Official: Ford Axes Mercury May 27, 2010, 04:28:07 PM http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/27/report-ford-said-to-be-shutting-doors-at-mercury/According to a report from Bloomberg, which is citing two unnamed sources who are supposedly "familiar with the plan," Ford is planning to close the doors on its Mercury division after 70 years of existence. If true, Mercury will join recently departed brands ranging from Plymouth, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn and Hummer.We can't say that this news comes as a shocker, as buttstuffysts far and wide have been predicting such an event for the last few years, but Ford has repeatedly denied any plans to cancel its interplanetary division when questioned.For what it's worth, the Mercury brand has seen its sales fall by nearly three-quarters since the year 2000, now representing less than two percent of Ford's annual sales. What's more, Mercury is scheduled to lose two of its four models next year. At this point, the only thing we'll miss if Mercury leaves us is spokesmodel Jill Wagner.Stay tuned for more as the story develops. Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #1 – May 27, 2010, 06:08:22 PM I will miss the Mercury gal, she is much better looking that the dirty jobs guy.TED Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #2 – May 27, 2010, 06:31:52 PM Ford killed Mercury long ago. Even on the few Mercury models available Ford made no attempt to cover up the badge engineering. No unique to the marque models, and not even any unique sheetmetal on shared ones. That's one thing I'll give credit to the General, at least in the last half decade - at least they tried to make the cars from different divisions look different (except the Cobalt/G5 and the trucks). Nobody would mistake a Malibu for an Aura or G6. Chevy had its Corvette, Pontiac had its G8 and Solstice. Mercury has nothing but waterfall grilles on more expensive Fords. And not very many of them, at that. If Ford had wanted Mercury to survive they'd have given the division a Mustang (Cougar) and Focus variant. Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #3 – May 27, 2010, 10:40:18 PM Quote from: thunder chicken;323426ford killed mercury long ago. Even on the few mercury models available ford made no attempt to cover up the badge engineering. No unique to the marque models, and not even any unique sheetmetal on shared ones. That's one thing i'll give credit to the general, at least in the last half decade - at least they tried to make the cars from different divisions look different (except the cobalt/g5 and the trucks). Nobody would mistake a malibu for an aura or g6. Chevy had its corvette, pontiac had its g8 and solstice. Mercury has nothing but waterfall grilles on more expensive fords. And not very many of them, at that. If ford had wanted mercury to survive they'd have given the division a mustang (cougar) and focus variant.x2^^^^ Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #4 – May 28, 2010, 12:08:56 AM I have been waiting for the axe to fall anytime... It's really tough to see Mercury go, but all of the cars that made really made Mercury special are gone. For me the Cougar was the most special in it's time and they mismanaged the nameplate until even it had no relavence. With all the Lincoln-Mercury dealers being combined with Ford dealers, it really makes it harder for Mercury to exist and it just isn't enough to make Mercury be the smaller vehicles complimenting the larger Lincolns, epsecially with mostly alike Ford models being sold on the same lots. Their focus will be on strengthening the Lincoln line as they will likely add a couple of models, for instance Lincoln versions of the next Escape and maybe a smaller Focus based "Town Clown Car" as i call it that they have been showing recently. Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #5 – May 28, 2010, 10:55:40 AM And if you ask me the recent lincolns are straight fugly. I wanna say the LS was the last one that looked relatively decent, and the Mark VIII was the last true lincoln. LS was just a jag in disguise. Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #6 – May 28, 2010, 09:28:09 PM Quote from: bhazard;323479And if you ask me the recent lincolns are straight fugly. I wanna say the LS was the last one that looked relatively decent, and the Mark VIII was the last true lincoln. LS was just a jag in disguise.Honestly I could care less about the current creed of Lincolns. They do abosolutely nothing for me. There is no real allure or anything really special that makes me want to aspire to own one. Heck I even like the seat styles better in the Fusion than the MKZ. And I would take the Taurus over the MKS anyday! SUV's and Crossovers... I don't even care if they exist, but I would have to say I like the Flex way more than the MKX. Now the Lincoln MKR concept is what I do like but I really wish they would save that concept as a revived Tbird four door model which I think would sell better than any Lincoln. Now I know some may poo-poo a 4-door Tbird but I have always liked the 1967-69 four door Birds with the suicide doors. And it's highly unlikely we will ever see a four seat coupe again due to the survival and protection of the Mustang. I can even see reluctance of offering a Tbird in a roadster again to protect Mustang sales. Anyone ever notice how conveniently the Tbird bowed out in 2005 as the new Mustang came out? For Cougar fans... I would not rule out the idea that a revived Cougar could be brought out one day as a specialy stand alone upscale model without the Mercury nameplate attached to it. Why not? It would be more interesting than another Lincoln MK-insert unused letter of the alphabet... Or if they have to... Lincoln Cougar... And there is the validity as well of reviving a Lincoln Capri since Lincoln used to make a capri model in the 1950's. Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #7 – May 28, 2010, 09:38:29 PM Quote from: Thunder Chicken;323426Ford killed Mercury long ago. Even on the few Mercury models available Ford made no attempt to cover up the badge engineering. No unique to the marque models, and not even any unique sheetmetal on shared ones. That's one thing I'll give credit to the General, at least in the last half decade - at least they tried to make the cars from different divisions look different (except the Cobalt/G5 and the trucks). Nobody would mistake a Malibu for an Aura or G6. Chevy had its Corvette, Pontiac had its G8 and Solstice. Mercury has nothing but waterfall grilles on more expensive Fords. And not very many of them, at that. If Ford had wanted Mercury to survive they'd have given the division a Mustang (Cougar) and Focus variant.x3 I'm an old Merc fan, and it saddens me so. The last Cougar was about the only unique Merc made. Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #8 – May 28, 2010, 09:42:30 PM To be perfectly honest I wasn't even familiar with Mercury's current line up of autos. It just didn't catch my attention enough but then again I'm probably not the target audience of such class. My favourite Mercury over time is actually the Grand Marquis. My grandfather had one (early 90s), 5.0, super plush comfy interior.. MINT.. I loved that car so much. I detailed it up really nice for him and took photos of it for a sale ad couple years ago. Local person ended up buying it - it was priced so well, they got it for a steal of a deal because he wanted it gone to make room in his garage. He took such great care of that car. It was white with blue cloth interior. Truly pimp. I'd rock it in a heart beat. Never been in anything as comfy as that. Felt great to drive it too thanks to the 5.0 and a smooth transmission. I still see the car on occasion here. I hope the new owners are taking good care of it.And of course.. yes.. the Cougar was cool too. Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #9 – May 28, 2010, 11:44:14 PM The grills on the new Lincolns are :barf:, it is almost like they have an undercover GM guy in there designing the thing. Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #10 – May 29, 2010, 12:57:26 AM Quote from: T-BirdX3;323538The grills on the new Lincolns are :barf:, it is almost like they have an undercover GM guy in there designing the thing.Oh yeah when I first saw the "bow wave" grille as they call it used on concept Lincolns the first thought was that Oldsmobile was back... The so called "bow wave" grille has historical connections to 30's & 40's Lincolns but who in the hell these days besides a handful of people over 40 connect this related styling cue. This "bow wave" grille is ridiculously overscaled on the restyled 2011 Lincoln MKT... It looks like a cowcatcher on the front of an old steam locomotive.I was more into the classy 60's-style Lincoln Continental chrome eggcrate grille on the Aviator/MKX. I'd say the Rolls Royce styled grilles starting with the 1969 Continental Mark II ending with the 1991 Town Car are history as they really do not fit in with the shapes of modern cars and also recall the overuse of one of the most baroque aftermarket grille accessories that have been added to cars for decades.. However I was really hating the oversized 2010 Fusion grille until we got one. I guess I am used to it now but I'd still rather see a more intricate pattern rather than looking like I am about to get shaved by a giant razor. Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #11 – May 29, 2010, 02:01:07 AM I think Lincoln is trying to make their new lineup "futureproof". I mean, how many recent movies in the last few years have you seen that were set in the future and everything on the road was electric and looked just like an mks?It would be a shame to see Mercury go after so long, but I would not be entirely disappointed in a Lincoln Cougar. lolHowever, if their gonna go that far, whats the sense in even keeping Lincoln. Why not just simplify and make "Ford Motor Company", "Ford" Motor Company. Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #12 – May 31, 2010, 09:16:50 PM Quote from: fluke;323517To be perfectly honest I wasn't even familiar with Mercury's current line up of autos. It just didn't catch my attention enough but then again I'm probably not the target audience of such class. My favourite Mercury over time is actually the Grand Marquis. My grandfather had one (early 90s), 5.0, super plush comfy interior.. MINT.. I loved that car so much. I detailed it up really nice for him and took photos of it for a sale ad couple years ago. Local person ended up buying it - it was priced so well, they got it for a steal of a deal because he wanted it gone to make room in his garage. He took such great care of that car. It was white with blue cloth interior. Truly pimp. I'd rock it in a heart beat. Never been in anything as comfy as that. Felt great to drive it too thanks to the 5.0 and a smooth transmission. I still see the car on occasion here. I hope the new owners are taking good care of it.And of course.. yes.. the Cougar was cool too. My brother just got a white '89 Grand Marquis - White with blue cloth interior......sweet. Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #13 – May 31, 2010, 09:37:18 PM Quote from: bhazard;323479And if you ask me the recent lincolns are straight fugly. I wanna say the LS was the last one that looked relatively decent, and the Mark VIII was the last true lincoln. LS was just a jag in disguise.I'm still a huge fan of the newer Towncars. They have lot of balls in a 5000 lb package. Quote Selected
Official: Ford Axes Mercury Reply #14 – May 31, 2010, 10:05:28 PM Quote from: daminc;323879I'm still a huge fan of the newer Towncars. They have lot of balls in a 5000 lb package.Towncars are still nice, they retain the big luxury style of a traditional Lincoln. The MK series as a whole, just dosen't say Lincoln to me. Big and luxurious, that's a Lincoln. I remember when I was younger, my grandfather always had a Towncar. I remember riding in that thing to Maine one year, I was in the backseat by myself, and I felt like I had enough room to build a rocket lol. Quote Selected
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