CTC Review: 2009 Lincoln MKS

[Thinking Out Loud]

I guess I still don't see an issue. They are clean and easy to read, white on black gauges, just like the good Lord intended all cars to have. If it is just a personal preference thing, like you don't like the font, for instance, than I can get that. I just don't see anything really "cheap" looking here...

I think the issue could be the advent of the Optitron  (sp?) gauges Lexus introduced.  Blacked out and luminecent, floating in the dash.

Headlights are headlights, but people are all ga-ga over the BMW halo and Audi eyeliner effects....

At this angle/closeup, I would think I'm driving a $14,000 cash deal Fusion with a Canadian Tire steering wheel wrapper, tbough.....

Must be just a picture thing then, because when I saw it in the flesh, everything in the interior said quality.

As an aside, I came upon this picture on a VW enthusiast site as an example of a better way to do the IP....

I was referring to the dash only...here's a shot of the view through the wheel of a Fusion.  Imagine a faux-wood Canadian Tire steering wheel cover and you're Living Large in Your Linc-ord through the steering wheel:



Overall, I find the MKS an attractive package visually.  Never cross shopped in the $50,000 large range, so I can't go there.

[Wastegate]

Other gripes? Almost useless rear seat that is positioned WAY too high. This is the result of the rear bench having to clear a side impact structure that was designed for a truck. That's right...the MKS is on the P9 platform which is the same as the Volvo XC90.

Actually, it is built on the Ford D3 platform, which is a development of the Volvo P2 CAR platform designed for the S80. The XC90 is another car based SUV built on a CAR platform.

The "useless" back seat, as you refer to it, was in my opinion, one of the highlights of the car, as it makes it one of the few vehicles in the category that I can actually, comfortably, fit my 6'4" frame into.

Well we're the same height and I couldn't even get in the back seat with the front seat adjusted for myself. Don't let Volvo's press materials convince you that that it's much of a "development." Hard points are likely the same as they are incredibly costly to change...thus the absurdly high rear seat cushion not to mention weird proportions of the windshield base/hood and odly high rear haunches. Open the back door of the XC90, take a look at the sill and then tell me what you think.

Also, I didn't intend to infer anything by the truck reference other than the proportions of one are not easily transferable to a sedan. Sorry I was mistaken about the nomenclature.

[MKII]

There are some interior bits that I am not fond of in MK S as well, such as the IMO terrible looking air vent design both centre and side dash, and the centre stack needs something to break up the "too much" flat black facing, especially the large bit in front of the shifter. The LINCOLN lettering is not enough to mask this.
And the hanging planter in front of the fuel/temp gauges has to go. Everytime I see this I am expecting to see some flowers of some sort growing there.

IMO the new 2010 Lincoln MK Z dash execution is slightly nicer, but it still has some of the issues I mention regarding the MK S. Pic 2010 MK Z interior http://jalopnik.com/photogallery/2010mkzpressint/1004698715

@ Wastegate I have a feeling you do not like the way Peter Horbury designs cars, as he was the one responsible for the Volvo S80 ala same platform as the MK S is built on. And yes the P2 platform has been heavily modified for Fords use, but that said the platform has been modified big time for the MK S if compared to the Taurus.
Try having a seat in back seat of a pre 2008 Volvo S80 and see if you have the same issues as the MK S.

[nsmyhte]

The 3.7 is not a Lincoln exclusive engine. It was co-developed with Mazda and is in Mazda 6 and CX-9.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The 3.7 is not a Lincoln exclusive engine. It was co-developed with Mazda and is in Mazda 6 and CX-9.

It's exclusive in the Ford family (for now). It's a Ford developed engine, the Mazda6 and CX-9 are the first implementations. Mazda does most of the 4 cylinders, Ford NA does V6 and V8s, Euro group does most of the diesel development, some small engines, plus some odd-ball stuff like the Volvo developed 5 cylinders in the Focus ST.

[Loudpedal]

I think the issue could be the advent of the Optitron  (sp?) gauges Lexus introduced.  Blacked out and luminecent, floating in the dash.

Yeah, I was betting that people complaining about the gauges were thinking that electroluminescent gauges = luxury, otherwise = budget.  But in a world where the Honda Fit and Mazda CX-7 have electroluminescent gauges, and the BMW 7-Series and Rolls-Royce Phantom don't, I question the accuracy of that test for luxury.  Some people may prefer electroluminescence, that's fine, but that doesn't mean that cars without it aren't luxurious.  It's like me preferring light interiors over dark.

I personally wouldn't characterize electroluminescent gauges as luxury.   Interesting perhaps.   

BMW gauges, for example, are like a classic black Armani suit with a white shirt and black tie.  Simple yet classic and classy at the same time. 

Perhaps it's something as simple as the numeral font size in relationship to the diameter of the gauge.   Somethings just not right.   Not a big deal in a Fusion rental car, not so good in a near 60K sedan, if it were my money buying the car. 

   

[Turbo Bob]

I just like easy to read, high contrast is good, black numbers on white dials is my preference.

[Mitlov]

Perhaps it's something as simple as the numeral font size in relationship to the diameter of the gauge.   Somethings just not right.   Not a big deal in a Fusion rental car, not so good in a near 60K sedan, if it were my money buying the car. 

Still sounds to me like personal aesthetic preference and absolutely nothing to do with luxury.  I don't like black interiors, and I'd be pickier about interior colors with a $60,000 car than with at $25,000 car, but that doesn't make black less luxurious than tan. 

[airbalancer]

       Really does one offer better interiors colours like BMW, the have the best.
Saddle brown, and tobacco for leather colour , that is hot