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1998 Mercury Mountaineer
Invoice: $24,163 - $25,923
Miles Per Gallon
City: 14 MPG - 15 MPG
Highway: 19 MPG - 20 MPG
Body Style: N/A
Engines: 4.0L V-6 205 HP, 5.0L V-8 215 HP
Why argue with success? Especially when the road appears to point straight ahead to even greater success. That's about how Ford figured it when this kingpin carmaker (with five of the top-ten best-selling vehicles in the country) decided to badge its sport utility with the Mercury logo. Lincoln-Mercury took note of the fact that nearly 35,000 brand-loyal customers defected to buy an SUV in 1994. As a result, the Mercury Mountaineer, rolling off the assembly line this spring, was born. Everyone knows that sport utility vehicles are hot. In fact, Explorer's sales have doubled since it was introduced in 1990. It was the third best-selling vehicle in America last year and the best-selling sport utility for the past five years. But the new Mountaineer is not just a rebadged Explorer with a few accoutrements thrown in for good measure. It's a new engine, a new transfer case, changes to the front suspension and the rear axle along with a few luxury touches that Mercury thinks will fit the personality of some 25,000 to 35,000 buyers this year. With their first entry into the SUV market, Mercury hopes to attract more women and families who are looking for the standard safety features of anti-lock brakes, dual airbags and all-wheel drive in addition to a host of important attributes. After all, the Explorer's main redesign for the 1995 model year brought significant changes to appearance, performance and handling. Competitors for this upscale entry include Chrysler's Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover's Discovery, Toyota's 4Runner, Nissan's Pathfinder, Mitsubishi's Montero and the new Acura SLX.
Purchasing an older vehicle, such as the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer, makes good financial sense. You're able to avoid the steep depreciation rates that occur with brand new vehicles. This essentially gives you the advantage of getting a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer for less money than when it was new. If the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer was properly maintained, you also have a good chance of steering clear of problems that would have developed when the car was new.
The amount you pay for an older car depends on various factors. One important element is where you buy the vehicle. You're likely to get a better deal if you buy it from a private party, as opposed to a dealer. On the other hand, a reputable dealer will normally have some kind of limited warranty, so you can drive away knowing that if the car breaks down right away, you'll be covered. Another factor that may affect price on a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer is whether it's "certified" by the manufacturer. A certified vehicle will cost more because warranty service is provided that normally doesn't come with a used car.
Another dynamic that will play into the purchase price is the resale value. A used vehicle with a high resale value will obviously cost you more. It is expected that the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer will have a good-fair resale value. This assumes that the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer is in good condition and has a reasonable number of miles.
Find a used 1998 Mercury Mountaineer for sale at CarsDirect.
