1984Poke

I agree with you on that point. CR's reviewers b!tch and moan ad infinitum about Lincoln's push-button transmission system setup, something they constantly call "fussy" when it's about as simple as it can be and is a system that took me all of 5 seconds to master. Irritating. However, having been one of their subscriber/car experience participants for three years (it was about 10 years ago), filling out rather detailed reports on the cars I owned during those years, I do put some trust in their reliability information especially when what they report on that topic seems to echo/line up with other reporting on reliability.

I never said I was going to switch to another brand. I said I would "start looking at other makes" but that's as far as I went. I want to stick with Lincoln but any intelligent and reasonably cautious person will look at what is offered when in the market for a new vehicle. I am not having problems with my current Lincoln (2019 MKZ Hybrid). It has been wonderful. Of course, the 2019 model year of the Z was also the 7th consecutive year of production of essentially the same vehicle, with improvements (and appearance changes) along the way, thus by the 2019 model year, pretty much all of the "bugs" had been worked out of the MKZ. My previous vehicle (2016 MKC) had a couple annoying things that made me not regret turning it in 3 months before the end of its lease (I asked about getting out of that lease earlier than 3 months but was turned down), and some of the earlier models I've had (2013 MKZ-H, 2009 MKS, and 2007 MKZ) had an issue or three, here and there. I am always looking ahead at candidates for my next vehicle, planning at least a couple years ahead for a possible next purchase. What I have read on this web site about quality/reliability issues with current Lincoln offerings and what I have read in publications like Consumer Reports tend to give me pause. Thus, I guess I am one who just "read something about them being 'not reliable'" and I don't apologize for that, although I will continue to collect information and continue to evaluate things as the time to buy nears. Three of the current four Lincoln models have "Far Below Average" ratings for reliability in Consumer Reports (only the Navigator has as much as a "middlin" reliability rating of "Average"). That disappoints me as I really want Lincoln to do well. After all, I own F stock, plus I've had a lifelong "thing" for Lincolns (my first girlfriend's dad was mayor of the town, and he used to pick up my girlfriend--his daughter--and me at the junior high once a week and take us to the drive-in for lunch in his new, chocolate brown Lincoln Continental Mark III; I remember thinking even then that someday I, too, would drive a Lincoln). I do considerable reading and research before committing to any major purchase. I won't buy a vehicle that has a "far below average" reputation for reliability. I just won't. For 3 consecutive years, I was one of those chosen to submit customer experience reports to Consumer Reports on the vehicles I had then, a 2009 MKS, then a 2013 MKZ-H. The magazine uses those ratings in building its customer experience reports. As new-vehicle purchase time nears, I will do more and more reading and research. I realize fully that any vehicle's reliability can improve over time as the manufacturer gets more experience with building it and as customers identify issues needing work. I can't buy another 2019 MKZ-h. Lincoln doesn't make it anymore. I have to look at what Lincoln is offering at the time I am in the market for a new vehicle. During the last few years of the MKZ's production, its reliability improved a lot, thus my satisfaction with my 2019 Z-h, but my great experience so far with a vehicle that Lincoln had been building (and improving) for 7 consecutive years is no guarantee that my next Lincoln of a completely different model will be equally reliable and equally well-behaved. It doesn't work like that. Each model is different and, based on what I have read, 3 of the 4 current Lincoln offerings have serious reliability issues. I am not "done" doing my research. I am not yet ready to buy. Weighing the "pros and cons" will be an ongoing thing until I make a decision and sign the check. Darling Wife thinks my MKZ-H looks sharp but she would like something that's easier to enter/exit (we are no longer spring chickens) so I'm leaning toward a small or mid-size SUV. I hope very much that by the time I am ready to sign the check for a new vehicle, whatever vehicles Lincoln is offering by then will have at least good (better yet, very good to excellent) reputations for reliability--enough so to give me confidence in a 6th consecutive new Lincoln for me. My position stands unchanged: I love Lincoln. I sincerely want it to do well. But, based on what I have read recently, the current offerings have reliability issues (3 of them especially). I don't and won't apologize for being cautious and judicious in how I spend my money. Lincoln, I love you, but you need to work on your reliability issues.

