maurykendall

Two weeks ago I changed out the dealer-supplied Toyo ultra-high-performance summer tires (ugh -- noisy, hard-riding) for a set of Pirelli P7 Cinturato All Season Plus IIs at $212 each, and the difference has been amazing. So much quieter, better road feel *and* ride. But we also just got our first rain of the season last night, so I don't know how they'll do in wet (or snow.) The reviews lead me to think they'll do well -- and they're already such a huge improvement over the Toyo ProXES summer tires that I am a happy MKZ driver again. I'll be driving up I-5 through the Siskyous and into some serious Oregon-coast rain next week, so I should have a better-formed opinion after that -- but I had P7s on my former car (C-Max) and got good use out of those.

Paid Ford their money and got the usb in a few days, via USPS. It came with the usb drive and a clear set of instructions, which are pretty basic: start car, put usb stick in receptacle, and don't turn the car off until you're done, "which should be about 60 minutes." Ninety minutes later, it finally finished -- I'd driven random freeways, checked out Alviso, drove some more...still updating...drove some more...stopped and got a chili dog at Mark's (easy to eat outside the car and let it run under my watchful gaze.) Now it's about an hour-and-fifteen, but it's doing what it's supposed to (updating, restarting, repeat) so...then finally about 90 minutes later, the "complete" screen came up. I can't tell any difference. But I got to drive around in the car I enjoy so much...that's a win.

I recently (mid-July 2021) bought a CPO 2019 MKZ Hybrid II, in shining Blue Diamond Metallic with the cappuccino interior. I have been in inexplicable love with this design since they first came out; became more serious about ownership late las year and spent the past 6 months searching for the right combination of miles, age, options, color and price. And I found it! This one has every option except the Luxury package that gained the pano roof and 20-speaker Ultima sound system, and although I do sort of miss having the big glass roof, I'm more than happy with the toys on the one I bought. I love (!) the ride, it handles just fine, and the comfort and quality of the interior are so far removed from my old C-Max that it takes some getting used to. (I miss the cool hands-free tailgate feature and up-high seating position of the Max, though.) I've followed and read most of the posts here, and it's great to have such a supportive and responsive community to count on when questions arise. Keep posting, keep helpfully replying to posts, and keep the MKZ flame alive!