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Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ

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Comments

  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    It's not the best system available. Not as good as the Mark Levinson system e.g. And it's not going to rattle your teeth with tremendous base. But from what I've heard it's a great sounding system.

    Why don't you go listen to one and decide for yourself? Car audio is way too subjective.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    That is what I need to do. I need to take some time and go listen for myself. Most of the Levinson systems outside of the 450 watt LS 460 are under 300 watts. :(

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    Demand might be high in some parts of the country, but I do see alot of them as inventory at dealerships down here in Tx, which makes me think I could achieve a good deal of some sorts. If I'm paying $1500 over invoice I'm getting a free bumper to bumper warranty up to 100K, and some other incentives otherwise I'd walk. ;)

    Rocky
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    Just call the dealerships, ask for the sales mgr and ask him or her how much over invoice they want for a loaded MKZ. They'll usually tell you straight up. If they don't then hang up and call another one. Whatever they quote you will probably not include the infamous "doc fee" - additional dealer profit - usually around $400. And make sure that you get to keep any rebates.

    Just remember a bumper to bumper extended warranty like that will cost the dealer at least $1000 and TANSTAAFL (There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch).
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    I was offered by 3 dealerships first $1000 over invoice and then after just one more email $500 over invoice. This was for a fully loaded AWD MKZ. I did not ask about the 100k warranty but will I really keep it that long. I doubt it. But hey, I will ask anyway! :)

    Has anyone see the MKZ in Vivid Red?
  • scootertrashscootertrash Member Posts: 698
    If you get a real, Ford issued warranty (ESP) it is refundable if you sell the car before it expires.

    The best place to buy them is www.fordwarrantys.com
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    Thanks, does anyone know if you have a buddy who works for Ford if you can use any of his discounts in the purchase of a new Ford or Lincoln?
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    You can get a X plan pin which would equate to about $300 over invoice on a Lincoln with no extra fees. However, the dealer is not obligated to accept X plan on a MKZ (or any other vehicle). They get a spiff check from Ford on each sale so they might be willing to do one, but it's strictly up to the dealer.

    Just ask the dealer if they'll accept X plan on a MKZ. If they say yes then go get the PIN from the employee. The price is preset so you don't have to worry about that.
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    So far they are willing to accept on stock MKZ.
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    You won't get a better deal right now than X plan on a MKZ. Go for it!

    The fact that it's a no haggle price and they can't add any extra fees makes it a no brainer.
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    I am going to see if I can order the one I want. They do not have the color I want.
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    Ok, everyone will take Xplan but then one guy said I will do better and give you invoice and on top of that you can order or change specs on a due-in. So if I go invoice will they add something that they cannot with Xplan?
  • heyjewelheyjewel Member Posts: 1,046
    I bought my 2001 LS with an X-Plan PIN and I ordered it just the way I wanted it. Took about 3 months.

    I'm surprised by akirby saying the dealer may not accept it. I thought they HAD to accept it, like it or not. I could be wrong.
  • buckwheatbuckwheat Member Posts: 396
    I'm surprised by akirby saying the dealer may not accept it. I thought they HAD to accept it, like it or not. I could be wrong.

    Dealers are not required to participate, but if they do, they must be an authorized Ford Motor Company dealer for the product sold and agree to abide by the guidelines set forth in the New Vehicle Purchase Plan. Ask for a copy of the vehicle invoice which shows the "X" plan price in the box labeled "X Plan" located in the lower right hand corner (lower left for Volvo- not displayed for Jaguar or Land Rover). This is always the correct "X" plan price. The dealer is required to provide you with a true copy of the factory invoice showing the X Plan price.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 19,293
    if x-plan is 300 below invoice, why is invoice price better?
    i would think you can order a vehicle a x-plan price, too.
    another thing is, no fees can be added with x-plan, such as document fees. ask for the otd price.
    2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • jaxs1jaxs1 Member Posts: 2,697
    He posted that the X plan is $300 OVER invoice, not under.
    So, some people can do better than that if they can negotiate invoice on their own and not even bring the X plan into the conversation.
    So, if the dealer gets $300 over invoice plus an additional spiff check from Ford, I don't know why they wouldn't want to take it unless it was some limited production vehicle where the demand is higher than the yearly production capability of the plant.
    It's not as if if they sell you a MKZ for X plan price that they can't still sell another MKZ for more money to the next guy who walks and is willing to pay full MSRP.
    They are not "losing" anything. It is an additional sale and more profits to them.
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    You assume the dealer has an unlimited supply - they don't. If they sell a MKZ on X plan then they lose that sale to a customer paying $1000 or $1500 over invoice.