Again, while I'd like to see a return to dividends as much as the next investor, I'd rather Ford delay spending to reinstate a dividend for a bit and, instead, do a "full court press" on investing in improving reliability of its current (and future) lineup of Ford and Lincoln vehicles. I'm on my 5th consecutive Lincoln (and before that a Ford Explorer and before that a Mercury Sable), all bought or leased new, and it's more than a little disappointing to see the very poor ratings Ford and Lincoln are getting for the reliability of its current crop of vehicles. It's enough to make me, a long-time Ford and Lincoln customer, start looking at other makes (at present, Lexus and maybe Cadillac; something that, in the past, I never would have considered) for my next vehicle. I don't want to leave Lincoln but I am not interested in buying something that is currently earning a reputation as "not reliable."

That's great, twintornados. Congratulations and good luck!

What car did you order? (Congratulations, by the way.)

While it would be nice to see the dividend return (and that, by itself, likely would boost the value of Ford stock at least a little), right now, I think I would prefer Ford forego resuming paying a dividend and, instead, put that money into a focused, rigorous effort to improve the quality/reliability of the Ford and Lincoln products currently being produced (including Sync system software updates that, at times, have been "buggy"). Make no mistake, I, too, would like to see the dividend return, but I think the long-term interests of Ford Motor Company would be served better by improving Ford's somewhat-shaky reputation for quality/reliability.

I am on my 5th consecutive Lincoln, all bought (or leased) new, with the first one a 2007 model bought in summer 2007 and the last one a 2019 model bought in late 2018. My last vehicle (2016 MKC, leased) was generally a real pleasure but it did have a very annoying squeak coming from the front speakers mounted on the dash. I could press down on the speaker grille and make the squeaking stop, but the squeaking would resume at the next bump as soon as I stopped pressing down on the speaker grille. Very annoying. My current vehicle (2019 MKZ Hybrid, purchased just before Christmas in December 2018) has been an absolute pleasure and, save for the occasional hiccup with the Sync 3 system, has been completely trouble-free in the almost two and one-half years I've had it. I have had not a single problem with it (knock on wood). To be fair, the 2019 model of the MKZ is essentially the same, mechanically (with some improvements), as the first year of this version of the MKZ (launched in 2013), thus Lincoln has had several years to "work the bugs out of" this version of the MKZ. Except for the fact that Lincoln quit making the MKZ (and except for the fact that I always want something different for my next vehicle and never get the exact same model consecutively), I would absolutely consider buying a new MKZ-Hybrid in 2022 or 2023 because of my satisfaction and trouble-free experience with my 2019 MKZ-H. This only deepens my disappointment in reading about the problems other customers are having with their new Lincolns (Aviators, especially, but the Nautilus seems to be having reliability problems, too). Lincoln really is on to something in its current designs: They're beautiful, quiet, and luxurious vehicles that are well-executed but, Lincoln really must get a handle on and fix its reliability issues. I won't have and I won't buy an unreliable vehicle. C'mon, Lincoln, step up. You've got great vehicle designs and we're on your side, but you simply must fix your reliability issues.

Congratulations on placing your order for a 2022 Aviator Reserve, a beautiful vehicle. (And I am a bit surprised you're able to order a 2022 model this early in 2021 but I am not doubting you.) I hope you're very, very happy with it. Good luck!

The face of that Hyundai Elantra is ugly. Ick.

Is there not a process for workers and/or managers who see this problem to report it up the chain so that the supplier is held accountable and/or loses the contract to supply those parts?

Thank you, akirby. I always appreciate your informed insight.

For the sake of those of us who are not auto industry insiders, would you (or someone else in the know) explain, in layman’s terms, what “new electrical architecture” means with regard to a vehicle, please? Thanks.

I wouldn’t expect it until October, at the earliest.

I was perusing the Ford web site via the Ford iPhone app a few minutes ago and noticed it is (supposedly) still possible, in August 2020, to “build and price” a 2019 Ford Flex, selecting my preferred exterior color as well as opting for roof rack side rails and all-weather floor mats, etc. Of course, I have no doubt that it is not truly possible now to do any such thing (except perhaps as a purely academic exercise), but I was surprised to see that such a thing remains on Ford’s web site (or at least the Ford app). Is there some rational reason why such a thing would have been left—intentionally—on the web site and not removed a year ago? If so, it escapes me.... I’m interested in hearing from industry insiders about this. Thanks.

