Template:Infobox vehicles The Merit is a four-door sedan featured in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto IV. It is manufactured by Declasse in the HD Universe.
Design
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The Merit is a full-sized sedan in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and is based on a fifth generation (1991-1996) Mazda 929 with some traits of the first generation (1992-1997) Ford Crown Victoria. The Merit is one of a handful of vehicles in the game with a rounded body design.
Grand Theft Auto IV
In Grand Theft Auto IV, the Merit, now bearing a Declasse badge, is redesigned with a similar look to the 1999-2005 Chevrolet Impala LS (evidenced by the foglights and the spoiler, as does the real-life Impala LS.), with the back seemingly inspired by a fifth generation 1995-1997 Honda Accord. The front bumper could be derived from a variety of cars, but the headlights and front grille are reminiscent of a fourth generation Pontiac GTO. The wheels seem to be based on American Racing's line of chrome IROC-Z wheel replicas. Unlike the Chevrolet Impala, which is a FWD car, the GTA IV rendition of the Merit is a RWD car.
The vehicle is equipped with a GPS system with a female voice, but only if the player leaves the "selected cars" (default) option in the audio menu.
Current Design Gallery
Version History Gallery
Performance
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
This rendition of the Merit is designed as a balanced out performance, having average brake response and cornering, and good acceleration and speed. Coupled with its four-seat capacity, the Merit is practically a good choice for drive-bys and police evasion, although crash deformation is not impressive. The Merit is a good starting car for new street racers, as it can compare with cars like the Euros and Alpha.
One noticeable trait is that when pushing maximum gas from a standstill, the Merit will wheelspin considerably, for almost the entirety of 1st gear. This wheelspinning trait makes it a reasonable car for drifting.
GTA San Andreas Overview
Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engine | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | 103 / 165 | 5 | Petrol | RWD | 1800 / 3968 |
N/A | N/A | 5 | N/A | RWD | Cannot be observed |
Grand Theft Auto IV
The GTA IV rendition of the Merit is powered by a twin-cam Inline-4, mated to a 5-speed transmission in a RWD layout. Acceleration is good, but nothing special, and in line with the Merit's vanilla, everyday sedan image. Braking is very good. The suspension is very firm, keeping the Merit flat through corners, and enabling it to corner effectively at speed. Accident deformation is acceptable, as the Merit will survive a few frontal impacts before being rendered unusable. The Merit seems suited towards any situation; it is capable of high speeds and it seems able to survive a serious car chase, making it a versatile addition to any parking space.
GTA IV Overview
Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engines | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | 87 / 140 | 5 | N/A | RWD | 1750 / 3858 |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
N/A | N/A | 5 | FR DOHC Inline-4 (In-game model) | RWD | Cannot be observed |
Modifications
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The Merit can be upgraded at TransFender.
Type | Upgrade | Cost |
---|---|---|
Color | Car Color 1 (64 different colors) | $ 150 |
Hood | Fury Scoop | $ 150 |
Exhausts | Large Exhaust | $ 250 |
Medium Exhaust | $ 200 | |
Twin Exhaust | $ 300 | |
Upswept Exhaust | $ 400 | |
Nitro | 2x Nitrous | $ 200 |
5x Nitrous | $ 500 | |
10x Nitrous | $ 1000 | |
Roof | Roof Scoop | $ 80 |
Spoilers | Drag | $ 200 |
Fury | $ 350 | |
Worx | $ 200 | |
Alpha | $ 250 | |
Wheels | Import | $ 820 |
Atomic | $ 770 | |
Ahab | $ 1000 | |
Virtual | $ 620 | |
Access | $ 1140 | |
Off Road Wheel | $ 1000 | |
Mega | $ 1030 | |
Grove | $ 1230 | |
Twist | $ 1200 | |
Wires | $ 1560 | |
Car Stereo | Bass Boost | $ 100 |
Hydraulics | Hydraulics | $ 1500 |
Image Gallery
Variants
Taxi (Declasse)Grand Theft Auto IV, The Lost and Damned & The Ballad of Gay Tony |
(Rear quarter view) |
The Merit-based Taxi is the public service variant of the Merit, having the typical taxi yellow color, taxi sign and pushbars on both ends of the vehicle. It is operated by the L.C.C. Taxis. |
Police PatrolGrand Theft Auto IV, The Lost and Damned & The Ballad of Gay Tony |
(Rear quarter view) |
The Police Patrol is the police version of the Merit, having the same accesories as the Vapid Police Cruiser, such as emergency lights, sirens and a front pushbar. It is operated by the LCPD. |
Prominent Appearances in Missions
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- 555 We Tip - The District Attorney in the mission drives this car. He leaves the Police Headquarters and heads to Vank Hoff Hotel, where you have to steal his car and fill the trunk with drugs.
Grand Theft Auto IV
- First Date - The Merit is the main vehicle for the mission, as it belongs to Michelle.
Notable owners
- A San Fierro District Attorney owned a Merit, which Carl Johnson planted with drugs on the orders of Frank Tenpenny.
- Michelle owns a silver Merit.
Locations
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Very common in San Fierro.
- Often spawns in Downtown San Fierro.
- Common in East Beach, Los Santos.
- Common in Las Venturas, in districts like Pilgrim, Roca Escalante and along Julius Thruway and Harry Gold Parkway.
- Usually seen in some places in Tierra Robada, such as Bayside and Robada Intersection.
- Can be found with full immune in the mission 555 We Tip.
Grand Theft Auto IV + Episodes from Liberty City
- Michelle's silver Merit only appears in the mission First Date, and can be kept by the player after the mission.
- Often seen driving in East Hook, BOABO and possibly Outlook.
- It is also seen near Playboy X's Penthouse.
- It can be seen driving in Industrial, Bohan.
- It is seen driving around Purgatory, Star Junction, Westminster and Middle Park West, Algonquin.
Rewards
Grand Theft Auto IV
- After collecting all thirty cars for Stevie, he agrees to purchase cars from Niko Bellic, with the Merit fetching $1,800.
Trivia
General
- The Merit plays the following radio stations by default when entered:
- GTA San Andreas: West Coast Talk Radio
- GTA IV: The Beat 102.7 or The Classics 104.1.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- The Merit has the same engine sound as the ZR-350.
- The D.A.'s Merit in 555 We Tip plays the SF-UR radio by default.
Grand Theft Auto IV
- The beta version of the Merit has different grille and rims, as seen in the first trailer.
- The GTA IV rendition of the car unusually features a metal partition between the front and rear occupant compartments, similar to the Taxi and Police Patrol, despite being a private vehicle and thus, having no need for it.
- In GTA IV, there is a wrecked version of the Merit. It appears to be the beta version, due to having a different grille and lights. It also appears in Grand Theft Auto V, but with better textures. It can be found at the Scrap Yard, near a destroyed Packer, at a place beside the Harmony Gas Station, and at a yard of a repair shop near LSMC.