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Where Is Ford taking the Lincoln Motor Company?

4163 messages,  Last post on May 17, 2013 at 6:43 AM

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What is this discussion about? Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKX

    

Messages Page 406 of 417

#4050 of 4163 Re: Another month lost [gregg_vw] by e_net_rider

Mar 04, 2013 (6:38 am)

Replying to: gregg_vw (Mar 03, 2013 9:33 am)
Gas mileage is still an important buyer decision. I had noticed improved ratings for the 3.7, 2013, along with boosted power. Sadly the Eco does not get better mileage, but worse. I understand, basically, the load added by moving to AWD, but the 3.7 AWD gets better mileage than the ECO.
Yesterday I clicked a couple of links to look at MKS options. Sadly I could not find the mileage rating for the ECO or even the power rating. With the number of buyers using internet for buying decisions, it is sad that such sites often have usuability issues. Add out-dated, erroneous, and fudged data, and brand loyalty fades.
It seems auto industry is following Boeing act of lieing about fuel usage so they can get a sale. Fortunately government regulations have an impact on fudging in auto industry.
It seems there has been the reduction of engine choices throughout the industry because of cost. I wonder if Ford/Lincoln are making best choices. A current engine that comes to mind is GM's 3.6L in a loaded 11 Lacrosse CXS. I have not seen a weight spec for my 10 MKS 3.7L FWD, but it was claimed the Lacrosse was ~4400 lbs. The MKS has more area on a front profile allowing for a little more drag.
The Lacrosse. My salesman told me he ran one to 148MPH. I can see that as possible because I was zooming past 130 when I let off. And it did not have much wind noise. And vehicle was very stable.
I would not try this with MKS because of stability and it just does not have near the power even though it was rated only a few horsepower apart. The following model year, over a year later from my build, GM significantly increased horsepower and CAFE numbers stayed the same.
The MKS 3.7, running similar speeds, gets about 2 MPG less on highway and similar in local driving.
I certainly have to suspect the powertrain, engine/tranny, as the main difference. There are definitely tecnological differences between the engines. GM had major issues with that engine in earlier models, especially timing chains. I have not heard of any longevity issues yet, although direct injection and the direct EGR via the exhaust valves would be a question in my mind. Simply because those are new developments, but also those who have been testing their used oil find high gasoline content. There are a number of threads concerning that issue and it seems to be common to engines using direct injection. I have not checked if ECOBoost engine has same finding. Perhaps they have found a way to compensate what certainly would have caused premature wearout a decade or more ago.
Will Lincoln find it's own powerplants?

#4051 of 4163 Re: Maybe to the land of weird [e_net_rider] by akirby

Mar 04, 2013 (7:12 am)

Replying to: e_net_rider (Mar 04, 2013 5:47 am)
You accidentally pressed and help the unlock button on the remote which activated the global open feature. Happens a lot.

#4052 of 4163 Re: Another month lost [e_net_rider] by akirby

Mar 04, 2013 (7:21 am)

Replying to: e_net_rider (Mar 04, 2013 6:38 am)
Sadly I could not find the mileage rating for the ECO or even the power rating.
 
Really? I went to Lincoln.com, clicked on MKS then Specifications and both the power and mileage ratings are right there.

#4053 of 4163 Re: Maybe to the land of weird [e_net_rider] by nvbanker

Mar 16, 2013 (8:37 pm)

Replying to: e_net_rider (Mar 04, 2013 5:47 am)
This has happened to me many times, in many cars, including my Lexus. It is not aliens - it's my pocket and my key-fob. Sometimes, I open the trunk, set off the alarm, or if I hold the unlock button down accidently, it opens every window, the sunroof and unlocks the doors.

#4054 of 4163 Acura RLX by hpmctorque

Apr 01, 2013 (7:57 am)

The new RLX got a negative review in the Wall Street Journal. Among the comments, it said the RLX, Acura's flagship sedan, is little more than a larger, heavily contented Accord. While adapting Honda's FWD architecture to a car with E-Class and 5-Series fighting pretensions saved money, the result is a car that doesn't accomplish its mission, in the reviewer's opinion. Further, it's not even an effective competitor to the A-6 Quattro. Incidentally, Consumers Reports rated the 2013 A-6 best-in-class; better than the E-Class or 5-Series.
  
Are you listening , Lincoln?
  
 It should be mentioned that the RLX will be available with AWD later this year. The AWD version will also have more power. I hope the WSJ tests that model too, to see whether that will make the RLX more competitive with its German rivals. And, let's not forget Cadillac, which just introduced an all-new, larger CTS to take on the Germans.
 
As I read the WSJ review of the RLX I couldn't help but doubt whether Lincoln is going down the right path for a revival. Time will tell, but I don't think it is.

#4055 of 4163 Re: Acura RLX [hpmctorque] by akirby

Apr 01, 2013 (12:47 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Apr 01, 2013 7:57 am)
The good thing about selling cars is that hardly anyone pays attention to what automotive journalists say about a car, good or bad. If they like the styling, features and price then they'll buy it.
 
Ford is going down the only road it can afford with Lincoln. GM is spending billions and billions on Cadillac trying to "beat the Germans" with limited success.
 
