- #31 of 154
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Re: It's one thing [speculator]
by bfarrell
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Jun 10, 2008 (3:02 pm)
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Replying to: speculator (Jun 10, 2008 1:51 pm)
If, after actually driving an MKS (I know you have not done so), you can not differentiate drivability between an MKS and a Taurus you have no business posting here period. Further, MKS is not supposed to be a CTS (thank God) Lincoln already has the MKZ to compete with the baby Caddy. MKS is also not supposed to be a BMW 5 or a Infinity M or a Jag etc. I will say it again not every motorist wants a go fast boy racer as their vehicle of choice. There is a market for a 500hp RWD sports sedan but there is also a market for a spacious, well behaved, safe, handsome, well equipped, American, luxury automobile that doesn't cost $60k. Mechanical differences between MKS and Taurus abound from the bigger engine to the suspension to the braking etc. If the "common wisdom" you are promulgating as gospel says that MKS is simply a Taurus knock off given the propensity for the "common wisdom" to be dead wrong then this vehicle will do very well.
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- #32 of 154
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Re: It's one thing [bfarrell]
by speculator
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Jun 10, 2008 (8:41 pm)
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Replying to: bfarrell (Jun 10, 2008 3:02 pm)
I Have an interest in a Ford and a Lincoln-Mercury dealership in Chicago. Please elaborate on the difference in nomenclature of the Taurus and MKS chassis. Again the vehicle does suffer from torque steer. The same as the Taurus. If one has to rely on steering the vehicle out of harms way one will notice the inherit deficiency in steering that comes into play with a fwd platform that isn't noticeable in a rwd platform. Audi has handled that problem more than ten years ago and Nissan has done the same with its front wheel drive Infinities. Since this is Lincoln's flagship shouldn't that problem have been dealt with in the vehicles base fwd ? This vehicle is to be a premium vehicle but it still steers as it lower price cousin. Didn't Ford position this car as a Cadillac STS fighter? Is it ? Will it out handle an STS? Will it out accelerate an STS? Will this car play well in Europe? Is the MKS a world class sedan? Also ,the MKS was originally to be a rwd vehicle. but Ford thought that it would be too expensive to produce it as such as it would need its own line. Thus, the platform sharing with the Taurus. Ford has canceled the rwd Interceptor because the cost was too prohibitive to engineer the weight out of a rwd platform to have the vehicle meet CAFE standards. The only rwd vehicle will be the Mustang. Ford is not sure if the next gen Mustang will have an irs. Dealers are trying to convince Ford to produce it with irs to compete with the Dodge and Chevy competitors. Since Ford likes to base its Lincolns on its Ford cousins,its safe to assume that there will not be a modern rwd Cadillac,not to say a Bmw or Mercedes fighter. Ford could use forged aluminum to decrease weight as GM is doing with its premium rwd platforms. But Ford is as Ford does.
f
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- #33 of 154
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Only a fool would buy this!
by johnzocco
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Jun 10, 2008 (9:07 pm)
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There are far better luxury sedans to buy for almost $50000. Offers from BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Infiniti, Cadillac, Lexus and Acura come to mind. No one is going to shell out $46000 for a Lincoln MKS, which is basically a beautified Ford Taurus. People who have that type of money to spend on a luxury sedan will not even consider the MKS. Trust me, once you approach the over $40000 price for this type of car, no one will think American, except for Cadillac.
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- #34 of 154
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Damn the torpedoes
by speculator
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Jun 10, 2008 (9:42 pm)
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The MKS is a decent car and it will be suitable for those who drive Towncars. The problem is that the average Towncar driver is about 58 years old. If the MKS was built as originally planed as a rwd sport sedan,the average of the Lincoln buyers age would probably have decreased to the early to Mid 50's. But Lincoln still has a chance to gain glory. Build a street version of the MKR with a world class sport rwd suspension and powertrain. If Lincoln is to survive,it has to have a vehicle that will draw the more affluent young people to consider it who otherwise would only consider a BMW or Mercedes sport sedan. Otherwise, how many 70 year olds can Lincoln depend on to keep it in business.
