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"The U.S. auto industry pays among the highest manufacturing wages in the world. Compared with Japan and France, the U.S. auto industry pays 50% higher wages and over five times more than Mexico's auto manufacturers"
And from a House Ways and Means Committee hearing:
"the artificially weak yen has provided Japanese auto companies a cost advantage ranging from $3,000 on a small car to $12,000 on a luxury sport utility."
I'm not saying that I know these things are ture, or that I think that's why the domestic manufactures are doing poorly. It's just some information I've heard. Do with it what you will.
The MKZ is a Mexican car, and Ford is a Mexican auto manufacturer is it more patriotic than buying a Toyota or Nissan made by Americans in the US?
To mMe it's all excuse making designed to distract from the REAL problem--Making yawn mobiles like the 500, playing games with product names like a chicken with it's head cut off and coming out with stuff like the lame 2008 10 year old Focus, that costs more than a new one would have.
A fish rots from the head.
The other problem is all the different looks, grills, tailends, etc. The grills of the MKZ, MKLT, and the upcoming MKS look a bit alike--but now we are told the MKS will have the split grill style of the MKR. The grills of the MKX and Navigator bear no relationship to each other, or any of the others. So, first get the split grill integrated into everything--or at least stop putting completely different grill themes on each of the three trucks. The tail lights are another mishmash. The MKZ and Navigator have a similar tail light theme, but the MKX goes its own way. The MKS, MKR, and TC could be from different planets.
Of course the various models shouldn't be clones of one another, but just as you can tell an Audi or Mercedes or Pontiac or Cadillac coming down the road, it would be good to have a Lincoln look back.
Here are my suggestions: (1) wipers either that lie flush at the base of the windshield (instead of the 30% angles of the current right wiper) or recede below the hood; (2) outside mirrors that fold; (3) glove box that is closed in the back so envelopes, maps, etc. can't fall out of the glove box into the vent); (4)thicker padding on the seats and on the small panel over the glove box, which seems flemsy; (5) automatic (hydraulic) hood opener instead of the current stick rod (6) remote gas door opener.
Any way of getting the blue oval boys to hear my suggestions?
1. Backup camera;
2. Larger wheel option say 18/19";
3. Hybrid or better mileage;
4. Bluetooth;
5. Something that I can hold onto in order to close the
trunk;
6. More chrome better color options;
Maybe a night with one of those models I see in the Lincoln booth at the autoshow!
Other than that I am very please with my MKZ now with 2.5k miles on it. No problems or issues to report.
Other than that don't look for anything major.
MKZ that EPA is 18/26 or you can go to the Lincoln website and see the same thing:
http://www.lincoln.com/mkz/performance.asp?feature=all-wheel_drive
FWD is 19/27 on that same Lincoln webpage, and it is also on
my son's window sticker from his FWD '07 MKZ.
See the Lincon webpage at:
http://www.lincoln.com/mkx/performance.asp?feature=all-wheel_drive
I know its only dreaming, but part of me is glad its not out yet, with the current lincoln styling it would be horrible :mad:
In the future, I really hope to see something like that, though.
I'm not surprised at the mistake. It is easy to confuse MKZ and MKX when looking at data, and those MKZ figures were exactly what EPA shows for the MKX.
Also, do you know what the ground clearance is? I've searched the web and can't find it. thanks.
We had snow last week and I went up to a nearby log cabin development in the mountains, just to see if there was anywhere I couldn't go in the car. I made it up some hills that others had tried and didn't make. I was very impressed with the Z's performance in snow.
I don't know what the ground clearance is, but I wouldn't take it off-road. I've straddled a few large road kills without them hitting the undercarriage.
The answer is 'not enough to take it off road.'
Seriously, if you're looking for something to use on AND off road, don't look at the Edge or emm kay whatever. I've been researching something like that for myself with the added benefit of good gas mileage and I think the Jeep Patriot offers the most bang for the buck. Close to 30mpg hiway and "close to" low range off-roading. No, it's not as 'nice' as the Edge in many ways I guess, but it's cheaper.
Just MHO.
Oh, wait. Nevermind. I just noticed this discussion is for the emm kay whatever sedan, indicated by a 'Z'. Sorry for the confusion. A sedan buyer wont want a Patriot.
But the advice still stands, dont take your emm kay anything off the road unless you have real good towing coverage. A Subaru is a better bet for a sorta off road sedan.
I HATE these letter names.
I think people like the MKZ
The 500/Montego is a fiasco. I still recall the dumb corporate reaction when it was poorly received on launch: "Over time, the Five Hundred's styling will wear better than the 300's"...how pathetic was that? Did anyone think to get a re-skin in the pipeline for 08 or 09? No. Instead, they changed the grill and tweaked the interior. The buying public is not enamored of the bubble top and plain Jane fenders, and front and rear styling, people!
