Lack of reviews for 2017 MKZ?

[Airflow]

I wonder how the buttons would work when you need to "rock" the car to get out of snow or sand?

I'm pretty adept at that, using the shift lever to switch back and forth, through Neutral, between Reverse and Drive. 

There are other times when I "coast" in Neutral while switching between Drive and Reverse and it's very natural - one sequential move with the shift lever - but strikes me that it would be awkward pushing 3 buttons to accomplish the same thing.

That's precisely the nice thing about the buttons.  You don't need to press neutral when toggling between drive and reverse.  You just press D, or R, R or D.  It will rock the same way any other car would as you select a gear and modulate the gas pedal and getting into neutral to coast is as easy as hitting N.  It may be a personal preference thing, but, I will add that I like the Lincoln buttons a lot better than the crazy shift lever in our BMW.

[Myron D. Brown]

I'm so sick of reading or watching video reviews where folks are complaining about the push button shifter. I honestly think they just like to hear themselves talk. Clearly, it doesn't matter about the interface...whether a gearshift on the steering wheel, a gearshift in the center console, push buttons, or a dial, they all work the same way...because of the wires connecting to the transmission. The point is, it opens up space in the cabin by eliminating an additional "stick" of some sort. And to be honest, 99% of the time, we only really shift gears a lot at the beginning/end of a trip when entering/leaving a parking space. Other times, use of the gearshift is limited. People don't even use it enough to complain about it so much. I wish they'd get over it...

Edited September 30, 2016 by Myron D. Brown

[newlinux]

I think it will take getting used to the push button gearshift, but its not something I'm worried about. Every new car takes some getting used to for me - I've usually been driving the previous car for 7-10 years! I honestly think getting used to all the aids (lane assist, parking assist, blind spot detection, etc. etc.) and the infotainment system will take longer. But not worried about that either...

Edited September 30, 2016 by newlinux

[longislander]

I'm so sick of reading or watching video reviews where folks are complaining about the push button shifter. I honestly think they just like to hear themselves talk. Clearly, it doesn't matter about the interface...whether a gearshift on the steering wheel, a gearshift in the center console, push buttons, or a dial, they all work the same way...because of the wires connecting to the transmission. The point is, it opens up space in the cabin by eliminating an additional "stick" of some sort. And to be honest, 99% of the time, we only really shift gears a lot at the beginning/end of a trip when entering/leaving a parking space. Other times, use of the gearshift is limited. People don't even use it enough to complain about it so much. I wish they'd get over it.

Not to be argumentative, but I don't think I agree. A shifter in the console works by feel. I don't have to look at it, my hand falls naturally to it, and Reverse and Drive are reached by counting the number of detents when I pull back on the lever. The pushbuttons seem "gimmicky" to me, different for the sake of being different, when the tried-and-true method works just fine. The amount of space saved on the console by eliminating the shift lever is insignificant.    

Before I bought my 1955 Chrysler, I had a 1960 Plymouth Valiant with the pushbutton TorqueFlite. Lots of fun to "show off" at an antique car show. The Chrysler also has an interesting shifter - the one-year only "wand" sticking out from the dashboard, with a vertical quadrant. It was considered unsafe as it could impale the passenger sitting in the center of the front bench seat if he or she got thrown forward. From '56 through '64 Chrysler used the pushbutton automatic in all their lines, then went back to conventional shifters. 

Edited September 30, 2016 by longislander

[Myron D. Brown]

Not to be argumentative, but I don't think I agree. A shifter in the console works by feel. I don't have to look at it, my hand falls naturally to it, and Reverse and Drive are reached by counting the number of detents when I pull back on the lever. The pushbuttons seem "gimmicky" to me, different for the sake of being different, when the tried-and-true method works just fine. The amount of space saved on the console by eliminating the shift lever is insignificant.    

Before I bought my 1955 Chrysler, I had a 1960 Plymouth Valiant with the pushbutton TorqueFlite. Lots of fun to "show off" at an antique car show. The Chrysler also has an interesting shifter - the one-year only "wand" sticking out from the dashboard, with a vertical quadrant. It was considered unsafe as it could impale the passenger sitting in the center of the front bench seat if he or she got thrown forward. From '56 through '64 Chrysler used the pushbutton automatic in all their lines, then went back to conventional shifters. 

