KenZ

One thing I just realized. The 2017 MKZ (vs the 2013) seems to have a little more clearance in the front. Last night, I was going to Quik Trip and when I came back to the car, I realized that he front end of the car was over the curb. I could not do that with the 2013. It would always scrape the curb at that Quik Trip. Was also reminded that when you lock the doors with the little ridges on the handle or the fob... you now get an audible tone. It is not the car horn, but an audible tone. Love that.

Totally forgot about the headlights... I am not a big night driver and mostly on fairly well lit roads. I did take a ride out into a more rural area to see how the adaptive headlights worked. The adaptive headlights followed the steering wheel really well - I purposefully drove on a very curvy road. I had adaptive headlights on a prior car (I think it was an Acura) that I did not like, they seemed to over compensate and sometimes made me a little dizzy. The lights themselves were significantly brighter (whiter) on both low and high beams - than the 2013. On high beams, the light was startling white and bright. I did notice there was not as harsh a "light line" at the top - as the 2013 or my MKC. The autodim worked as well as the 2013 (never made a mistake and faster than I could have ever reacted). The lights seemed quite a bit quicker when changing from low to high and back, the change was seemingly instantaneous. Also forgot to mention the ambient lighting in the cabin. It is vastly improved and really impressive. Besides the footwells, cupholders, etc - there is a line of light that runs along the inside of the doors - about 6 inches below the windows, both front and back. The 2013 did not have that. The door handle lights and Lincoln welcome mat lights are a nice touch. I also have that on my MKC. Although, rarely do I ever park anywhere that is dark enough to see them.

Thoughts on my new 2017 MKZ 3.0T FWD - after my first full week of driving with roughly 300 miles. In many respects, this is in comparison to my 2013 MKZ which I traded in. Both were fully loaded with whatever was available at the time. Or my 2015 MKC, which I still have. This is the first car where I have not read the instruction manual from cover to cover. But it is also the first time that I bought a 2nd generation of the same car. The 2013 and 2017 are very similar. I typically switch brands from car-to-car. But after my 2013 MKZ and then a 2015 MKC, I think I have found a brand worth keeping around. The feel and sound of the 3.0T is amazing. Although I have not pressed it during the break-in time frame, the power is exactly as the commercials say – effortless. I do not like the 2017 cupholders. My 30 oz. insulated Kodiak cup doesn’t fit well in the 2017 cup holder. You can jam it in, but then it is hard to get out. It fit perfectly in my old 2013 MKZ and also fits nicely in my 2015 MKC. Don’t know why they spend money on redesigning these things…. it’s a friggin’ cup holder for God’s sake. The button to open the trunk has moved from the license plate area to a small button about waist high hidden in the area of the red “brake” light strip across the spoiler. I keep reaching down to open the trunk, but will get used to it. The technology exists for the “foot kick” motion detector to open the tailgate on my MKC, why wouldn’t they do it on a car trunk. It is the handiest thing ever. Not totally sold on the new buttons on the center stack. Although there are more of them so they are handy. I like the redesign, but I liked how easy the old array was to clean. The jury is still out on design vs cleaning vs handy. They put a button to “kill” the parking sensors in the button array just to the right of the Sync screen. That was genius. Wish I had that on my MKC. I like having the parking sensors on – but then they start beeping at every drive thru (bank, coffee, etc). I have a routine down to kill them via the menus on the MKC, but that single easily accessible button in genius. Love love love having a digital (actual numbers) MPH available on the center screen. Lane keeping doesn’t seem to be quite as aggressive. I need to experiment more with that. I like aggressive. Massaging seats are “da bomb” – albeit a little creepy. The single best and highly used change is the adaptive cruise control that brings you to a full stop and then starts you up again. Really great in bumper to bumper, stop and go traffic during rush hour. Sync 3. Jury is still out for me. I was so used to the old Sync and loved the four corner concept. The new screen is very nice and doesn’t show finger prints nearly as much. I guess it also has more pixels (or whatever) since the fonts are smaller and various buttons are clearer. The map in the Nav System is still horribly out of date. I live in an area that is growing - streets/highways/new off and on ramps that have been built for 2-3 years are not on there yet. New businesses, like my closest Dunkin Donuts (2+ years old) are not on there yet. But that is not Sync per say, it is just that they are using crappy out-of-date data. The data is readily available since Google Maps and Apple Maps has it. I do like the (tablet like) ability to use my fingers to squeeze the map to zoom in and zoom out. Jury is also still out on Apple Play. If Apple allowed Google Maps rather than Apple Maps – I might use it more. It is not easy using Apple Play options and then getting back to the Sync Nav screen. It sort of seems like they want you to use one or the other but not both in conjunction with each other. As I play with it more, maybe I will find an easier way. Voice recognition is 1000% better. It has gotten it right every time. Just wish it covered more items like turning on the AC seats. I had CocoMat Floor Mats for the front seats – kinda pricey but really nice. They are 3 years old but still look new – very durable. The passenger side from the 2013 fits perfectly in the 2017. The driver’s side, not so much. I can jam it in there and it kinda sorta fits, probably no one else would know. But I know that little piece sticking up by the foot rest on the left shouldn’t be there! My ProClip iPhone mount from my 2013 fits perfectly in the 2017. It sorta hides a couple buttons on the center stack because those buttons didn’t exist on the 2013. You can reach around to use those buttons – frankly, the phone is way more important than those buttons. The 2017 has individual tire pressure amounts (i.e. 36 psi, etc). Rather than just saying low pressure as it did on the 2013 - and not knowing which tire! Great feature. The 2017 has a padded right side driver’s seat arm rest that the 2013 did not. I love that arm rest. The front grill will have to air dry. It is way to intricate to actually dry with a cloth – unless you have a whole lot of free time! Enjoying every minute of the new car...

