walkabout

I'm not playing flame wars with anybody. However, we get that your down on Lincoln and it is fine too make that observation. However, it would be great if the rest of us who are living with these vehicles could have a forum for our discussions without every thread getting interrupted byy "Lincoln stinks" rants. Fwiw, my last vehicle was aa 3 series wagon. Before that, I had an Acura TSX. I found both bmw and acura a pleasure to deal with in general. I've been mostly satisfied with Lincoln as well. I have my complaints about the MKX but the overall quality control had been fine and the manufacturer support as expected. I'm impressed, if anything.

Every car forum on the internet is filled with problem reports. Folk tend to come to forums when they need help! Its much more sensible to look at actual data then anecdotal reports on the net. Consumer Reports survey data (which, btw, I can tell you as a Ph.D. who teaches stats in a doctoral program, is rock solid. I wrote to them about their data and am totally convinced) has the Lincoln MKX and Ford Edge in the average to above average range for the first generation, and in the average range for the 2nd generation - with only the audio system as a major trouble spot. There are aspects of the Lincoln I am disappointed in (visibility, poor mpg, and seating comfort) but I am not the least bit worried about reliability. Should be rock solid, in fact.

LOL. It is understated luxury, and this comes from a guy whose last vehicle was a BMW! I'm not big on brand names though and I would have been satisfied with the EDGE sport but wanted the nicer interior in the Lincoln.

The XT5 is really nice in terms of interior materials, way nicer than my MKC. Seating is a personal issue but I liked the seats quite a bit I had only a brief test drive It's not as smooth as the lincoln but handled ok. CUE is not nearly as nice as Sync 3.

Just my opinion, but I don't think the higher end seats in my car are all that more comfy than the base seats. I'm not a huge fan of either. I will say, however, that I always tend to hate the seats in new car so I'm not convinced I won't be happier over time.

I don't think the video was arguing in an inconsistent way. I think the idea is that the programming is so aggressive that it is functionally like an Audi type of system. RE: The XT5 - I had high hopes for it, but it didn't do well in the Consumer Reports evaluation (which was posted on their website yesterday). The MKX, in contrast, had a higher road test score than any SUV outside the Q7. Unthinking zombie that I am, I tend to do exactly what Consumer Reports tells me to do! But, I do like the XT5 and see it as a viable alternative to the MKX. It certainly has a nicer interior and it also gets better MPG.

What I find strange about the whole choice to push out the 16s with the earlier system is that then every automag and internet auto site tested the car with the older system. The new system is reasonably nice, and certainly competitive with anything in the industry. Its way better than Command, CUE, or the system in the current Q5s. So, in most respects, it beats the competition. Most of the reviews list infotainment as a weakness, where it is now a strength.

I actually think that you and the video are not really in disagreement. I think the point is that the awd program is aggressive in that it is quick to direct power to the rear. Go drive an XT5 at you local Caddy dealer. In its"normal" mode, you can actually feel wheel slip, and it's like a typical fwd sedan. Sport mode, is more like the mkx. Totally ot, but have enjoyed your comments on this issue. Thought provoking and informative!

This well-done video review is completely consistent with what thisguy159 wrote above. http://alexonautos.com/2016/05/01/2016-lincoln-mkx-review/

Tried lots of stuff like that over the years. One major issue is that you can't use the seat heater or a/c. The other issue is that seat toppers and pads rarely improve anything.

Yup. You can raise, lower, and move the headrest back as far as you want. A lot of Ford owners complain of the headrest being to close and pushing their heads down.

The main advantage of the 22-ways, as far as I am concerned, are being able to adjust the headrest and seat bolsters.

I'm definitely not a "read it on the internet and believe it guy". But, still, it is worth watching that video review. I think it is pretty convincing. That's not to say that we should buy it without question. As for hands on experience, I have been driving the MKX for a few weeks, with about a 1,000 miles on it. But, in all honesty, my own understanding of AWD systems is so primitive, I don't trust my own evaluation either!

I'm having an odd difficulty inserting my "source" for the conclusion regarding the distribution of power. I can't seem to copy the link. However, google "Alex on Autos" and "MKX review" and you'll see a nice detailed discussion of the issue.(although that is not to say that Alex on Autos is necessarily correct).

I'm going to hate myself for starting this thread, because 1) There is a "I hate the seats in this vehicle" thread on every car forum in existence, and 2) car seating is really a personal thing. That said, I've been having a very hard adjustment to the seats in the MKX. I do have the 22-way adjustable seats, but the bottom cushion feels so hard and flat that my personal bottom (which doesn't suffer from the same thin padding) begins to ache within minutes. As far as the lumber supports are concerned, even the low settings feel like they are jabbing a rock into my back. I can set back the support, of course, but that feels like sitting in a sponge. Just wondering how the rest of you are doing with the seats (recognizing again that this is a fairly personal issue). Its a major downside to an otherwise fantastic vehicle.

I don't know why the car would feel faster or shift better (not to discount your experience). The transmission shouldn't be at all different, And, if anything, the FWD will likely be a hair slower (AWD is heavier, but gets the torque tot the ground more efficiently). I ended up going with AWD and the 2.7. I live in Los Angeles, so its not like we have ice and snow here. In general, I hate the idea of AWD and didn't want to deal with the lost MPG, mechanical complexity, and added weight. But, I don't think that kind of torque and HP with a FWD is a good idea because of torque steer. On the MKX, the AWD is a bit different than in something like the Caddy XT5. Its not "on demand" and it sends about 50% of its power to the rear. So, it winds up making the car a bit more sporty, handling more like a RWD than a FWD. All in all, I wouldn't have the MKX without AWD but I can totally understand why somebody would avoid the extra expense and lost fuel economy.

FWIW, I have a 2016 with the 21" tires and AWD. Most of the time, I keep the car in "sport mode." The streets out here (I live in Los Angeles) are in horrible repair so ride quality is always a sensitive topic for me. I generally have no problems with the MKX, Its a pretty smooth ride, takes bumps well. I do get a bit of a vibration from the front tires when I hit bumps, which I think is the low profile tires . Otherwise, the vehicle has a very comfortable ride.