Unfortunately, I forgot to shoot the Lexus Palace just down the street. Or the Mercedes dealer, that’s expanding for the third time. Or the BMW dealer, that’s moved into bigger digs recently. The Cadillac dealer shares showrooms with Chevy, but at least it’s a nice new place too. I stopped in here once, and there was just one rather sad (in more ways than one) person working the showroom. It’s going to be a long slog climb back up, if it’s really going to happen.
Wow. What a combination of brands to be in the business of selling.
In true CC effect, I worked at a Lincoln/Mitsubishi dealership (2 separate lots next to each other) in 2006. The owner then bought a Suzuki franchise and offered me a parts manager job for it. I decided to transfer to the Nissan dealership he had instead. While there, was offered a job at the Ford dealership he owned next door and decided to stay at the Nissan store. Good move, it was the only one still open by ’08 (with new owners).
That’s…..that’s just heartbreaking.
With Mitsubishi dropping ALL their popular core models… Galant, Eclipse, and Evo, plus offering a wussified Mirage. It’s no wonder any former fans or buyers of the brand have abandoned the marque as a whole.
Lincoln is a dated brand whose glory days left it LONG time ago, when they discontinued the Mark coupes, Town Car, and Continental they commited brand identity suicide.
They should have closed shop when they noticed the Navigator(the pioneer in the luxury SUV category) started losing, and still is losing(sales) to the Cadillac Escalade. The last good luxury car Lincoln had that was truly a Lincoln, was the LS. Instead of refreshing the LS, they discontinue it. After those two signs, they could never catch up.
What hurts Lincoln is Ford putting in no new ideas or effort into the brand, unlike GM does for Cadillac… Who is always at the forefront of new ideas and power plant choices.
Can you blame consumers for not believing in either brand? Who wants to invest in a brand new car, only to know that manufacturer has thrown in the towel and you are left with an automotive orphan?
If that were to happen, Ford dealers can service the abandoned Lincolns… but good luck with the leftover Mitsubishi stock.
They should change the name of that dealer to ” Death Row Auto Sales”.
I don’t really miss the LS. It doesn’t have clear enough identity, and it doesn’t really go well with Lincoln ( unless they want to downsize again )
Ford is treating Lincoln like the Allies treated Truk back in the War. Instead of paying the cost to (invade/revamp) they’re letting it die on the vine.
I think Ford doesn’t have money. Even though always envied by Honda ( typical rich American company able to afford building big cars over and over again ) and many other companies, Ford doesn’t have the capability in the same scale of GM to keep up with everything they should ( I wonder if because Ford has the least business in defense and banking ) and they have to pinch every dollar to stay afloat like a big company. Lincoln is the only few luxury band never having anything exclusive ( either share the chassis, and engine. Even if Lincoln had an exclusive engine somehow, Ford will manage to borrow it anyway ) probably except Acura ( Honda feels they are a group of poor guys too and they can’t spare a Yen to Acura as it’s waste only rich company can afford )
The 32 valve Intech V8 used in the Mark VIII, 95-02 Continental, 99-05 Navigator, and Aviator were effectively Lincoln exclusive, the only place those engines were shared were in the SVT Cobra Mustangs, Mach 1 and Marauder, which are all rare enough and appropriate enough to get a pass IMO. Lincoln in the mid-late 90s really could have been peak Lincoln as far as product was concerned if the styling weren’t so geriatric.
I was pointing at the InTech V8 too, as it’s something a regular Ford/Mercury usually wouldn’t borrow, but there is always going to be some other Ford/Mercury do that anyway, but it’s the closest feature exclusive to Lincoln after all. Even air ride is borrowed by Crown Victoria too.
On the other hand, Ford spent some big buck making the Mark VIII, and when the car is released in late ’92, everything was nearly exclusive except few minor parts ( mirror adjust, radio such ) but then the exclusive steering found their way in ’94 Continental in the boxy interior, shift knob ended up in Mercury, all the keys and buttons gradually appeared somewhere else, Cougar took few rims too, and eventually the center digital display ended up in Mountaineer with the base and buttons at the same angle.
Ford is a world wide brand slowly shrivelling its market thanks to the one Ford policy, Lincoln is unknown outside the US a dead brand rolling, it may have some cachet amongst US customers though sales dont reflect it better to let it die.
After one Ford policy, it will go back to the old days again.
One Ford policy happened several times before, and eventually it grew too many Fords again.
