Scary Auto Parallel Parking Feature....

[NJRonbo]

Hey Guys!

 

Enjoying my 2016 Lincoln MKX.

 

First time I owned a vehicle with the auto parallel parking feature.

 

Really have not used it much, but when I have, it has really scared the bejeezus out of me each and every time...

 

It's a remarkable feat.  The car sensors automatically sense what is around you and parallel parks your car.

 

(but you knew that already).

 

However, here is where it gets scary....

 

The car very slowly backs into the parking spot.

 

However, as it backs in, the vehicle dramatically speeds up and I have to slam on the brakes to stop it from hitting the car behind me.

 

Is that normal?

 

Rather, let me ask this....

 

If I didn't slam on the brakes, would my Lincoln automatically brake before it bumps the car behind me?

[jbiancolli]

Have you tried the perpendicular parking yet? Talk about scary

[NJRonbo]

Have you tried the perpendicular parking yet? Talk about scary

 

 

No, I haven't....

 

But really....do these vehicles actually stop when parking?  I mean, the vehicle accelerates as it backs into the space and seems like it would crash into the car behind me if not for slamming on the brake.

 

This is what i need to find out.

[mfam16]

I don't think it would auto break. So if you don't break your may have problems. That's probably why they call it "park assist"

[VisionPilot]

You are supposed to be in control of the throttle and brake, it's only claim is to handle the steering and to tell you when to shift between Drive and Reverse!!!!!!!!!

[NJRonbo]

Thanks.  Glad I didn't depend on the vehicle to do everything.  I'd be dealing with my insurance company right now if I did.

 

Thanks for the assistance.

[elijahbird7]

I have used it several times, and find it works perfectly.  And yes, brake and throttle are up to the driver.  My 98 year old Mom was facinated when I showed her how it worked.  She has an 88 Town Car Signature Series she bought new with only 44,000 miles on it now.   She remarked that would have been great to have when she was still driving the Town Car.  I still take it out for "exercise" when I'm at her house.  She won't even consider selling it even though she stopped driving at 95.  She also loves the massaging seats on my MKX.

[jbiggs]

I have used it several times, and find it works perfectly.  And yes, brake and throttle are up to the driver.  My 98 year old Mom was facinated when I showed her how it worked.  She has an 88 Town Car Signature Series she bought new with only 44,000 miles on it now.   She remarked that would have been great to have when she was still driving the Town Car.  I still take it out for "exercise" when I'm at her house.  She won't even consider selling it even though she stopped driving at 95.  She also loves the massaging seats on my MKX.

 

What do you think of the Messaging Seats?  I've heard totally conflicting reports.  Some love the seats and think they are much better than the standard seats.  Some think it was a waste of money and rarely ever use the massage feature.  I have a bad back and was thinking the additional leg support and upper back adjustment might be better.  I don't think I'd use the massagers that much.  BTW, the feedback I just read about the park assist feature is very helpful.  I want to order the all-around camera feature but have no interest in the auto park assist.  The joys of feature packaging....

[thisguy159]

I will give you my 2 cents even though you didn't ask.  I do not have massaging chairs.  I'm 6 foot on the dot about 200, I cannot ever find a comfortable potion it seems like ever day i move the chair a little this way or that way, whatever I'm wearing seems to impact how comfortable i am too (coat vs no coat.)  I honestly cannot say i ever had that issue in any other car cheap or not.  Maybe its the upright sitting position of an suv i don't know (all cars before).  So, my suggestion would be if you can afford it do it, it cannot hurt, if its a stretch financially don't because the seat overall is about the same just more adjustments so it may not get you there anyways.  I think i would enjoy the thigh extension if i had that.

[elijahbird7]

I do like the seat extension under your legs the most. When I do a long drive, I usually turn on the massage for a few minutes, and it does feel good. Takes some time to get used to how it feels, going up and down your back, and then from left to right across your bottom. I usually change the lumbar support during a long drive a few times as well. If I had ordered the car, I probably wouldn't have ordered the 22 way seats, but since the car I wanted had them, I've come to appreciate them. Same with the 2.7, probably wouldn't have ordered it, but love it now that I have it.

[walkabout]

I will give you my 2 cents even though you didn't ask.  I do not have massaging chairs.  I'm 6 foot on the dot about 200, I cannot ever find a comfortable potion it seems like ever day i move the chair a little this way or that way, whatever I'm wearing seems to impact how comfortable i am too (coat vs no coat.)  I honestly cannot say i ever had that issue in any other car cheap or not.  Maybe its the upright sitting position of an suv i don't know (all cars before).  So, my suggestion would be if you can afford it do it, it cannot hurt, if its a stretch financially don't because the seat overall is about the same just more adjustments so it may not get you there anyways.  I think i would enjoy the thigh extension if i had that.

 

 

thisguy159 - I have the exact same opinion of the seats.  Can never seem to get it right and constantly make adjustments.  I do have the extra adjustable seats though.

 

I find the massaging feature useless and virtually everybody who has sat in my car hates it.  

 

The thigh extension is nice, and I appreciate the extra support during cornering.  

 

Otherwise, I'd probably stay with the base seats.  

