I use to own one of these, Ford Motor Co. best kept little secret, best damn driving car I ever had. Oh yeah it had it's quirks and some quite expensive to repair, but it was well worth it when you take this thing out on the interstate and cruise at 90 miles an hour or faster. It was a dream to drive, a joy to blow pass any E-class Benz or 5 series BMW and see their mouths drop open in the rear view mirror. You either love the looks or hate it, no in between, but drive it, and you would love it!
We had a Scorpio when I was growing up. It was an awesome driving car, just had a lot of issues with electronics and we went through two flywheels on it.
I had an '88. It was great, but had transmission problems twice. Overall, quality wasn't quite up to par -- pretty good, but not great. Handled well, good ride. Underpowered by today's standard. but never felt that slow.
This pure Ford of Europe sedan was a living design of the future. Technology and luxury features built right in that weren't even yet applied to the Lincoln devision. If my memory and prior research serves me correct, the Merkur Scorpio was the shortest production run vehicle in the USA history of Ford. this model had the potential to shake up BMW, Mercedes and Jaguars domination; just like Lexus did in the 90’s. Unfortunately direction by Ford executives failed to market the car effectively and that was the end of that.
I think that the "Merkur" branding was a necessity of MURRICA (why we have Acura, Lexus and Infiniti is because of badge prestige), especially at the time. I wish they could have used plain Mercury as "Euro and/or Aussie Ford" in the USA, though. But for the years prior to this, Mercury just meant "slightly more luxurious, thus more expensive" Ford. That being said, the Scorpio was great. As was the Sierra. It showed you Ford was more than just Fox, Panther, and MURRICANIZED take on the Probe III (Tempo/Topaz). Euro Ford of that era are some of my favorite Fords to ever exist, esp. the Escort, Fiesta, and Sierra.
This type of car was not going to make it in the US market at that time, an imported branding did stand a better chance though. For example the svo mustang tried heading towards the european style of sports car. However the v8 powered gt was the one people chose. What they were trying then is what is selling more now here and abroad, back then it was abroad by a huge margin.
i used to have a 89 xr4ti, fast as hell!!!!!!!!!! i have a 89 Scorpio now it's a car that ford need to bring back. these cars where miss understood in there day, technology has caught up to this car!!!!!!!! lets bring it back with the xr4ti!!!!!! i love these cars
The issue is that these models' real name is actually "Ford Sierra". The name was a joke on GM, which was facing serious economic problems around the world. These models were manufactured in Argentina were it performed much better.
@@radiotelefonia Lies. The name Ciera was extremely well known in North American market, so they avoided it upon release here. It was not a joke on GM, considering the Cutlass Supreme sold in droves as did the Cutlass Ciera, and Merkurs sat unnoticed. The name was chosen to make it seem European. It didn't work. People didn't want it, and instead they bought... Well, Cutlass Supremes and Chrysler K cars.
I remember the Merkur Scorpio and the XR4ti. While I loved the styling of both cars, I found the name difficult to say. It's a shame that neither were on the U.S. market for very long. I found it more attractive than the BMW of the same years in production.
My parents had this car when I was a kid. This car looked awesome but after six months it always had problems. My dad sold it to a guy, and a month later the engine died.
jamal terrell uh no just no. No one gave a shit which is why the whole Merkur brand failed. It wasn't uninformed salespeople. They were quite informed but they didn't want to be. They hated these two imports coming over and being forced on them. They didn't want to have to explain it. The parts department didn't want to deal with them so when they did. Your bill most certainly showed it. Ford executives thought it was a brilliant idea in the early stages then the European economy evened out compared to the US so they had to up the price. Customers wasn't too enthused about paying that much for a European Ford because it was rebranded but was openly admitted to being a Ford at the same time. Yeah they were buying Lincoln vehicles but yeah people are hypocrites. Nothing new there but there was a clear lackadaisical attitude to it. At least anyone with some common sense or maybe it was my close affiliation with Ford at the time and actually having to find out why they failed. The cars themselves were very good. I owned both and put their European counterparts Cosworth engines in both.