Ford Transit is growing too much like old E-Series again
Europe has implemented bunches of asiatic less and better known carbrands. In the early ’90’s after the Wall came down Central- and South-Eastern European markets had started to become open markets and due to the newly created circumstances some private enterprises had started to import all sorts of North-American new and used cars / brands. That was a historic moment when Mercury/Lincoln, Dodge/Eagle, Pontiac/Oldsmobile/Geo could got longterm entrance to these markets outside America and Canada. Chance missed.
@ orangechallenger, I don’t think the Transit will grow too much, since there are 4 distinctive Transit models. As far as I know you only got the Transit Connect (second from the left) and the big Transit on the right.
I’d think that Ford NOT having as much interests in defense and finance would be a benefit – because while those sectors can be profitable, they can also take away attention from their core business.
Those business will take away attention indeed, but those business can make up the loss sometimes too.
However, Ford themselves seems to distract even in car business. When they had Jaguar and Land Rover, Volvo, they barely paid attention to Lincoln.
There’s an old ’93 jag in the garage from the Ford era… Seems quite solid and reliable. I’ve met older Jags from the BMC era…with whole lotta tech issues. Lincolns of the early ’90’s were more attractive (in euro terms) than these 2010plus-ish…
We europeans have all the reasons to be sarcastic…about GM…as they spent 10 years to build up the Chevrolet brand (next to the Opel/Vauxhall). From 2015. Chevrolet became discontinued…and now for example new Cruze or Malibu owners can count with two options. 1.) Where to find parts and the nearest (still available) authorized workshops!? 2.) How to get rid of their orphaned almost new Chevrolets!? My Dad has changed His mind because of rumors became realities around GM Europe. He liked the Cruze BUT as in the meantime made GM Chevy brand discontinuation Dad turned himself to Fiat (Chrysler)… One customer less for GM. :-I
Oddly enough, this isn’t the only time I’ve seen this rather desperate combination. My local Lincoln-Mercury dealer took on Mitsubishi as a franchise after Mercury folded…mere months before the dealership itself closed and was torn down.
Lincoln AND Mitsubishi?
That IS a downer. Reminds me of the Saturn/Saab/Isuzu dealerships in Toronto back in the 90’s.
http://tinyurl.com/q989pnd
Something I did learn some time back before the Ford and Lincoln-Mercury franchises merged here: take your Ford to the L-M dealer for service. They were faster and more courteous, and the car came back washed and cleaned, insude and out.
That was then…
I know this is wrong, but that Mitsubishi sedan in thecpicture above sort of reminds me of a 2015 Lincoln that is tired, and sad because it’s lost all its teeth
Thats even styled like a Mitsubishi Verada from 2003 epicly ugly cars what was Ford thinking
I think Mitsubishi was intended to keep the volume of customers to make up for the departure of Mercury.
He just wanted a brand that had the letter ‘M’ so he wouldn’t have to revamp his letterhead 🙂
Saab and Rover, like Studebaker long before, were seen as dead even before their final demise. Who wants an orphaned brand?
Not that I’d ever buy a new car at a stealership, but when I see palatial stealership facilities I know who’s paying for it and it impresses me… zero. In fact, it repels me. I’d rather buy from an outfit in a pole barn because it is the VEHICLE I want and for the lowest price. I’m not interested in paying for extravagant overhead.
I’m in Eugene and I don’t even know where this place is!
Must feel like going into a Studebaker-Packard dealer in 1956…..
You’re making me feel awkward. I drive a Lincoln and my wife has a Mitsubishi. I didn’t realize how rare we were.
Sometimes to bide time on the commute home I play a mental game of “Count the Mitsubishis.” They’re numerous enough to get you a double-digit number by the time you get home, but it makes you realize their true rarity.
I would still accept a Lancer, it’s a serviceable naturally-aspirated car with decent space that can probably clear 150,000 miles without a whole lot of fuss. That sort of thing is getting rare in these turbocharged days…
I do that on Impala, but I get tired after 10 mins.
Then I do that on Caprice, but it varies too much on season.
Then I do that on Continental, and I will soon forget about counting.
You own all those big cars? Wow, gas must be a giant bill every month. 😉
I own a compact car, Plymouth Volare. A Lincoln Mark VIII and ’90s LeSabre. Among them, Volare gets 25-30 MPG on highway, and LeSabre gets the least 24-26.
Nice variety of autos, Orange. 🙂
I know a guy who has a green 77 Volare sedan, with only 39,000 original miles… He wants to sell it for $500 firm.
Says it runs great. Sounds good… But I hear those carburetors are a nightmare. So a bit wary on buying it.
It’s a Slant 6, so that’s a plus. Any advice?
