Mercury Tracer Midsize | Compact

Mercury Tracer Midsize | Compact 

DESCRIPTION

The Tracer is offered as a four-door sedan or a four-door wagon. It's powered by a 2.0-liter/110-hp 4 cylinder with a choice of a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. ABS is optional.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 41-48 of 48  
[Jul 20, 2000]
Todd

Strength:

Very affordable compact sedan. Has a nice sporty feel and an attractive exterior. The 2.0 liter, 110 HP motor has plenty of get up and go. Own the LS trim level and this budget minded vehicle is loaded with accesories. Fuel consumption is kept minimal with a 34 mpg highway rating. The rear seats have plenty of room for children but most adults will feel a little cramped for space. Wouldn't care to take on any long road trips back there. Trunk has a fair amount of room for a car of its size. Handles very well on the road and has a descent ride quality.

Weakness:

Again the rear seating section is cramped for space. At higher speeds the ride quality seems mushy.

Bought the automobile in used in 1998. It had about 17k on the odometer. My wife has put 50k on the odometer in the past 2 years. Thank goodness it gets great gas mileage. We paid around 10k and I feel like we got a great car for the money. It had a rear spoiler, aftermarket graphics, deep tinted windows, sport wheels and tires and all the options. The exterior paint holds up very well to road debris and scratches. I would recommend this car to anyone that doesn't have a large family. This automobile has served mainly as work transportation, but with the soaring gas prices we find ourselves leaving the SUV home more often. Excellent value and the fit and finish has appeared to be excellent, on par with it's asian counterparts.

Similar Products Used:

Ford Escort. Mercury Tracer is the same car with more bells and whistles.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 15, 2000]
Paul
Model Reviewed: Tracer LS

Strength:

Nice size car, comfortable front and back seats. All gauges and switches easy to see. Good gas milege. Good car for the price. Pretty nice stero for a factory. VERY nice get up and go. I good gas this baby and be first off the line and pick up speed very fast. Belive me because I like to do this! At around a 90 it gets kinda shakey, but thats to be expected for a little four cylinder. But still a lt of fun. There was ample leg room too, more than I expected from a little car.

Weakness:

If I had to say one thing it would be engine noise. When in idle this 4 cylinder car sounded like it was gasping for air. It was kinda loud for a little car. But I learned to live with it. The suspension was a little rough too. Compared to simaler 4 cylinder cars I wasnt too impressed. Also brake wear was a problem. I bought the car used and the dealer put new brake pads on it. I had to replace them after about 5 months because the squealing was not only annoying, but very imbarrasing. I had them replaced with matallic pads but there was still some squeaking. Lastly I didnt like all the plastic on the outside. I know cars nowdays are a lot of plastic, but things started to wear down and fall apart. Mainly the accesories on the front bumber like the covers for the spces where the fog lights go. But other than that it was a nice car.

This was my first car, so Im not sure how much weight my review carries. I just want to make people aware of what I observed. I would recomend this as a first car. Sad to say I dont have the car anymore because of a bad wreck on the freeway which wasnt my fault. I walked away unhurt but my car totalled, which says something about the safety. Im going to be buying another car here pretty soon, but it wont be another Tracer. Im going for something more sporty! Like I said, I like to drive fast!

Similar Products Used:

I have driven a Corola, and it seemed better than the Tracer.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jun 07, 2001]
Paula
Model Reviewed: /Mercury Tracer

Strength:

Nice color. Reliable. Handles well. Great life-span. Compact. I liked how it got me everywhere. I'd take frequent weekend trips in it. We went to Fla w/ it. I've been all over the country in my little Mercury.

Weakness:

Very little power. I mean, you really have to temper this throttle. It takes some time to pick up. At the stop light, others will always pass you when it turns green.

This was my first car. I loved it and still do (s/one crashed it so I must replace. They don't make them anymore.) I got it as a used from a car dealership in Nov. of '96. I've had it 5 years and would have probably still had it another 2 years. I fixed it 3 times, but once it was my fault b/c of an accident. If you're a teenager looking for a good, reliable, quite attractive car, I'd opt for this car. Also, it takes regular and insurance is premium. If you crash it or mess it up, it's not that expensive to cost (then again, the resale value isn't great, either.)

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jun 21, 2001]
delia trujillo
Model Reviewed: merc tracer

Strength:

None

Weakness:

Transmission went out a couple months ago...cost my $700...I got a used one put in...a month later, for some reason, car overheated and now it will not start! Turns over, but will not start! I'am totally frustrated! (radiator had antifreeze)!!!help!

Car is nice and comfortable. Has reached the 100,000 miles already...(it had 77,000 when I purchased it..Has been reliable except for recently.

