Nick
October 16th, 2009, 09:13 AM
My parents were invited to the unveiling of the MKT at Sarat Ford in Agawam, MA. They could not attend, but I was sent as a delegate.
The event was catered by Latitude and had a live jazz band. Paul Kozub, the creator of V-One vodka was also on hand offering drinks and a little insight to his story. There was also a second bar for other drinks. It was very well done. The food (hors d' oeuvres and a raw bar) was excellent, the sales staff were helpful and courteous, and vehicles were on display as well as available for test drives without sales staff. Representatives from FoMoCo were present as well. Jack Sarat personally greeted everyone I believe at some point during the night. The event also provided a good view of the average Lincoln buyer. Average age of the attendees was probably late 50s to mid 60s. More than a few were older and nearing their 80s. The vast majority were Ford loyalists and I think I provided the diversity in age, ethnicity, and political views (liberal). Crack your jokes now as I have and will continue to do so. :D
An MKS and an MKT were in the showroom. Both looked very good upon close inspection. They are certainly better in person than in photos. The MKS is the best interpretation of the current Lincoln design language. The MKZ needs a revised tail with new tail lamps. The interiors looked much better than my parents' Continentals and without the frightening gaps between trim pieces. Material choice was good, though there could have been more attention to detail in a few places. (I would have added some sort of soft hand hold in the tailgate of the MKT and I would have covered the plastic felt by your finger tips at the 9 and 3 O'Clock positions on the steering wheel. The smooth leatherette is a little too bland on the MKT doors. A stitching detail or a gathered effect would have been better.) The Bridge of Weir leather is very nice and definitely feels up to class. Hard surfaces have been kept to a minimum though there are a few more in the MKZ. I am personally not a big fan of the big glass roof trend both for weight and function. I'm much happier with a standard moonroof. Speaking of features, Lincoln has finally bridged the technology and feature gap to some extent. The THX sound systems are great, the new navigation interface is good with a great, clear screen. The MKS even has a power rear window sunshade. I saw side window shades on the MKT. HID lights are finally widely available on Lincolns. Blind spot warning systems, adaptive cruise control, and rear view cameras are even available now. It's quite the jump from a decade ago when Lincoln was trying to unload an analog car phone for a grand, a six disc CD changer for $600, and the optional sound system still sounded like it was made by someone wearing Miracle Ears. Change is good! Truly amazingly, Lincoln actually offers a decent wheel size: 18x8 with a 20x8 optional on the MKS/T. The MKZ gets 17s and 18s though it makes do with only 7" widths. There is even a center armrest pass through in the MKS. Though the trunk is deep and large, the small opening on the MKS will make loading large objects troublesome. it can easily handle large suitcases, but a big square box won't ever fit.
From a maintenance perspective, there isn't enough room under the MKS or MKT hood with the engine turned sideways to do a lot of heavy maintenance work, but it's again better than the space issues created by shoving a 4.6L V8 into a stretched Taurus. Oil and filter changes will be easy, but accessing the serpentine belt will be tight with a gap of < 2". Underneath, the cars look fairly orthodox though I wonder if SHO parts will transfer to the MKS easily. Sadly, the exhaust is not a true dual and only splits at the rear.
I seized the opportunity to drive the MKZ, MKS, and new SHO. Out of the three, I'd pick the MKZ. It's the most lively from a driver's standpoint as the MKS and SHO are too big to really feel right. The driving position is also more car like versus cross-over. With the 3.5L, the car feels lively, made more so by the Select Shift tranny, which holds gears to redline, but downshifts if you forget when coming to a stop. The interior is nice, but you can tell its a little cheaper than the bigger Lincolns. You won't be too cramped, but there is more leg room in the rear in the larger cars.