 

BTW, I've sadly had a few problems with my car and I had an MKC, MKT, and MKZ as loaners at various times.  All had more comfy seats than the MKX (for my body).

 

Most folk who have the multi-adjustable seats love them.  I see them as the weakpoint of the vehicle, to be honest.

 

My continued observation with car seats: Every car forum known to man has a thread on "these seats suck" and every one of those threads have folk arguing about whether the seats are comfortable.   I think seats are like shoes, some work for others, some work for you.  There are seats that practically everybody will find a comfy but most seats are somewhere in between. 

 

Try before you buy. 

[VisionPilot]

thisguy159 - I have the exact same opinion of the seats.  Can never seem to get it right and constantly make adjustments.  I do have the extra adjustable seats though.

 

I find the massaging feature useless and virtually everybody who has sat in my car hates it.  

 

The thigh extension is nice, and I appreciate the extra support during cornering.  

 

Otherwise, I'd probably stay with the base seats.  

 

BTW, I've sadly had a few problems with my car and I had an MKC, MKT, and MKZ as loaners at various times.  All had more comfy seats than the MKX (for my body).

 

Most folk who have the multi-adjustable seats love them.  I see them as the weakpoint of the vehicle, to be honest.

 

My continued observation with car seats: Every car forum known to man has a thread on "these seats suck" and every one of those threads have folk arguing about whether the seats are comfortable.   I think seats are like shoes, some work for others, some work for you.  There are seats that practically everybody will find a comfy but most seats are somewhere in between. 

 

Try before you buy. 

 

I've had the opposite experience, I find the MKX seats (22 way adjustable) to be much more comfortable than either of the two MKC's I've had as loaners.  While I do not use the massaging function, the girlfriend absolutely loves it!

Edited December 24, 2016 by VisionPilot

[walkabout]

VisionPilot, your post is the exact reason I don't think anything definitive can ever been said about seat quality.  Most folk seem to love the MKX's seats - I hate them.  Its all a matter of what fits your body.

I at least give Lincoln/Ford credit for focusing on this feature and attempting to make it a strength of their vehicles.

 

Anyway, I'm glad you are enjoy your vehicle. 

[NJRonbo]

I love the adjustable seats.  Couldn't drive without them. Make the ride way more comfortable.

 

The massage feature is useless.  It's a gimmick and in no way does it give you anything close to a massage. A massage chair digs into the body.  This thing just creates constant protrusions across the body that gives no relief whatsoever.

[LinkedMe]

My wife has a VERY bad back (cancer thats affected the vertebrea) and for that matter mine isn't that great either but the 22-way seats is what sold her on the MKX.  She could care less about the massage feature but the overall seat comfort, compared to the "standard" seat and especially the thigh support cinched the deal.  I think if and when we take a long drive she may use the massage feature occasionally but we haven't done any real long trips yet.

[walkabout]

To get back to the topic of the op,scary is the exact word I would use to describe that feature.

[jbiggs]

Thanks everyone for the feedback on the seats.  My dealer did not have any MKX's with the 22-way seats on the lot but they should have a couple coming in in the next two weeks, and I'll head over to check them out.

 

And, getting back to the OP, yeah - very scary indeed.  From what I've seen from other auto-park systems, I usually can park faster than they do, so I can see me getting impatient with it and never using it after a few times.

 

Glad you hit the breaks and got your answer.  It was helpful for me as well.  Happy Holidays!

[Timmer]

Thanks everyone for the feedback on the seats.  My dealer did not have any MKX's with the 22-way seats on the lot but they should have a couple coming in in the next two weeks, and I'll head over to check them out.

 

And, getting back to the OP, yeah - very scary indeed.  From what I've seen from other auto-park systems, I usually can park faster than they do, so I can see me getting impatient with it and never using it after a few times.

 

Glad you hit the breaks and got your answer.  It was helpful for me as well.  Happy Holidays!

 

Love, Love LOVE the 22-way heated/cooled massaging seats!  For me the option is worth every penny!!

 

I've just completed a lengthy cross-country road trip in my MKX, and more often than not I had the massage feature activated.  What a blessing!

 

I think I posted a while back that the 22-Way seats were one of the features that sold me on the MKX.

 

No, the MKX seat massage is not on par with the massage you get from a high-quality massage chair (or a hands-on masseuse.)  But it's pretty darn good and I'm super thankful to have the massaging feature.

 

Haven't yet tried the park assist feature.  I think it is something I could have done without...

 

My $0.02...

Edited January 2, 2017 by Timmer

[Jeff909]

Don't under estimate the park assist,  I didn't think I'd use it either but it's surprisingly been one of my favorite features.

 

I love not having to worry about scraping wheels against the curb....  in my experience it works perfectly!      

[enigma-2]

I was wondering, what would happen if one was to try to use this in a big, empty parking lot? No curbs, no cars in front or back .... would it keep searching until it found a pair of cars to park between? (lol)

[Cosmos36]

MKXs are very smart vehicles. One or more of the onboard cameras would scan the empty lot and inform the driver with a visual & audio prompt that the ECM was disabling the car until the driver sobered up.