Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ

akirby

I assume you're resetting the mpg each time you fill up?

bigt

http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=26099

Interesting that more MKX's are sold than MKZ's but still all trends are up for those two. I am starting to see more of them on the road these days.

jeyhoe

Interesting spin spin spin. THe real news report is that Ford May sales are DOWN 7%.

The interesting numbers I see in the ford media report is that Expedition is UP 27% while Navigator is DOWN 14%. Anyone else think this may be due to looks of the new Navigator?

[Deleted User]

I don't think the Nav's looks are hurting it at all. Except for the fact that it has the same body as the 2006 version, with new grill and tail lights, and makes do with the same engine it has had all along (with no perceived advantage over the Expedition). That and the MKX. A lot of folks buying the X may have bought a Nav if no other Lincoln truck was available. If anything, that polarizing grill has kept the thing in the game. It badly needs a total revamp.

MKZ sales have topped out at a bit over 30,000. Not too good for a (relatively) inexpensive, near luxury sedan. Nowhere near as good as the LS did in its day, and with that, Ford was dissatisfied enough by LS sales that it let the thing languish.

MKX isn't going to be a real player until it sports some real Lincoln styling and/or ditches the Fusion/Milan lookalike styling.

cg205

Yes, I always reset the mpg as well as the mileage each time. I've checked the mpg on every tank for every car I've owned for years.

bigt

Saw a Black one and it really looks sharp inside and out. The grill grows on you. I wish the best for Ford and Lincoln. I wish somehow they could get the US consumer back.

jaxs1

CNET is working on a review of the MKZ that might be online in a few weeks. I know they at least like the THX stereo, if not much else.
We will have to wait a while for the full review to be posted.

bigt

All of the folks are doing this. The Chrysler 300 has been involved with aftermarket kits for quite a long time:

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070502/FREE/70430016/1065



Even the MKX gets a kit:

bigt

theman123

Now that's nice. Also, from reading the article the body kits are available to add to the Lincoln MKZ and MKX when you order the vehicle. Also, it adds %120 to the residual to the vehicle.

scootertrash

I like those last two pictures.

That body kit makes that 7 year old Oldsmobile Aurora look more like a 2 year old Acura RL.

[Deleted User]

(snirk)

brucelinc

LOL When I bought my Lincoln LS in 1999, most people thought it was a Mitsubishi. I guess when I replace the LS with an MKS, I will be ready for the comments.

The last car I owned that really was fresh and dynamic from a styling perspective was my 1990 T-Bird SC.

bigt

If the MKS comes out looking like the pictures I may also move up to it. I wonder if they will be making any OUTSIDE changes to the MKZ for 2008?

brucelinc

Other than the new colors mentioned earlier, I have heard of no exterior changes to the Z in '08.

In spite of the Japanese Aurora look of the MKS, I find it very attractive. Exterior styling is not at the top of my list when buying but the the "S" has a clean modern look to it that would be fine with me. Look for more of a split grille on the production version but otherwise what you see in the pic above is likely what you will get.

I am anxiously waiting for more information on the final powertrain specs of the MKS- Direct Injection? Manumatic transmission selector? Perhaps a FWD version since the base engine is a naturally aspirated 3.7 V-6?

In any case, I am chomping at the bit to get a new car. If neither the MKS or Jag XF suit me, I will have to buy the first non-Ford product in my lifetime.

buckwheat

Initial Quality Study: Ford scores high; Mercedes jumps
Porsche, Lexus top J.D. Power list

Automotive News | 1:37 pm, June 6, 2007

Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln division broke into the top three of the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality Study, released today. But the biggest jump in rank came from Mercedes-Benz, which climbed to No. 5 this year from No. 25 in 2006.

Ford division and Mercury vehicles also jumped in the research firm's rankings. Mercury ranked eighth this year, moving eight spots higher. Ford moved five spots to 10th.

Ironically, Ford's Wixom, Mich., assembly plant, which recently closed, earned J.D. Power's Platinum Plant Quality Award for producing vehicles yielding the fewest defects. The research firm said Lincoln Town Cars produced there averaged 35 problems for every 100 vehicles.

In the study, Ford earned model segment awards for the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ and Mercury Milan. The Mazda MX-5 Miata also earned a segment award. Mazda is partially owned by Ford.