Edge and MKX sales appear to be a bright spot. However, MKX may be cannibalizing Navigator sales...not so good. The MKZ sales have gone from bad to so-so. Lincoln small sales increases are on top of last year's poor sales. But at least we can say that Lincoln is no longer heading south as fast as Ford, Mercury and Jaguar.
Tiger, I agree with you. The Z is a pleasant enough car and is probably quite reliable but it does not stand out in any way and, IMHO, further degrades the Lincoln nameplate. The top-line Milan should have the key Z features - 3.5 engine, better sound insulation, and more upscale interior.
I think the upcoming MKS with the standard 3.7 V6 should be the entry-level Lincoln. It has more expressive styling, it's larger, and just appears more upscale. Its additional size and room would give it an advantage over other entry level luxury brands. The Z is just too much like its stablemates, the Fusion and Milan. They are fine midsize mainstream sedans but I don't think they made the greatest basis for a Lincoln or Lincoln didn't go quite far enough with the upgrades.
Like you, I am a bit disappointed in the ride of the Z. I have never driven a Zephyr so I can't compare them but the Z feels like a Fusion to me except a bit quieter. Again, too mid-size mainsteam to be considered entry level luxury, IMHO. The enthusiast press likes the Z better than the Zephyr in terms of ride but I am not convinced that the target buyer does.
The Ford could be the value leader and any "high-line" Fusion could have been sporty like a SVT instead of competing with the Mercury. Drop the Fusion SEL and drop the base Milans. If you want more plushness than a SE model Fusion, then you look at the Milan instead. If there is too much overlap, then there is no real need for the Mercury model just to get a different grill and two tone leather seats.
Then Lincoln should have a rear drive sedan with a richer-looking interior that would be competitive in materials and style with Lexus or even the new CTS (no cheap-looking painted plastic "satin-look" trim etc.)
Because you are not top in your segment, does not mean you are in a bad position. The Fusion handily outsells a Sonata and several other popular models. What is important is that you make money on your products. If Ford can put some money they make off the MKZ into its redesign and compeltely differentiate the next one from the Fusion, sales will be better. Look at the Altima. The second generation was forgettable, but they didn't give up on it. They came out with the third generation and now there is a fourth generation and the Altima is a common name. If Ford can just bring out the Zephyr concept that they had displayed at autoshows, we wouldn't even need this conversation. That concept was hot like fire.
Drop the Fusion SEL and drop the base Milans.
Even if they did that, they wouldn't sell as much as if they had teh Fusion SEL, i.e. revenue would decrease on less units sold. No matter how we slice it, Ford is the volume brand. You've got to have the volume brand with the desired units. Too many SEL are sold for them to shift them to Mercury. You'd only want to do that if customers believed that the price of the vehicle wasn't justified by the brand, i.e. sticker shock like the new Altima which easily can cost $33K.
I think instead, they should import all of Ford of Europes products as Mercurys. Similar to Saturn and Opel. Or at least build the European Fords in America as Mercurys. All the R&D and design is already paid for so if they are built here it may a. be cost effective and b. will lead to an actual need to hire more people. A very strange concept.
Motortrend MKZ Test drive
Lincoln MKZ photos
Dave
From the Milwaukee show photos, that seems like the demographic the MKZ is attracting.
I think many couples in their 70's and older will really enjoy the new MKZ.
LOL, Good one bigt. Uhhh I can personally attest the MKZ is attracting all demographics. I just attended the Atlanta Autoshow. People of all ages teenagers through elderly people were very attracted to the car. The short time I passed through the Lincoln display, at least a dozen families checked out the several MKZ demos at the show. Also, I'm 30 and I like the car very much. I can't afford it, but I'm sick of everybody hating on good American cars. That close minded mentality is sickening. Also, you wouldn't approve of my demographic. I would fall under the Hip-hop; baggy jeans; backwards baseball cap black guy generation. So Jaxs1, keep your insults to yourself. :P
The MKZ, like most cars, has a diverse following. But anecdotal likes and loves aside, the proof is in the sales figures, and this is not a car burning up the sales charts.
Again, it is doing OK, but it isn't even selling as well as the LS did in its first years. And with inflation and the actual MSRP, the LS was a more expensive car.
Lincoln cannot come back with good efforts that fail to steal many sales from Lexus, BMW, Audi, Infiniti, Chrysler or the like. Lincoln needs a car like the 300 that everyone knows is a Lincoln when they see it coming.
I think some on this board would believe that my wife and I must hate one of our cars......
Me, too! I was at the Lincoln display around noon looking at the MKXs.
I would fall under the Hip-hop; baggy jeans; backwards baseball cap black guy generation.
Me, too! Except for the Hip-hop; backwards baseball cap black guy part. My jean are a little baggy, though.