My last visit to my dealer, I finally understood why Mercury is not the brand to sell performance cars, or for that matter, "sporty" cars to younger buyers. I am an informed owner, and want my car serviced right, and preferably by my dealer. I make a good income, can afford the car, and will pay for good work. I do little or none of my own maintenance.
My dealer's service department treats me like I am an annoyance at best, and a waste of their time at worst. The way I figure it, Marauders are history in their eyes, the real money is those aging customers sitting in the lounge watching Judge Judy, drinking complementary cups of coffee, and farting into the cushions on their sofas. These are the people that the dealership sells unnecessary services to, the ones who pay $300 for service you and I could do ourselves for less than $50 in parts. The service writer or manager goes in and tells them they need this or that, and they just roll over and say please don't break it off in me too hard this time. Theys too much money in servicing GM's and Town Cars. Folks like us are too much a PIA and, worse, ask questions.
I don't doubt there are dealers out there that appreciate the Marauder (and Team Ford isn't really all that far away...), but based on the two dealers here in Birmingham and their
attitudes about our beloved cars, I would say the basic culture of Mercury dealers is towards selling and maintaining cars for older types with no interest in performance, with certain dealers exceptions.
What really chaps my butt is they have a willing, dollar spending, not fixed income BUYER that they could have as a loyal customer for years, but this
off attitude of thiers makes me never want to spend a dime there again.