Mercedes-Benz improved its nameplate rank by 20 positions - the greatest improvement of any nameplate in the study.

For the second year, Porsche topped the overall nameplate rankings, averaging 91 problems per 100 vehicles. Following were Lexus, Lincoln, Honda and Mercedes-Benz.

Honda - with the fewest problems per 100 vehicles among nonpremium brands - improved to fourth from sixth in the 2006 study and earned awards with the Civic and CR-V. Among nonpremium brands, Kia posted the largest improvement in ranking, moving from 24th in 2006 to 12th this year. Kia earned an award for the Kia Rio and Rio5 for the second year in a row.

PRINTED FROM: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

akirby

I think they made more exterior styling changes than just the grille, especially around the C pillar.

I don't have any inside info on this (darn tight lipped engineer) but I'm expecing a 300 hp 3.7L engine (maybe with direct injection) with AWD standard. Not holding my breath on the manumatic shifter - I'd give it a 50% chance at this point. But I do hope it arrives.

There may also be a smart key (keyless ignition) option.

calidd

Anyone know when the MKS will hit the showrooms? Any idea about the price range?

How 'bout with the MKZ? Any ideas about when the 008s will hit the showrooms? or the price hike (if any)?

Still haven't found a photo of the 008 MKZ colors (except for the tiny ones on the Ford Fleet Showrooms website.

akirby

Look for the MKS beginning of next summer. It should be at the Detroit Auto Show next January in production form (possibly before that in L.A.).

theman123

5 Fords take top honors with overall build quality. The MKZ is the best built entry level sedan on the market. That's strong right there. Trust me the people at Toyota land are taking notice. Also, it was CNN and I'm sure about 1 million people saw it. Too that the sales of the MKZ was up %37 last month. I hope it goes on a tear now. I wonder what all those people have to say that called Ford "Fix Or Repair Daily". I beat they are eating their words now. They can't say "Oh Ford paid them to say that" LOL !!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy the Video
Ford Tops quality survey

akirby

This is great news, but please remember this is Initial Quality, not long term quality. I'm sure the Ford bashers will point this out.

[Deleted User]

You Ford basher you.

cowbell

I think the tendancy to bash Ford's long term quality is fading away, especially with the Fusion/Milan having a higher predicted long-term reliabilty than the Accord or Camry according to Consumer Reports. And since the MKZ is a cousin of those cars, I see no reason to think it won't keep it's quality for many years.

akirby

I think the tendancy to bash Ford's long term quality is fading away

Not on any of the forums around here that include a Honda or Toyota product.

bigt

The Ford bashers will say because they are only #3 that Ford's demise is forthcoming!

BTW, news travels fast, a guy in the mall parking lot said they heard about the Lincoln brand quality and asked what I thought! I gave him a tour of my MKZ and he liked it a lot. Said he would take a look at them next time he shops for a car.

akirby

The tide is definitely turning. Looks like all the work Jim Padilla did a few years ago is really working.

calidd

I'm thinking of purchasing an 007 MKZ before the current incentive expires. On the other hand, I think I might like the new colors on the 008 along with the new features of the 008: tire pressure monitor, hands-free navigation, back-up sensors, etc.

Anybody know if the current incentives on the 007s will extend beyond the date they're scheduled to expire (July 2) into the period when the 008s are launched? Anybody know if FMCO will offer any incentives on the 008 MKZ? I'd like to be able to choose between the 007 and the 008 MKZ.

Thanks.

yanker

I was interested in the Zephyr. I will never consider a car with letters for a name. The name Zephyr fit in nicely with Ford company history and it is nice that JDPower says they are good. Wait three years. I have been happy with both honda and Toyota

hardhawk

Buy the MKZ and then get some Zephyr badges and switch them out. Kind of silly to eliminate a quality car for the sole reason of its name.

bigt

The MKZ name has grown on me. I think it is more modern (or hip), the Zephyr name sounds like something Grandma would drive.

hardhawk

I agree totally, but yanker said the letter name would prevent the purchase. That's why I suggested buying some Zephyr badges and put them on the MKZ in place of the MKZ ones.

calidd

How do we recognize the best in class showing in the J D Powers survey with this one on Total Quality? Check out the Total Quality Index reported by Strategic Vision (you may need to copy the URL into your browser):

http://www.strategicvision.com/auto_segmentwinners.php?year=2007&award=TQA&seg=10

calidd

I meant to ask, how do we RECONCILE, not recognize, the differences in the two surveys. Sorry for the typo.

akirby

Easy - they measure totally different things.