If I am by myself, I typically don't use park assist. If certain other people are in the car who like to passenger seat drive and make unnecessary comments - I let park assist do it for me. That way, I can;t be blamed for being too close to the curb, too far from the curb, not straight enough, etc, etc, etc. :)

Bought a new 2017 MKZ yesterday. I did not exactly mean to, but I did. I was at the Lincoln site and decided to build my “dream” MKZ just for fun. When I got to the end, it gives you the option of finding cars close to your specifications. I clicked on that and up popped a car that was literally a 99% match to what I had. The only difference was that I had added a bumper protector and an upgraded cargo mat. Color, interior, wheels, options, everything else was identical. While it was not at my closest Lincoln dealer (1 mile away), it was at the next closest at 15 miles away. My interest was piqued at driving the new 3.0T so I called and made an appointment to test drive it at 3PM. Glad I had a check tucked in my wallet, was taking it home at 6PM – after the salesman took me to a nearby gas station and filled it with Premium gas. Old car was a 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Tuxedo Black, Charcoal Interior, Fully Loaded. New car is a 2017 Lincoln MKZ 3.0T FWD, White Platinum, Cappuccino Interior, Fully Loaded. The difference is literally night and day. Literally! Having trained myself to drive a Hybrid, I will have to retrain myself to drive a car with this beast under the hood. I am definitely a little afraid of the gas pedal! I think the ad uses the term “effortless power”, and I heartily agree. The options… Panoramic Roof, Technology Package, Luxury Package, Climate Package, 19” Wheels with Painted Pockets, Multi-Contour Seats, Rear Inflatable Seat Belts. Pretty much everything you can have. Unfortunately, this dealer had already done some dealer add-ons which I did not really want… they had done a slight tint to the windows, a paint protection coating and window etching with some sort of serial number. Not sure what that it, but they said it was a theft deterrent and I may be able to get a better price on my insurance with in. Kinda seems like a profit center to me! Also something weird, is they filled the tires with nitrogen – never heard of that before. First impressions in comparison to the 2013 version… Love that there is a raised, padded driver right side arm rest. Love that there is an audible tone when you lock the car using the ridges on the door handles. Love that there is the ability to have a digital (numbers) speedometer. Love Apple CarPlay. Love that the external antennae is gone (2013’s with the Panoramic roof had an actual antenna). Love that it shows individual tire pressure. The 20 speaker Revel Ultima Audio system rocks. The interior of the car is considerably quieter than the 2013, even with the larger engine. Love Love Love the massaging seats – although they are a little creepy! When I went back to the dealership today to take them my 2013 title and the 2nd key fob. The salesman told me they had sold my 2013 Hybrid to a buyer before they closed last night. It had been parked out in front of the dealership (so I could transfer all the crap from my old car to the new one). Before they could move it to clean and prep it, someone saw it and bought it. The new buyer is picking it up today. Going for a ride now!

Just guessing that something is wrong. Based on what I am reading in my 2013 MKZh owners manual - The stability control light temporarily illuminates on engine start-up and flashes when a driving condition activates the stability system. The stability control off light temporarily illuminates on engine start-up and stays on when you turn the traction control system off. When you turn the traction control system off or on, a message appears in the information display showing system status.

Ordered a '13 MKZh without ever driving one, none in the showroom - and only seeing it at a car show where I could sit in it. Followed up a couple years later with ordering a '15 MKC without ever seeing one in person, I sat in an Escape to get a sense of size and that I would fit comfortably (I am 6'2"), but that was it. Love both, still have both. I am not huge on negotiating price. I base my thinking on the sticker price, knowing that the dealer invoice will be less and any dealer incentives will be less - and a reasonable trade in price for whatever I am trading in. If the quote is close to what I want to pay, I pretty much go with it, It is a locally owned dealership in a small town, the salesman lives locally, they do lots of support for local school athletics and non-profits in the community - so I don't mind not getting the "best deal". My neighbor goes to the 8 or 10 Lincoln or Ford/Lincoln dealerships within an hours drive - and pits one against the other, wheels and deals for 1-2 weeks or more, and will buy a car 60 miles away because it is $100 cheaper than from the dealer just down the street. Me - 3 hours tops to get through the ordering and negotiating process, my time is worth more to me! Was thinking about the '17 MKZ and went to look at it at the Atlanta car show. Although it looked nice in pictures, I was not really happy with the new front end in person, but the color they had at the car show was weird - so that clouded my thinking. Will need to see that one in different colors before I make a decision. I like the gray one I saw in pictures, black might be nice, maybe even white. The sort of rose, mauve, purplish one they had at the car show was just plain bad.