I don’t disagree with you but I must say that I’ve been more than a little impressed with the most recent Lincoln vehicles—in particular the Corsair, Aviator, and Navigator. I’m looking forward to seeing the refreshed Nautilus (whenever it comes out) with the latest Lincoln interior treatment and features (heads-up display, etc.). I hope—I hope—these vehicles are evidence of a renewed commitment to the Lincoln brand by Ford’s senior leadership. I also like Lincoln’s focus on Quiet Luxury (vs. trying to mimic German-style race-track-performance vehicles, of which there are already plenty from other manufacturers if one wants that). I am currently on my 5th consecutive Lincoln (all purchased new or leased) and I look forward to seeing the new ones as I plan my next purchase in a couple years. If Lincoln keeps designing and building winners, which is how I view the current Aviator, Corsair, and Navigator vehicles, I’ll be looking first at Lincoln’s lineup when I decide on my next vehicle. Go Lincoln.

I always appreciate your insight, akirby. Thank you.

bbf2530 is offering good advice. I’ve been using a mini-USB thumb drive onto which I’ve copied the music I want and then I leave that drive plugged into the USB port in my 2019 MKZ-h’s armrest compartment. It works great. (What need help with is naming and sorting the music....)

NJRonbo— From the Lincoln Owner part of the main Lincoln web site, you can check to see if there is a software update to your 2019 MKZ’s Sync system. I’ve done that sort of thing, using a USB stick, for all of my more recent Lincoln vehicles. Have you checked that out? 1984Poke

I don’t think the math works in this sentence. ?

Gurgeh’s advice is good, in my view, NJRonbo. I realize you have added the BMW option to the list of things you’re considering but if you’re at all open to the idea of staying with an MKZh for a while, I’d strongly consider what he recommended. Speaking (well, writing) as one who leased his last two vehicles (‘13 MKZh and ‘16 MKC) and is now purchasing his current vehicle (‘19 MKZh), I’ve had very recent experience with both buying and leasing. Like you, I really liked getting (and having a built-in excuse for getting!) a new vehicle every three years AND I liked the chance that leasing makes possible to get the latest technology every three years, so I do “get” the advantages that leasing provides—but, as with everything, there are trade offs. If you choose to buy your current 2019 MKZh at the end of its lease, owning that car will give you a “known quantity” (a vehicle you’ve come to know and, I hope, trust) and—perhaps most importantly—time on your own schedule/your own timetable to jump back into the new-vehicle market at a time of YOUR choosing, without being forced to pick from whatever is available at the end of your lease period—plus you would have some equity/some value in the MKZh you own that should help ease the $ pain of that next vehicle decision. If you decide the BMW is the right move for you, that’s great—good for you. If not, don’t discount what Gurgeh suggested due to the flexibility it would give you. Good luck!

NJRonbo— The opportunity to get a very nice hybrid Lincoln without paying a premium for trying out a hybrid (as with my leased 2013 MKZh—and my experience with that car is why I now have a 2019 MKZh that I am purchasing) was the deciding factor in convincing me to try a hybrid 7 years ago (May 2013). I love my 2019 MKZh Reserve II and, at present, have no intention of not getting a hybrid-type vehicle for my next vehicle. (Not sure when that will happen!) Good luck to you!

I feel the same way about sedans. I know lots of people have moved away from sedans. I am not one of them. I’m currently on my fifth consecutive new Lincoln—all (but one) have been Lincoln sedans. The one exception was a 2016 MKC, which I acknowledge I did like (primarily because its higher seat-height made Darling Wife happy), but I was very happy to go back to an MKZh sedan at the end of the 3-year lease on the MKC. I am buying (still paying for) my 2019 MKZh (got it the weekend before Christmas in 2018), so I don’t have the “my lease is ending so I have to find something else now” problem (if you can call that a problem! ?). It does increase my flexibility in terms of when I decide to get my next vehicle. If, by then, Lincoln hasn’t changed its mind and started making a sedan I want, then I acknowledge I would consider either a Corsair or a Nautilus. But I’d rather have a car....

I’ve got a 2019 Lincoln MKZ, the closely-related corporate-cousin of the Fusion, and it’s terrific. Looks great, drives well, handles well, is very comfortable, and—so far— very reliable. I’ve had it 15 months so far (got it the weekend before Christmas in 2018) and I’ve had zero regrets with this vehicle. Ford and Lincoln did good jobs with the latest versions of the Fusion and the MKZ.

The governors of Florida and Georgia are perfect examples of the militantly ignorant.

I still like the idea of a Cartier Continental (or, better yet, a sharp two-door coupe). I thought the mid-1970s Continental Mark IV cars in the Cartier designer series were really sharp.