 

I understand what you mean...but the learning curve isn't that difficult. The gears are still in the standard order: P R N D L (or S). And push button shifters, although not common, are not new. There were cars decades ago that had those. And I've seen it discussed by more than one car expert that console shifters have one inherent problem: people often rest their hands on it while driving, placing undue stress on certain parts of the transmission. That can lead to problems later.

[shortspark]

The shift lever should be behind the steering wheel.  It has no business on the center stack or the center console, in my opinion as that area should be for storage, drinks and command center.  I have an ML350 and it is positioned perfectly on the steering wheel column.  Your hand is on the wheel anyway and all you have to do is flick up for reverse, down for drive and the center for neutral.  Park is a simple button on top of the shifter.  Car manufacturers decided to put the shifter in the center to mimic the old four on the floor manuals.  Having said that, a push button shifter such as it is located on the MKZ is okay but it is not the best application for changing gears.

[Airflow]

The shift lever should be behind the steering wheel. It has no business on the center stack or the center console, in my opinion as that area should be for storage, drinks and command center. I have an ML350 and it is positioned perfectly on the steering wheel column. Your hand is on the wheel anyway and all you have to do is flick up for reverse, down for drive and the center for neutral. Park is a simple button on top of the shifter. Car manufacturers decided to put the shifter in the center to mimic the old four on the floor manuals. Having said that, a push button shifter such as it is located on the MKZ is okay but it is not the best application for changing gears.

To me that's not intuitive. It's like our BMW shifter. Push a button for park, press a button on the left and push forward for reverse, press button on left and pull back for drive, move lever to left for sport. It's madness and complicated.

[longislander]

Just got my new (Nov. '16) issue of Motor Trend. "First Drive" test of the new 2017 Buick LaCrosse (which hit the showrooms later than the '17 MKZ), but still no review of the MKZ. The LaCrosse review even mentions MKZ as a competitor.

Can't understand why none of the big automotive monthly magazines have still not yet tested the 2017 MKZ!

Edited October 4, 2016 by longislander

[shortspark]

The LaCrosse has also been reviewed on TV - Motor Trend.

[BizzyGeek]

More Canadians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOca76c1Sag

[newlinux]

New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/latest-reviews/ratings-review-2017-lincoln-mkz-article-1.2855302

[JoeBrown]

New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/latest-reviews/ratings-review-2017-lincoln-mkz-article-1.2855302

Good information. Thanks for the link.

[brucelinc]

Good review.

[brucelinc]

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/lincoln/mkz/2017/2017-lincoln-mkz-3-0-awd-first-test-review/

 

Good review but disappointing acceleration results. Also, very strange that they seem to have traction issues. Makes me wonder if the AWD was not working correctly. It should not overwhelm the tires on take-off.

[drolds1]

Despite C&D's bad review, they got better acceleration and cornering results.

 

Using M/T's stats for curb weight, and trap speed plugged into this HP estimator, it's making an (estimated) 434hp at the flywheel. Using ET and weight, the figure is 396 at the flywheel--pretty close to the published figure.  If the former is anywhere near correct, I'll go with C&D's times.  They reported no wheelspin on takeoff.  You never know.  C&D might have gotten a ringer.  It's happened before.    

[brucelinc]

If Motor Trend's test car really had traction issues, it would account for slower times. However, there is no way that car should have traction issues on dry pavement if the AWD system is working correctly.

[Airflow]

When MT says "overwhelm the tires," do they mean all 4 tires or just the front? If all four, I think that is fantastic!! Some slightly naughty manners are fun to me.

[brucelinc]

When MT says "overwhelm the tires," do they mean all 4 tires or just the front? If all four, I think that is fantastic!! Some slightly naughty manners are fun to me.

Lol...no way....on dry pavement.

[drolds1]

Lol...no way....on dry pavement.

Yeah, I'm not getting that.  Maybe they turned off the traction control.

[brucelinc]

Yeah, I'm not getting that. Maybe they turned off the traction control.

Rergardless of traction control, on dry pavement, a 3.0 MKZ will barely chirp a tire if you just floor it from an idle. These AWD systems REALLY help the car hook up. Even my tuned MKS with substantially more low end torque than the MKZ will barely break the tires loose without brake torquing.

