Overview & Reviews

Mercury was a division of Ford Motor Company marketed as being somewhat more upscale than Ford. Throughout the latter part of its 71-year history, Mercury's vehicles were essentially Fords with unique styling details and special features meant to enhance their desirability relative to similar Ford products.

It all started in the 1930s, when Edsel Ford, Henry Ford's son, saw an opportunity to create an additional brand within the Ford hierarchy, one that would exist between the everyman Ford Deluxes and premium Lincoln Zephyrs. To achieve this, Edsel felt the vehicles of this new brand should offer distinctive styling along with innovative features and better capabilities. He named the new division "Mercury," after the Roman mythological god. The 1939 Mercury Eight was the division's first car. It distinguished itself from similar Ford products via a 95-horsepower engine that offered 10 more horses than the Ford V8.

The Eight proved to be a hit, with more than 155,000 sold by the early 1940s. Production stopped during World War II; after the war, the brand was realigned more closely with Lincoln. The company grew from strength to strength in the '50s, establishing itself as a maker of vehicles offering style, performance and cutting-edge technology. A dash of glamour was added to the automaker's image when James Dean appeared onscreen in a Mercury in the film Rebel Without a Cause.

The 1960s saw the introduction of Mercury's Comet and Meteor vehicles. The Comet featured diminutive dimensions and luxury accoutrements, while the Meteor was a midsize family car that followed the trend toward more reasonably sized cars. Racetrack wins boosted awareness of the Comet and helped the model make a big splash in terms of sales. By the end of the decade, the iconic Mercury Cougar, a variation of the Mustang, had been rolled out, its Eliminator version taking its place in the pantheon of legendary early muscle cars.

Hit hard by that decade's oil crisis, consumers during the 1970s were hungry for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Mercury responded with a new, smaller Comet and the Bobcat, the former a fancier version of the Ford Maverick, the latter a fancier version of the Ford Pinto. The brand's sales grew during a decade that was filled with turbulence and uncertainty for many competing marques. Mercury further expanded its lineup in the '80s, this time including the small, Ford Escort-based Lynx. Mercury enjoyed success with the 1986 launch of the Sable, a fraternal twin to the Ford Taurus whose sleek, aerodynamic lines and futuristic "light bar" front end styling set it apart from the Ford.

Mercury's sales hit an all-time high during the 1990s that would never again be matched. Minivans and SUVs were a big reason for that as Mercury introduced its Villager minivan and Mountaineer SUV. Late that decade it introduced a new Cougar, which differed from its predecessors by being a front-drive sport compact that also holds the distinction of being the last Mercury that wasn't a rebadged Ford.

The years following the new millennium were challenging for the brand, as changing consumer tastes and a lack of differentiation between Mercury and Ford vehicles hurt sales. Pundits often proclaimed the end of Mercury was near, but Ford kept stating it would keep Mercury around despite offering no hope for any unique future vehicles from the brand. Finally in 2010, Ford pulled the plug on Mercury, putting an end to more than 70 years of car-making heritage.

User Reviews:

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  My opinion - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By dougontheboat - November 23 - 1:16 am

  I think this car is a truck in disguise because it rides like one it has no powerto get on the highway. the interior is truck like.also a very hard ride not sporty just hard. (truck)Being the owner of a grand marque this car is not even close and cost more to me.

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  A $32,000+ Car? - 2004 Mercury Marauder
  By Dominique - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Im astonishing that Mercury can price a car over $32,000. 302 horses sound great. But no appearance at all. Seems to be a taxi-looking car. Both exterior & interior are definately eye- sored. Even Ford T-Bird looks better. With $32,000+ budget, smart people can look for Acura TL (270hp), Nissan 350Z (287hp), Subaru Impreza WRX STI (300hp), Infiniti G35 (260-280hp). Or with few additional grands, people can buy BMW 330i (225hp) or Volkswagen Passat W8 (270hp). 0-60 for those cars are around 6.0 sec. WRX STI is even less than 5.0 sec. Just think about it..!!

