CD Article: 2010 Lincoln MKZ AWD

[CD_Editor]

         
Test Drive:


Freshened styling, a new interior, a new transmission and more safety features highlight the changes to Lincoln's entry-level luxury sedan for 2010, but are they enough to lure buyers away from the MKZ's formidable competitors, asks Editor-in-chief, Greg Wilson?
 More: View the photos | All the Test Drives

[Jaeger]

Nice enough vehicle, but a pretty tough sell against the competition.  I can't conceive of what would compel me to spend my $$ on this versus a G-37.

Jaeger

PS - Is it only me, or does anyone else find Lincoln's alphabet soup nomenclature confusing?  I can never tell what model they're talking about, 'cause everything is MK-pick-a-letter.

[airbalancer]

Nice enough vehicle, but a pretty tough sell against the competition

I guess it depend if there any competition dealers around.
Not everyone wants to drive hundred of kms to a find a dealer.
There is usually a Ford dealer in most small towns

[Jaeger]

Nice enough vehicle, but a pretty tough sell against the competition

I guess it depend if there any competition dealers around.
Not everyone wants to drive hundred of kms to a find a dealer.
There is usually a Ford dealer in most small towns

I suppose that's true - but hardly a rigning endorsement of the product itself.  And I doubt they can count on small-town sales (at least, those so small and remote that the competition is a looong drive away) to gain market share.

Jaeger

[airbalancer]

To even look at a Lexus, BMW, Infinite, Accua, Audi, and MB it is at least   45 mins to the Germany cars and The Japanese models it is over an hour.
Hard to buy one if it a lot over just to see one

[Jaeger]

To even look at a Lexus, BMW, Infinite, Accua, Audi, and MB it is at least   45 mins to the Germany cars and The Japanese models it is over an hour.
Hard to buy one if it a lot over just to see one

If I were spending $50 grand, I would not be deterred by a drive of that length to make sure I made the best choice.  But maybe that's just me.  If you want to stick to dealers within walking distance - that's entirely up to you.  After all, it's your money and you should spend it as you see fit.  But as I said - I am not sure, in terms of demographics, whether people in your position (small town, no import dealers, shopping for a premium mid-size sedan but can't be bothered to drive an hour to test drive the import competition) are sufficiently numerous to make much of a difference one way or the other.

Jaeger

[blizzard35]

Nice enough vehicle, but a pretty tough sell against the competition.  I can't conceive of what would compel me to spend my $$ on this versus a G-37.

Jaeger

PS - Is it only me, or does anyone else find Lincoln's alphabet soup nomenclature confusing?  I can never tell what model they're talking about, 'cause everything is MK-pick-a-letter.

I don't find it confusing at all.....the MKZ (Z is for Zepher)
The MKX (X is for Crossover)  MKS (S is for Sedan) and the new MKT (Well, T could be for Touring).  IMO, it's not any more confusing then Infiniti/BMW/Mercedes/Audi with their numerical/alphabet combo. 

[inco]

MKT would be reserved for truck, although most of us would think turkey!

Since the MKS is so close i price I would be tempted to upgrade.

[Jaeger]

Nice enough vehicle, but a pretty tough sell against the competition.  I can't conceive of what would compel me to spend my $$ on this versus a G-37.

Jaeger

PS - Is it only me, or does anyone else find Lincoln's alphabet soup nomenclature confusing?  I can never tell what model they're talking about, 'cause everything is MK-pick-a-letter.

I don't find it confusing at all.....the MKZ (Z is for Zepher)....

Sure.  Clear as a bell. Um... what's a Zepher? 

Jaeger

[Greg B.]

Nice enough vehicle, but a pretty tough sell against the competition.  I can't conceive of what would compel me to spend my $$ on this versus a G-37.

I dunno about the G37 -- narrow, cramped, spotty reliability record -- but I agree about the tough sell generally. Dress it up all you want but the body is still too Fusion-like for $50K. The new interior is nice in some ways but also has lost all of the distinction it had with the previous design. When I was buying I looked closely at these both new and used, and there was something about them that always seemed to turn me off. For the same money a CTS blows it away.

PS - Is it only me, or does anyone else find Lincoln's alphabet soup nomenclature confusing?  I can never tell what model they're talking about, 'cause everything is MK-pick-a-letter.

Agreed. Terrible idea.