+Konformation07 Now y'see that's quite typical of mainstream society in America. As soon as something comes along that isn't hip or percieed to be in with the culture it's shunned and ridiculed. I'm generalizing there of course you could say the same thing for every nation but I guess there are those folk like yourself who did try these cars and appreciated them for what they were, enough to put Cossy engines in them. It's sad that Ford didn't just belt up and call them by their real names. The XR4Ti shoud've just been called it's real name the Ford Sierra and the Merkur Scorpio was known as the Ford Granada over here in Britain (Ford were wimpy and didn't want to shake things up as nobody liked the Sierra when it first came out so they stuck with the Granada name instead of Scorpio like the rest of Europe, wasn't until the 2nd-gen Scorpio of the mid-90s y'know the froggy eyed version, that they used the cars original name). Why the salespeople weren't interested in European imports baffles me, it was a changing climate in the auto industry and whether they liked it or not people were generally looking for smaller more fuel-efficient cars. The US automakers still had big cars around so if the salespeople had any sense they'd have demonstrated their product that was given to them properly, they might've made some sales by doing so if not many. However as you say it was the 80s and apparently nobody gave a shit so more fool them as you say the European Fords were great I think the British Fords are much better looking than most of the US compacts at the time.
+Samthebam4044 Well also they weren't as profitable on the bottom line. They were sold with Lincolns and Mercurys so a salesman would rather push a customer into a car that cost twice as much as the Merkurs. Also the Sierra wasn't called the Sierra for a logical and fair reason. We have the GMC Sierra which is a truck over here already. They couldn't name it that. I mean they called it a Scorpio over here so they weren't hung up on names.
omg where did the time go.? I'm 47 now .I just graduated high school when these hit the show rooms
I drove my Scorpio for 21 years, and still love that car.
I use to own one of these, Ford Motor Co. best kept little secret, best damn driving car I ever had. Oh yeah it had it's quirks and some quite expensive to repair, but it was well worth it when you take this thing out on the interstate and cruise at 90 miles an hour or faster. It was a dream to drive, a joy to blow pass any E-class Benz or 5 series BMW and see their mouths drop open in the rear view mirror. You either love the looks or hate it, no in between, but drive it, and you would love it!
We had a Scorpio when I was growing up. It was an awesome driving car, just had a lot of issues with electronics and we went through two flywheels on it.
It's a shame this car didn't last long in the US. I always liked the European design and practical hatchback body style.
Owned one. Drove it till the early 2000’s. Everyone was in aww at the reclining rear seats.
I had an '88. It was great, but had transmission problems twice. Overall, quality wasn't quite up to par -- pretty good, but not great. Handled well, good ride. Underpowered by today's standard. but never felt that slow.
I had an '88 as well. Went through four transmissions.
This pure Ford of Europe sedan was a living design of the future. Technology and luxury features built right in that weren't even yet applied to the Lincoln devision. If my memory and prior research serves me correct, the Merkur Scorpio was the shortest production run vehicle in the USA history of Ford. this model had the potential to shake up BMW, Mercedes and Jaguars domination; just like Lexus did in the 90’s. Unfortunately direction by Ford executives failed to market the car effectively and that was the end of that.
I think that the "Merkur" branding was a necessity of MURRICA (why we have Acura, Lexus and Infiniti is because of badge prestige), especially at the time. I wish they could have used plain Mercury as "Euro and/or Aussie Ford" in the USA, though. But for the years prior to this, Mercury just meant "slightly more luxurious, thus more expensive" Ford.
That being said, the Scorpio was great. As was the Sierra. It showed you Ford was more than just Fox, Panther, and MURRICANIZED take on the Probe III (Tempo/Topaz). Euro Ford of that era are some of my favorite Fords to ever exist, esp. the Escort, Fiesta, and Sierra.
I agree. I think either *"Mercury,"* or *"Ford"* would've suited the cars better than *"Merkur."* Both are easier names to pronounce.
This type of car was not going to make it in the US market at that time, an imported branding did stand a better chance though. For example the svo mustang tried heading towards the european style of sports car. However the v8 powered gt was the one people chose. What they were trying then is what is selling more now here and abroad, back then it was abroad by a huge margin.
i used to have a 89 xr4ti, fast as hell!!!!!!!!!!
i have a 89 Scorpio now it's a car that ford need to bring back. these cars where miss understood in there day, technology has caught up to this car!!!!!!!! lets bring it back with the xr4ti!!!!!! i love these cars
The issue is that these models' real name is actually "Ford Sierra". The name was a joke on GM, which was facing serious economic problems around the world. These models were manufactured in Argentina were it performed much better.
@@radiotelefonia Lies. The name Ciera was extremely well known in North American market, so they avoided it upon release here. It was not a joke on GM, considering the Cutlass Supreme sold in droves as did the Cutlass Ciera, and Merkurs sat unnoticed. The name was chosen to make it seem European. It didn't work. People didn't want it, and instead they bought... Well, Cutlass Supremes and Chrysler K cars.
I would much rather have had this car than a Taurus.
