EcoModder.com
Page 1 of 3 1 23
Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page

EcoModder.com (https://ecomodder.com/forum/)
-   The Lounge (https://ecomodder.com/forum/lounge.html)
-   -   Insiders say Mercury closed by 2014 (https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/insiders-say-mercury-closed-2014-a-13385.html)

jkp1187 05-27-2010 07:39 PM
Insiders say Mercury closed by 2014
 
BREAKING: Insiders say Mercury closed by 2014

In a way, it's surprising it lasted as long as it did. I think all of their cars are re-badged Fords now anyway.

RobertSmalls 05-27-2010 08:02 PM
For as long as I can remember (15-20 years), Mercuries have been just rebadged versions of Fords, optioned with higher trim packages and sold for about the same price. That's a pretty inexpensive way to run a car division, but evidently, also a somewhat pointless one.

I'll miss seeing the wider variety of nameplates on the road, but oh well.

texanidiot25 05-27-2010 08:11 PM
It's about time. Say what you will about the dead GM brands, they all had some unique cars and unique versions of each badged engineered car.

Mercs literally just rebadged Ford for decades, since the 80s I think.

cfg83 05-27-2010 08:40 PM
jkp1187 -

I remember reading that Ford was trying to do this years ago, but the Mercury dealers threatened to sue, so they backed off. I definitely agree with the article when it says 2012 instead of 2014. Whenever I have seen a date on a shutdown plan, it's usually sooner than that.

CarloSW2

texanidiot25 05-27-2010 08:42 PM
What could the dealers actually sue for? All FoMoCo would have to do is not approve of new contracts for dealerships when it comes time to renew, and there's little they could do. It would be dirty, but effective.

cfg83 05-27-2010 08:49 PM
texanidiot25 -

Quote:
Originally Posted by texanidiot25 (Post 176511)
What could the dealers actually sue for? All FoMoCo would have to do is not approve of new contracts for dealerships when it comes time to renew, and there's little they could do. It would be dirty, but effective.
I think the Ford signs contracts with dealers where it agrees to deliver "X amount of product Y". If Ford stops making Mercuries, it would be in breach of contract.

When GM was in bankruptcy, it was a lot easier to get rid of Hummer/Pontiac/Saturn because they were protected.

But I don't have the legaleze correct. There are people that can explain it better than me.

CarloSW2

jamesqf 05-28-2010 12:13 AM
Huh? Thought they'd done that years ago.

jkp1187 05-28-2010 06:18 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by cfg83 (Post 176513)
texanidiot25 -



I think the Ford signs contracts with dealers where it agrees to deliver "X amount of product Y". If Ford stops making Mercuries, it would be in breach of contract.

When GM was in bankruptcy, it was a lot easier to get rid of Hummer/Pontiac/Saturn because they were protected.

But I don't have the legaleze correct. There are people that can explain it better than me.

CarloSW2
I remember it definitely cost GM billions to shut down Oldsmobile at the beginning of the decade, exactly because of those requirements. There are also some very tortuous laws in some states designed to protect franchise owners at the expense of the 'mother' company.

Frank Lee 05-28-2010 07:07 AM
Moon Unit will be orphaned?!? :(

Funny 05-28-2010 11:25 AM
Moon Unit won\'t be orphaned, he can play with his Taurus brothers and sisters freely now. No "Mercury\'s only" signs anymore. ;D


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:58 AM.
Page 1 of 3 1 23
Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com