Hi:
Just lucked out grabbing the last or one of the last WHITE 2013 Z's in Florida
with black interior and equipped with the reserve package.
MOST of the whites are ordered with DUNE and the manager said because
people think black is too hot and especially in Florida. (He he he...I get my
windows tinted to "darkest legal" and make sure I have the cooled seats option.
Never once could I not sit in the seats because of heat nor was the compartment
too hot to cool quickly. Black leather in a convertible down here can get dicey though.)
This is my 4th Mkz and I'm not sure off the top of my head
but I think the first was an '07 or around there anyway. Prior
to that car, I had a BMW 5 series and before that a bunch of
other heavy Euro iron.
They were all somewhat impressive, luxurious, fun to drive, EXPENSIVE
to buy and EXPENSIVE to own. I've had Jags, Mercedes and Beemers and
every one of them wore tires down after 20k miles! ALL OF THEM!
All of them had front wheel BRAKE DUST issues that made the car look
like junk a week after washing. (Cleaning brake dust off wheels with tiny
holes etc wasn't my idea of fun)
Other issues like Mercedes headlamps fogging and BMW's flat tire monitor
going off AT WILL drove me crazy!
All of them (except the Jags surprisingly (1991, 1995)) had HI-TECH issues and I was
forever having this "sensor" replaced or that "update" installed.
I'm writing this in case someone out there with a Mercedes or BMW etc happens
to be perusing this forum out of curiosity and considering going American and a Z.
WELL HERE ARE SOME IMMEDIATE THINGS "I" DISCOVERED:
1 FAR LESS EXPENSIVE to buy and maintain
2 REGULAR GAS! AND RECENTLY THEY ADDED A NO-GAS-CAP, QUICK FILL FEATURE...(LOVE IT!)
3 DAMN RELIABLE (1) SMALL SERVICE ISSUE WITH THE VERY FIRST CAR BUT IT WAS FIXED EASILY UNDER WARRANTY
4 BEYOND THAT ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS AND ONLY HAD TO CHANGE THE OIL, TOP THE FLUIDS AND ROTATE TIRES (FREE BY THE WAY FOR 48K OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT)
5 ACTUALLY GOT 46,000 MILES ON A SET OF TIRES THAT STILL HAD ENOUGH TREAD ON THEM FOR LEASE-TURN-IN! I WAS SHOCKED BUT OVERJOYED!
6 HUGE TRUNKS WITH FOLD DOWN REAR SEATS THAT REALLY COME IN HANDY!
7 ALL COMFORTABLE AND NOW THE BEST EVER IN THAT DEPARTMENT WITH THE RE-DESIGN
8 TOUCH SCREEN NAV FAR EASIER THAN THAT I-DRIVE ON THE BEEMERS
And that's just off the top of my head... ;-)
This new redesign is a great leap forward but I still think there's more to be done and tweaked.
However, IT IS INDEED a far far better car than what the popular magazine reviewers are spewing.
I think they drank the German Kool Aid too and believe me, it takes awhile to get it out of your system.
KEEP IN MIND....IT'S A CAR THAT'S A MINIMUM OF 10K LESS WHEN NEARLY FULL or FULLY EQUIPPED!
What I've noticed immediately during the first 500 miles of this NEW 2013 versus my previous 2012:
1
Definitely quieter. I'd say 30 maybe 40% so and the '12 was no slouch.
2
I like the looks better inside and out but AGAIN that's personal. Still...all around they're getting much closer to "euro-iron" as I call it.
3
Some of the hi tech gadgetry etc may confuse seniors for sure but I love that stuff and I'm no Spring Chicken.
4
Voice recognition system has gotten much better.
5
All around feels tighter and more comfortable inside and to drive.
Hard to put my finger on it.
6
SOME OF the plastic parts still feel cheap and are cheap and really should be improved upon.
That's a small issue since there aren't many but............
7
One big name reviewer TRASHED the push buttons for the transmission and I beg to differ. They're just fine
and work marvelously! THEY don't feel cheap at all.
Well........if you're like I was languishing in Service Departments with your Benz or Beemer etc..,
take one of these Mkz's for a test drive. You're going to be surprised!
Best of luck to all with your new rides!
Bob (Reformed Euro Kool Aid Drinker) ;-)
