(E-Mail Removed)zzzzzzzzzz wrote:
> On Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:58:35 -0400, Bill Davidsen<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Yousuf Khan wrote:
>>> On 19/09/2010 6:33 PM, (E-Mail Removed)zzzzzzzzzz wrote:
>>>> On Sun, 19 Sep 2010 15:04:00 -0400, Yousuf
>>>> Khan<(E-Mail Removed)>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On 10-09-16 11:41 PM, (E-Mail Removed)zzzzzzzzzz wrote:
>>>>>> How so? It's going to be rough existing on only Lincolns. The market is
>>>>>> quite small and ageing fast.
>>>>>
>>>>> Ford will most likely replace the Mercuries with Fords.
>>>>
>>>> Huh? Almost all Mercurys *were* Fords with deferent trim (sometimes
>>>> not even
>>>> that). LM dealers cannot sell Ford models.
>>>
>>> That's what I'm saying. If Mercury disappears as a brand, then Ford the
>>> corporation will likely give the former Mercury brand dealers, Ford
>>> brands to sell instead.
>>>
>> I hear that Ford wants to close 500 dealerships. I would suspect they are
>> Mercury dealers.
>
> Mercury dealerships are also Lincoln dealerships. Yes, Ford has wanted to
> close many of them for decades. One I know of sell one car a year. Several
> sell single digits a month. That isn't very profitable for Ford.
>
It has to be more profitable than selling none.

The Dodge and Chevrolet dealers near me were closed. The nearest dealers are now
about 45 minutes away from me, which is a PITA for getting factory authorized
service, or even looking at the car to buy. Anyone living in the nearby area,
maybe 3k-4k people, is a LOT less likely to buy those brands. Subaru and Suzuki
have dealers in 15 minutes, Ford has two within 15-20 minutes, I can't imagine
that Dodge and Chevrolet are selling well, particularly since the Chevrolet
dealer was a huge multi-acre setup with large showroom, and it will be a Honda
dealer by end of year.

If a dealer provides service and pays a franchise fee yearly, how does profit
improve closing a shop, even selling one car a year? I miss the financial model
somewhere.

>> Noted in passing: Lincoln is now selling a little crossover which has the Taurus
>> SHO "EccoBoost" engine, V6+2 turbo.And very cheap lease rates. I would take one
>> of those, more useful form factor than sedan, and cheaper price.
>>
>> Yes, the engine is slightly detuned, it should still be a nice vehicle for
>> people with a busy lifestyle.

On Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:20:33 -0400, Bill Davidsen <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>> On Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:58:35 -0400, Bill Davidsen<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>> Yousuf Khan wrote:
>>>> On 19/09/2010 6:33 PM, (E-Mail Removed)zzzzzzzzzz wrote:
>>>>> On Sun, 19 Sep 2010 15:04:00 -0400, Yousuf
>>>>> Khan<(E-Mail Removed)>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 10-09-16 11:41 PM, (E-Mail Removed)zzzzzzzzzz wrote:
>>>>>>> How so? It's going to be rough existing on only Lincolns. The market is
>>>>>>> quite small and ageing fast.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ford will most likely replace the Mercuries with Fords.
>>>>>
>>>>> Huh? Almost all Mercurys *were* Fords with deferent trim (sometimes
>>>>> not even
>>>>> that). LM dealers cannot sell Ford models.
>>>>
>>>> That's what I'm saying. If Mercury disappears as a brand, then Ford the
>>>> corporation will likely give the former Mercury brand dealers, Ford
>>>> brands to sell instead.
>>>>
>>> I hear that Ford wants to close 500 dealerships. I would suspect they are
>>> Mercury dealers.
>>
>> Mercury dealerships are also Lincoln dealerships. Yes, Ford has wanted to
>> close many of them for decades. One I know of sell one car a year. Several
>> sell single digits a month. That isn't very profitable for Ford.
>>
>It has to be more profitable than selling none.

No, it really isn't. It costs Ford money to keep dealerships open.

>The Dodge and Chevrolet dealers near me were closed. The nearest dealers are now
>about 45 minutes away from me, which is a PITA for getting factory authorized
>service, or even looking at the car to buy. Anyone living in the nearby area,
>maybe 3k-4k people, is a LOT less likely to buy those brands. Subaru and Suzuki
>have dealers in 15 minutes, Ford has two within 15-20 minutes, I can't imagine
>that Dodge and Chevrolet are selling well, particularly since the Chevrolet
>dealer was a huge multi-acre setup with large showroom, and it will be a Honda
>dealer by end of year.

Yes, that was a purely political move. Certainly dealerships that turn cars
are profitable for the manufacturer. Ones that don't aren't.

>If a dealer provides service and pays a franchise fee yearly, how does profit
>improve closing a shop, even selling one car a year? I miss the financial model
>somewhere.

The district sales and service managers still have to visit the dealerships.
There are books to be kept. Advertising, though some of that is regional
dealerships' responsibility. Quite a lot of expense.