$500 for a 39k Volare? If it’s not rusty, I don’t see how you could go wrong with that!
I agree, Chris… I’m thinking of pulling the trigger on the Volare, since my luck of finding a low mileage Dart/Valiant is nil.
The same guy also has a 77 Chevy camper van with a 90,000 mile 350v8, with heavy duty axles and 10 bolt posi trac rear end, and performance 400 turbo tranny… He only wants $250, and it runs nice. Just needs to be cleaned of tree sap. 🙂
You’d lose count in and around Bloomington-Normal, IL. Based on the numbers on the street it seems as if everyone knows or is related to someone at the plant (soon to be closed) who can get them a discount. You’ll see Lancer Sportbacks, the Dakota clone pickups, (the City of Bloomington has some in their fleet) and there’s even at least one privately owned i-MiEV running around,
Mitsubishi had it’s most profitable year as a manufacturer ever, and it’s YTD US sales are better than all of 2014 [ approx.90,000 as opposed to 74,000 ]. Yes, it will be a long hard slog in the US. Mitsubishi needs more product.
And more dealers. There isn’t even one in Tucson, a sizable city and the closest Mitsubishi dealer is in Phoenix. Even a small one like this in one of those auto malls would be better than what they have here now.
There is a lot of work ahead of them. I see the sale of their US plant as cutting their losses and consolidating to retrench in the US.
I’d like to see them succeed.
Imagine trying to sell a Lincoln in Eugene. The dealer must have the patience of Job. Good luck to them, they will need it
I wonder what the poor salesman’s income is? You think they’re selling 5 cars total a month?
Lincoln is following the path of Mercury… a Ford with more chrome. Another victim of the push for the universal world compact crossover sedan.
Wow, what a combination. I don’t know how they’re even keeping the lights on.
I used to hope for a revamped, profitable Lincoln–I loved the Mark VIII I once owned, and have a lot of respect for their history–but at this point I think Ford is at the point of shut it down and cut their losses. I know there’s a replacement for the MKS in the pipeline, and if it succeeds maybe there’s hope, but if that one doesn’t sell, then the death certificate is final.
Along with winding up Lincoln, Ford needs to discontinue the Flex (which I love but doesn’t sell) and probably get rid of the civilian version of the Taurus in favor of Police Interceptor only. Cede the large car market to the Impala/Charger/300, all of which are clearly superior to the Taurus. And does anyone know why the Edge and the Explorer are both still around? When the Explorer was still a truck this made more sense, but now they’re both car-based. Pointless. Focus (pun intended) on a lean lineup…
Whoa, that sounds severe! Can’t really debate the point, though…the chance to rejuvenate Lincoln as a make came and went 15 years ago.
Mark VIII is very unprofitable ( especially compared to Town Car and Navigator ) and they cut costs afterwards for most of the products. MKZ is exactly a current version of the ’80s Continental, a luxury car based on a common platform with more styling, better interior and some niche features. ( air ride and digital this or that for Continental, big sunroof for current MKZ ) and I think they are going to do the same for the oncoming Continental just to push further.
I think after Ford making Flex, it would be easier for them to put MKT, and the economy scope can be solved. Explorer is a free rider on that platform, and even though Taurus is very lack-lusting design and I remember one of the professor mentioned someone working on the design for the car has some connection with my university, I think there must be a civilian version to hold up the sales ( and economy scope, running cost ) otherwise it would be similar to the Caprice PPV. And since Ford is really good at SUV, and they probably realize many buyers immigrate from old Explorer to car-based SUVs, and Edge, Escape and Kuga were made to catch all of them, most likely they don’t know where exactly they will go to.
– If the Taurus Interceptor is selling well enough, retail Taurus sales are basically gravy for the duration of the existing model’s run.
– I really don’t see why Lincoln gets dumped on for doing the same thing Audi and Lexus do in the main volume luxury segments. If a Lincoln isn’t worth the money over the equivalent Ford, the same goes for its’ Lexus and Audi competitors over the Toyota and VW versions. If it is, it is…
– …until you see dealerships like this. Most Lincoln shops are either in old legacy facilities or have folded in favor of Ford-Lincoln in the same dealer. Meanwhile the others’ sell a high-end dealer experience.
– As for Mitsubishi, the Mirage is selling beyond expectations, meaning they’re the Chrysler of Japan in more ways than one if you bear in mind how long the A, L and K-bodies kept Ma Mopar afloat. When the T115 minivans came along, they were the first hot sellers in decades Chryco had had that wasn’t an economy car of some sort in about 20 years.