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Jun 29, 2001]
chris
Model Reviewed: tracer LTS

Strength:

I AM SIX FOOT FIVE AND FIT IN THIS CAR. :O)
FUN TO DRIVE, STRONG RUNNING CAR, 1.8 DOHC MOTOR IS ACTUALLY A MAZDA ENGINE. LITTLE CAR HAS SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE. EVEN AT 172,000 NO INHERENT RATTLES IN BODY/DRIVETRAIN. THE PLANT THESE CARS WERE BUILT IN WAS FORD'S NUMBER ONE PLANT FOR QUALITY AT THE TIME. IF YOU ARE INTO STEREO STUFF...LITTLE CARS HAVE GOOD ACOUSTICS

Weakness:

FORD CAN'T WIRE A CAR RELIABLY TO SAVE THEIR LIVES. FORTUNATELY, THIS IS AN EASY FIX, AND THE CARS NOT THAT BAD TO WORK ON. ALL OLDER(PRE-95)FORDS WIRED SIMILARLY.

FOUND THIS CAR THROUGH A FRIEND, AND KNEW IT HAD A NEW CLUTCH, BUT THE POWER SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW WASN'T WORKING. NO BIG DEAL.... BOUGHT THE CAR ON THE SPOT, WITH 172,000 MILES, AND A NON WORKING WINDOW. HAS FOUR WHEEL DISC BRAKES, AND THE 1.8 DOHC MOTOR, WHICH HAS OUTRUN EVERY NEW HONDA/ACURA ALL THE "FAST AND FURIOUS" KIDS DRIVE. DOESN'T SMOKE OR LEAK ANYTHING, PUT A NEW POWER WINDOW MOTOR IN, AND FOUND OUT FORDS WINDOW SWITCHES ARE A WEAK POINT IN DESIGN. REWIRED BEHIND THE PASS. SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH, EVERYTHING FINE NOW. PUT A NEW STEREO SYSTEM IN IT FOR BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, COMPLETE WITH SUBWOOFERS, AND NOTHING IN THE CAR RATTLES!!!!

Similar Products Used:

90 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE(ALSO A BULLETPROOF LITTLE CAR) :)
EVERYTHING CHEVY HAS MADE....
I ALSO HAVE 10 YRS ELECTRICAL EXPERIENCE..... HENCE THE REPAIRS

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 01, 2001]
Evan G.

Strength:

Paint remained nice for 14 years now, car will perform if ytou happen to have a lead foot, but is easily smoked by any other car.

Weakness:

where do I start?

This WAS a dependable car, for the first 10 years we owned it. After about the 10 year mark, is when everything possible started going wrong. CV joints went to crap, as did the struts, brakes, clutch(twice), fuel economy, most of the electricals, the entire engine needed help, and I can honestly say that I liked the car to begin with, but then began to hate it as time wore on.

Similar Products Used:

1992 Toyota Camry (PRIMO car), 1999 Toyota Corolla (even MORE primo car)...next car will probably be a Toyota.

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
2
[Aug 18, 2001]
Dawn
Model Reviewed: Mercury Tracer

Strength:

The maintenance until recently has been very low. My tracer has 114,000 miles on it, and I am just now starting to have problems. It is 12 years old and has been a great car!

Weakness:

No matter what tires are on the car it is really loud while you are driving. You can hear the tires on the road especially on the highway. It helps to turn up the radio! =) Recently, I have been having problems with my tracer and no one knows what is wrong with it! It jerks, and will only go about 35 mph. It only does it sometimes, and no one can figure out why it doesn't do it all the time! I have replaced the distributor cap, rotar, spark plugs, wires, the ignition switch was going out so that was cleaned, the throttle body was cleaned, new gasket, the problem still exists it just doesn't die on me anymore. If anyone has suggestions please let me know! I am not ready to give up on it yet. =) I like the no car payment part the best! =)

I knew the two previous owners of this car so I knew it was well maintained. My sister had it before me, and loved it! I have really enjoyed the car and you can't beat the gas mileage. I have a hatch back, and there is plenty of room in the trunk. It has been a low maintenance car which is perfect for me.

Similar Products Used:

1991 Corsica - Hated it! Everything that could go wrong went wrong with that car including the paint job!

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jul 31, 2001]
Shane Osborne
Model Reviewed: Ford Mercury Tracer LTS

Strength:

I like the performance in this car. It runs great. I beleive th whoever previously owned the vehicle they may have mistreated it and didnt take proper care of it.

Weakness:

the car has alot f weak spots, Like i said before i think it may had been mistreated before by previous owner.For instance you up on the high way and you hit cruise and your cruisin along and then you get off an exit and ger down then you gear back up and it bulgs down and smoke roles out the back.and the A/C isnt to great on being dependable on hot days...and the power windows are goofed....besides that it is a good running car.

I would rate this type of vehicle a four star. It has been a very dependable car for work and soon a good school car.

Similar Products Used:

N/A

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
4
Showing 41-48 of 48  

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