1998 Mercury Tracer Review
1998 Mercury Tracer Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
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Pros
- Economical transportation. Willing engine.
Cons
- Ugly front end.
What’s new
No changes to Mercury's recently redesigned entry-level car.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1998 Mercury Tracer LS 4dr Wagon and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$154/mo for Tracer LS
Tracer LS
vs
$179/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
The Tracer has been Mercury's bread-and-butter car for years. Think of it as the car that brings consumers into the Mercury family. The Tracer's low price, decent reliability and above average crash test scores have consistently offered recent college grads and young families an attractive set of American wheels. Last year, in face of increasingly stiff competition, Mercury decided to redesign its entry-level vehicle.
The Tracer needed help in three major areas; the first is power. The old 1.9-liter four-banger just wasn't getting the job done against the newer cars. Heck, the lowly Hyundai Accent and Suzuki Esteem had more power available than the base 1996 Tracer. To tackle this, Mercury replaced the old powerplant with a two-liter overhead-cam engine that produces 20 percent more horsepower and 14 percent more torque than the one it replaced. This difference in engines is most readily noticed under hard acceleration; what was once a noisy bumpy affair is now a smooth, quite one.
Mercury's second area of concern was with body stiffness and vibration. Second-generation Tracers are notoriously wiggly over rough surfaces. The Tracer's tendency to shake, which leads to a lot of rattle-and-roll, can really punish passengers on long commutes. One-piece body construction, a cross-car beam and stiffer stabilizer bars solve this problem by radically improving the Tracer's torsional rigidity.
Fit and finish, the Tracer's third problem area, are also refined by the one-piece body construction; windows and doors fit better and are less likely to let in the weather. The instrument panel, a long-standing sore spot among Tracer owners, has been brought up to speed by the introduction of Mercury's Integrated Control Panel, first seen on the 1996 Sable. The ICP reduces dashboard clutter by combining the stereo and climate controls. The single-unit ICP is very easy to use and allows eyes-on-the-road operation of its systems. Further interior improvements include rear-seat heater ducts, an upgraded six-speaker audio system and nicer upholstery and dashboard materials.
Of lesser importance is the Tracer's new sheetmetal. Striking a more mature chord, the new Tracer has fewer cut-lines and a more polished demeanor than previous models. We find this ironic considering how much more fun the new one promises to be. In the end, we feel that Tracer is a real winner; no more increased blood pressure when merging with freeway traffic, no more shaking like a willow when driving over uneven pavement. Mercury has done a fine job updating this car. We are to starting see quite a few of these new Tracers on the road.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1998 Mercury Tracer.
5 star(42%)
4 star(44%)
3 star(14%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
42 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
3.5 out of 5 stars
98 tracer
stoman, 02/01/2012
1998 Mercury Tracer LS 4dr Sedan
over 200,000 miles
still going strong
4.63 out of 5 stars
195,000 as still going
Trace, 04/28/2009
1998 Mercury Tracer GS 4dr Sedan
This has been a great car. It has great mileage. It is easy to service. It handles well in snow.
2.63 out of 5 stars
Look somewhere else
MF, 09/26/2003
1997 Mercury Tracer LS 4dr Sedan
Had 1997 Tracer for six years, OK car
first 3-4 yrs, then bent a rod at 110k
miles, dealer estimated cost to repair
at $5000+, said if it was not rod then
was a damaged crankshft as that was
also a common problem of these cars.
Car was babied for all six years, oil
change every 3000 miles etc, last three
years had to put $900+ into repairs.
If shopping for used … economy car with
60,000 miles then stay away from the
Tracer. it is not a reliable car.
4.88 out of 5 stars
100,000 and still going strong!
adliong, 12/11/2003
1998 Mercury Tracer LS 4dr Sedan
i have owned 5 cars before, and this
tracer is my first american car, i was
a bit doubtful when my friend told me
that this was a very reliable car, so i
did some research and he was right! JD
Powers and MSN both say the same thing!
this baby just keeps going! the only
major repair i've done is a $30 outer
tire rod replacement plus
installation.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1998 Mercury Tracer, so we've included reviews for other years of the Tracer since its last redesign.
1998 Tracer Highlights
Sedan
GS
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 28 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $154/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 12.8 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver3 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver3 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalAcceptable
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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