5. Merkur XR4Ti
Ford was working hard to compete with the popular imports of the ’90s, and as such, the Merkur brand was born. The XR4Ti is a rather unique blend of European styling and performance that was actually praised by the automotive press. You’d take one look at it and mistake it for a Saab or some other well made the car. And this is what Ford was hoping for, in order to attract a younger demographic into their showrooms. The Merkur XR4Ti had gracious driving attributes and decent fuel mileage to boot. This is a car that had a broad appeal, except collectors often overlook these.
There was another Merkur model as well, a little roadster. The two cars managed to bring European styling to the shores in the right way. Sadly the XR4Ti was discontinued after a few years, so if you want to find one of these, it can be hard. Parts for the XR4Ti can be quite rare as well so there’s that to look out for as well.