Teach Me About The Mercury Mystique

"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
02/23/2015 at 21:38 • Filed to: Flip, Mercury, Mystique Flip

Because its the first car I will flip to hopefully make a profit. I know its not really a cool car (Or even interesting), but it was in a relatives house just sitting there. I don't have enough money yet to buy myself a car still, so we agreed on the deal of paying him when we eventually sell the car. We estimate about $350. Today I went to check it out as it had been immobile for a reasonable number of years.

Basic Specs:

1995 Mercury Mystique

2.5L 24 Valve DURATEC V6 coupled to a 4 Speed Automatic

85,000 Miles

The exterior is not great at all, so a couple parts here and there will certainly help. The interior though held up pretty well considering its age and its state. My family relative told me there wasn't an issue with anything but the 4 speed automatic transmission. No biggie, as my father knows a couple mechanics that will take care of this, the hardest job whilst I try to do everything to really learn how to fix a car up. Tomorrow, if everything goes as planned, we will pick it up with said mechanic in a tow truck to have it transported to a shop. When its mechanically decent, the rough edges will be polished.

I am genuinely excited about this, even if it is a car as dull as Tuesday morning aspirins. Its my first chance to make money, to learn more about automobiles and to get me involved in something I always wanted to. Flipping cars.

If there is any advice, any recommendations, insults, motivating quotes from famous people its all welcome and greatly appreciated.

DISCUSSION (40)

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 21:41

You want to know about the Mercury Mistake? There, I just told you all you need to know.

Vicente Esteve > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
02/23/2015 at 21:42

Its going to be exciting then!

Rainbow > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 21:42

Contour SVT swap everything.

yamahog > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 21:43

Kinja'd!!!

With all due respect. I had basically an identical one of these for my first car, except in perfect condition as my grandma owned it and my dad maintained it.

Couldn't sell it for $1000 even 4-5 years ago. Good luck. Better off just making it a LeMons car.

Vicente Esteve > Rainbow
02/23/2015 at 21:44

I highly doubt I will find any parts from one as it was never for sale in Mexico.

jkm7680 > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 21:44

Kinja'd!!!

Here ya go.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 21:45

In all seriousness, my grandmother has a 1995 Ford Countour V6. Same car as yours, same color even. Thing has 130k miles on it and everyone in my family says she should replace it, but it's more or less reliable and she refuses to buy a new car to replace a functioning old car, which she has now had for twenty years. There's not much particularly good about it, but there's not much particularly bad about it either. And for what it is, it's quick enough.

Vicente Esteve > yamahog
02/23/2015 at 21:45

I am really not thinking of making anything more than that, and I understand the cars (Lack of) Value. I appreciate the feedback though.

dogisbadob > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 21:45

You should do a 3.0 Duratec swap (from the Taurus of the same time)

Vicente Esteve > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
02/23/2015 at 21:47

Well, its the seemingly good DURATEC engine. Also, I plan on making at best $1000 dollars, which is more than enough to buy something more interesting to flip. This car has 85,000 miles and the only issue was in the transmission so I have some hopes for it. Its the ladder to get something better to flip.

Vicente Esteve > dogisbadob
02/23/2015 at 21:48

That could be feasible, but I just want to spend as little money as possible on it to get it to working condition.

yamahog > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 21:48

As long as you know! We were never able to sell mine, kept it in the family until a cousin totaled it. Good luck on the trans, mine slipped like hell and one of the lines rusted through. Also, hard to find the connectors they used on the '95.

Jay Lauer > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 21:51

If you can get it driving and reliable, sure, I see a profit.

But you're going to have to do a massive amount of cleaning and replacing of any rusty bubbly parts.

It's not my choice of flip material; not by a long shit. But good luck to you.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
02/23/2015 at 21:51

I have an unhealthy attachment to the Contour. Something about being the first car that I remember actually messing around with when I was young kinda does that to you.

dogisbadob > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 21:51

Do they have LeMons in Mexico? 24 Horas de Limones? :p

Vicente Esteve > yamahog
02/23/2015 at 21:52

The transmission is what worries me the most, but even then another working one is a possibility. Thanks for the tips.

Vicente Esteve > Jay Lauer
02/23/2015 at 21:54

Thanks, and of course this wouldn't have been my choice for flipping but it was the most convenient. I am using it as a "ladder" for a more interesting car to flip in the future.

Vicente Esteve > dogisbadob
02/23/2015 at 21:55

Ha! No, but public roads sure make a great impersonation.

yamahog > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 21:55

No problem, feel free to send up the 'Hog signal if you want any more advice in your quest:

Kinja'd!!!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 22:00

2.5L V6? Is this then just a slightly fancier Contour?

carcrasher88 > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 22:04

Here's a bit of good news if it turns out the transmission needs work.

The 4 speed automatic is the CD4E (known by Ford as the 4F44E). that transmission was in production from 1994 to 2007, so 13 years, and was used in a large number of Ford, Mercury, and Mazda models.

1994–2002 Mazda 626 4-cylinder

1994–1997 Mazda MX-6 4-cylinder

1994–1997 Ford Probe 4-cylinder

1995–2000 Ford Contour

1995–2000 Mercury Mystique

1995–2007 Ford Mondeo (up to Mondeo III 4-cylinder model)

1999–2002 Mercury Cougar

2001–2008 Ford Escape

2001–2006 Mazda Tribute

2005–2008 Mercury Mariner

This means parts should be very easy to come by, should you need any for this Mystique.

The engine, on the other hand, was mainly specific to the Contour/Mystique/Mondeo, and specifically for earlier models.

