[Shotimes] (OT) CTS-V in Detroit Free Press

[Donald Mallinson]

I am the type of "car guy" you describe, but believe me, you 
and I are not the rule at most car events.  There are a huge 
number of people that are true to ONE car brand.  They are 
Chevy, NEVER Olds/Pontiac/Buick.  THey are DODGE, NEVER 
plymouth or Chrysler.  And for sure they are FORD and no 
matter how closely related, the won't buy MERCURY.

For one thing, Mercury is to Ford what Buick is to CHevy. 
The Doctor's/old man's car.  And just like Buick, Mercury 
had some hot versions that were pretty good cars, but you 
could not ever sell them to a true FORD fan.

Ford has always outsold Mercury by a wide margin, and like I 
said, sales is a numbers game, and even among 
enthusiasts....sometimes especially among enthusiasts, the 
sales go to the brand with the biggest numbers in the past.

Guaranteed...any way you want to do it,  A Ford version of 
the Marauder, with no other changes than name and front end 
(the back was already Ford CV on the Marauder) would sell 
twice as many as the Mercury brand.

Don Mallinson

Dave Kegel wrote:
> I don't know Don.  To a real Ford guy, the Marauder is still a Ford.
> Plus...  The only person that would be interested in that car is a car
> enthusiast, they don't have to have a salesman "sell" them on the idea.  I
> also doubt a Ford fan really cares if it says Ford or Mercury on it.  If
> it's priced right and has the necessary performance, they'll buy it.
> 
> Heck we all drive Fords with Yamaha motors, don't we?
> 
> Besides, there are all sorts of hot rod Fords.  A hot rod Mercury is kind of
> cool.  I'd buy an old Cougar Eliminator before buying a Boss 302 Mustang,
> not that that matters much.
> 
> Dave
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Donald Mallinson" <dmall@mwonline.net>
> To: <ronporter@prodigy.net>
> Cc: "Shotimes" <shotimes@autox.team.net>
> Sent: April 16, 2003 2:35 PM
> Subject: Re: [Shotimes] (OT) CTS-V in Detroit Free Press
> 
> 
> 
>>You must not hang around with many car people (and I know
>>better!).
>>
>>Name has a LOT to do with it.  Like I said, it would still
>>be underpowered, but there are a LOT more (something like 20
>>to 1?) FORD fans out there than Mercury.  I didn't say that
>>would make it a runaway best seller, but just that it would
>>have sold a lot more.
>>
>>Sales is a numbers game, and if there was any way to do
>>it,...go back and try again, I would bet any amount that the
>>same vehicle with FORD as a name and the Crown Vic grill
>>would have sold at least twice as many cars by now.  If you
>>think about it, you have to agree.  It still would be a
>>failure, but not as big a failure.
>>
>>And there aren't many FORD fans that would have a Mercury in
>>their garage, kissing cousins or not.
>>
>>Don Mallinson
> 
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