Welcome to mkcforum.com - please post an introduction

Bring on the MKC

Hello fellow MKC forum members. I've been watching the the development of the MKC since the gorgeous concept car was shown on the auto show circuit. Although I am not yet committed to purchasing an MKC, it is definitely near the top of the list. Our current daily drivers are a 2012 Q5 and 2013 X1. We love the Q5, and unless we start having mechanical issues we intend to keep it for a while. The X1 on the other hand has been a HUGE disappointment. I'm looking for something to replace the BMW by the end of the year. I have my preferred brands, but I tend to ignore badges and buy what suits my needs. I haven't purchased a domestic brand in nearly 14 years. The [not so] short list in no particular order: MKC, Grand Cherokee, 2015 Edge, 2015 Outback, Q5 TDI, XC60 and 2015 Murano. I'm also keeping an eye on the Lexus NX, but I find the new Lexus grille design to range from homely to downright offensive, so I'm not terribly optimistic that the NX will make the cut. The Cherokee was on the list, but there seem to be a lot of issues with that model in its first year, and most V6 owners seem to struggle to break the 20-mpg barrier.

TxTom, thanks for your info & thoughts. Like HotRod, I would probably go for the TDI model of the Q5, and also like HotRod, the Cadillac is not really on my list. I do know someone who owns one and is "satisfied", but I've talked to two Q5 owners who were very enthusiastic about their vehicle in a way that the Cadillac owner was not. That's not say to say the SRX is not a good car - it is for sure - but it just hasn't interested me like the Q5 and the MKC. The MKC just has a great design, and I love driving the Escape upon which it is based.

HotRod - you are correct we seem to have similar tastes. And opinions as well - I agree with you completely about the direction (or should we say mis-direction) that Acura has taken in the past few years. It's a matter of personal taste, of course, but I really think my generation TL ('04-'08) was the last good looking vehicle to come out of Acura's stylists. The RDX looks bland compared to virtually all of its competition, especially the MKC.

And yes, I guess you're right - we probably should start a new thread!!!

Waiting for delivery

Hi everyone,
I have been fortunate to have owned many cars in my lifetime, starting with a 1929 Model A Ford, and no, I didn't buy it new. I do believe it was one of the most reliable cars I have owned. The first new car I owned was a 1957 Ford and now I have a 2013 C-Max. All 3 have served me well so the MKC will be my 4th Ford product. My name is Jerry and my wife's name is Roslyn, ergo my userid of jerroz and when I say my, I mean OUR.
Our MKC has been on order for some time. It has a build date of 7/18 so the dealer expects arrival in Winter Haven, FL by 4 August. I am hoping that will happen. The MKC we ordered is a 2.0 version, white platinum with the Reserve package and options are Technology, Climate and 19 inch wheels.
We are both retired and like to go to the Florida Beaches. Most of our travel is in Florida but occasionally we take a trip up north. We are hoping the MKC will be a great car for traveling long distances. Some one told me that cooled seats really help on a long trip and these hot Florida days.
This is probably more than anyone wants to know about me but I did a post and the administrator told me to do an introduction so here it is.

Good luck to everyone on this forum. I hope you all are driving the MKC very soon.

