MKZ Nav system voted best system by JD Power & Associates

[captainalias]

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/14/nav-system-in-zephyr-rated-best-in-the-biz/

woohoo

 

[doug03ls]

Now isn't that special. What do they say about overall vehicle quality as compared to Toyota, Infinity, Cadillac. That is what matters.
The Nav system isn't much use when the vehicle is sitting in the dealership getting repaired.

Frankly, I don't put much credence in JDPowers. Neither does the public.

The only time I see it mentioned is advertisements at the L/M dealer.

Doug

 

[bigbuck15]

What are u talkin bout the MKZ came in second place behind the Lex ES350 in quality.

 

[captainalias]

car and driver review- they also liked the Nav system.

The Highs: Available all-wheel drive, improved dynamics, stellar touch-screen radio and navigation controls.

The Lows: No faster than the less-powerful Zephyr; relatively boring, but Lexus still does boring best.

fter one year on the market, and just as people might be starting to wrap their heads around what a Lincoln Zephyr is, the company is putting the nameplate back on the shelf, next to Versailles. From here on, new Lincolns will wear the letters MK, and a third letter — be it an X, an S, or in this case, a Z — will denote the model. Unlike the Mark LT pickup, the MK isn’t short for “mark” but is pronounced by the letters themselves, as in “M K.”

The change from Zephyr to MKZ is a bit more involved than simply slapping a different chromed badge onto the Lincoln’s rump. Several real alterations, from chassis tweaks to powertrain improvements, make the ’07 MKZ more than just a marketing experiment. Ford’s new 263-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 now resides under the hood — Lincoln’s more plebeian brethren, the Mercury Milan and the Ford Fusion, will have to wait at least until 2008 to get the larger engine. Our MKZ also came with newly available all-wheel drive, which put the power down easily and added $1875 to the sticker.

At the track, the MKZ’s extra 42 ponies didn’t make it any faster than the Zephyr. Quarter-mile and 0-to-60 times were identical to those of a front-wheel-drive Zephyr we tested in April 2006. The MKZ has 267 more pounds to carry than did the Zephyr (due primarily to the AWD system), but its 14.5-pounds-per-horsepower power-to-weight ratio is still better than the Zephyr’s 16.0 pounds per horsepower. Identical gearing in both cars leads us to believe our MKZ might have been an unusually weak example or that the added friction and rotational inertia of the all-wheel drive sapped a significant chunk of life from the new engine. However, when a 4528-pound Ford Edge SEL Plus AWD with two more horsepower runs 0 to 60 in 7.6 seconds — only 0.3 second longer than the 715-pound-lighter sedan — one wonders why the MKZ wasn’t faster.

Behind the wheel, the MKZ feels more sure-footed and engaging than the Zephyr. Lincoln seems to have taken a defibrillator to the Zephyr’s otherwise lifeless chassis. Stiffer springs and dampers and thicker anti-roll bars, coupled with revised steering, awaken the MKZ’s handling. It’s firmer than before, but not harsh enough to dissuade Lincoln loyalists.

The rest of the MKZ carries over largely unchanged from the Zephyr. Optional wood trim dresses up the plasticky multihued interior that would benefit from more precise fits — the door panels still feel as if they could be pulled apart easily. Switchgear lifted from Ford’s parts bin looks down-market, but the optional ($2495) touch-screen navigation system works intuitively and easily.

Our loaded MKZ wore a price of $35,445, thousands less than a comparably equipped Lexus ES350. The MKZ is a more entertaining car to drive than the ES350, but this is like choosing your mother over your grandmother in a wet-T-shirt contest — neither is really suited for the pursuit. In this price range, driving enthusiasts would be looking at an Audi A4, BMW 3-series, Cadillac CTS, or Infiniti G35, whereas luxury seekers would be smart to consider the ES350. Somewhere in the middle lies the jack of sedans, the MKZ.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE AS TESTED: $35,445 (base price: $31,765)

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 213 cu in, 3496cc
Power (SAE net): 263 bhp @ 6250 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 249 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 107.4 in
Length: 190.5 in
Width: 72.2 in
Height: 57.2 in
Curb weight: 3813 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 7.3 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 19.2 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 7.6 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.6 sec @ 91 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 127 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 182 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.81 g

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city driving: 18 mpg
C/D-observed: 19 mpg

 

[NaplesBill]

The MKZ Nav is also in the '07 Navigator and the Mark LT.