It uses the mic in the car to pick up your voice.

I have a noticeable difference in the settings. Probably most noticeable when you jump from Sport to Comfort. I believe I remember reading somewhere that you will get significantly lower MPG in Sport. I don't know if that ii true or not since I have not used Sport except as a test..

nada.

Jeeze.... You are hard on tires. I have had one or two flat tires in 40 years. I think that dealers are used to shoppers. When my neighbor bought his Lincoln, I think he went to 5 or 6 Lincoln only or Ford/Lincoln dealers in a 30 mile radius. He spent 2 or 3 weeks dealing, negotiating, going back and forth. Probably spent more on gas than he saved in the deal. Frankly, I went to the Ford/Lincoln dealer 1 mile down the road and was done in 3 hours. My neighbor may have gotten a better deal, but my time is worth more to me! My neighbor actually ended up buying at a dealer about 45 miles away that he checked last minute, he has his service done just down the road. The service folks could care less where you bought the car. My neighbor basically took the best deal he got to the dealership down the road and said if they would match it, he would buy the car there. They would not match it. Each dealer has it's own overhead, sales policies and sales volume which can affect price. You will also see widely varying trade-in offers.

I have not seen the triple care package as a package, although I have purchased individual components of it in the past. Typically, these are typically good for 3 years from purchase, although they can be renewed. I typically only keep a car for 3 years. I would say the prices are dealer based and somewhat negotiable. On my 2013 MKZ, I have the DentCare and have had three repairs done - all were parking lot creases by careless people. Two were significant. The two I probably would have paid for a repair, the third, I probably would have ignored if I had to pay. The process is painless. You call an 800 number with your info and a description of the damage. They call you back - usually within the hour and tell you when/where to go. Because I call first thing in the morning, mine has always been the same day at a place about 15 miles away. In each case, the repair was done within 30 minutes of arrival. In each, I was totally unable to detect where the original dent had been. I probably will always get the dent care, it is kind of like an insurance policy - and little dents bug me. Hopefully I will never need it, but if I do, there is no out of pocket cost. The dents I had more than paid for themselves. The services techs at this place hate to see a Lincoln come in if it is a repair where they have to remove the inside door panel. Apparently the Lincoln glass is incredibly expensive to replace if they happen to damage it. I had the tire package on a couple different cars in the past, and never used it. I quit buying that one. In the area I live in the south, all roads are paved, potholes are virtually non-existent. I guess for my driving conditions, the cost outweighed my perceived value. Not listed here, but I have bought the Key Replacement package. I have this fear of being somewhere on vacation and losing my keys or damaging the fob so it is inoperable. Key replacement sort of alleviates that worry for me. Even provides a rental car while getting replacement keys to you. Again, it is like insurance, hopefully never need it. Here, my peace of mind outweighs whatever the cost is. I had gotten the Windshield care on a Jeep Wrangler in the past and actually used it, but the Wrangler Windshield is almost vertical and more prone to catching a flying rock. But that was only once in years and years of protection I have not gotten it on my cars recently, although I will admit I am much more careful now about not following garbage trucks, cement trucks, gravel trucks, etc. I just slow down and keep my distance. Seems easier to do this than risk a rock shaking loose from a truck like that. For my driving style, the cost outweighs my perceived value. All in all, it really is up to you, your driving style, the perceived value you have for each protection element. Do small dents bother you? Does losing/damaging your key fob unexpectedly make you nervous. Do you have crappy roads? What is the final cost, etc? I have never purchased the extended service plan, but I don't really plan on keeping a car long enough to need it. My rule of thumb is to trade the car in before I have to buy new tires! While many of the protection plans can only be purchased at the time of sale, the extended warranties can be purchased any time. The finance guy at the dealership told me once that they did not charge any more or less for extended warranties purchased after 2 or 3 years of ownership. If you are financing your purchase and plan on keeping the car for a while, it may make sense to buy the extended warranty at the time of purchase since it can be rolled into your purchase price Extended warranties purchased later would be an out-of-pocket cost. I don't know if you can make payments on those or if it is a one time payment. There are also third party alternatives, but I have heard some horror stories from friends who actually tried to use them.

Seems like a non-issue to me.

The tire is a non-issue for me. I had a flat tire in 1977 which I changed myself. My next one was in 2014 on my MKZH. Called Lincoln roadside assistance, they loaded the car on a flatbed and took me to the closest Ford/Lincoln dealer. Tire was replaced, life goes on - no problem. I doubt I would even have the where-with-all to change the tire if I could. I certainly did not have the desire! There are larger issues in my life to deal with! :)

I have a 2013 MKZh and 2015 MKC. The Lincoln site did show Sync updates for both. I downloaded both and updated each separately without any problems. I don't know for sure if the actual update files were different. Both were the exact same file size. I wonder if they don't show update available for everyone at the same time to avoid a log-jam of the system. Sort of like Windows 10 did with it's upgrade. My notification for Windows 10 update was across 10 days for my 3 windows based computers.