The driving position in the MKS and SHO are too high, an inheritance from the 500. It feels like I'm sitting on a dining room chair with a steering wheel in front of me. I think the high seating may be liked by the older crowd the cars target for ease of ingress and egress. Like most new large cars with a high seating position, I cannot get really comfortable as I prefer my legs stretched out and doing so renders the door armrest useless. Having driven our Sable more extensively, my knees cramp because of the awkward position. From the rear seat, any of the cars are comfortable. The MKS is very nice, but the glass roof and rolling screen make for some packaging oddities in the headliner. With the wide C pillars, the rear feels closed off when looking through the rear view mirror. Good thing that back up camera with distance estimation and blind spot warning system are available! Between the MKS and SHO, the MKS actually has the better seats. Disregarding the leather surfaces, the seats are actually better contoured to holding you. The SHO suffers from church pew syndrome though those wide of girth may find them fine. Those looking for a worthy successor to the original SHO will be disappointed though the car certainly looks and zooms well. I didn't check to see if the SHO had the performance package, but the MKS and SHO drove similarly with the MKS exhibiting slightly more polish. Both were well damped and far better than Lincolns of yore. I took the MKS on the highway and it felt stable and quiet up to 90. Taking a dip at 80, the car maintained composure and floated only a bit. It's not a BMW, but its very well controlled. Ride quality was very good overall. Initial turn in was quick and body roll was fairly well controlled as well on all models. Though the steering is better weighted with some heft versus older Lincolns, it still lacks feel. The MKS and SHO are wonderfully quicker with the EcoBoost engine. Exhibiting almost no lag, it really throws the cars down the road. I did experience some annoying torque steer before the AWD kicked in and helped out. The system is biased to the front and all the cars understeer. Rounding a tight cul-de-sac in the SHO, I got the front to slide but it felt far better than an InTech Continental and plebian Sable (which has lilliputian 215mm tires). I rounded a large rotary in the MKS at 40 in the wet confidently and without much body roll. I'd be in the weeds in the Continental. I have more faith in the Town Car, but I haven't driven one lately. I'd be much more interested in seeing the EcoBoost in the MKZ with a 40/60 rear biased AWD system. Still, the new Lincolns are a revelation to most Lincoln buyers and will probably surprise more than a few cross shoppers. Even as a die hard gear head and lead foot, the new Lincolns make a good case for a comfortable daily driver. If the reliability record of our last Lincolns are anything to go by, they should be trustworthy steeds for most buyers over a decade. Still not drivers' cars, they may find a niche between Buick and Cadillac.
I'm still holding out for an LS replacement, which I expressed to the Ford reps, but my parents who fit the average Lincoln buyer profile much better may be swayed. Still, one wonders what a real driver's car would do for Lincoln with a modified SHO engine or the 5.0L cammer due to make its appearance in the next Mustang. Cadillac certainly remade itself well. What's Ford have in the Australian arsenal with RWD?
My sincere thanks to Ford and Jack Sarat for the lovely evening. I only wish that my parents could have attended. I will be sending my parents their way and pitching the new lineup to anyone who might a good fit for the cars.
The event was catered by Latitude and had a live jazz band. Paul Kozub, the creator of V-One vodka was also on hand offering drinks and a little insight to his story. There was also a second bar for other drinks. It was very well done. The food (hors d' oeuvres and a raw bar) was excellent, the sales staff were helpful and courteous, and vehicles were on display as well as available for test drives without sales staff. Representatives from FoMoCo were present as well. Jack Sarat personally greeted everyone I believe at some point during the night. The event also provided a good view of the average Lincoln buyer. Average age of the attendees was probably late 50s to mid 60s. More than a few were older and nearing their 80s. The vast majority were Ford loyalists and I think I provided the diversity in age, ethnicity, and political views (liberal). Crack your jokes now as I have and will continue to do so. :D
An MKS and an MKT were in the showroom. Both looked very good upon close inspection. They are certainly better in person than in photos. The MKS is the best interpretation of the current Lincoln design language. The MKZ needs a revised tail with new tail lamps. The interiors looked much better than my parents' Continentals and without the frightening gaps between trim pieces. Material choice was good, though there could have been more attention to detail in a few places. (I would have added some sort of soft hand hold in the tailgate of the MKT and I would have covered the plastic felt by your finger tips at the 9 and 3 O'Clock positions on the steering wheel. The smooth leatherette is a little too bland on the MKT doors. A stitching detail or a gathered effect would have been better.) The Bridge of Weir leather is very nice and definitely feels up to class. Hard surfaces have been kept to a minimum though there are a few more in the MKZ. I am personally not a big fan of the big glass roof trend both for weight and function. I'm much happier with a standard moonroof. Speaking of features, Lincoln has finally bridged the technology and feature gap to some extent. The THX sound systems are great, the new navigation interface is good with a great, clear screen. The MKS even has a power rear window sunshade. I saw side window shades on the MKT. HID lights are finally widely available on Lincolns. Blind spot warning systems, adaptive cruise control, and rear view cameras are even available now. It's quite the jump from a decade ago when Lincoln was trying to unload an analog car phone for a grand, a six disc CD changer for $600, and the optional sound system still sounded like it was made by someone wearing Miracle Ears. Change is good! Truly amazingly, Lincoln actually offers a decent wheel size: 18x8 with a 20x8 optional on the MKS/T. The MKZ gets 17s and 18s though it makes do with only 7" widths. There is even a center armrest pass through in the MKS. Though the trunk is deep and large, the small opening on the MKS will make loading large objects troublesome. it can easily handle large suitcases, but a big square box won't ever fit.
