"Ford Motor Co. will consider a new Mustang-based car for Mercury. Barb Samardzich, executive director of Ford Motor Co.'s small-car platforms, says she will prepare a business case for the project. She says a Mercury convertible and coupe drived from the Mustang are high on her list of 'cycle plan wants'"
Is it possible the Cougar name could once again be used, and attached to a worthy successor?
Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD
Is it possible that you'll never stop posting rumors and innuendo in this newsgroup?
Why do you care?
Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD
Can I get an 05 with a hatchback? I MISS the room my 88 and 93 LXs with that afforded.
-Rich
I see a quote but no source. This would be an interesting proposition here in Canada, anyway. All the old Mercury dealerships are now billed as Lincoln/Ford dealerships. Our dealership is a Ford dealership though we did sell 3 Marauders and we did sell Cougars up until their demise.
Curious, but it was my understanding that the Mercury marque was to be disassembled much like Plymouth...
Sorry, Jim. I clipped it off a webpage that didn't offer a source. Though with the direct quote it seems to be accurate.
Jim, that rumour has certainly been floating around... and with Mercury's sales of late it has to be a distinct possibility.
Personally, I could see a Mercury Mustang happening. The Mustang's new platform, for the most part, is unique to just the Mustang. And a Mercury Mustang could help recoup some design costs. Plus, a more formal Mercury Mustang, like the 60's version, could target a slightly different group of buyers.
Let's keep our fingers crossed.
Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD
I don't think you should be jacking people back and forth for nothing more than the sake of shooting off at the mouth.
Opinion noted. Next!
Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD
Wassamatta, Patricia? Truth make you nervous? Tell me, why *do* you have such a fetish for up-to-the-minute industry gossip? Rational minds want to know.
If this were to happen I wonder if they would use the Capri name or the Cougar name? I'd love to see a 2006 version of the Cougar Eliminator.
Well, we know it won't have the Hurricane motor, if it were to happen!
Steve
72 Skylark Custom455
Excuse while I wipe the drool from my keyboard....
Yeah, an updated Cougar Eliminator, that'd be the ticket for sure!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Okie Tom - TS #62
1998 GT Coupe 5-spd. 2001 Ranger XLT
Personally, I like the Cougar name better, but it's the end product that would be most important to me.
Wouldn't that be cool! I don't see that happening though. A performance Mercury Mustang would compete with the Ford Mustang GT.
Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD
I know... it's sad. Oh well, at least the 4.6 is now a runner. 112 in the quarter with a little weight reduction and aftermarket chip isn't too shabby.
Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD
The typical Mercury buyer is looking for an upscale Ford. Merely changing the fascia of the Mustang ain't gonna work. The Fox Capri died because of this. The RWD Cougar died because of this. The Marauder died because it was underpowered. Also, Mercury has to be given a better ad budget. I can only remember one ad during the entire run of the Mark VIII, which is an awesome car that could easily have sold far more quantity than it did.
It seems to me Ford is a one-legged duck in a pool of piranha.
It sounds to me that they're the "Buick of Ford Motor Co."
I really liked the last Riviera, but not enough power (or too much weight AND not enough power). It reminds me of the Mark VIII.
Steve
72 Skylark Custom455
In the 80s the selection of relevant imports sent traditional American Badge Engineering into history. If you wanted something "nicer" than a Ford or GM you'd get a BMW, Audi or Mercedes. If you wanted something more reliable you'd buy Japanese. American companies made a bundle by rebadging before that.
-John
Generic opined i
Anyone who's bought and driven a Grand Marquis or even an MN12 Cougar knows better.
There's a look/feel difference between the Ford / Merc marque, though not as pronounced as the Chev / Buick difference.
Good luck to those who think they are getting a "value for money" deal on a
5 year old BMW/ Audi, BTW... makes me larf!- - -- - - - - - -- - - - - - - - I'm looking for a return of the 4-seater T-Bird road car based on the LS platform, the Cougar would do better with a version of that - just like the MN12.
Which would supply an interesting amount of bolt-on mods for the Mustang down the road
The Fox Capri? See original post.
A lot of it has to do with perception and what your friends drive. The upscale commuters of Silicon Valley drive twice as many Euro and Japanese cars as US brands. Plenty of expensive cars have problems but they are fashionable because they are exclusive. Not many euro cars after the original Beetle have been good values!
-John
Whoa, CJ... ain't nothin' like the sound of a big inch cam in block with a llllooooonnnnngggg cam idling (or at least trying to). Yeah, this new stuff is neat but I'm a traditionalist.
Though I haven't mentioned it for a while, we are hoping to get Project Runner back on track this year. We delivered an ultimatum to our fabricator last fall. I was in the city a couple of weeks back but at this time of year he subcontracts to professional racers and lives in a much warmer place than I do during that time.
I'm all for seeing new stuff come down the line... especially if it doesn't look like a half used bar of soap or the new Dodge Charger. I will agree that Patrick seems to grab onto just about anything he reads....
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