 

[doug03ls]

What are u talkin bout the MKZ came in second place behind the Lex ES350 in quality.

What survey, JDPowers? In my opinion they are used by industry for advertising. For instance, When I bought my LS they were reported as being
best in initial quality. Big deal. I have had it back to the dealer for numerous
warranty issues, especially with the interior.

I don't put much credence in JD Powers. I also don't put much credence in the various auto mags, especially when they rely so much on car maker advertising revenue. About the most objective review out there is Consumer Reports
and Lincolns usually don't do well in that survey. Which is real close to reality since Lincoln resale value is so poor.

Doug

 

[captainalias]

What survey, JDPowers? In my opinion they are used by industry for advertising. For instance, When I bought my LS they were reported as being
best in initial quality. Big deal. I have had it back to the dealer for numerous
warranty issues, especially with the interior.
Doug

That's why they said 'initial' quality. Besides, my LS has held up fine.

 

[doug03ls]

That's why they said 'initial' quality. Besides, my LS has held up fine.

That is true.....they should do another survey after a week of ownership!

 

[NaplesBill]

Consumer Reports also placed the Zephyr at the top of it's class in quality. This is "predicted" quality but it's based on first year warranty claims. I imagine now that everyone will say the CR is a worthless magazine, blah blah. Either way they rated it right there with the Lexus ES350.

 

[doug03ls]

Just did a search on Edmonds.com on used car prices for the 2007 MKZ in my area. The results showed 2 available , prices were 24k for AWD and 19K for fwd.

Then did a search on Lexus ES350.

14 cars were available highest price was 33k and the cheapest was 24K.

Reread this thread and wanted to see how the resale values were going.

 

[WeakChopper]

That is true.....they should do another survey after a week of ownership!

Why are there so many people on this board who can't stand any of the cars on the board? Are there no Chevy Aveo messageboards or whatever it is that you guys are happy about out there on the internet? Your only choice in car forums is a Cadillac/Lincoln forum where all the cars make you horribly, horribly unhappy.

 

[doug03ls]

Why are there so many people on this board who can't stand any of the cars on the board? Are there no Chevy Aveo messageboards or whatever it is that you guys are happy about out there on the internet? Your only choice in car forums is a Cadillac/Lincoln forum where all the cars make you horribly, horribly unhappy.

I believe you have missed my point, sir. Let me reiterate. In my opinion,
J.D. Powers is not a valid survey tool. It is mostly used by companies to hype a very select set of criteria which is used in marketing. " Initial Quality" is not as important as long term quality. Which is not surveyed by J. D. Powers, or never used in an advertisement by Ford. One of the great indications of long term quality is resale value, which with Lincoln is not as good as other car makers.

When you read car magazines be very skeptical of surveys, especially when used by manufacturers that pay for the advertisement.

My LS was great the first few months and I really like the car. However, I have had numerous issues with it that really should not happen in a $45,000+ car. For instance, leaking moon roof, broken traction control sensor, broken seat backs (twice), failed cd player, broken sensor panel (twice), headliner falling down (twice). What this has done is alienated my wife from buying another Lincoln product. She now wants to try another manufacturer.

I do like the performance/handling of the LS and it still gives me great pleasure when my wife lets me drive it. However, The LS is a RWD vehicle and is now replaced with a FWD vehicle. Which again in my opinion is a mistake by the powers to be at Ford.

I have been a Ford person almost all my life. However, I am not blinded by brand loyalty when products could be better. What I have learned is that I will probably never buy another new Ford product. If I wait just a few years then I can get the product for almost half off the original cost. This goes for most American products, which is a shame.