[drolds1]

Rergardless of traction control, on dry pavement, a 3.0 MKZ will barely chirp a tire if you just floor it from an idle. These AWD systems REALLY help the car hook up. Even my tuned MKS with substantially more low end torque than the MKZ will barely break the tires loose without brake torquing.

Yup. Even a Lamborghini with AWD won't "overwhelm" the tires.

[Zalvern]

Launching this car takes a different approach as it is a transverse twin turbo. I'll try and explain because honestly...doesn't matter how good you are at the strip if you don't know where a car's performance style lies.

 

Ok so...launching this car. Do not floor it at stand still. Ever.

 

You will get worse results just putting the pedal to the metal. Instead the throttle needs to be "rolled in" as the vehicle gains traction.

 

What happens is full throttle gets the front turbocharger will heat dump high temperatures, and this will get soaked into charge air. If these temperatures get too high, the ECU will neuter the crap out of the launch and it'll be worse than ever.

 

By rolling the throttle, not as much heat will soak into charge air and movement will of course keep the temperatures down.

 

This is the way to launch a traverse twin turbo engine, since our front turbocharger is a double-edge due to its placement being close to a variety of air cooling systems. Luckily this is not an issue when the vehicle is in motion and then WOT. It is only from standstill launching attempts as lack of incoming air cannot cool the front spooling turbocharger.

 

Its not a big "secret" just learning how too much throttle only backfires due to high turbocharger temps heat soaking. Instead practice when to WOT after the car gets rolling.

 

Of course, these reviews won't nessecary take the time to master how to launch these cars. Most bad launches are due to the computer killing performance.

Edited November 8, 2016 by Zalvern

[drolds1]

So is there a traction issue or not?  It sounds like you're saying the car "bogs" due to heated charge air if you floor the pedal from a standstill.  M/T said:

 

 

Simply mashing the accelerator will overwhelm the tires.

 

Edited November 9, 2016 by drolds1

[Zalvern]

So is there a traction issue or not?  It sounds like you're saying the car "bogs" due to heated charge air if you floor the pedal from a standstill.  M/T said:

 

I doubt its a traction only issue, if the tires are ideal for the road condition. Like brucelinc said, The AWD system pretty much always kicks more power to the rear than front whenever I floor it hard and DTV makes it even better than AWD only vehicles. Any hesitation that happens is due to the ECU/Torque Management cutting performance instead, and what triggers them is a vast amount of variables and reasons. Doesn't matter how good you are if understanding of the ECU and system behavior is not understood. Not many think about the transverse twin turbo design, which having a turbocharger right behind the radiator fans does mean its a heat source placed next to cooling components that work best with vehicle movement. Plus our front turbocharger is as big, if not bigger, than the k03 turbochargers found on the 2.0T engines. We'll get more power from tuning I'm sure (than the 2.7T), but need to be mindful of the rising heat which WOT is only acceptable when in motion and ideally cooler days.

 

"Overwhelmed tires, chassis, etc.", its not those...its all the ECU and underestimating how smart and conservative it is. As the cars are engineered with safety first after all, performance second. This is not "raw muscle power" like old school cars after all. So expect the ECU to shut down attempts before we hope to "overwhelm anything".

 

Anyways, the car is heavily bogged down by bad charge air temperature (because the turbocharger heat dumps a large amount and the intercoolers aren't flowing due to no vehicle movement). Doing something like Methanol Injection would massively boost this car like no other (an upgraded intercooler may help but even then, takes time to dissipate heat soak from a WOT turbo heat up due to spooling). That is why it is very easy to get a crappy launch, have to ease into the power and not rush it too fast, it'll haul real hard then as the incoming air flow helps keep the temperatures in better check along with the water (coolant) cooling. The ability to reduce the amount of heat exposure from the front turbocharger would be a great boon for launch performance. I may look into a form of turbocharger blanket for the front unit as an easier means to controlling the heat.

Edited November 9, 2016 by Zalvern

[drolds1]

Thanks for taking the time to post that. 

 

I have to say that even with my NA 3.7 AWD, there's a slight, but perceptible, bog or hesitation if one floors the throttle from a standstill.  I believe that this is a characteristic of the ETC. My 2010 and 2012 MKZ Sports (AWD) did it also. So that may come into play with the 3.0 as well. A JMS Pedalmax might help with that.  They're pretty well-reviewed on the web.