Mercury Milan October 31, 2005, 10:04:03 PM I have NO idea how this thread will go over on this message board, but I've decided to post it anyway.What does everyone think of the new Milan?While the styling is somewhat Volkswagen-ish, I can still dig the options. Hell, a five-speed manual can be had with this machine! I think that's great news! It's about time that Ford (or Linc/Merc) offered something else with a third pedal.Just some things that have been bouncing around in my head... Quote Selected
Mercury Milan Reply #2 – October 31, 2005, 10:31:04 PM That's the kind of uninspiring that's going to lead to Mercury's demise. Quote Selected
Mercury Milan Reply #3 – October 31, 2005, 10:39:25 PM .....:(If they are trying to make something sporty with the five speed, put it in like a two door not a four door family wagon.Just a modern family truckster, not very exciting. Quote Selected
Mercury Milan Reply #4 – October 31, 2005, 10:52:35 PM I disagree. Ford/Mercury absolutely, postively need to have a hit in the midsize car segment, and from what I've read about that car and the Fusion, they just may well have one. It may look boring, but it's competing against the boring Accord and Camry, and it apparently is worlds above both in terms of driving refinement and sportiness/handling. It's based on the Mazda 6 platform, which is among the best FWD midsize car platforms in the world (and as cool as the 300C/Magnum/Charger are, they do not have the folks at Honda or Toyota worried. Midsize FWD is still the meat and potatoes of the market). And unbelievably, Ford didn't "dumb it down" - they actually improved on it with bigger brakes and some stiffening of the chassis, both improvements that will find their way over to Mazda. Its 220 horse V6 engine option compares well with the puppiesanese offerings, all of which were overrated, power wise. The 6-speed automatic is world class. Mazda currently has a 275-horse turbocharged 4-cyl version of the 6, and I would not be surprised to see that engine turn up in the Ford/Mercury (perhaps as an SVT model). This could very well be the most important car to Ford since the 1986 Taurus.Would I buy one? Probably not, but I'm single with no kids and have no desire to own a midsize FWD sedan (I do, however, have a strong desire to own a Volvo 850 T5-R wagon, but that's a different matter and a different class of car). Ford is not marketing this car toward people that hang around in message forums dedicated to 20 year old coupes, so to see the members of this forum disappointed at the car would not come as a surprise or a disappointment to Ford. Ford builds a Mustang for guys like us. This car is aimed squarely into the bread and butter of the American market, a market that has been taken over by boring puppiesanese cars. Boring American cars won't win it back (witness the failure of GM's G6 line) but a sedan that looks good (not groundbreaking, but good), drives excellent, matches or beats the competition in terms of sophistication and is priced well certainly has a chance. Time will tell - if you see Ford discounting these cars you'll know they failed. Quote Selected
Mercury Milan Reply #5 – October 31, 2005, 10:56:40 PM Well, like it or not, 4-doors are here to stay. At least Ford's putting a little bit of fun and inspiration back into them. Not a lot, just a little. Is it a step in the right direction? Depends on the sales. Judging by the initial advertising push, yes, but time will tell. (BTW, I'm really really REALLY diggin' the hottie in the Mercury commercials. That's one hot tomale right thar.) I mention the 4-door thing because my folks and I were going somewhere tonight. They wanted to take one car--theirs. I declined and drove separately.They have a 2002 Cadillac Eldorado ETC. A coupe. One needs to be a contortionist to get into the front seat, let alone the back.They used to have a 1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille (4-door) that was much more user friendly. Quote Selected
Mercury Milan Reply #6 – October 31, 2005, 11:00:15 PM If they put all that refinement and excitement underneath, I don't understand why they wrapped it with stodgy and boring. Quote Selected
