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Comments
Will we ever get to see a _real_ product at the dealer?
If there's a large Ford dealer near you, you should be able to find one of the Ex trucks in your color; this would give you a good idea of how it would look on the Aviator. Be sure to check the window sticker to make certain you're seeing Medium Wedgewood; True Blue is also available on some configurations, and it's similar to Wedgewood--darker, though, IIRC.
I saw an Aviator in Gold Ash at a car show a few days ago; it was subtle, but VERY sharp. The Aviator color palette looks really nice; I don't think there's a bad one in the bunch.
RANTS: I hope Billy is listening, because there is one issue I have with many luxury car makers, and unfortunately, this one is a shining example. It's a Lincoln, not a Ford. So there are some features every Lincoln should just not be punched out without - and Memory Seat is one of them. This Aviator is a stripper, it had almost no options, but Memory Seat should be standard. Hell, my 2002 Mountaineer has it! Inexcusable. Other than that rather unforgivable (and very GM like) flaw, I have no serious issues. I felt the steering could use a little more low speed boost, but it's tolerable. Also, the rear A/C controls up front are flush with the roof, and should be canted so myopically challenged guys like me can see them.
RAVES: And, there are many. This car ROCKS! The engine has a lovely low growl that just purrs pleasure when you gas it. Fabulous power, smoothness and range from the engine. Transmission is seemless. This thing is a real driver. It handles like it's on rails. Comfortable in the extreme. Solid, quiet, and rigid feel all around. The look and feel of luxury in the switches and gauges, and the dash is remarkable in its clarity and brilliance. The heated and cooled seats is a big plus here, be nice if you could set their position, BILLY! The car is worth waiting for, IMHO.
Overall, I'm very impressed, and will buy one for my wife when her lease is up. It's everything I expected in performance and quality. I found no defects or hints of defects.
So, we have at least 4 in Las Vegas. You all should be seeing some very soon.
I will set up a test drive this weekend.
Would like to hear from anyone else who actually has one. Love the RED.
On my thorough test drive, I did not detect excessive wind noise......
http://thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=5552&sid=181&n=157
This is a very weird place for Lincoln to save money, all the competition either has it standard or as an option. Could it be a fluke due to an early model or did they just try and slip it by? Also no compass, which both my truck and Expedition have?
The compass is included in the message center; I assume it's accessible via the buttons below the climate control panel.
I turned in a '00 Expedition w/ the 5.4 V8 and the difference is unbelievable - I think I got a sports car! Is it not hard to believe that this is the same engine as was in our '96 Cobra!
I am looking forward to towing our 5500 lb. camper with it, as it is 1500 lbs lighter than the Expy and has 42 more horsepower!
The auto dimming rear view mirror is a mystery, especially because there is wiring behind the mirror for the auto dimming function.
The HID headlights are a dream, as is the sound system. The childseat tether anchor is located in the floor of the rear seat area, preventing the cargo cover from sliding all the way forward.
We are driving it 1200 miles for Christmas, so that will be the true test compared to the Expy, but I've already noticed the incredible difference in the ride compared to the Expy - and I don't have to shoehorn it into our garage.
Can't speak to the interior - I'm not sure the ones I looked at this past summer are the final colors. But the two I did see were so close I couldn't tell much difference.
But I don't think it's the same engine as the 96 cobra. Very similar but I'm sure many changes were made in the last 7 years.
Jack
tidester, host
Is anyone able to get any kind of a discount from MSRP, or are Aviators in extremely tight supply all over the country?
While in line at the post office today several people asked me what it was and I showed them. Once up at the window the PO clerk asked me what it was too and said he had seen several while boxing the mail this morning.
Oh well I just thought I would share that with you. I'm sure most here will be getting one too.
Still waiting to see one in person though.
My almost year long hunt for a midsize 30k-40k SUV is over: I bought a Honda Pilot yesterday.
I've researched and looked at these fine vehicles, Aviator, MDX, Mountaineer, Murano, Pilot, and XC90. Among them, I test drove Mountaineer, Murano and Pilot. Here's my run down.
1. Mountaineer V8/AWD/Premier w/ RES, MSRP $38400, can be had for under 31k. It actually represents the best value in these group, with A-plan and hefty incentive. It has been my fallback and bargaining chip all along. The questionable quality/reliability and the fact I found a Pilot at a lower price did it in.
2. Murano SL/AWD w/ Premium/Sunroof/Leather, no DVD, MSRP $34300, almost bought it at $31500. This is the sport car of the bunch. If not for my wife's objection of the styling (I'm not to warm to that either), It would have been my Thanksgiving present.
3. Pilot EX-L RES, MSRP $32480, bought it at $30480. This is the plain Jane of the group. It lacks a lot of safety/luxury features found on others, but it has great balance and Honda quality. When I found one at this bargaining price, the decision was easy.
Among the three I haven't test driven, here is my observation,
4. MDX Touring w/ RES, MSRP $40300. I did not like MDX's styling coming in, but it is like THE benchmark for this class, I had to include it. It's good at everything, has a lot of stuff than the Pilot. In the end, I still don't like its look, plus the MSRP pricing.
5. Aviator AWD/Luxury, w/o RES, MSRP $43000. If Murano is the sport car of the group, Aviator is the luxury sport sedan. It does everything very well, speed/handling/NVH/safety/luxury, you name it. When Ford announced its price back in summer, I knew I am not in their target demographics. After a long long wait, when it is finally available after Thanksgiving, I resisted the temptation of test-driving it. Even with A-plan (around 38k), it is still too rich for me. Had Ford extended the 0% for 60month deal to Aviator, it would have been a totally different story.
6. XC90, T6 AWD w/ options, MSRP well over 40k. This is THE safest SUV, at any price, and a good looking one, too. Again, it's the price. No aplan, no deal.
In my book, there are no losers among them. Each vehicle brings a lot to the table, at their respective price. My decision was constantly changing, had to make a lot of compromises among sportiness/utility/luxury and of course my wallet.
Thanks for reading my long post. I won't be completely gone. I will still read all the posts here, but won't be posting as much. This has been the most thorough research I did on any purchase, by far. Thanks to Edmunds and all the friendly posters here, I enjoyed it very much.
tidester, host
Front seat room is just OK for me (6'-4" & 260lbs.), but excellent for wife. We're still going through the owners manual to insure all things are setup the way we want. It's almost like setting up the home PC. There are a ton of options that can be programmed (audio, locks, mirrors, seatbelt chime, etc.). The first couple of tanks of gas haven't been anything to brag about, but it wasn't bought for gas mileage.
Initial impression is "it's what we expected and we're very pleased", and does it ever draw looks and questions every place it's parked.