Main volume luxury segment is the idea of Lincoln, Lexus just learned better afterwards, but more from Buick.
Lincoln needed (needs) a modern RWD large sedan in a conservative luxury mode, They shouldn’t have not let go of a market that Cadillac handed them. Such cars still have a market, like Chrysler’s 300.
Since we’re having a Lincoln discussion, can anyone answer a question I asked a while back but didn’t see a response. Is an MKS or MKZ pronounced Emm-Kay-Ess (or Emm-Kay-Zee/Zed), or Mark Ess (or Mark Zee/Zed)? I always assume the juxtaposition of M and K is to look like Mark from the days of yore, but since no one I know ever mentions Lincolns in conversation, I’ve never heard the names spoken. I suppose I could check YouTube … but I’m sure the CC literati would know.
I don’t even think Lincoln knows how to pronounce it. Near as I can remember, “MKZ” started off as “Mark Zee,” then became “Em Kay Zee” in due course. I’d just as soon call it “Mark Zed”…which rhymes with “Mark Dead,” which describes the Lincoln lineup.
The MKZ has never been pronounced any other way. The current name scheme started when Lincoln renamed the Edge-based Aviator replacement from Aviator to Mk X (originally spelled this way and pronounced “mark ex”), then right before official launch, they changed the pronunciation to three letters in sequence. They also quickly renamed the 1-year old Zephyr to MKZ.
There’s a dealership here in Jacksonville that must be even lonelier, it’s a combined Mitsubishi and…..SUZUKI (car) dealership. About a year ago when I was looking for really cheap wheels, I went to this dealer’s website. They had 2 leftover 2013s and about a half dozen leftover 2014s. This week I looked at the website and it’s jammed with nearly 2 dozen 2015 Mirages….90% or more with CVT.
Mitsubishi recently announced they are now going to concentrate on hybrids and electric plug-ins. I would guess SUVs will be retained for overseas markets, especially the Far East markets, where the brand has a favorable reputation.
Mitsubishi and Suzuki combined here too, but the same dealership also has Hyundai and Subaru at another location (and a Subaru dealership in Vermont is a license to print money). For that matter, they sold quite a lot of AWD SX4s before Suzuki pulled out and a decent number of Mirages now.
You’re right about Mitsubishi being very strong in the Far East, particularly Southeast Asia. They’re one of the biggest brands in Thailand and the Philippines – and have assembly plants there. I think the Mirage that is imported into the US may come from a plant in Thailand.
Their luxury SUV, the Montero or Pajero, is the ride of choice for elites in developing countries such as Pakistan.
One thing That Lincoln had going for it, and it could still tap into, is that for many years Lincoln was the bad ass luxury choice. Presidents were driven in them, mobsters drove them, and they were the anti Cadillac before the imports gave you a luxury choice. Watch any old mobster movie or the Untouchables, Lincoln was the tough guys car. Bootleggers loved them because they were fast. That is why the Lincoln hood ornament of the 30’s was a greyhound, to project the image of speed. I owned a couple of late 80’s Town Cars, and when you arrived dressed in a nice suit driving one of those people noticed. More than any other car I’ve driven I miss my Lincolns. If Ford decides to build a proper Lincoln then maybe we can do business again.
The Mitsubishi dealer near me seems to be a used car dealership that sells Mitsubishis on the side – It’s got a tiny Mitsubishi sign like the one in the pictures, and giant USED CARS lettering covering the windows. It’s also owned by the same company that owns the giant Chevy dealer next door.
The Lincoln-Mercury dealer nearest to me closed (and was torn down for a Walgreens) and the franchise added to a Ford dealer a few miles away.
I’d imagine parts and service (especially on low-milage Grand Marquis driven by blue haired old ladies) may be keeping the pictured Mitsubishi Lincoln afloat.
I’ve heard of dealerships being mostly used-car and having a slower-selling make as a “new-car shingle” that gives them access to better financing, but the Chevy franchise would do that for them.
That describes the Nissan dealer in our area. Huge showroom, decent sized lot, yet you’re more likely to see one of their license plate frames on something other than a Nissan.
The Mitsubishi zaibatsu is in no danger of failure. U.S. car sales are really a lark for them. That said, they seem to be thriving in my area. I’ve always been under the impression that Mitsu is the last resort car dealer—willing to take on extremely high risk financing to move units. Judging by the folks I see driving them, it seems accurate. Lincoln? No idea what the hell Ford is up to there. A directionless brand that somehow benefitted in no way from Mercury’s demise.