Mercury Milan Reply #7 – October 31, 2005, 11:10:30 PM Quote from: Cougars 2 goIf they put all that refinement and excitement underneath, I don't understand why they wrapped it with stodgy and boring.Worked for Honda, Toyota, and Nissan (well, maybe not excitement, but the refinement is certainly there)...The midsize 4-door market is a market that does not embrace odd or aggressive styling. These are thirtysomething families with children, and a large portion of the buyers are women. An even larger portion of the market has a woman making the decision. The 300c/Magnum/Charger are differently styled, but a different kind of buyer is buying them. The kind of buyer that says "I wish it had two doors". No four-door Accord or Camry buyer ever said that. They want 4 doors, they want wrong-wheel-drive, they want boring, and they want a car that feels solid, well built, and safe. Tauruses and Impalas did not meet the third set of requirements, and Ford and GM's market share has suffered for it. Quote Selected
Mercury Milan Reply #8 – October 31, 2005, 11:25:18 PM Quote from: Thunder ChickenWorked for Honda, Toyota, and Nissan (well, maybe not excitement, but the refinement is certainly there)...The midsize 4-door market is a market that does not embrace odd or aggressive styling. These are thirtysomething families with children, and a large portion of the buyers are women. An even larger portion of the market has a woman making the decision. The 300c/Magnum/Charger are differently styled, but a different kind of buyer is buying them. The kind of buyer that says "I wish it had two doors". No four-door Accord or Camry buyer ever said that. They want 4 doors, they want wrong-wheel-drive, they want boring, and they want a car that feels solid, well built, and safe. Tauruses and Impalas did not meet the third set of requirements, and Ford and GM's market share has suffered for it.I thought Honda and Toyota used quality to succeed and Nissan, in my opinion, actually put some effort in styling.Mercury as a line-up has nothing exciting and it can't rely on high quality and resale value history. To me, it's a dead brand and this seems to continue with that trend. It's very disappointing because I don't want to see Mercury follow Oldsmobile. Quote Selected
Mercury Milan Reply #9 – October 31, 2005, 11:26:30 PM I will be looking at the fusion /milan. To replace my current boring but efficient 4 door 02 taurus. Not gonna buy for a year or so. I looked at the 500 and did not like it at all. These may be ok though. The 4 door FWD may be boring but it has a purpose and I need this type of car. No fun going out with another couple in a 2 door, nor taking a couple clients to lunch. Quote Selected
Mercury Milan Reply #10 – October 31, 2005, 11:37:30 PM I wish I could understand what everyone has against 4-doors. Quote Selected
Mercury Milan Reply #11 – October 31, 2005, 11:51:51 PM Quote from: IfixyawataI wish I could understand what everyone has against 4-doors.Nothing against 4-doors as a category:Current Nissan AltimaLast Chrysler ConcordeCurrent Chrysler 300Current ChargerCurrent Magnum94-96 ImpalaCurrent Infiniti FXCurrent Mazda6 and Mazdaspeed6Just the ones that don't do anything different, that don't set a trend, that fill a niche that's already crowded...And that doesn't only apply to 4-doors, there are uninspiring two-doors as well. Quote Selected
Mercury Milan Reply #12 – November 01, 2005, 05:35:27 AM It's not a bad lookin car, but it doesn't stand out. That could be a good thing because then it's not gonna chase a buyer way due to edgy styling.Saw one on a lot yesterday morning actually and for $26K it has:--a full power moonroof--6 speed AUTOMATIC --3.0 Duratec V6--17 inch wheels--leather interior--6 cd changer/mp3 player syereo system. And other stuff I can't rememberLooks like it has decent room. I'll be gettin the wife somethin new after the new year. I think the Milan is worthy of further research. Quote Selected
Mercury Milan Reply #13 – November 01, 2005, 06:21:50 AM QuoteIt's very disappointing because I don't want to see Mercury follow Oldsmobile.Just what did happen to oldsmobile? Have they officially shutdown or something? Quote Selected
Mercury Milan Reply #14 – November 01, 2005, 08:44:14 AM yes they did a couple years back. i think it was 03 was there last year in production. Quote Selected
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