    Dealer participation in X/A/Z plan sales is totally voluntary. When the mustang came out in 05 dealers wouldn't take X plan on one at all. Most would still not take X plan on a GT until a few months ago.

    If the dealer says he can give it to you at invoice, he's keeping the rebate ($500 or $1000 - don't want to look it up right now). In addition he will charge a "doc" fee, usually $400 or so. It's NOT a better deal. Stick with X plan and order if you have to. Much safer.
  • jaxs1jaxs1 Member Posts: 2,697
    The MKZ is not that interesting or hot of a car. Hardly the next Mustang sales wise.
    I bet most shoppers really want something else but are shopping the MKZ for cost savings vs an ES350 or whatever other car they would really prefer.
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    Not sure about the ES350 but when you price it out against the MKZ you are talking 7-12k more easily. It can be that great!
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    The MKZs are only staying on the lot 19 days. They're not making all that many and they are moving quickly. 19 days is unheard of and usually only happens with very limited supply niche vehicles. Right now they're on the demand side of the supply/demand curve.
  • jaxs1jaxs1 Member Posts: 2,697
    So, it's early in the model year, it is a "new" model with a temporary spike in interest that goes with that and production is just ramping up due to to model changeover.
    Few cars have huge inventories at the very beginning of a model year. On top of this, Ford said they would make a bigger effort to keep production from greatly outpacing any lagging demand.
    This is not usual at all.
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    The Zephyr sold like that for a year - since day one. It's not a recent development. It's partially due to low production volumes and nice lease incentives but the Zephyr/MKZ has been in high demand/short supply since it hit the showroom. This is nothing new and not due to the new model or AWD. The only question is how long it will last.
  • jaxs1jaxs1 Member Posts: 2,697
    Production is probably low, but so is demand. The low levels of production are at least keeping the rebates from getting huge up to this point. I have not heard anyone say a Zephyr or MKZ is a top choice for them. People shop the MKZ looking for bargain pricing compared to more desirable and higher rated entry-level near luxury sedans.
    I see very few 2006 Zephyrs on the road.
    I would only buy an MKZ for a bargain price and if I couldn't get it, I would move on to something else.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    akirby, on my days off from work I will have to attempt that feat. ;)

    Remind me again in the next few days.

    Thanx

    Rocky
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    Hey, how did you find out how long the cars are staying on the lot?
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    And what makes you think that you represent or have knowledge of all MKZ shoppers across the entire country.

    If demand was so low (relative to production) these cars would be sitting on the lots for 2 or 3 months.

    Stick to facts. Just because you wouldn't buy it doesn't mean nobody else would.
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    Hey, how did you find out how long the cars are staying on the lot?

    The average Zephyr sits on a dealer's lot for just 19 days, compared with 27 days for a Lexus ES 330 and 47 days for a Cadillac CTS.

    Detroit News June 2006
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    But again, it is not because this is a hot selling car.

    The abnormally short time is more due to lack of production capacity, as well as Ford wanting to limit swelling inventories. The Fusion, Milan and MKZ are all built on the same line, and there are only so many that can be built without involving a whole new factory. I'm sure that Lincoln would rather be selling 50,000 MKZ's than 25,000, but that is about all that can be supplied to dealers now.
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    Nobody said it was a "hot selling car" in the sense of sales volume. But that doesn't change the fact that they're selling what they get quickly and that means no huge discounts or incentives and if it stays that way it means higher residual values.

    This is a much better story than selling 50K/yr with $5K rebates.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    Well of course. That seems to go without saying. However, 50,000 a year without huge rebates would be even better--and Lincoln conceivably could accomplish that if the production capacity were there.
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    Maybe, but I think they need to work up to that slowly. You don't want to go overboard and start overproducing again. And don't forget that adding another shift isn't possible in Hermosillo so we're talking about adding MKZ production to Oakville alongside the Edge/MKX (assuming that's possible) and that wouldn't be cheap unless they could flex the line and make 10 or 20 thousand without adding a shift.

    I think they're just being overly cautious since they've been burned on oversupply way too often in the past.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    Agreed.
  • heyjewelheyjewel Member Posts: 1,046
    " adding another shift isn't possible in Hermosillo "

    Why not?
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    Why not?

    Umm....there's only 24 hours in a day?