I loved these cars in Europe. Always did.
The BMW 525 has a straight 6 engine
Man... i would love to own a Merkur Scorpio.. :( Hard to find in Europe..
I remember the Merkur Scorpio and the XR4ti. While I loved the styling of both cars, I found the name difficult to say. It's a shame that neither were on the U.S. market for very long. I found it more attractive than the BMW of the same years in production.
Ford should’ve just made this a Mercury or Lincoln’s Entry Level Sports Tourer! Plus The Taurus SHO was very Innovative & Popular back then…
lol it be a ideal car even today for some families
We had one in 93 when I was a kid
Oh if they could have only found a way to make this a Lincoln, Ford or Mercury.
I have to agree. I don't know why they were't called Ford, or Mercury. Why the hell Merkur? What kind of a name is that?
Oh my god I didn't notice this as a kid at that time but can anybody see the Taurus front and rear doors and roof, It's a European Taurus
I own one of these one of the best cars, one of my favorite cars.. I got pulled over going 150 mph LOL
I LOVE my Taurus, but I would kill to have my old Scopio... white on tan.... bass thAt sh8ks
Ford should have gambled on this brand, still probably would be SVT today
1989 Merkur Scorpio Salesman Training Video.
Really. I wasn't sure what I was watching.
My parents had this car when I was a kid. This car looked awesome but after six months it always had problems. My dad sold it to a guy, and a month later the engine died.
My friend had this car and it was nothing but problems
what color is this car?
So many typos... the 525i had an I6...
It was the 80s which means no one gave a shit.
Plenty of people did. Uninformed salespeople are one of the biggest reasons the Scorpio didn't sell.
jamal terrell uh no just no. No one gave a shit which is why the whole Merkur brand failed. It wasn't uninformed salespeople. They were quite informed but they didn't want to be. They hated these two imports coming over and being forced on them. They didn't want to have to explain it. The parts department didn't want to deal with them so when they did. Your bill most certainly showed it. Ford executives thought it was a brilliant idea in the early stages then the European economy evened out compared to the US so they had to up the price. Customers wasn't too enthused about paying that much for a European Ford because it was rebranded but was openly admitted to being a Ford at the same time. Yeah they were buying Lincoln vehicles but yeah people are hypocrites. Nothing new there but there was a clear lackadaisical attitude to it. At least anyone with some common sense or maybe it was my close affiliation with Ford at the time and actually having to find out why they failed. The cars themselves were very good. I owned both and put their European counterparts Cosworth engines in both.
+Konformation07 Now y'see that's quite typical of mainstream society in America. As soon as something comes along that isn't hip or percieed to be in with the culture it's shunned and ridiculed. I'm generalizing there of course you could say the same thing for every nation but I guess there are those folk like yourself who did try these cars and appreciated them for what they were, enough to put Cossy engines in them. It's sad that Ford didn't just belt up and call them by their real names. The XR4Ti shoud've just been called it's real name the Ford Sierra and the Merkur Scorpio was known as the Ford Granada over here in Britain (Ford were wimpy and didn't want to shake things up as nobody liked the Sierra when it first came out so they stuck with the Granada name instead of Scorpio like the rest of Europe, wasn't until the 2nd-gen Scorpio of the mid-90s y'know the froggy eyed version, that they used the cars original name).
Why the salespeople weren't interested in European imports baffles me, it was a changing climate in the auto industry and whether they liked it or not people were generally looking for smaller more fuel-efficient cars. The US automakers still had big cars around so if the salespeople had any sense they'd have demonstrated their product that was given to them properly, they might've made some sales by doing so if not many. However as you say it was the 80s and apparently nobody gave a shit so more fool them as you say the European Fords were great I think the British Fords are much better looking than most of the US compacts at the time.
+Samthebam4044 Well also they weren't as profitable on the bottom line. They were sold with Lincolns and Mercurys so a salesman would rather push a customer into a car that cost twice as much as the Merkurs. Also the Sierra wasn't called the Sierra for a logical and fair reason. We have the GMC Sierra which is a truck over here already. They couldn't name it that. I mean they called it a Scorpio over here so they weren't hung up on names.
Am I the only one who thinks that car had Mercedes wheels without the logo?
7:10 BMW 525i 4 cyl engine.. X)
I swore it had an inline 6.
@ 11:12 Girls got rhythm.....
Lol Fredward
The transmissions were not good on these cars
LMAO! This is some illuminati shit! This is some good shit! This shit is the shit!
Illuminati? Go back to life stening to your George Noory/Clyde Lewis/resurrected Art Bell radio programmes.