From a maintenance perspective, there isn't enough room under the MKS or MKT hood with the engine turned sideways to do a lot of heavy maintenance work, but it's again better than the space issues created by shoving a 4.6L V8 into a stretched Taurus. Oil and filter changes will be easy, but accessing the serpentine belt will be tight with a gap of < 2". Underneath, the cars look fairly orthodox though I wonder if SHO parts will transfer to the MKS easily. Sadly, the exhaust is not a true dual and only splits at the rear.
I seized the opportunity to drive the MKZ, MKS, and new SHO. Out of the three, I'd pick the MKZ. It's the most lively from a driver's standpoint as the MKS and SHO are too big to really feel right. The driving position is also more car like versus cross-over. With the 3.5L, the car feels lively, made more so by the Select Shift tranny, which holds gears to redline, but downshifts if you forget when coming to a stop. The interior is nice, but you can tell its a little cheaper than the bigger Lincolns. You won't be too cramped, but there is more leg room in the rear in the larger cars.
The driving position in the MKS and SHO are too high, an inheritance from the 500. It feels like I'm sitting on a dining room chair with a steering wheel in front of me. I think the high seating may be liked by the older crowd the cars target for ease of ingress and egress. Like most new large cars with a high seating position, I cannot get really comfortable as I prefer my legs stretched out and doing so renders the door armrest useless. Having driven our Sable more extensively, my knees cramp because of the awkward position. From the rear seat, any of the cars are comfortable. The MKS is very nice, but the glass roof and rolling screen make for some packaging oddities in the headliner. With the wide C pillars, the rear feels closed off when looking through the rear view mirror. Good thing that back up camera with distance estimation and blind spot warning system are available! Between the MKS and SHO, the MKS actually has the better seats. Disregarding the leather surfaces, the seats are actually better contoured to holding you. The SHO suffers from church pew syndrome though those wide of girth may find them fine. Those looking for a worthy successor to the original SHO will be disappointed though the car certainly looks and zooms well. I didn't check to see if the SHO had the performance package, but the MKS and SHO drove similarly with the MKS exhibiting slightly more polish. Both were well damped and far better than Lincolns of yore. I took the MKS on the highway and it felt stable and quiet up to 90. Taking a dip at 80, the car maintained composure and floated only a bit. It's not a BMW, but its very well controlled. Ride quality was very good overall. Initial turn in was quick and body roll was fairly well controlled as well on all models. Though the steering is better weighted with some heft versus older Lincolns, it still lacks feel. The MKS and SHO are wonderfully quicker with the EcoBoost engine. Exhibiting almost no lag, it really throws the cars down the road. I did experience some annoying torque steer before the AWD kicked in and helped out. The system is biased to the front and all the cars understeer. Rounding a tight cul-de-sac in the SHO, I got the front to slide but it felt far better than an InTech Continental and plebian Sable (which has lilliputian 215mm tires). I rounded a large rotary in the MKS at 40 in the wet confidently and without much body roll. I'd be in the weeds in the Continental. I have more faith in the Town Car, but I haven't driven one lately. I'd be much more interested in seeing the EcoBoost in the MKZ with a 40/60 rear biased AWD system. Still, the new Lincolns are a revelation to most Lincoln buyers and will probably surprise more than a few cross shoppers. Even as a die hard gear head and lead foot, the new Lincolns make a good case for a comfortable daily driver. If the reliability record of our last Lincolns are anything to go by, they should be trustworthy steeds for most buyers over a decade. Still not drivers' cars, they may find a niche between Buick and Cadillac.
I'm still holding out for an LS replacement, which I expressed to the Ford reps, but my parents who fit the average Lincoln buyer profile much better may be swayed. Still, one wonders what a real driver's car would do for Lincoln with a modified SHO engine or the 5.0L cammer due to make its appearance in the next Mustang. Cadillac certainly remade itself well. What's Ford have in the Australian arsenal with RWD?
My sincere thanks to Ford and Jack Sarat for the lovely evening. I only wish that my parents could have attended. I will be sending my parents their way and pitching the new lineup to anyone who might a good fit for the cars.