Walt

I agree (I think). Mercury is not dead. Reading thru this thread, we'll soon have a Lincoln Mountaineer and a Lincoln Mariner, regardless of what alphabet soup name is stuck on their sides.

But then we are still at the point where all the models are, name wise, differentiated by a single letter. And not in any kind of order. I mean, is the MKA or "Lincoln A" now their smallest mini car, and the MKZ or "Lincoln Z" now their largest SUV?

IMHO, actual sales count too in these decisions. Just because there are people who loved the 2011 Mustang in Sterling Grey, but didn't buy one (for any reason), doesn't really factor into Sterling Grey favor. It is only actual sales which count. Don't think I am being irrespectful of your feelings. I went through this myself. I just loved the 2010 in Red Candy Metallic with the Brick Red/Charcoal interior. I was disappointed that when in 2011, Ford continued those choices, but stopped you getting both. I could not (and still cannot) understand why Ford decided that Red with Red clashed so bad, looked so awful, that they had to prevent anyone from ordering that combination. I guess its now onto Lava Red with Lava Red, until Ford nixes that combination. :D

Is it just the pics, but Lava Red seems to be a bit more towards a purple than a burgundy color. I have even read some early comments where people have called this new color "plum". Do we have any pics, exterior and interior, of a Mustang in Lava Red and Lave Red ?

Ah, the Pep Boys. A source of sound advice, always. :blah:

Just a couple... try to fully equip an Escape Hybrid with everything except a sun roof. You can a Mariner Hybrid. Try to order an adjustable driver's lumbar support on an Escape. Its standard on a Mariner.

I, too, find this very disappointing news. Yes, I have both a Ford and a Mercury currently in my garage. Moving vehicle models, which should have a Mercury badge over to having a Lincoln badge, will only serve to degrade the value of the Lincoln brand. For example, having a Mercury variation of the Escape is good. Having a Lincoln variation of the Escape is bad. I mean, over pricing an Escape does not made it Lincoln. GM tried this with Cadillac a few decades ago, with slapping Cadillac badges on Chevys. It took GM decades and millions of dollars to recover the lost value of their Cadillac brand. Personally, I have a Mariner, because Mercury offered the variation of options I wanted, and Ford did not. I don't see that changing. In other words, I would not have bought an Escape, and Ford would have lost the sale. Ford intentionally throwing away sales, IMHO, does not make for a good, long range, business plan. Goodbye Mercury. But don't be sad, the rest of Ford will be joining you in the corporate junk yard very soon.

Yea, the head gaskets blew late one night, as I was driving home after midnight, on my 1995 Mustang. True, it shared the same head gasket problem with many other Ford models at the time. Thankfully, Ford under lots of public pressure (and a law suit it lost in Canada), issued an extended warranty to over those faulty head gaskets. Actually, that was the only major problem I have had, with all my Mustang ownerships since my '67.

I have to agree (though I might not have worded it so strongly). I read a report of theirs, of a vehicle I actually owned at the time. They ragged on two horrible design problems (or so they claimed), for two long paragraphs. Neither was true, and were actually the result of Consumers Report not even bothering to read the Owners Manual to find out how these things worked. Yea, we don't tend to read the Manual either, but we aren't writing reports. And if we can't get something to work right, I think we would be smart enough to check the Manual. The fools. Ever since, I take anything they write, as fantasy and never factual.

I just stumbled upon this little tidbit, that I haven't seen mentioned before. Apparently, when one orders the Brembo Brake Package on their 2011, they will get Pirelli Summer-only tires on a coupe, but Goodyear Supercar tires on a convertible. (I'm gonna get this pic to attach, one way or another!)

You mean these ???

Even with 2011 MY orders starting in March, 2010?

I seem to remember the Limited having 4-wheel discs for a brief time too. I find it interesting that when Ford decided to reduce costs by having the hybrids use the same brakes, that they didn't go for the "same" as being 4-wheel discs on all models. How many Ford 2010 models still have only rear drum brakes?

I wonder if it is because both packages include unique wheels?

Yea, I priced a GT convertible out, and it was over $44K, and that was without the Nav system nor an auto. Can one do X-plan on the 2011 yet? I checked the website, and it wasn't listed as an available model (2010 was, however).

In MCA's Mustang Times, they have a "center fold" of the new 2011 Mustang in Yellow Tri-coat. The accompanying article mentions that Yellow Tri-Coat will not be available until Job 2. So, I am wondering if any knows when Job 2 will be? It can't be all that far off if Ford is already showing off new options that will be coming out with Job 2.

My '07 Mariner hybrid doesn't have the tailgate tags either. Though, it is pretty easy from back there to notice the rear differential (or its absents).

In thinking about it more, I believe it is the rear passenger ceiling mounted grips, which are lost with the side curtain airbags. With those grips gone, so are the coat hooks they include.

How does My Key stop a teen from getting a new Mustang as a (graduation) gift? BTW, my first car, was a 289 V8 Mustang. I was 16.

On my 2007, I have the side curtain airbags, and still have the grip handles on both A-pillars.

From what I understand, the AWD system will never attempt to divert more than 50% of torque to the rear wheels. The front wheels get between 100 and 50%, and the rear between 0 and 50%. If the AWD system is at its "max" of 50-50 split, and the front wheels are still spinning, that is about all it can do. Hopefully, with 50% going to the rear wheels is enough to keep the vehicle itself moving.

It wasn't too long ago that I couldn't turn 'on' my TV, without seeing a Jill Wagner commercial for Mercury. Now, I haven't seen a Jill Wagner, or any Mercury, commercial for some time. Not a good sign for Mercury.

Starting the 2011 MY this soon (March), does provide some good support that a completely new 2012 is coming, and will come early. I wonder if 2011 will see the return of rear disc brakes (4 wheel discs) on at least the hybrids? Well, I can dream.

Wow, and I thought the map CD collection for my 2007 at $200 was outrageous. And I too remember that an annual update for my portable Garmin is like around only $75. IMHO, part of the problem is that Ford doesn't offer upgrades; just full packages. And Ford prices them as they do any factory part.