Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
~alpha
It would not take me two seconds to choose a Zephyr over a Lexus ES330 or an Acura TL.
The car would would look strange with the narrow tail lights of the concept car. The lights look better when you are looking at a car, rather than a photo of a car.
Alas, I need the trunk space of a Five Hundred / Montego, as the Zephyr is too narrow.
ANT14 - any chance of a Lincoln version of the Five Hundred / Montego soon? I sat in the Montego at the show several times, and with the seat all of the way back and the back of the bottom cushion tilted down a bit, the footwell space was OK, but my arms had to be straight out to reach the steering wheel. If they make a Lincoln version, it needs the Zephyr interior and a tilt and telescope wheel.
The Lincoln version is still a bit away, more information will become available in next years show. So far it's still being planned out.
Some dislikes people have had over the 500 might be rectified ahead of time.
The initial PR photos released by Ford of the car have to be some of the most unflattering photos of a new vehicle that I have ever seen.
The concept is suppose to show the ultimate design & style. Thus, the tail lights were the most stylish the designer could come up with. The larger tail lights are a compromise due to other factors.
Just because people do not like the production version does not mean the concept was not good.
http://www.lincoln.com/vehicles/newvehiclepreview/zephyr/default.- - - asp
Ok, it's a disclaimer.
ANT ANT, he's our man, if he can't tell us, no one can!!! Yay ANT!!! (or she)
I guess it's progress of a sort. If something's a dog, maybe it's better to shoot it sooner rather than later.
2006 Production Start Up 08/01/05
I've been following the current thread of this forum for some time now and it would appear as though you are the dispenser of hope for us Lincoln lovers! I was first introduced to the Lincoln Zephyr by chance when I was browsing the web for info about new and future mid-size luxury sports sedans. I was totally blown away by the style and interior design of the concept car I saw! I was almost convinced from that moment on that this would be my next car!
However, as so many who have responded to this topic have shared, I became somewhat disappointed at the photos of the "production" vehicle. I'm more of an "interior" guy, so at first the rather dramatic changes in front and rear didn't bother me. What really upset me was the changes they made to that gorgeous interior! I absolutely loved the light maple wood treatment and the creative flare of the shifter. In the production. the wood treatment was minimized (cut off from below the radio) and the shifter was changed to look not much different that my old ford Taurus SEL. Furthermore, I loved the raised, ribbed aluminum waterfall effect in the center stack and found myself bubbling with excitement over the added touch of all-chrome switches and control stalks! If I'm being honest, these changes bothered me most of all. I do realize I'm going on a bit!
Anyway...I submitted an interest solicitation on Lincoln's official website and several weeks ago received a nice gift in the mail. It was an attractive bag of premium coffee and included some registration form that led me to believe that I would have an opportunity to share in pre-marketing research. However, April is fast marching to completion and I haven't received any further info. Regardless, I do hope that the feedback from Lincoln loyalists - like the ones in this forum - will be listened to on some level. If the production and been closer to the concept I saw, there would have been no doubt in my mind come purchase time at the end of this year, but now...I'm afraid I'll have to proceed with some reservation.
It still seems like an excellent car - from everything I've read on fordmedia's website and detailed information on www.autospectator.com. I really like the sound system, lighting effects, seat treatment, quiet-tuning efforts, and the integrated key fob! I'm holding out hope. Have any to offer!
I am certainly looking forward to test-driving one this fall and seeing how it drives and handles, how quiet it is, and how my CD collection sounds in the new THX II sound system!
Here's a question for anyone who might have an idea. What is the interior sound level in decibels. I'm curious because, in Ford's official press release, they share (with no scarcity of detail) the many different technological advances employed in the Zephyr to ensure optimum quietness (e.g., thicker side window glass, specially designed side mirrors, engine compartment shield, extra padding in select areas, various tuning and suspension upgrades, etc.) They also mentioned that the selection of the tires alone achieved a noise level reduction of 6 dbs. That's pretty impressive, depending on what the base level was. In my last issue of Car and Driver, they were comparing many expensive cars - all retailing over $50,000 and the average interior db level was 66. Personally, I like to be isolated from the outside, so the quiter the better!
Overall your looking at a pretty quiet cabin, yet nothing on numbers has been publically stated. But your looking at F-150 Lariat, quiet, if not maybe a touch more. Maybe a subdued rumble from the muffler when working the engine hard.
There's a fine science to it though... you don't wish to isolate too much, because you might have the perception the car is slow since it doesn't involve the driver much. But too much racket, can be annoying at certain RPM's.
~alpha
I have not driven the 2.8L CTS. But I have driven several Duratec motors and they arent bad engines at all... but they never seemed eager, and sound and feel less refined that similarly sized engines from Toyota and Honda, for example.
~alpha
Here is a link with the history of GM's 2.8L 60-degree V6: http://60degreev6.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&arti- d=17&page=1
~alpha
http://www.autospectator.com/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=66&page=0
I think the Lincoln Zephyr is a sharp looking sedan and it should do well for Lincoln. The Zephyr isn't hardly perfect, I dunno why in the world Lincoln has this love affair with Auto trannies but if they made a manual 5 or 6 speed available with the Zephyr it would make it a pretty sporty package. That's one of the biggest complaints that I hear about the Ford Fusion. Ford doesn't offer a manual on V6 only a 6-speed auto. However, I feel It's going to struggle for a little bit but once they (Ford) drop in the 3.5 V6 and make it AWD it should do better. Also, I think that people should hold off on judgment on the appearance of this car. It looks allot better in person than it does on the pics that you see floating around the internet. especially when it's in black. :shades:
Also, if they drop in the AWD 3.5 V6 does anybody know if it's going to have a Manual tranny ?
Well anyway, here's the question for now. which one would you take a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr or a 2006 Aruca TSX ??
Zephyr in Black Pic #1
Zephyr in Black Pic #2
Zephyr in Black Pic #3
Zephyr Interior
They'll point to the short-lived LS manual experiment, during which a tiny fraction (<2%) were delivered as manuals. Of course, the dealers wouldn't stock them for test drives, and many actively discouraged those who wanted to special order one (virtually the only way to get one).
The low number of manuals was a self-fulfilling prophecy for Lincoln, and it sounds like a similar, though not quite so dramatic, situation exists in CTS-land.
The North American public (that no one ever went broke underestimating) does not embrace expensive cars with manual transmissions.
Which leaves me in a bit of a bind, given that I don't care for the Teutonic reliability situation. So far (80K miles) the LS is holding up okay though, so it's not an immediate need.
Compare it to the concept: http://tinyurl.com/b72c4
Steve, you're right , and I don't think any thought has been given to it, chances of a standard in the Zephyr will be quite slim.
If you view it as an entry level luxury car to compete with the Lexus ES330 I think it's quite competent. People buying these types of cars don't care about hp or manuals.
Ford seems to be playing it safe lately with new Lincolns. Neither the Zephyr or the Mark LT pickup truck offer much above and beyond their Ford and/or Mercury counterparts other than styling. My guess is they'll wait and see if it sells reasonably well and then add the differentiating features (more power, better suspensions, more gadgets) in year 2 or 3. Probably smart from a business standpoint but frustrating for customers who want one now.
You choose to call it "playing it safe," but I'm inclined to think it has more to do with what they can do for $1.85 or less.
Otherwise known as playing it cheap.
I'm sure some of that logic was borne out of a very small budget to start with, however. So cheap probably applies as well.
If Ford can make this more than a Fusion re-skin, it will sell. If not, it won't.
I want to buy "American" , so which car should I get??