So Long and Thanks for all the Fish: The Last of San Francisco’s U.S. Dealerships Closes its Doors for Good

Are you in the market for a new car in San Francisco and are considering a product built by America’s Big 2.5? If so, then I have some bad news: the last U.S. domestic automaker dealership has just shut up shop. San Francisco Ford Lincoln Mercury on Van Ness Avenue closed a few weeks ago, leaving some 50 employees out of a job.

Ford Lincoln Mercury presidente Mel Turner told the San Fransisco Chronicle: “We are proud to have served the San Francisco community and will be focusing over the coming weeks on helping employees through this transition and ensuring our current customer commitments are met.”

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Defunct Brand Owners Shun GM and Ford

There are some three million former Saturn, Pontiac and Hummer customers in the United States, all of whom will unlikely ever have the pleasure of buying a newer model of their current make again. These are some of America’s defunct brands, all gone the same way as Plymouth, DeSoto, Packard and many others. These latest additions were culled following General Motors bankruptcy reorganisation in 2009. And Mercury owners are in the same boat.

Now, Ford and GM are desperately trying to hold onto these “brand-less” customers. Accoriding to a report from the Wall Street Journal, in this year alone, 70% Pontiac owners, 71% of Saturn owners and 65% of Mercury owners who traded in their vehicles left with something other than a Ford or GM product.

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NHTSA Investigates 200,000 Ford Escape and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs for Shattering Tailgate Glass

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it has opened a preliminary investigation concerning 200,000 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs from the 2010 and 2011 model years, after receiving several complaints that the window glass in the tailgate allegedly shattered without warning.

The safety agency said it received 18 complaints noting that “the liftgate window glass shattered spontaneously, while opening the liftgate or while closing the liftgate. In one alleged injury incident, the complainant and her 10 year old son were cut by glass fragments."

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2009 Mercury Mariner

2009 Mercury Mariner Views

2009 Mercury Mariner Views #2

2009 Mercury Mariner Interior

Base Price	$19,750 (MT est.)
Vehicle layout	Front engine, FWD or AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sport/utility
Engine	2.5L/171-hp/171 lb-ft. DOHC 16-valve I-4; 3.0-liter/240-hp/223 lb-ft. DOHC 24-valve V-6/2.5L/153-hp/136 lb-ft. DOHC 16-valve I-4 w/Atkinson cycle hybrid system, 94-hp AC synchronous motor
Transmission	5-speed manual (four-cylinder only), 6-speed automatic (four or V-6), CVT (hybrid only)
Curb weight (dist f/r)	3415 - 3639 lbs (mfg.)
Wheelbase	103.1
Length x width x height	174.7 x 71.1 x 70.0 in.
0-60 mph	8.7 sec. (mfg est, V-6)
EPA city/hwy fuel econ	18/23 - 34/30 mpg (mfg est.)

2010 Mercury Milan

2010 Mercury Milan

2010 Mercury Milan Back Views

2010 Mercury Milan Dashboard

Vehicle Layout	Front engine, FWD and AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan
Engine	2.5L/175-hp 172 lb-ft/ DOHC 16-valve I-4, 3.0L/240-hp 222 lb-ft/ DOHC 24-valve V-6, 2.5L/155-hp 136 lb-ft DOHC 16-valve plus electric motor
Transmission	6-speed automatic, 6-speed manual, continuously variable automatic
0-60 mph	7.0-9.5 sec (mfr est)
EPA City/Hwy fuel econ	23-38/33-38 mpg (est)
CO2 Emissions	0.51-0.73 lb/mile (est)
On Sale In U.S.	Spring 2009

2008 Mercury Sable

2008 Mercury Sable

2008 Mercury Sable Behind Views

2008 Mercury Sable Interior

Base Price	$23,935
Vehicle layout	Front engine, FWD and AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan
Engine	3.5L/263-hp/249-lb-ft DAMB 24-valve V-6
Transmission	6-speed automatic
Curb weight (dist f/r)	3741-3930 lbs (mfr)
Wheelbase	112.9 in
Length x width x height	202.1 x 74.5 x 61.5 in
Headroom, f/r	38.8/39.6 in
Legroom, f/r	41.3/41.2 in
Shoulder room, f/r	57.8/57.6 in
Cargo volume	21.2 cu.ft
EPA City/Hwy Econ	17-18/24-28 mpg
CO2 Emissions	0.90-0.99 lb/mile