The Total Quality Index™ is the premier measure of new vehicle owner satisfaction. It asks buyers to rate all aspects of the ownership experience, from buying and owning to driving.

In other words it has nothing to do with quality and everything to do with customer satisfaction. Terribly misleading name for a survey.

calidd

The MKZ has racked up another Interior of the Year Award--2nd year running. Check out the article: http://media-newswire.com/release_1051957.html

calidd

Can you imagine how the naysayers would be all over this story if this were happening to the MKZ instead of to the Lexus ES 350? http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/savvyconsumer/story/B914EAF585E7494D862572F400118B67?OpenDocument

cg205

I don't know how valid my comments are, but from personal experience, I have been surveyed by J.D. Powers regarding almost all of the 13 new cars I have purchased over the last 20 years. I have not only never been contacted by Strategic Vision, but I have never even heard of them.

scootertrash

A bunch of 17 year old girls...:

"Danielle tried to shift the car into neutral but the car was still accelerating.

She tried to turn off the car but it wouldn't stop. Danielle stood on the brake with both feet. The car kept going.

"I am sure you can imagine how terrified the kids were at this point — can you imagine traveling in a car for over 5 miles, going over 90 miles per hour and no brakes?" Bernard wrote in her government safety complaint."

Thoroughly Absurd.

[Deleted User]

Yes. There may have been a floor mat problem or a cruise control problem or both, but it sure sounds like another case of unintended acceleration. People who have had their cars get away from them in their panic stand on the accelerator in an attempt to stop--yet there is no way to convince them that this is what happened.

In any event, a badly designed floor mat that inexplicably put so much pressure on the gas that it overcame both feet on the brakes, still wouldn't prevent the car from being turned off or shifted into neutral.

akirby

Exactly. Everything after the floor mat got stuck and the car stopping was simply a 17 yr old panic attack. Instead of buying them safe cars maybe parents should actually teach them how to drive. Oh, I forgot - that's the school's responsibility. What a joke.

bigt

This happen with the Lexus and not the MKZ right?

akirby

ES350, yes.

bigt

Watching the food network last night (yeah get a life) and Bobby Flay traveled to Buffalo for a Chicken Wing throwdown. He pulled up in a Black Lincoln MKX and it was really sharp!

calidd

Had a chance to look at the dealer color book on the MKZ 008 colors. My impression is that new colors are better named than the 007 colors were (for ex., I always felt that "Light Sage" was really more "Light Honeydew").

The Moss Green looks just like it sounds: sort of grayish-green or khaki green. It did not have that blueish tint pictured on Lincoln website for the MKS. The Dark Ink Blue one looks like an ink blot from a blue fountain pen (sort of a black-blue). The Vapor Silver looked like a very light silver (like the color of the MKZ image that appears on some internet ads). The White Suede looked like it had a filmy glaze to it (like a shaded white).

All of the colors were attractive in my opinion.

calidd

Hey guys,
I'd love to see photos of your MKZ. If members post photos of their car, it might be possible to see all the colors of the 2007 whereas at the dealership, the most I can ever see is 2 or 3.

If you have digital photos, would you post them?

Thanks.

jerrys2

Check out the Lincoln web site, all colors interior and exterior, you can even rotate the car

calidd

Thanks, but I know about those on the Lincoln website. Since they are artistic renditions not photos of actual cars, I was hoping to see owners' actual cars.

bigt

No need to wait check these deals out:

Three day Managers Special
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
6/20, 6/21, 6/22

All New Lincolns & Mercurys in stock will be sold @ $1,000 Under Invoice
excludes Hybrids
This is not including available Rebates!!

No gimmicks here!
We will show you the invoice, take $1,000 off, and then give you the rebates.
This includes freight!!

akirby

They didn't mention the $1500 documentation fee......

Or there is $1500 in dealer cash floating around.

bigt

Down here in Orlando and all you see are Navigators, Aviators, MKX's and LS, towncars and limo towncars. Mostly Black in color. Saw a few MKX's but no MKZ's yet.