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- #35 of 154
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Re: It's one thing [speculator]
by bfarrell
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Jun 11, 2008 (6:20 am)
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Replying to: speculator (Jun 10, 2008 8:41 pm)
speculator... I guess we should just agree to disagree. I would make one final point. Compare apples to apples!!!! The comparable sized AUDI stickers at over $70k ... for $25k more than a nicely equipped MKS one would assume it should be more vehicle even though it is a V.W. knock off. What can one possibly get for $25k more other than an ego boost? In fact most of the comparable sized 'luxury" offerings everyone is using to compare sticker for tens of thousands more dollars. Lincoln will do just fine with this vehicle and it is not just a Taurus knock off as you should know.
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- #36 of 154
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Re: Only a fool would buy this! [johnzocco]
by bfarrell
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Jun 11, 2008 (6:32 am)
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Replying to: johnzocco (Jun 10, 2008 9:07 pm)
johnzocco ... Tell that to the over 8500 consumers who have pre-ordered the MKS. Must be lots of fools who can part with $45k.
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- #37 of 154
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Re: Only a fool would buy this! [bfarrell]
by speculator
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Jun 11, 2008 (7:23 am)
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Replying to: bfarrell (Jun 11, 2008 6:32 am)
I know that percentage wise,the MKS is being discounted more than a CTS. Most of them 8500 orders are from those that drive Towncars. Lincoln needs younger clientele . The car isn't drawing that much in trade ins from upscale imports. The imports and domestics, other than Towncars that it does attract, are the lower to mid priced Toyotas ,Nissans, Pontiacs, Fords and Chevys. The younger crowd that rides along with their parents and grandparents in Towncars to trade it in often inquire about the MKR show car. Even some Towncar drivers inquire about the car.
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- #38 of 154
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Re: Only a fool would buy this! [speculator]
by bfarrell
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Jun 11, 2008 (8:29 am)
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Replying to: speculator (Jun 11, 2008 7:23 am)
Take a look at the on line Detroit Free Press review of the MKS in today's paper for a much more balanced review. This vehicle is positioned well for the market (except for $4.00 gas) and It would be interesting to see the demographic of those 8500 orders. I have no doubt that those who feel it necessary to spend $70k on a vehicle in order to feel good about themselves may not look at Lincoln period. They are the same individuals who would spend $3000 for an Armani suit. Not now nor have thy ever been Lincoln's audience.
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- #39 of 154
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Re: Only a fool would buy this! [speculator]
by cowbell
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Jun 11, 2008 (8:56 am)
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Replying to: speculator (Jun 11, 2008 7:23 am)
To to sound aged biased, but I think most of those pre-orders started with the MKS website. I'm not sure how many 70+ people are configuring cars on the internet.
I could also be wrong about the source of most of those pre-orders, but it seems the most logical source. Even the 70+ crowd isn't swinging down to the dealership "to see what's new for sale."
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- #40 of 154
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Re: Only a fool would buy this! [cowbell]
by speculator
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Jun 11, 2008 (2:09 pm)
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Replying to: cowbell (Jun 11, 2008 8:56 am)
I am just stating fact .Most of those who inquire about the car at my dealership are Towncar owners Most of their kids or grandkids are driving foreign premium vehicles. I see this when a Towncar owner drops off his car for service and His kid picks him up in an expensive import. Believe it or not, once in awhile these foreign owners do inquire about the MKR . None of them are that impressed with the MKS. From my experience their aren't many Towncar owners below 55. I believe that the median average Lincoln owner is 58 years old. This means that a good portion of Lincoln owners are above 65 years old. How many people above 75 years of age will still be driving especially with the restrictions that most states are enacting to make it more difficult for seniors to renew their licenses? Lincoln can't base its product line on those above 50 and still be profitable. It needs products that would appeal to those below fifty who have a yearly income above 125,000 .
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