A friend of mine just bailed out of a 2011 E350 lease after having just five drivable days in a two-month period. She's looking for a replacement car and wants to stay away from Acura and Lexus as they are sold at the same dealer organization as the MB dealer. Audi is interesting in theory, but the nearest dealer is too far away, and the local BMW dealer is pleased to lease her a $64,000 535I with X-Drive for only $940 month/36 months/10,500 miles per year. AWD is very important, which is limiting selections a bit. So, almost by attrition, I suggested the Lincoln MKS. We took one out for a test drive on Saturday. My perceptions:

EXTERIOR

The front boasts a very heavily chromed prow with split waterfall grilles, which are intended to evoke the 1940 Continental. Definitely distinctive, and not derivative of any non-Lincoln on the road. Profile? See 2002 BMW 7-Series, particularly in the heavy bright trim flowing over the a through c-pillar area. The car has a very high beltline which imparts a perception of great mass. Very high bustle in the back, with a taillight treatment that brings the 1961-1963 Continental to mind, at least to me.

It's definitely an interesting look, but probably polarizing to most people. The 20 inch rims with 45-series tires definitely helped appearances. I liked it, but it didn't knock me out. Panel and trim fit was tight, and the paint was glassy.

INTERIOR

Seating was moderately soft and had some support, but those who don't hit MickyDee's drive-thru on a regular basis might rattle around a bit. I didn't have time to play with the bolsters, so some adjustment may address this issue. Seating position is high relative to the average sedan, almost crossover-like. The car I was in had heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats.

Headroom was substantial for my 6'2" frame, as was front-seat legroom. Rear-seat legroom was good, but not Town Car-like by any stretch. The MKS has a sharp-looking floor shift perched atop a good-looking console that's just a bit sabotaged by a couple of inexpensive-looking sliding compartment doors, and the overhead console had a pair of sunglass compartments that needed some alignment in this particular car. Aside from those relatively minor issues, the materials, fit and finish of the rest of the interior were excellent, and the perforated seat leather was of better quality than any American car that I've sat in for the last 20 years. The dark wood trim was nicely presented. The instrument cluster was well-lit and very clear, and the GPS/Sync screen could be seen with your eyes shut.

There is one aspect of the interior that does require having your eyes wide open: The rear window. The MKS has bumper-mounted sonar sensors, a rear view camera that's part of the GPS/Sync package, and can be outfitted with an autopark feature that completely takes control of the electrically-assisted power steering during parallel-parking maneuvers. I submit that all of that optional equipment be made standard, because you just cannot have a clue as to what the Holy Hell is behind you by using only the rear view mirror unless it's the tractor trailer used in the movie "Duel". Lincoln could have saved a few dollars by replacing the rear window with sheetmetal without materially impacting rear visibility. A small offset of this condition was the incorporation of small convex sections in each external mirror which were helpful when merging into interstate traffic.

ENGINE

The example I was in was equipped with the base 3.7 normally aspirated V6 that puts out approximately 275 HP. 275 is respectable but it's pushing 4,300 lbs. of car around. It's enough to handle most tasks, but be prepared to mash the gas into the cut-pile when trying to merge into Interstate traffic from anything but the most modestly-sloped entrance ramp.

The go-to engine for this model is the EcoBoost option, which is a 3.5 liter twin-turbo direct-injected V6 that puts out 355 HP and 350 ft/lbs. of torque. Car magazines have attributed 0-60 times in the low to mid-fives and 135 MPH top speed, which is approximately S550 territory. Ford had the sense to use water-cooled turbos, which should make bearing life reasonable as long as the owner remembers to change the oil.

RIDE/HANDLING

With the salesperson in the back seat, the opportunity to effect four-wheel drifts was somewhat squelched, but it's a heavy car that, while not as wallowy-ride-biased as the late, lamented Town Car, probably isn't up to humiliating an S6 on an Alpine road. Road tests with the 20 inch tire package do indicate a skidpad achievement of .90g, however.

NVH

Dead quiet unless the gas pedal is floored, then a rather pedestrian V6 sound can be hazily discerned. As I live in an area that is an asphalt factory owner's wet dream, a few potholes were found but were subsequently dismissed with disdain.

CONCLUSION

In many respects this car is a logical follow-on to the old Town Car. It's quite at home on an Interstate, is carefully assembled of mostly high quality materials, has a commodious trunk, and contains enough interior baubles to keep the passengers comfortable and well-entertained. With the EcoBoost engine, it becomes a dynamic throwback to the Continental's of the late Sixties, which had plenty of engine, but were a bit disappointed in the driver if he was uncouth enough to try to herd it around an interstate clover leaf in excess of the recommended speed.

'Merica is getting there. The new Buick Regal turbo err.. Opel is another example.

My brother rented a MKS for his wedding. He kept referring to it as "cheap", but this is a guy who drives a C63. Go figure.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

What about a CTS?

The CTSV can be had for about what that BMW goes for and it has 560hp so it should be able to get up those steep entrance ramps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPz9SgoqxCA
Acceptable performance.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

There are definitely a few small interior details that are a letdown as compared to the rest of the interior, and I would leave the normally aspirated 3.7 (no doubt powering the rented MKS in question, as the EcoBoost is part of a $5k option package) on the Hertz rental lot. I liked the rest of the car as a whole, but it would definitely be culture shock coming into it from a C63.

Too small. This car has to double as a family car for the person in question.

Wagon?

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Would rather be dead than be in a wagon or SUV.

The Caddy-V iterations aren't AWD (?)

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

She's off Cadillac. Drove them for 20 years, wants a different brand. Had a 2008 STS+4 that was becoming too familiar to the service department in it's third year.

For some reason, my 75 year old mom still drives the same buicks that she's been buying for 30 years. She could afford a real car, but that's what she's comfortable with.

Interesting.



I had the opportunity to drive a new Ford Tortoise SHO. I was pleasantly suprised by it! The MKS should be a good car if its anything like the Taurus.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

It's basically an upgraded Taurus with a softer edge and the EcoBoost engine found in the SHO is a slighty retuned version (365 HP vs. 355 HP) of the optional EcoBoost in the MKS.

Let's face it. If you're 75, the last thing that you want is a surprise. For the most part, the larger Buicks have been tuned to an older audience with relatively sedate and economical engines, smooth ride, simple intuitive controlls and instruments. No new-fangled hypertech frippery to confuse or confound.

Here's the 535 (this is prob a 550) hatch. Ugly, but not a bad idea for someone who can't lift up and over.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

That's why my Mom wants another Acura. Boring, dead-reliable and not maintenance intensive. She's pretty hip though, willing to look at a Bimmer.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder