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Lincoln MKS

2971 messages,  Last post on May 07, 2013 at 2:30 PM

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What is this discussion about? Lincoln MKS, Sedan

Messages Page 231 of 298

#2296 of 2971 Re: [savetheland] by akirby

Jan 21, 2009 (6:41 pm)

Replying to: savetheland (Jan 21, 2009 6:20 pm)
Ford can't survive at BMW's U.S. volumes. Lincoln has a strategy now, but it didn't 2 years ago. Global RWD platform was a key part of that strategy that had to be put on hold. They know what they WANT to do, they just can't afford to do it all right now.
 
Mercury was put on hold for the same reason - to focus on Ford first, Lincoln second. It's #3 on the priority list, and will stay there as long as is necessary. Look at all the new Ford products released in 2008/2009 and you'll see where Ford is spending their money. Revised F150, mustang, escape and focus. All new Flex, MKS, MKT. Heavily revised Fusion/Milan/MKZ and Taurus. New Ecoboost 3.5L engine, new 2.5L, 3.0L and 2.5L Hybrid powertrains with best in class fuel economy.
 
Add in plans for 2010 including the Fiesta, Euro Focus, Transit and Transit connect plus new engines for mustang and F150 and an all new unibody Explorer and anyone can see that Ford is investing heavily in it's CORE brand - the one that will bring profitability and market share. THEN they can afford to spend more on Lincoln and finally Mercury.
 
You think this is a lack of focus because they're ignoring Mercury and to some degree Lincoln. I say it's just the opposite - for the first time in a long time Ford has a CLEAR strategy for success and is executing it as well as can be expected.
 
Just because they're not building what YOU want them to build doesn't mean they're failing. Try to see the big picture for once.

#2297 of 2971 Re: Ecoboost MKS [emrnibbles1] by kenb757

Jan 22, 2009 (9:39 am)

Replying to: emrnibbles1 (Jan 21, 2009 3:25 pm)
Well said emrnibbles1. I really wanted an MKS, but its ride and refinement was so un-Lincolnlike that I couldn't see leaving the DTS/Lucerne platform for it. The only car Lincoln has that appeals to me in ride and refinement is the old Town Car. If and when Ford updates the TC, I'll look at Lincoln again. Unless, of course, Lincoln wants to spend some money making the MKS ride better than a Taurus.

#2298 of 2971 Re: Ecoboost MKS [kenb757] by gregg_vw

Jan 22, 2009 (11:26 am)

Replying to: kenb757 (Jan 22, 2009 9:39 am)
Certainly there are different definitions of refinement. It is really personal preference. Sometimes it comes back down to the guys who need their hemorhroids treated very gently and some just prefer the "jet smooth" ride of the traditional big American sedan. The Town Car for me is somewhat crude...while the ride can be smooth, the chassis is shuddery-juddery over rough pavement, and bump-stop suspension hits (with potholes and such) sound anything but quality to me. To each his own.
 
However, it is true that old man cars like the Town Car, DTS, Lucerne lose more sales every year. Younger audiences tend to prefer a different feel in their driving machines. It's funny, because the MKS has been criticized in the press for leaning too far toward the comfort-wallowy end of the spectrum. It is definitely a compromise, a bridge vehicle if you will, to move Lincoln away from old man car company, without making a huge leap away. As a compromise, it may not fill the bill for some traditional buyers as well as for some who prefer not to drive as if their vehicle will tip unless they crawl through every sharp corner.

#2299 of 2971 Re: Ecoboost MKS [kenb757] by akirby

Jan 22, 2009 (11:28 am)

Replying to: kenb757 (Jan 22, 2009 9:39 am)
Not riding like a TC or DTS is actually a plus to most drivers.

#2300 of 2971 Re: Ecoboost MKS [gregg_vw] by kenb757

Jan 23, 2009 (9:24 am)

Replying to: gregg_vw (Jan 22, 2009 11:26 am)
The answer would be to install an air suspension system adjustable to each driver's preference like the last Continental or the Magnetic Ride Control system as installed in the DTS Performance version and Lucerne Super. Lincoln will also have to remedy the torque steer in the MKS and the visibly vibrating steering wheel when idling which is worse than that in the newly-shrunken fwd 1985 deVille.

#2301 of 2971 Re: Ecoboost MKS [kenb757] by akirby

Jan 23, 2009 (12:16 pm)

Replying to: kenb757 (Jan 23, 2009 9:24 am)
Or they just let Cadillac keep that very small and shrinking market segment while they go after the much larger and growing segment that wants a more European ride quality.
 
What's next? Bench seats?

#2302 of 2971 Re: Ecoboost MKS [akirby] by vic10

Jan 23, 2009 (5:58 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Jan 23, 2009 12:16 pm)
Pity the "European ride quality" can't come with the European road quality. The cobblestone streets of Paris that I drove for several years were smoother than many major boulevards in our cities today, and that's excluding the pot holed paradises of the Northeast....
 
And as for the apparent dissing of the Magnetic ride control of the DTS, you should try it. Soft and plush under 40, quite controlled beyond that. Definitely an improvement over soft at all times or harsh at all times.
 
As for the bench seats, you can do things on those you can't with buckets....

#2303 of 2971 Re: Ecoboost MKS [akirby] by kenb757

Jan 24, 2009 (10:07 am)

Replying to: akirby (Jan 23, 2009 12:16 pm)
Why don't we just let Radio Flyer design the suspension system? We won't have to worry about springs, shocks, or bushings. Why not have 24 inch tires with an aspect ratio of 10 that will never go flat because they require no inflation? If you want a "luxury car" with the ride quality of a Matchbox car then buy BMW, Audi, or Infiniti. Mulally still drives his LS430, evidently the MKS doesn't ride as well as his Lexus.
 
Interesting video on MRC: http://www.gm.ca/media/vehicles/cadillac/showcase/innovations/mrc/video_en_CA.ht- - ml

#2304 of 2971 Re: Ecoboost MKS [kenb757] by akirby

Jan 24, 2009 (11:09 am)

Replying to: kenb757 (Jan 24, 2009 10:07 am)
Most people don't want to feel like they're sitting in the La-Z-boy in the living room - they want to actually feel the car and the road. Comfort and plushness are not the same thing. But what you and I want doesn't matter - the question is which market is growing and which is shrinking - and why would Ford go after a shrinking market?

#2305 of 2971 Re: [savetheland] by speculator

Jan 24, 2009 (3:00 pm)

Replying to: savetheland (Jan 21, 2009 6:20 pm)
No it isn't. the 09 Mazda 6 has been lengthen actually about 7 inches and is about 2.3 inches wider. The platform is all new and has been lengthen about 4 inches. Also it is more rigid. It is based on the newer EUCD platform that underlines the Euro Mondeo, Euro Mazda 6 that is smaller than the American 6 and also the present Volvo S80

Messages Page 231 of 298

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