Ford's plan for Lincoln is to start with unique sheetmetal and features, upgrade the dealership experience to be more Lexus like (this has only just begun and will take years), add unique powertrains (still in development), add higher volume luxury models (MKC e.g.) - all over the next few years.
 
THEN they can start considering unique platforms. Trying to develop a halo vehicle right now would only make the journalists and a very few customers happy.
 
Ford can afford to float Lincoln for a few years so they can afford to take their time and try to build the brand from the ground up.
 
The biggest problem Lincoln has right now is vehicles like the MKZ keep getting compared to Ford vehicles like the Fusion instead of the true competition like the A6, ES, etc.
 
E.g. - people complain about the 2.0EB being the base engine. Yet when you look at the Audi A6 and even the Jaguar XF - they both have the same 2.0L Turbo engine yet both produce less power than the MKZ and cost at least $10K more.
 
Judging by the number of people who have waited for ordered MKZs for 6 months or more the buying public likes this vehicle and they shouldn't have any trouble selling 40k-50k without the overhead of a totally new platform.

#4056 of 4163 Re: Acura RLX [akirby] by hpmctorque

Apr 01, 2013 (3:03 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Apr 01, 2013 12:47 pm)
Your argument is reasonable, but we'll have to see whether offering a dealership experience that's "more Lexus-like" and unique sheet metal will be enough for luxury car buyers who are used to owning successful luxury brands to cross shop Lincoln.
 
A brand is at a disadvantage when a buyer has to explain why he/she chose it. BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus and even Cadillac don't require explaining, but Lincoln may in certain situations. Such a choice can put the buyer on the defensive with car enthusiasts. That's a head wind for Lincoln. Now, it's true that most luxury car buyers aren't enthusiasts, but enthusiasts exert a disproportionate influence on a brand's reputation and cache'.
 
Another head wind for Lincoln is that there's nothing special about it. It's not known for performance, styling safety or comfort; doesn't stand above its peers in reliability, and it has below average prestige and dealer service in its class.
 
I hope Lincoln overcomes these deficits because I'm a fan of domestic brands. I don't happen to own one now, but I've owned several in the past and would certainly consider one for my next purchase.

#4057 of 4163 Re: Acura RLX [hpmctorque] by nvbanker

Apr 01, 2013 (4:16 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Apr 01, 2013 3:03 pm)
Another head wind for Lincoln is that there's nothing special about it. It's not known for performance, styling safety or comfort; doesn't stand above its peers in reliability, and it has below average prestige and dealer service in its class.
 
Well - I do agree about the lack of a "special quality" right now. I have felt for years, the Lincolns should have more power, larger engines (maybe not now, that's out of style), a consistent styling theme like Lincoln used to have with their former "Rolls-Royce" style grille - instantly identifyable to anybody. Until Lincoln Touch, Lincoln usually was 1 or 2 in the JD Power surveys, and Touch has killed Lincoln and Ford on the surveys. Overall though, Lincolns have consistently been very trouble free. Now, you mention Prestige - that's the saddest part of all. I drove Lincolns consistently from 1992-2006. When people saw you, or heard you had a Lincoln - they were impressed. That truly is now gone. The Navigator was the last vestige of respect, and it's been neglected so long now, it looks old enough to vote. Lincoln has become Ford's Buick.
 
I drove an MKS the other day. It's very comfy, power is great with the EgoBoost (I know, I mis-spelled that on purpose), handling is good, it's very quiet, cabin is nice - not gorgeous, but nice. For $30,000 less than my Lexus, it would be a good buy, and I could drive it without complaint. BUT, when asked what it was, and I had to say "It's a Lincoln, and boy, it's JUST LIKE A LEXUS, really, it is, just LIKE one......". Even I don't buy it. And that's half of what a luxury car buyer wants; street cred. Lincoln no longer has ANY!
 
From a former Cadillac owner, who drove them from 83-92, and left them out of disgust for what they had become - for the superior in every way Lincoln at that time, - then left Lincoln for Lexus in 06, it sure would be nice to see Lincoln do what Cadillac did and resurrect the brand. Opinions of Cadillac vary, but there is no harsher critic of GM than I am - and Cadillac has really re-established themselves as, at least, a premium, performance brand. Most models (cars at least), are a good value for the money now.
 
I think the way Ford is going they'll get there - hope they can catch the rest though, because they're not standing still either.

#4058 of 4163 Re: Acura RLX [hpmctorque] by akirby

Apr 01, 2013 (6:05 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Apr 01, 2013 3:03 pm)
Look at where Lexus started 20 years ago. They had even less brand recognition than Lincoln does now. It won't happen overnight. The key is continual improvement. And you can't tell me that Lexus ES and RX buyers get any more prestige from owning a Lexus than a Lincoln owner. Or Acura. Or Infiniti.
 
It all depends on whether you want accolades or sales and profits.

#4059 of 4163 Re: Acura RLX [akirby] by hpmctorque

Apr 01, 2013 (8:19 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Apr 01, 2013 6:05 pm)
Continual improvement has to be sufficient to catch or, preferably, surpass the competition that's also continually improving.

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