DK, (sorry this is a very long post.. I am a chatty guy) :wink
I don't actually have the new MKC yet, but should have it by Monday or Tuesday. And yes, I have been a Ford owner for over 30 years and have owned top level, Expeditions, Explorers, Edges and Escapes. Growing from the early Sync days into the very first MFT vehicles to now. My 2015 MKC of course had MFT, my 2012 Limited Edge had MFT, My Wifes 2013 Escape has MFT. I am a Network Security Engineer and although I don't consider myself a "propeller head"... I guess I am a bit geeky in that I like technology and am also a Audiophile/Home Theater Enthusiast.
I was really on the fence about ordering a 2016 MKX, which of course I did. One BIG dilemma was the lack of Sync3 and would I regret not getting it through the next 3 years of owning the MKX. I almost bought a Platinum F150... and had the very same issue. So before I ordered the MKX, I spent about 20 minutes playing with Sync3 in a 2016 Escape.
My initial take away was a little disappointment. I really see/saw Sync3 as an opportunity for Ford to do something great. New hardware, new software... do a TOTAL re-write, re-design. Get competitive with UConnect, Cue, iDrive and others that have impressive graphics and content display. Include IN-Vehicle data like GM does with a LTE modem or similar. Integrate Pandora, Aha, Slacker, Yelp and others and I mean integrate... don't require a bluetooth paired cell phone for these features to work. Support Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
But... to me, it seems like Ford missed the boat. When I looked at Sync3, its menus, layout and graphics simply seemed like they just ported what they had in MFT over to the new GNX Blackberry hardware. Sure some of the graphics and buttons changed a bit. But menu item for menu item if you know MFT you will be very familiar with Sync3.
Now I did pair my phone to that Escape... I fired up Pandora as my main test. To see how it integrates vs. how I do it (pandora) with MFT. Yes it was much better and more integrated. But again I came away thinking it was NOT that great of a difference to justify waiting on a 2017 MKX or 2017 F150 etc. So I ordered a 2016 MKX. But in waiting for it for soooooo long, I did a LOT of driving of other vehicles. BMW, Benz, Infiniti, Cadillac, Volvo, Buick, Lexus, Jeep, Chrysler.
In all these test drives, first thing I did was pair my phone and before even driving off the lot, I would sit for like 10 mins playing with the Infotainment and Dash Cluster menu systems. What it all this testing and playing did... was make me re-evaluate my thoughts on MFT. Sure I was going to suck it up and live with MFT for another 3 years. But when my MKX finally showed up and had all the problems... I walked away. I would save $13K by getting another MKC and by doing a 2016 now I get Sync3.
But remember, I did not think it was all that worth it? Well the one thing about Sync3... is future potential. MFT has NONE... there have been no real updates to MFT in near 3 years and frankly there won't be any... its pretty stable. And even though Sync3 right now appears as just a fancy port of MFT... it has TONS of potential to grow. Ford has already publicly announced it is working on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for Sync3.... this is HUGE! When Ford gets that in... the only real negative vs. GM would be the LTE/4G modem.
A few positive things that Sync3 is doing right now that MFT does not do is as mentioned before way better app integration, I only tested Pandora, but I think there are others. Better vehicle integration... meaning things like when you adjust the HVAC, Sync3 pops up info to show you what temp you have set, mode you have put it in etc. This was in an Escape... they may have even better integration in a Lincoln. And of course the BIG thing all the MFT haters of the world comment on.. Sync3 is much faster, almost instantaneous on button presses, function choices and although I did not test it in the Escape, reviews say voice integration is much better and I think it supports the long press Siri command type stuff.
Again... sorry for the very long post. But I will post some very specific details next week once I get my hands on it and drive it a day or two. For me... being a tech junkie and really addicted to this stuff... it would be VERY tempting if I could get out of your 2015 cleanly for the 2016 with Sync3. The other things about a 2016 is hopefully they will have fixed, bettered, remedied the following first year issues: Sirius Satellite Reception, Heated Seats, Tranny Shift issues, Twitchy Steering in Sport and other current 2015 common complaints.
Rayovac - I have not followed your history on this forum but since it sounds like you had a 15 with Sync 2 for awhile and now the 16 with the Sync 3, please give us your thoughts about the differences between the two...after you've had some time with the Sync 3. I am in a situation where I may be able to sell my 15 and buy a 16 (with the same options) and lose very little $ in the transaction.
What it mainly comes down to is that the two cars are basically about 90% the same, with the 10% difference being the Sync 3 vs the 2. Is it worth the trouble for me to go through the buying process again mainly to get the Sync 3? You seem to be perhaps the only person on this forum who will have spent considerable time with both systems and be able to provide an expert opinion.
Thank you!
)the car automatically picks up which phone is in the car. No picking a main phone like the MKC has, and then when the main phone is not used you have to go through 3 or 4 steps and about 40 seconds to connect the other phone. Pain in the...you know what.
