Mercury Sable

"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4) 08/27/2020 at 19:38 • Filed to: None

10

44

The cleanest 2nd gen Sable I’ve seen in quite a while.

Back when large lights and no grille was in vogue.

atfsgeoff > Boxer_4 08/27/2020 at 19:43

6

That front light bar is so rad

Merkin Muffley > Boxer_4 08/27/2020 at 19:46

3

I still think the Tesla front end would look better with a wrap around LED light bar modeled like that.

“Geordi LaForge light bar”

Boxer_4 > Merkin Muffley 08/27/2020 at 20:02

0

There is certainly an opportunity to make it look pretty cool .

ranwhenparked > Boxer_4 08/27/2020 at 20:03

4

Out of all the personal conveyances to be named after a character from Greco-Roman myth and a small furry mammal, this is probably my favorite

Merkin Muffley > Boxer_4 08/27/2020 at 20:04

1

Somebody ought to wire one up like that... With LED light panels it's be pretty easy

fintail > Boxer_4 08/27/2020 at 20:12

3

It’s a 92-93 but I can’t tell more. I suspect a 92 as I think the 93s went to monotone bumpers. Why do I remember this stuff? The light bar was pretty cool, and kind of wild for Mercury being what seemed to be a more conservative (design wise) brand to me anywway.

My mom had a 93 Taurus back in the day, 3.8 so the head gasket went at 80K because of course, and she dumped it for Toyota and never looked back. Via that, I recall the details of these cars.

If a Sable is too rich for your blood, you can get the light bar on a Tempo-based Topaz:

Don’t recall  if the Tracer also was illuminated:

Taylor Martin > Boxer_4 08/27/2020 at 20:22

1

That’s the sickest set of headlamps I’ve ever seen. I’d be petrified driving at night and seeing that in my rearview, and empowered if I drove a car that petrified people. It’s menacing, futuristic, and sleek.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > fintail 08/27/2020 at 20:34

4

The Tracer light bar did not, unfortunately, light up.  

Deltyn drives a meh car > Boxer_4 08/27/2020 at 20:44

1

I haven't seen one of these fully illuminated since the last time I watched Come Heads

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > Taylor Martin 08/27/2020 at 20:44

4

You’ve never seen one of these in person, apparently. Short of being run over by one, there’s nothing about the Mercury Sable that a healthy adult should find menacing.

Boxer_4 > fintail 08/27/2020 at 20:52

2

I always thought the design of the Sable was interesting. Ford managed to differentiate the st yl ing quite a bit on these, especially in the rear.

A back in pre-school friend of mine’s mom had a 2nd gen Sable GS in the popular seafoam color for a while. Her dad had a early ‘90s Cutlass Supreme in the bright blue at the same time, too. They must have had a thing for interesting rear glass.

We had a ‘94 Taurus GL wagon around that time.  No unique rear end design for us.  

Taylor Martin > Dead_Elvis, Inc. 08/27/2020 at 20:52

0

You’re right, I haven’t but those headlights in the dark look real slick.

Nibby > Boxer_4 08/27/2020 at 20:56

1

back when sedans were cool :(

Boxer_4 > fintail 08/27/2020 at 20:56

7

Also, if you were a family man, you could always get the early Villager:

fintail > Boxer_4 08/27/2020 at 20:58

2

I always saw the Sable greenhouse as being derived from the original Ford Scorpio, which of course we got as a Merkur:

I forgot about that Cutlass, and those blues were very much a thing.  I like those colors.   My mom’s Taurus was white on blue, a combo that might not exist in mass market cars anymore.  It was nice while the engine held up, but depreciation made a repair hard to defend, and I think she was ready to move on anyway.

The wagon was still decent looking though. Really, the 92 Taurus facelift wasn’t bad either, time was kind to that design and the original as well .

Boxer_4 > Taylor Martin 08/27/2020 at 20:58

2

Not sure I’d go that far, but they were certainly cool.

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > Taylor Martin 08/27/2020 at 21:06

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Maybe I’m just old & jaded. The Taurus/Sable twins were bold & unconventional when they debuted - my newly-licensed self was pretty stoked when my parents bought a brand new ‘86 Taurus wagon with the V6, since the 4 cylinder paired with the MT5 was gutless - but that melted soap bar look quickly became common & boring AF. The light bar front end differentiated the Mercury from the Ford with its more traditional lamps, but to my eye, these have aged about as well as milk left out in the sun.

The best thing about seeing these at night is that they’re in the dark.

Boxer_4 > fintail 08/27/2020 at 21:11

1

I often forget about the Scorpio. The last one I saw was at a car show last year, and I honestly don’t remember the last one I saw prior to that.

The blue certainly stood out. My aunt had an ‘89 Cavalier Z24 in a similar color with the silver trim.

Our Taurus wagon was silver with a red interior. We had it from new in ‘94 until ‘98 when it was totaled by someone running a stop sign. It only had ~40,000 miles at the time and was still in great shape otherwise. It was replaced by a ‘99 Camry which we held onto for 13 years.