There was an updated version called the Duratec VE, which was used in later model Mondeos and the Ford/Mercury Cougar, but I'm not sure how compatible parts from that would be with the earlier Duratec 2.5s.

Vicente Esteve > yamahog
02/23/2015 at 22:05

I had one of those a couple of days as a pet, taking care of it for a cousin. Awesome animals!

lonestranger > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 22:32

I'll give you a break because English might not be your first language (though it seems fine), but this is a pet peeve of mine:

$350 dollars

You said "dollars" twice. You can write "$350", or "350 dollars". Sorry, I couldn't let it go.

And what the hell happened to the exterior?

RedPir8Roberts > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 22:37

1. "Add value" to car by polishing up the headlights with a Meguiar's kit that attaches to a drill (assuming they are yellowed and not just dirty). Made a huge difference on my mom's car, took 5 years or so off the looks. $20 or less. Her prior car was a Mystique that she loved, bought secondhand with low miles and drove up to 80,000 plus miles (maybe over 100?), gave to a relative who is still driving it.

2. Get rid of that terrible steering wheel cover, if the wheel beneath can't be cleaned up, even a cheap new cover that is more leather-looking and with the strings tied around it would be better than that ribbed condom.

3. Clean off engine after covering up the electrical bits and using the right sort of cleaners. Of course change the oil.

4. Buy some windshield wipers. $20.

5. Clean the interior and Armor All everything. Of course, clean the exterior, but also wax with a cleaner-wax and touch up the scratches as best you can.

6. Check tire pressures are equal with digital tire gauge.

7. Adopt English accent, and better yet, have an awesome, impossibly tall mechanic with an improbably overstyled hairdo to fix any mechanical bugs using his lift, specialized tools he makes himself, and a welder.

8. Ship car to country where they love these things. Possibly Romania.

9. Profit!

10. Repeat x10, buy "supercar" low end model of famous marque with no service records and high mileage.

11. Move to Romania where gorgeous woman you met while there to sell the Mystique believes that your Mondial is a supercar.

12. Realize that gas is $15 a gallon, move back to Mexico with memories of the good times you had with Romanian girl and her cousin using up all profits from selling Mondial for one night of ecstasy with them in a 2 star hotel in Bucharest.

13. Write blog on Jalopnik explaining how you manage to flip cars that aren't Richie Rich's leftovers and had more fun driving a Mondial for a few weeks and in a hotel room with no TV than DeMuro had obsessing about not losing too much money on his 360 from repairing a tire.

Kinja'd!!!

Vicente Esteve > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
02/23/2015 at 22:38

Yep, but this one is a dead brand so +2.3 points for rarity.

Vicente Esteve > carcrasher88
02/23/2015 at 22:40

Thanks a lot for this! I really appreciate it.

Vicente Esteve > lonestranger
02/23/2015 at 22:41

Will be fixed, and I like when mistakes are pointed out.

The exterior is the result of lack of usage.

Vicente Esteve > lonestranger
02/23/2015 at 22:44

Thanks, and I like when mistakes are pointed out.

The exterior is the result of lack of usage.

Vicente Esteve > RedPir8Roberts
02/23/2015 at 22:47

This post deserves many stars.

lonestranger > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 22:50

You're welcome. I'm glad you took it as the constructive criticism it is.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Vicente Esteve
02/23/2015 at 22:50

Between my wife's Sable and her best friend's 99 Contour, I recommend neither the engine nor that era of Ford sedans. I kid I kid! That contour was bought at an auction... Poor decision on her part it turns out.

Vicente Esteve > lonestranger
02/23/2015 at 22:53

Absolutely!

Vicente Esteve > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
02/23/2015 at 23:01

Haha, don't worry, my first car was a 2000's VW without a service history (Not even an owners manual), salvage title AND no previous inspection from any mechanic whatsoever. I don't think I can go any worse than that.

This was a family owned car with less than 100,000 without issues transmission notwithstanding. Im positive.

Squid > Vicente Esteve
02/24/2015 at 00:48

Ahhhh the great mercury mistake. . .

Polish up the exterior, detail the interior. put on the market for $1500 and call it a day when someone offers you near $1k. . . Put as little money into getting the tranny sorted. You have real small margins to play with here.

Schaefft > Vicente Esteve
02/24/2015 at 07:32

Kinja'd!!!

I want one, for no good reason. But it needs to be a loaded LS Sport with the V6 and 5-speed in a dark color. These are not as bad as people think.

Kinja'd!!!

Here's Motorweek's road test of the car when it was new:

Vicente Esteve > Squid
02/24/2015 at 20:53

That is EXACTLY my plan.

I am using this as a ladder to get something more interesting to flip. This was my only chance to flip a car since I didn't have to pay it right away.

Vicente Esteve > Schaefft
02/24/2015 at 20:55

The V6 with the stick was the perfect combo for sportiness, and they did handle well. This is more of the loaded one, which is perfect for the type of buyer I am trying to find.

jvirgs drives a Subaru > yamahog
02/24/2015 at 22:49

My brother and sister shared one in HS. It was ghetto as fuck. The left rear window didn't work and you could start the car and take the key out of the ignition and it would still run. Occasionally the ignition wouldn't turn with the key all the way inserted so you would have to try with "just the tip"

Robert Jones > Vicente Esteve
02/25/2015 at 03:06

1. Get it running.

2.Get it cleaned up.

3.Sell it. Nothing else beyond clean and running is going to be worth the investment.

4.Buy something cool that breaks but is easy to fix. Impala ss or rx7, not an s type.

Good luck.

Vicente Esteve > Robert Jones
02/25/2015 at 07:43

Thanks, and yes, all of that starts today.