Which Cheap Little Mercury Would Serve You Better? 1993 Mercury Capri vs 1994 Mercury Tracer

Some weeks, I don’t set out to do a theme, but one finds me anyway. This is our second day in a row of one-make Showdowns, so I guess I’ll just run with it. Today’s cars both come from Ford’s now-defunct Mercury brand, and they’re both bargains.

Yesterday we were looking at two VW convertibles, and it looks like the newer Mk3 model is the runaway winner. I’m not surprised; it’s cheaper by a thousand bucks, newer by a decade and a half, and significantly less ratty around the edges. Seems like an easy choice.

Except … I’m still drawn to that old crisp-edged Giugiaro styling. And I know the older water-cooled VW mechanicals pretty well. I’d want to make sure the rust isn’t too advanced, but if it checks out, I think I’d rather lavish attention on the ’85 model. If it’s significantly worse than it is in pictures, though, the ’01 could be a good substitute. Stock-height suspension parts can’t be that expensive, can they?

Automotive history is littered with defunct brands, but it’s a little surprising how many we’ve lost in the past few decades. And not just flashes in the pan like Merkur and Eagle, but well-established brands. Plymouth is gone. Oldsmobile and Pontiac too. All of American Motors got swallowed up by Chrysler, and nothing survived except Jeep. And over at Ford, the long-running Mercury brand was declared superfluous and put out to pasture in 2011. Many of Mercury’s models were just Fords with funny grilles, but the brand did have a few cars all to itself over the years. Today, we’re going to look at one Mercury that was a Ford clone, and one that was only ever a Mercury.

1993 Mercury Capri – $1,400

Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter DOHC inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD

Location: Klamath Falls, OR

Odometer reading: 133,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

Ford is a huge international company, and one benefit of that long reach is that it can pull cars from all over the world to import as needed. When Mazda’s Miata turned out to be a hit, Ford decided to fight back with its own little roadster. Luckily, the perfect candidate was available on the other side of the planet: the Australian-built Ford Capri. The Capri shared some Mazda DNA with the Miata; it’s powered by a version of the same engine, but it’s front-wheel-drive instead of rear. It also doesn’t have nearly the following that the Miata does, so it can be found for a lot cheaper.

The Capri is based on the Australian Ford Laser, which is in turn based on the Mazda Familia/323 platform. It’s powered by Mazda’s B6 1.6-liter four, almost the same engine as the early Miata, only with a little less power and without the cool Italian-looking valve cover. You could get it with either a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual; this one has the manual. It runs and drives great, according to the seller, but they don’t tell us much else.

The interior is in really good shape, it looks like. Someone may have been a little over-zealous with the Armor All; that dash top is awfully shiny. But over-Armor-Alled is better than dried-out and cracked. By the way, unlike the Miata, the Capri actually has a teeny-tiny back seat. You’d have to really dislike your friends to make them ride back there, but it’s there.

Outside, it’s a good ten-footer. There are some cracks in the front bumper, and a few dings and dents here and there, but the paint is shiny, and there’s no rust. It has new tires on it, and it also comes with a set of studded snow tires for the winter. Oregon doesn’t use road salt, so it shouldn’t have any rust to speak of.

1994 Mercury Tracer Wagon – $2,200

Engine/drivetrain: 1.9-liter OHC inline 4, four-speed automatic, FWD

Location: Portland, OR

Odometer reading: 153,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

When the Ford Escort came to America in 1981, Mercury’s version was called the Lynx, following Mercury’s cat-themed naming convention of the time. But in 1987, Mercury dropped the Lynx in favor of the Tracer, a completely different car based on the BF-platform Mazda 323. In 1991, the Escort and Tracer were reunited on the Mazda BG platform, and there they remained for more than a decade. This little fuchsia wagon is exactly the same thing as a Ford Escort, with the exception of some trim and badges.

The base model Escort and Tracer are powered by a 1.9-liter Ford CVH four-cylinder, in this case backed by a four-speed automatic. The combination is about as exciting as plain oatmeal, but it’s reliable and it gets great mileage. This one has a nearly-new timing belt and runs great, though the seller says it’s “loud.” I’m guessing some exhaust work is needed.

The interior is in good shape, and the seller says everything works, including the air conditioning. I’m sure by now you’ve noticed the motorized seat belts, but what’s even stranger is that it also has a driver’s side airbag. Ford didn’t redesign the Escort and Tracer for non-motorized seat belts until 1997; the 1994-96 models take a belt-and-suspenders approach.

It’s in nice shape outside overall, and you certainly won’t lose it in a parking lot. It’s missing the front hubcaps, and I’m pretty sure the rears aren’t the originals. The headlights could use polishing or replacing, but that’s typical of a car this age.

Both of these look like really good deals to me, if you’re in the market for a cheap car. Either one should be nice and reliable, and neither one will use much gas. It just depends on what you need: are you more in the mood for a sporty convertible, or a handy little wagon?