The wagon design was pretty good. I do find it amusing that Ford only really had two generations of wagon for the four equivalent generations of sedan.  

facw > Merkin Muffley 08/27/2020 at 21:27

2

I mean, Elon’s on it!

Merkin Muffley > Deltyn drives a meh car 08/27/2020 at 21:31

2

Did that porno make the jump from DVD to streaming?

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > Deltyn drives a meh car 08/27/2020 at 21:40

1

Sounds messy!

fintail > Boxer_4 08/27/2020 at 21:43

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Probably been at least 5 years since I have seen a Scorpio on the road. Parts have to be an issue, and if you need a body panel or trim piece, good luck.

I like that Cutlass blue, and I think half those Z24s were blue and silver. I like it, but I also like the teals of the era, so that might explain it.

The Taurus wagon was insanely futuristic looking when it debuted in 86, I remember seeing one around then, and it was like something from another planet. That gave it roughly a decade on the line. IIRC the 91+ Escort wagon also survived into the new bodystyle.

My mom has had her Camry forever now, too.  Those 90s thoughts got me thinking, I remember she test drove an Eagle Vision before buying the Taurus - there’s something I haven’t seen in ages.  It was really loaded and seemed nice, but someone told her Eagle was on its way out, and beware of buying an orphan, so she played it safe - as everyone did then.  I know there were at least a couple other Taurus/Sable on our block, and at one time both my grandma and uncle had one, too.

Taylor Martin > Dead_Elvis, Inc. 08/27/2020 at 21:59

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See that’s just it, I feel the same way about early 2000s Camrys and Corollas. I grew up with that same shape in every car and it got boring. I understand where your mind is, I’m just of a slightly younger time where longer “melted soap bars” aren’t as common anymore.

Merkin Muffley > Dead_Elvis, Inc. 08/27/2020 at 22:00

0

Heh. You win the smart-assery face-off...

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fintail 08/27/2020 at 22:30

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I recently saw a shockingly perfect Tempo coupe. There was nothing exciting about it but it was there and i t existed.

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/27/2020 at 22:43

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Nice ones are pretty rare spots anymore even here, I’d count that as a good sighting.  The early (84-85) ones seem especially rare in good condition.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fintail 08/27/2020 at 23:18

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I think this was the later one but I honestly can’t tell. it has the aero grille.

I’ve always thought the back of these was oddly droopy looking but in a good way somehow.

shop-teacher > Boxer_4 08/27/2020 at 23:43

1

Damn. That takes me back.

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > Taylor Martin 08/27/2020 at 23:45

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Drive one & you’ll be over them in an instant. 

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/28/2020 at 00:02

1

yeah, those are facelift cars, I believe the top one is around 1990, the lower one maybe an 86-87. The earliest ones have inset/non-flush headlights.

Aero style  for a car released in late summer 1983 was different than what people might like today, and some people didn’t care for it even then. We had an 85 (sedan) in the family for many years, another car I kind of got into because we had one, and it wasn’t the worst thing in the world, ours was pretty reliable anyway.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fintail 08/28/2020 at 00:11

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In Mexico they were called the Ford Topaz for some reason. I remember seeing a shocking number of coupes in Google Street view when I did that street view car spotting series.

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/28/2020 at 00:17

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I’ve seen those too, I do the street view thing now and then. Do you ever play geoguessr? I bet you’d like it.

For the Ford Topaz, weird stuff - there was one that was a Topaz body with a Tempo nose, another that was a full on Mercury but with Ford badges.  Odd they’d be modified so much for that market, reminds me of the Canadian Ford-derived Meteor cars of the 50s and early 60s, or the Canadian market Chevy-based Pontiacs.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fintail 08/28/2020 at 00:35

1

I used to wile away study halls with that game. I was pretty good too. Maybe I should get back into it.

*e yes full planner with few items crossed off*

Eh, maybe not.

I never quite understood the reason behind making those weird mashups for markets with less badge engineering. Wouldn't it be easier to just sell the one version of the platform instead of a Frankenstein's Monster of different brand's versions?

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/28/2020 at 00:50

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I’d play it at lunch at work, too. They charge for it now, but a pittance (google is charging them to use the maps).

I think that kind of stuff happens when marketing departments become powerful and start relying on harebrained schemes from wacky execs or focus groups.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fintail 08/28/2020 at 10:58

1

Aw too bad they charge for it now. I got the feeling it was just a fun project rather than a money making scheme.

Probably. But focus groups seem like such a flawed concept to base your car around. There is no such thing as an average person. They should really be finding median customers and ask what they like and dislike about something and then totally disregard because don’t kn ow what they are talking about. 

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/28/2020 at 12:22

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I think they had to, they’d lose money with google charging them for access. But a yearly account was like $20 for unlimited use. for a dollar and change a month, I don’t mind, and it’s the only game I play. I used to play it timed, but now take my time for max score.