[sailor723]

PS - Is it only me, or does anyone else find Lincoln's alphabet soup nomenclature confusing?  I can never tell what model they're talking about, 'cause everything is MK-pick-a-letter.

I have to agree....when I saw the thread title I had no idea what type of vehicle they were reviewing until I looked at the photo

[airbalancer]

To even look at a Lexus, BMW, Infinite, Accua, Audi, and MB it is at least   45 mins to the Germany cars and The Japanese models it is over an hour.
Hard to buy one if it a lot over just to see one

If I were spending $50 grand, I would not be deterred by a drive of that length to make sure I made the best choice.  But maybe that's just me.  If you want to stick to dealers within walking distance - that's entirely up to you.  After all, it's your money and you should spend it as you see fit.  But as I said - I am not sure, in terms of demographics, whether people in your position (small town, no import dealers, shopping for a premium mid-size sedan but can't be bothered to drive an hour to test drive the import competition) are sufficiently numerous to make much of a difference one way or the other.

Jaeger

Part of the problem is the servicing of the vehicle afterwards, not easy finding time to a service light checked out,
found that out with owning the BMW

[safristi]

..a Zephyr is a wee breeze.........................Dad had one in B.C 05...................phoning it IN..............

[blizzard35]

Nice enough vehicle, but a pretty tough sell against the competition.  I can't conceive of what would compel me to spend my $$ on this versus a G-37.

Jaeger

PS - Is it only me, or does anyone else find Lincoln's alphabet soup nomenclature confusing?  I can never tell what model they're talking about, 'cause everything is MK-pick-a-letter.

I don't find it confusing at all.....the MKZ (Z is for Zepher)....

Sure.  Clear as a bell. Um... what's a Zepher? 

Jaeger

The name "Zepher" has been a Lincoln name for decades.  Previous Lincoln models have worn the name well.  When lincoln decided to move to the 3-letter naming of the lineup, the Zepher was droped, but the "Z" remained.

[gta_driver]

The depreciation on the MKZ makes it a tempting used car buy. I've noticed in the Toronto area, 1-2 year old fwd models with low km's can be had for between $17k-$24k. There are some Zephyr's which can be had for below that.

[Jaeger]

Nice enough vehicle, but a pretty tough sell against the competition.  I can't conceive of what would compel me to spend my $$ on this versus a G-37.

Jaeger

PS - Is it only me, or does anyone else find Lincoln's alphabet soup nomenclature confusing?  I can never tell what model they're talking about, 'cause everything is MK-pick-a-letter.

I don't find it confusing at all.....the MKZ (Z is for Zepher)....

Sure.  Clear as a bell. Um... what's a Zepher? 

Jaeger

The name "Zepher" has been a Lincoln name for decades.  Previous Lincoln models have worn the name well.  When lincoln decided to move to the 3-letter naming of the lineup, the Zepher was droped, but the "Z" remained.

Ooookay.  I'd rather save a ton of dough and drive a nicely-equipped Fusion.

Jaeger

[stefonvill]

circulation power summary statement low acidification burning

[Mitlov]

PS - Is it only me, or does anyone else find Lincoln's alphabet soup nomenclature confusing?  I can never tell what model they're talking about, 'cause everything is MK-pick-a-letter.

Agreed. Terrible idea.

I dunno, BMW, MB, Lexus, Acura, Cadillac, Infiniti, and Audi also use alphanumeric naming, so it's pretty much expected in the luxury market.  And while Audi and BMW's numbering makes a bit of sense (as the numbers grow, so does the size of the car), Lincoln's system is no more nonsensical than that of Mercedes, Lexus, Acura, Cadillac, and Infiniti.

[TopGun]

....Lincoln's system is no more nonsensical than that of Mercedes, Lexus, Acura, Cadillac, and Infiniti.

I recall reading in some marketing article years ago that the confusion is by design.  As pioneered by BMW, not many folks know what a IS/G/CTS is...so they say they drive a Lexus/Infiniti/Cadillac (respectively).

The theory is that you can raise your profit margin by selling against the equity in the brand instead of the model itself.

I think there's too much of this going around however...maybe just because I like the names...Mustang, Testarossa, Daytona, Challenger, Viper...

[briantomhson]

Very nice post with a ton of informative information. I really appreciate the fact that you approach these topics from a stand point of knowledge and information
instead of the typical “I think” mentality that you see so much on the internet these days.