Ironically, I think the downmarket move with the Mirage has increased their average customer net worth as well as average customer age. There are plenty of automotively ascetic aged hippies up here buying them. Probably not much help in Oregon since that demographic only buys new cars because the old one rusted out…
Old cars rusting out in Oregon?
That’s very rare.
For the people who haven’t seen it: the Continental concept unveiled in New York. Greenlighted for production. Power from twin-turbochared “Ecoboost” V6
iirc, the Mitsu plant in Normal built the Eclipse and Galant for several years after those models were dropped in Japan. The current Lancer here was the Galant in Japan, while what was the previous generation Lancer here continued as the Lancer in Japan. Looking at the Japanese Mitsu site today, the Lancer/Galant is gone save for an Evolution “Final Edition”
Sad to see Mitsu wither in the US. They had some success as the small car vendor for Chrysler in the 80s. There was an 82 Colt with the “big engine”, a 1.6, and the twin stick trans in the family in the 80s. Quite a nice little car.
I just took a look at the US Mitsubishi web page. Just 2 sedans and 3 SUVs. Whats listed looks soooo anemic. Also, Mitsubishi had recently announced that it is closing it sole US factory.
Appears that the Koreans at their lunch in the North America market.
Actually Mitsubishi is doing well enough in the US Market. They have sold more cars each year for the past 4 years. Mitsu sold 3369 in May 2015(the latest data I found) and had a year to date total of 11,832 Mirages sold
http://media.mitsubishicars.com/releases/sales-records-for-mirage-outlander-sport-lead-mitsubishi-motors-to-best-may-in-seven-years
Interestingly enough the Mirage outsold the slightly bigger Yaris and the Chevy Spark in May of 2015.
http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2015/06/usa-small-car-sales-figures-may-2015-ytd.html
I think Mitsu should have offered the Mirage as a compact car to compete with the Focus and Corolla etc
I also think they need to offer more product, such as a midsize car.
I want Mitsubishi to prosper. As a high school student in 1991-1995, I like many of my peers of the same time lusted after the DSM cars.
As for Lincoln. I think it is over for that brand. They have nothing to offer that is not a Ford product that can be bought cheaper. Yes Lincoln used the same platforms as Ford for decades but prior offers did not look like a Ford product with a chrome grill. Take the 1981-2011 Town Car. It was built on the same platform as the LTD/Crown Vic and Grand Marquis but looked nothing like them on the inside or outside. You would not mistake a Town car for a Crown Victoria.
Now you have a Taurus and Fusion with a Lincoln badge on them. Didn’t Ford learn GM’s lessons in the 1980’s with with rebadging a Chevy Caviler as a Caddy and making the Deville and Eldorado look too much like lesser Buicks/Oldsmobiles?
GM learned it and reinvented Cadillac and gave them the CTS and XTS(among others) and now Cadillac is thriving.(though I think they should have kept the DeVille nameplate)
As long as Lincoln continues in their “dressed up Ford” role (formerly known as Mercury), they’ll do okay with a few newer models. The MKC and MKZ are selling well; the new MKX and updated Navigator are recent to the market. The Continental should spawn some showroom traffic, as should the all-new Navigator in 2017.
Cadillac is more bewildering – despite the billions of $ injected in their recurring renaissance from 2000, they can’t seem to get any traction. The Escalade and SRX sell, the sedans don’t.
My money is on Lincoln.
In 2001 I bought my Trooper at a Lincoln-Mercury-Isuzu dealer. Talk about sagebrush blowing through…
Mitsubishi vehicles in the US has to be one of the most bizarre business stories within recent memory. Despite their best efforts to commit suicide, along comes the Mirage, which I’m certain was brought in simply to minimize legal action by whatever franchises are left when the company finally withdraws from the US market.
But something strange happened. With virtually no advertising, and miserable reviews from just about every auto journo, the Mirage has turned out to be a minor hit with the impoverished! I can just see the one, lone, remaining Mitsubishi US exec scratching his head on what to do about that one (in-between his other, janitorial duties).
I still don’t understand how closing down dealerships helps the manufacturers. The Dodge dealer where I bought my last Dodge is now a Honda dealer as they lost their franchise, the Dodge dealer 10 miles up the road lost their franchise, and the dealer 5 miles the other way lost theirs. I see Ford and GM dealers closed up in little towns where I travel. Isn’t the purpose of dealers to sell cars FOR the mfg? Without the dealers, no cars get sold. The foreigh dealers take over the old native ones and sell the foreign cars to the locals. How is that good for the US mfgs?