Future of Lincoln?

[Win]

Ford didn't take any "bailout" money (excluding those energy dept. loans) but maybe they should have.

It looks to me like they are going down the tubes.

Mercury? Gone.

Jaguar? Gone.

Aston? Gone.

Land Rover? Gone.

Volvo? Gone.

Cosworth? Gone.

Ford Australia, their last source of semi interesting cars? Going.

Lincoln? Stick a fork in them, they're done.

Did I leave anything out?

If they replaced these marques with something comparable in their current line up, that would be one thing. But they haven't.

I'm hard pressed to identify a RWD car Ford makes besides the Mustang. The Falcon, but we can't buy that here, and it's done anyway.

Maybe the whole econobox with buggy control software and an Aston grille will work out for them, but I'm a former, good, customer, and they don't have anything for sale here that I would walk across the street to look at, much less get the checkbook out.

So long Ford, it was nice knowing you.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: Win
Ford didn't take any "bailout" money (excluding those energy dept. loans) but maybe they should have.

It looks to me like they are going down the tubes.

Mercury? Gone.

Jaguar? Gone.

Aston? Gone.

Land Rover? Gone.

Volvo? Gone.

Cosworth? Gone.

Ford Australia, their last source of semi interesting cars? Going.

Lincoln? Stick a fork in them, they're done.

Did I leave anything out?

If they replaced these marques with something comparable in their current line up, that would be one thing. But they haven't.

I'm hard pressed to identify a RWD car Ford makes besides the Mustang. The Falcon, but we can't buy that here, and it's done anyway.

Maybe the whole econobox with buggy control software and an Aston grille will work out for them, but I'm a former, good, customer, and they don't have anything for sale here that I would walk across the street to look at, much less get the checkbook out.

So long Ford, it was nice knowing you.


They have gone in the right direction, though. Their products have never sold better.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: Miller88
What's up with the MKT? Looks like a 3 year old tried to draw a hearse.


I agree the styling is unusual, but they are VERY comfortable cars. They're gaining in popularity as limos -- I've ridden in them a bunch of times.


It's good to know they have SOMETHING going for them. I can't really think of an uglier car...

 

[kkreit01]

Every Lincoln model is a rebadged Ford. They plan to add another: rebadged Escape. I loved my previous MKZ. There are many nice features/options not available on their Ford counterparts. You can't get the 3.7 in a Fusion, nor THXII audio, etc. However, I would never pay near sticker on a new Lincoln. I bought mine at $13K off -- which made it less than a Ford Sport at the time. It was then a no-brainer. They do add niceties such as real wood or metal interior trim -- as apposed to cheap, painted plastic, etc. I hope they have a future, but it isn't looking great. Their best selling point for me, is their sound system. Their resale value is also horrible. Buy a 2 yr old at half price.

 

[glock19]

Originally Posted By: kkreit01
Buy a 2 yr old at half price.


So true. If I were on a budget I would spend $15K and get a 2010 MKZ with 25K miles before I would buy a subcompact.

 

[SteveSRT8]

^^^agreed. My son just bought an 08 and it only has 60k miles on it. It seems like a steal at the price he paid...

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: MCompact
Every now and then I check out Car and Driver magazine's "Backfires" forum. On October 30 CD posted an article about the Lincoln MKZ. The conclusion of the article-and the opinion of most of those posting comments on "Backfires"-was that the MKZ was a very expensive Fusion clad in a tuxedo. Lo and behold, a new participant joined on November 1- screen name "Don't Hate, Congratulate." This person began responding to almost every other poster who thought the MKZ was a tarted-up Ford- and he/she did so with what appeared to be canned talking points. Almost certainly a shill for Lincoln.

"Don't Hate" kept mentioning that Lincoln was trying to compete with Lexus and NOT Audi/BMW/Mercedes. That still didn't address the fact that the car is perceived as little more than a glitzy Fusion.

The shill also claimed he could rattle off over a dozen significant differences between the MKZ and the Fusion, but in my opinion you've already lost the battle if you have to spend all your time convincing people your car isn't a blinged-out version of a lower priced mainstream sedan...


I would have asked him what Lincoln model competes with the LFA...

Lincoln is DOA unless Ford does what GM is doing to Caddy and revamps the line.

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: Jocephus
My mother-in-law is in her early 70s and has had 9 Lincoln's in the 20+ years I've been married to her daughter.

She bought a new Buick last week. First GM product ever


My grandmothers new husband worked for Ford and was pretty high up in quality control for Lincoln interiors...he got a new Lincoln every year at employee cost, as part of his retirement package.

He just traded in his 2012 MK something it doesn't matter hybrid for a 2014 CTS fully loaded...because it's about 6 times the car.

 

[HM12460]

In my humble opinion, Lincoln has 5-10 years at best before Ford pulls the plug. They must be thinking it too, as evidenced by their offerings and lack of competitive product's.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Lincoln needs to bring back their RWD real luxury cars,which is what Lincoln was years back imo,the top of the line in luxury.

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: HM12460
In my humble opinion, Lincoln has 5-10 years at best before Ford pulls the plug. They must be thinking it too, as evidenced by their offerings and lack of competitive product's.


Or they pull a GM and overhaul it.

 

[Mykl]

I think it's time for an overhaul.

They're in a great position to redefine themselves as the unashamed, all American auto manufacturer. Go the direction that Chrysler has with big, heavy, powerful old style luxury cruisers. No pretense for sport, just build the best boat you can with a big engine and wrap it in a stylish and comfortable chassis.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Ford has never made better products ... but that does not necessarily mean that the good products need to be in their Luxury brand.

They need to do what GM did with Cadillac ...