tonifan

Dear Nevada Rick: I too, got out of my leased 2009 Lincoln MKS (13 trips to the Service Dept. for unscheduled maintenance/faulty parts), obviously for a different reason than yours. I bought a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid (same drive train, engine set-up, etc.), as the 2010 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. I absolutely would advise the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid over any other manufacturer's hybrid, as it drives and rides like a real car, not a techno-box with wheels. The mileage difference from the 2013 MKZ Hybrid is only different by 2 MPG, which may be partly attributed to the use of a quieter tire than the Ford Hybrid uses. That quieter ride may be more desirable than the 2 MPG gain. I drove my 2010 Fusion Hybrid until July of this year, when I retired here in San Francisco. Monday-through Friday driving from SF to Silicon Valley on Highway 101 and some SF city streets averaged out to exactly 40.1 MPG City/Highway combined. BUT... this only works if you're a hyper-miler like I was. Coasting to the next stoplight after a slight, even accelleration can make a big difference in city driving mileage. I hardly ever got out of the "EV" range, running solely on electric for the majority of city driving except for the occaisional accelleration or two. So, getting a hybrid vehicle does not guarantee the manufacturer's mileage quotes, but, and again, BUT, you can get even higher mileage than that with sensible driving. Don't just drive a hybrid like any other car... it's can be better than any other car as far as gas mileage goes, but Ford has the most engaging of hybrids to drive. They're actually fun! Good luck with your choice.

As most forum users know, if a Ford dealer is to continue selling Lincolns and Fords at the same location, Ford Motor Company will require that dealership to provide a separate entrance and showroom for Lincoln products. I've been to several Ford dealers lately to inspect the 2013 Fusion (beautiful!), and dealers that also sold Lincolns previously either don't sell them any more, or have "plans" to "develop" a separate Lincoln showroom. Has anyone actually seen construction or remodeling of existing Ford/Lincoln dealerships for this purpose, either in the works or being planned? I'm really curious to see how existing dealers will reconstruct their dealerships to comply with Ford's requirements to separate the two. Thanks in advance for any info...

Canuck: I took a look at the Conner Avenue (Street, actually) Plant, and it's currently gearing up for the 2013 Dodge Viper (SR/T, actually). So, if the Viper is being built there (using only a portion of the total plant area), do you think the Washington Post may have gotten their facts a little too soon? I also saw that earlier notice regarding the 2013 Fusion and MKZ being built at the Hermosillo plant. I guess we'll know when the Fusion and MKZ are finally introduced later this year. Thanks for the info!

With the all-new 2013 Fusion being assembled at the Flat Rock, Michigan Plant, a question comes to mind... Where will the 2013 MKZ be produced? Previously, both were assembled at the Hermosillo, Mexico plant. So, if the 2013 Fusion is being assembled in America, what about the 2013 MKZ? Does anyone know? Thanks! Bob K. 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Thanks for the info! (I am SO old!) I can remember when it was P, R, N, D and L (for Low Gear). On both sides of the steering column there are what look like shift levers. Do you suppose these will be used for manual shifting instead of (customary) paddle shifters? Curiouser and curiouser...

2013 MKZ Push-Button Automatic Transmission: Upon close examination of photos of the 2013 MKZ's dash, you will notice that the push-button transmission's buttons are located just to the left of the Navigation Screen. Reading from the top, they are: "P, R, N, D, and S." Where the "L" for "Low" button would be, there's an "S." What could the "S" transmission button do? Sport? Sonic? Stratosphere? Any thoughts or suggestions?