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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  Lemon - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By DDD000 - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my 2000 special edition in Aug of 2000. I paid $22,300.00 I have had nothing but constant problems with this car. It has been at the service department more than I have had a chance to drive it.

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  23 Times to the dealer for warranty work - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By Tavy - May 20 - 10:00 am

  In short, this is the worst built car I have ever owned. I had it in for warranty work 23 times in the time that I owned it which was only about 33 months. Between warranty work and regular service, it was in the shop about 3-4 days a month for almost 3 years. Getting rid of it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Door open sensor, check engine light, misfiring cylinder, suspension end links, transmission, brake rotor life is horrendous, trunk latch release, sunroof, dash illumination, the list goes on... Ill never buy another Ford.

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  I hate this SUV - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By Mercury Mariner - April 22 - 10:26 am

  I had read the Mercury Mariner was the top of the line SUV. I bought the best one they had, thinking I got everything. It cost about four thousand dollars more then the Escape, or the Jeep, and it has less features. A lot of things I thought were standard on the car, that most 1990 cars have on them, they dont even put on this car. They told me it was my fault, I should have asked if the car had them before I bought it. I had a 1995 Grand Prix, and it has more features on it then this one dose, and you cant even order them on the Mariner, because it isnt even an option. They have not perfected this car enough. I went to work the other morning, and the defogger on the back window doesn

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  I wouldnt buy - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By Wanda - March 14 - 11:40 am

  I have had to replace 3 alternators, has to get tires replaced a lot. I have to get my transmission electrial system replaced. I had to get wiring for from my engine to my alternator. My set does move up it stays in one place. My trunk, will not open on its own. Recommendation, is to check out everys car reviews before purchasing this vechile.

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  Dont Buy It - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By JeffMiller - February 27 - 12:46 am

  Although this car looks great and can be fun to drive, it has many problems. It has had more than 10 recalls in under 3 years. The "premium" radio cant get a channel to stay. The engine, wipers, etc. interupt the reception. The headlights let water leak into them. Infact, the doors and trunk leak. The back seats are very uncomfortable. The doors lock by themselves, requiring one to always keep a spare on their person. Need I say more?

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  Dont like it much, but its dependable - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By THE LEWIS - January 21 - 10:00 am

  We purchased the car because we had to get something larger with a second child on the way. With 2 kids now and 2 car seats, not enough room. Now, that were trying to trade it in Im finding we overpaid by way to much. The cars okay but not for the price. I wish I would have bought an SUV in the first place or a Honda, at least the payments Ive made would amount to something!!!!

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  FELL APART AFTER WARRANTY FINISHED - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By Marc26tx - December 11 - 2:00 am

  While under warranty it went in for transmission issue and a/c motor. After 36k was over, DOWN hill from there. Mass air flow sensor, fuel gauge broke,windshield wiper motor failed. Changed 4 alternators in 1 week and 2 different dealers who couldnt fix the problem and told me the car was possessed and I should sell it immediately! So then I took it to Carmax to sell it to them and it BROKE DOWN on the test drive! Since then, I traded it for an 04 Hyundai with 100,000k mile warranty and I will NEVER buy an American car again! Somebody at Ford needs to marry someone from Japan so they produce a reliable product.

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  Factory Defects - 2000 Mercury Mystique
  By Neilf80 - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Dash board covering came unglued at 17000 miles was fixed as factory defect w/same dash fell apart again at 32000 was told tuff luck they had fixed it once they did not have to deal with it agaun.This was Ford motor co. Jacky Jones said they would fix it for a thousand.Still no guarantee it will stay fixed.This is my mothers car she is on a fixed income and can not afford to have the dash fixed at this time.Otherwise a very good vechicle,but factory backing is not there

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  What a Lemon - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By What a Lemon - October 15 - 3:53 am

  I would not suggest anyone to buy this car. I fell in love with this car when I first seen it but in this case looks were not everything. I bought this car as a birthday present to myself and since driving it off the lot a year ago I have already spent $4000 in repairs. It is sitting at the garage right now waiting for another transmission. I have had it in the garage twice before with the same issues. Other than the trans my AC stopped working this past summer, the fan at the radiator stopped working, the headlights do this dimming thing that just drives me crazy, but hey, it has a great radio. Its seen the back of a tow truck more than the road itself.

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  not a good choice - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By florida - October 5 - 10:00 am

  Its no wonder rental car companies buy these. At 19,000 miles, i love it. I drove it to New York form Orlando.Past 25,000 miles, starts to show minor wear and tear(engine rattling).30,000: Brakes arer bad, i keep on bringing it in for brakes until the 40,000 mile mark.Did brakes 20 times(no kidding).Guy at the dealer told me to sell it before serious trouble happens (told me all of the cars are junk).43,500 miles: engine revs to 5000 RPMS when shifting from first to second gear.44,000:I look at camarys,brakes are mushier on camarys than on my sable (drove several camarys). I finialy trade it in for a Hyundai Sonata Do admit sable was very comfortable though.