Ranking corporate leadership can be pretty oblivious, and when they get stuck on an idea, they run with it til the end.   I agree with your sentiment - find the average person and do the opposite.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fintail 08/28/2020 at 12:57

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Well, specifically I was talking about the median person because the average person doesn’t exist. Averages are way overused. I’ve always found the median value to be more useful.

I say that I wish things were low cost without ads instead of free with obtrusive ads but here I am not wanting to pay for the game. I guess I got my fair share in beforehand. 

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/28/2020 at 13:12

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I was thinking in terms of overall knowledge or interests, where “average” isn’t a numerical stat. Someone of a certain demographic who isn’t really into cars is probably the “average” focus group member.

The geoguessr issue wasn’t ads, but you were limited to one game per day.  I don’t mind helping keep them afloat, I’ve spent countless hours playing it.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fintail 08/28/2020 at 13:17

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The kind of person who ends up in a Chevy “real people” commercial. I don’t really understand why you would want the work of experts diluted by what the everyman thinks he should say (because I seriously doubt the atmosphere of focus groups allows for the possibility  that it is fine as is).

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/28/2020 at 18:08

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As I say, real people - not! Actors.

That’s exactly it, one shouldn’t aspire to the lowest common denominator - especially any brand aimed at enthusiasts or seeking to be a premium offering.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fintail 08/28/2020 at 18:17

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Agreed. Isn’t premium supposed to mean better than average? Even an economic shouldn’t be designed to the specifications of people who don’t know the first thing about cars. Call in the people who know what they are talking about!

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/28/2020 at 20:38

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I think all of the premium brands have strayed from that, going for the Kardashian-worshipping set who will use the cars as insta backgrounds instead of traditional customers or enthusiasts. I bet focus groups help move in this new idiotic direction.

I think appliance cars should be dumbed down a bit as compared to higher feature models, as they will attract people who don’t like cars and don’t like driving - they need to be easy to maintain and have idiot proof operation. At one time, buying a specialty car meant an average person kind of leaving their comfort zone, now it’s just about being brash and posing.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fintail 08/28/2020 at 21:24

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Yes, like the theoretical pure appliance car should be a comfortable and reliable car that is as easy to drive as it is to keep it on the road. Instead people are buying compromise-mobiles that aren’t particularly good looking, unique, or even practical while being not much more fun to drive than a pure appliance. Of course there is more to this because cars are not a particularly rational art form but the fact is that most people are buying cars that do nothing they want them to do particularly well.

The reality of this is that people are buying Toyota 4Runners to commute in without particularly enjoying the commute anymore for it. Well, all this is of course extreme generalization and I’ll admit that my dad’s TRD Tundra is worse at what he uses it for (commuting and around 5-10 large loads a year) because it is compromised for offroading despite never leaving the pavement, but it is an absolute blast to drive. What drives me crazy is not using true offroad vehicles for commuting like Jeeps (which makes plenty of cheap offroaders cheap enough to really use how they were intended to) but rather compromising for the appearance of something it is not in a way that takes itself too seriously.

For instance, the Chevy Equinox has always been a dreadful pig that isn’t good looking or particularly useful for doing anything at all. That’s a car that hopelessly fails at its most basic aspirations. The K armann Ghia is a slow economy car that serves as an affordable stylish cruiser that is more of a riff on sports cars than a wanna be. That’s just a fun and unique spin off that has proved hi ghly successful.

Though that raises another question: Is the Lamborghini Urus and its like the new Karmann Ghia? No, because it is expensive, pretentious , and actually tries to be something its not.

I think the root of the problem is that rich people want a fancy appliance that makes them look like enthusiasts without any of the liabilities associated with enthusiasts vehicles.

Wow, that turned into a rant.

fintail > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/28/2020 at 22:12

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That appliance car is why a Civrolla or Prius and the CUV equivalents exist. Funny thing, they can be dull to live with, but they seldom pretend to be something they aren’t - even their “sport” trim levels are almost kind of ironic and silly when everyone can see what’s underneath .  I can kind of respect that.

The off road thing is the new posing trend, along with false pretenses of sport. MB has now discontinued the normal trim E wagon for the USDM, 2021 onward it will have cladding and a lift. Faux butch style and outdoorsy cosplay is the “in” thing, like with the 4-Runners you see doing suburban commuter duty that are taken off-road as much as I jump stumps in the fintail . Living in the PNW , it’s all I see all day every day. 4-Runners, Jeeps, Subarus, every other vehicle. That’s the other side of the coin - the vehicles aren’t pretending, the drivers are.

That so many supercars are now automatic-only says it all - at least posing was harder on rich people back in the day, driving an 80s Lambo wasn’t a leisurely experience no doubt.  But a new one is probably as easy as a Camry.  I have no problem with the rant.  Sadly, it will eventually lessen our choices, as more vehicles will have false pretense in their design.