoln doesn't sell (if they are doing the small lux cars). No offense, but this brand is waning at best. That said I see a few Milans around, moreso then the Fusion. __________________ Willy (from the Simpsons): Willy hears ya. Willy don't care. Обладание Тойотой не плохо, только все те люди, которые ведут тот, думая это как американец.

07-22-2008, 11:14 AM	#14 (permalink)
Ming GMI Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SE Texas Posts: 13,410	Re: Mercury Death Cancelled Mercury needs a major re-imagining, and I think management now at Ford is up to that task. Mercury could be a premium small car maker, like MINI... __________________ The Latest: Necromancer A Web Browser for the Commodore 64?

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