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  Nightmare to own - 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By 07Merc - October 1 - 8:30 pm

  I bought this vehicle in 2007 few months after I buying it I needed new floor mats. I have had to replace the navigation system once for overheating but the replacement parts still over heats. The CD changers works when it wants I only use this option rarely because I have had issues since day one. The seat heaters kick on at random. Keyless entry works when it wants too. I have had it in the shop on numerous occasions for ABS issues. Come to find out the ABS sensor and tone ring cant handle winter weather. When I take the vehicle in for most of the issues the magic phrase is there is nothing wrong with it. My wife and I have experienced the same issues.

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  Not so "Comfy" Marquis - 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By MetroMan - August 27 - 8:40 pm

  When I purchased my Marquis "Ultimate Edition" brand new, I thought for sure Id be buying a car that would ride like a cloud. Instead, I have a 4,200 pound modern day buckboard. This cars suspension is very unforgiving and downright hard riding. If you must purchase one of these cars, be careful, and dont buy one with the optional "handling package" ($615.00), because the suspension will be set up whereby you will feel every little blemish in the road surface. And also, the $895.00 "Premium Plus Audio Package" is a waste of money, since the rear speakers distort and rattle, but the dealer insists that this is normal. Need I say, this is my very last purchase of a Ford product....ever.

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  Cheap Van - 2004 Mercury Monterey
  By Flminivan mom - August 14 - 9:13 am

  We purchased our van new (17 miles) in 4/2005 because of the huge discounts offered thinking it was a great deal. This van has had to have rotors turned 3 times, rotors replaced 2 times, has been in for a leak under the rear seat 4 times (w/mildew), has been in 2 times for interior problems (dash) and had had the front tires replaced 2 times and other misc. problems. It now has 21,000 miles and is going back again for brake issues - vibration when braking. Dont waste your money on this unless you dont mind running it back for repairs every few weeks. Ford needs to acknowledge the major safety issue with the rotors. Too many others have had same problem for ours to just be a lemon.

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  Interior Noise - 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By L C - August 3 - 10:30 am

  When my 2008 is upshifting or when it downshifts going up a hill there is loud roar coming from the engine area. Sounds like a fan blade roar. The road noise in the interior is so loud the radio must be turned up to a point that when I stop at a stoplight the sound is extremely too loud. My local dealer and factory rep says the car meets standards. I previously owned a 2002 and was very happy with it, but it was much quieter than my 2008. I am extremely unhappy with Fords lack of response to address this issue. I have driven other 2008 Marquis and all of them have these issues.

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  Cougar Reveiw - 2002 Mercury Cougar
  By Rob Webber - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I purchsed this vehicle because I thought it was going to be well manufactued and be a great addition to the Cougar family. It turns out that I was wrong. This car was very sportey from the out side but when you get inside there are many problems and things that Ford Motor Company could have improved on. One, the engine is not that great even though the Duratec engine can have great potental to reach high standards. The seat belt is to small even for a slim woman, the molding on the passenger side door is loose, and the sound system is very crapy.

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  blown motor at 22,000 miles - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By Tony Arrivo - July 24 - 10:00 am

  My Sable threw a rod and blew the engine while driving down the expressway. I have just 22,000 miles on the car. This is their top of the line Duratec engine too.

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  Avoid at all cost! Not worth the money - 2001 Mercury Mountaineer
  By MaryMo - June 17 - 2:00 am

  I will never ever by another Mercury and Im seriuosly considering abandoning Ford Products at together! The Vehicle had serious suspension/frontend design flaws! Had to have it fixed multiple times for a serious frontend shimmy. On top of that the Mountaineer, which cost 35000$ + a 1500$ warrenty, Has been in the shop 13 times in 2 years! Furthermore, the service I have recieved is horrible and the company is unwilling to do ANYTHING to make it right. Do Not Buy a Mercury Mountaineer.

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  Looks cool, built like junk - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By Mike Jensen - April 24 - 10:00 am

  Ford bought back my car as a lemon. Im glad it happened as it had many problems and I still had 2 more years on my lease. On the otherside, the car looked great. It was kind of embarassing having a tow truck pulling it so often, but I liked the design of it.