In what could be the first indication that the Mercury brand is about disappear, Ford has confirmed to Inside Line that the Sable will axed this spring.
As you know the Sable, like all Mercury models, is merely a clone of some other existing Ford model. Sales are down 21 percent this year, which is the reason for its dismissal, so says a Ford spokesman.
Here's Inside Line's take: Ford Will Kill Off Mercury Sable in the Spring
estreka says:
09:17 AM, 12/ 5/08
Only 21% down!? That's the best performance I've heard all year!
ateixeira says:
11:50 AM, 12/ 5/08
They may have increased their market share. LOL
cjasis says:
11:55 AM, 12/ 5/08
For ought to simply kill Mercury all together.
firstwagon says:
12:10 PM, 12/ 5/08
I didn't even know they still made them. Never seen one.
Sounds like a good move.
albook says:
01:43 PM, 12/ 5/08
Old news. And yeah, I agree Mercury should be chopped.
desmolicious says:
03:19 PM, 12/ 5/08
Serious question. What's the difference between Mercury and Lincoln?
altimadude00 says:
04:46 PM, 12/ 5/08
Licnoln is trying to be valid in today's marketplace by trying to appeal to younger buyers. Mercurys are fancier Fords for people who want to pay more for Fords.
ryster says:
04:13 AM, 12/ 6/08
Ford always knows how to kill a good thing. We had a '98 Mercury Mystique. Awesome car, never 1 problem with it. We would have handily purchased another one when the lease ended 2 years later. Then they killed the Contour and Montego. Replaced it with a Dodge Stratus, which went 60K trouble free miles over the next 3 years.
We currently have an '07 Mercury Montego. Again, a great car. No issues in 25K miles. Comfortable, economical (28+mpg on the highway), and good performance. The Montego becomes the Sable , and now they simply kill it off.
In 2005 through 2007, the Montego and Five Hundred took a ton of flack for the 3.0L engine. Claims were made that it was underpowered and unrefined. Not true. The car will easily get out in traffic and has never felt slow.
Ford has killed the wrong Mercury products. They should be killing the Mountaineer and the Grand Marquis. The Mariner, Milan, and Sable are the mainstream models they should be promoting.
brn says:
09:03 AM, 12/ 7/08
Altimadude writes: "Mercurys are fancier Fords for people who want to pay more for Fords."
Dress up a Ford and it will often cost you more than an equally equipped Mercury. Mercury also gives you better fit-n-finish. Basically, you get a better Ford for no more money.
Yes, you can pay more for a Mercury, but you have to dress it up beyond what the Ford can be dressed up.
firstwagon says:
09:46 AM, 12/ 7/08
"the Montego and Five Hundred took a ton of flack for the 3.0L engine"
The think the problem wasn't the 3.0 engine. It's an adaquate base engine. The trouble is they didn't offer any better options.
The 2.7 V6 on the 300 and Charger is nothing special either but fine for most people. However Chrysler wisely choose to offer the much stonger 3.5 V6 as an option (plus 2 hemis).
That way the magazines can't complain about power and everyone is happy.
brn says:
03:10 PM, 12/ 7/08
I think firstwagon nailed it. Even if the 500 had a more powerful option, 80% of buyers would have opted for the 3.0L. Only having the 3.0 option meant the automotive press could claim the following (all quotes taken from the 2007 Model Review): "in need of a more powerful engine", "Weak and unrefined V6", "major disadvantage to the 2007 Ford Five Hundred is its 203-horsepower", "simply doesn't have enough power", "buyers will wish for extra midrange torque"