    They're already running 24x7.
  • heyjewelheyjewel Member Posts: 1,046
    Well, what about siesta? - Say, that could be the name of the next Ford perfomance car!
  • jaxs1jaxs1 Member Posts: 2,697
    I didn't say "relative to production." Ford said they are making a real effort cut production of slow selling cars to prevent overproduction.
    They could build many more, but it doesn't make any sense to based on the demand, so they throttled the production down to more appropriately meet the demand.
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    It seems to be taking a lot of time to get the Edge and MKX to the floor.
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    The Zephyr/MKZ have never been a "slow selling car" and the plant is still running 24x7 last time I checked. Do you have information to the contrary?
  • buyingnew2007buyingnew2007 Member Posts: 1
    Am in Jacksonville area; will be buying a new sedan in '07. Have narrowed down to a Camry XLE, loaded, and ________? Just saw a pic of the MKZ interior, and loved it.

    Anyone have thoughts on pros/cons of loaded MKZ v. loaded Camry (including NAV)? Any chance I could get the MKZ for about the same price? Would love to keep to 30K or less.

    Also, does anyone know when the MKZs with Ford "Triptunes" iPod connection will be available? I read that they were coming in "early 2007" (the current models have an auxiliary input, but not total integration with the sound system).

    Would appreciate any wisdom--
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    Again, akirby, you spin. The MKZ is limited by production capacity. That is why the plant runs 24/7. Ford could sell more of the Fusion/Milan/MKZ triplets, but can only build so many--we have beaten this dead horse before.

    MKZ could sell more units, if they were out there, but even so, I doubt it could sell enough without incentives to make it an actual "hot" seller. These sales, yes, are good for Lincoln and profitable. Every little bit helps, but let's not pretend that sales of 30,000 units of Lincoln's least expensive vehicle are going to turn Lincoln around.

    Just think how much further ahead Lincoln would be now if they had simply updated the present Town Car to Continental concept styling in 2005. You and I both know they could have done this without breaking the bank. Like Mustang, which still has a live rear axle, the renewed Town Car would have sold very well. Much higher numbers than MKZ and at higher prices.

    I'm glad Lincoln can easily move all it gets allotted. However, it is a modified Fusion. Period. It is NOT even like comparing a Volvo S80 and a Mercury Montego. Although based on the same architecture, the latter two are really different. The Milan and the MKZ could, however, be mistaken for different years of the same car.

    So take the $$ that MKZ will make for Lincoln and use it to help get the make off life support. Then start building real Lincolns. I would like to buy one.
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    It's not spin. I'm not trying to say that it's selling better than other vehicles. It's a hit for Lincoln because it's selling at higher than projected volumes in lower than expected time with low incentives and turning a profit. Does Ford have low expectations? Sure. But I'd rather see this than overproduction, poor quality and $5K incentives. It's going to take a few years of continued quality and improvement to gain significant market share and then they can start expanding production volumes.
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    Is the CTS any good compare to the MKZ? It prices out around:
    MSRP Invoice
    Total with Options $38,845 $35,482
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    That's up to you - do you like both of them? The CTS is RWD and may feel better to you handling wise. Or not. No reason to stay away from one that I can think of.
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    Zephyr pictures but a lot of them:

    http://autodeadline.com/Photos?source=Lincoln&model=Zephyr&page=1
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    By Friday I will be in:

    image

    Wish me luck! :P ">
  • heyjewelheyjewel Member Posts: 1,046
    I gotta admit, that is a fine looking automobile. I love the Vivid Red color. They didn't offer it on the LS when I bought mine. They made it an extra cost option in 2002, then finally got real after that.
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    Thanks, does anyone have any opinion on how large a custom wheel/tire you could put on this car? Example: If you go to tirerack.com you can go up to 20inches if you want. There must be some point where you stop because of performance, ride, MPG etc.

    As for the interior I am also going for the black on black with satin nickel.
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    Thanks, does anyone have any opinion on how large a custom wheel/tire you could put on this car? Example: If you go to tirerack.com you can go up to 20inches if you want. There must be some point where you stop because of performance, ride, MPG etc.

    Here is an example of 19 or 20 inch but they are too large. Note the front lip kit, side shirt and the custom grill. I understand the grill is only about 200 bucks.

    image">

    As for the interior I am also going for the black on black with satin nickel.

    Anyway it is interesting what folks are doing in the aftermarket. I am going to meet with the rep at the dealer to see what type of options are out there for the MKZ. I will keep you posted.
  • bigtbigt Member Posts: 412
    <img src="http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/LincolnMKZ/Images/Dash.jpg"

    This has a nice look to it also. What colors are this?
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    Those MKZ, are sure nice lookin'. The only down fall to them is they are assembled in Mexico. I however would be interested in how much domestic content they are built with. :surprise:

    Rocky
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