Hey, all, I've been following the forum for a about a week now and have gotten a lot out of it. Thanks! I'm 79 years old and still enthused about automobiles. My wife and I are looking to buy our first luxury car this year or next. We live in the South, so a light color car with light upholstery is what we consider necessary. Love some of those dark colors but don't want to be parboiled. We would be getting a sedan but we have two lovable Shelties that need space and it is so convenient to have a "lid" to pop for groceries and whatever we pick up at Lowe's, antique shops, yard sales, or whatever. We don't have people in the back very often, so that's not much of a consideration in our buying equation. Many of the sub-compact or compact SUV's get criticized for small cargo areas but that doesn't bother us. We currently have a bronze 2012 Nissan Murano with a beige interior and 24,000 miles on it. We like it, it's a good ride, and have had no problems with it so we have no "pressure" to buy. Neither of us has had a "luxury" vehicle before so, as our last vehicle, we think that rather than put it off until someone takes our licenses away, we should go ahead and "treat" ourselves now. The Murano just brushes the luxury category so the Lincoln would definitely be a notch up and the many driver assist features are an inducement. Our Nissan still has good trade value. One good thing about trading now is that we only pay tax on the trading difference so what we might make by selling ourselves is offset by what we'll save on the state sales tax. We'll probably lose a little on gas mileage with an MKC. We did our homework when we bought our Nissan and bought "it" for the xenon lights, that are fabulous for those with diminished night vision, compared to the lights in my Prius that I traded. I've read a thread where one person pooh poohed the need for great headlights (xenon) over acceptable headlights. I wish I was going to be around when that person gets into their late 60's or beyond. I suspect that they'll sing a different song. Another reason for buying the Murano was its reputation for being a quiet ride and it does have very little road noise but after I picked it up and drove it extensively, I found that it did have some wind noise from the roof rack.

From what I read, and experienced, the MKC will be a quiet ride. Isn't it unbelievable that some brands sell you a $1,000 sound system that you can hardly hear at highway speeds because of road noise . I'm checking dimension along with everything else, as we'd like to downsize a bit. The MKC fills the bill quite nicely. My wife owned a Nissan Pathfinder that she loved when I met her in 2011. I've owned lots of cars over the years, new and used, including an MG, and a Chrysler Maserati. I think the current state of affairs for the consumer is kind of bleak. The names Mercedes Benz, Cadillac, and yes Lincoln, no longer (if they ever did) guarantee quality and satisfaction. If you think about your recent searches for and purchases of tools, appliances and cars, it's a challenge to find a "quality" product even when you're willing to spend a little extra for it. You have to be an eagle-eyed, aware, shopper, just to reduce your chances of disappointment. This applies even more to a vehicle purchase.

Here's what we have learned so far. The MB looks nice, has good brakes, but not as good a ride as the MKC. Off our list. The Audi Q5 is a lovely car and was fun to drive, a delight, but it's $8k to $10k pricier for less features. Off the list. The Acura RDX is a great car, known for quality, and the 2016 adds driver assist features but my wife didn't like the seats and I agreed they weren't up to the ones in the MKC, MB, Audi, Cadillac, or Lexus. At our age seating is important. Put RDX on our "maybe" list. The Cadillac SRX - I wanted to love this one and I wanted to buy it. What stopped me? The "BRAKES!" They weren't as good as our Murano, and no where near the brakes of the MB, Audi, or the MKC. Off the list - sobbing and hand wrenching. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I loved 'the SRX with its somewhat archaic band ustle. " De gustibus non est disputandum!" I even checked to see if I could upgrade the brakes after purchase with stainless steel brake lines and ceramic brake pads. Ceramic brake pads are available but not SS brake lines that would be crucial. We also want to hold down the exterior dimensions, while maintaining decent comfort and the MKC fits that bill. We have yet to test drive the Lexus NX that my wife likes a lot, or the Acura RDX so I will update the forum after we do.




Here are size comparisons for some popular models:

2014 Nissan Murano, Dimensions: 190" L x 74" W x 67" H

2015 Cadillac SRX, Dimensions: 190" L x 75" W x 66" H

2015 Lincoln MKX, Dimensions: 187" L x 76" W x 67" H

2015 Acura RDX, Dimensions: 184" L x 74" W x 66" H

2015 Lexus NX, Dimensions 182" L x 74" W x 65" H

2015 Lincoln MKC, Dimensions: 179" L x 73" W x 65" H

We are now down to considering the MKC, the Acura RDX, and the Lexus NX. The MKC and the RDX will, most likely, be the ones with the best price advantage. We're concerned about buying an "introductory year" model but that's part of the MKC price advantage too. The Lexus has the advantage on quality and reliability but it is also a new model this year and it only has a 7" NAV screen. The RDX is kind of a "fall-back" consideration for us. I test drove the MKC and like everything about it. During the test drive, the salesperson offered us a "date night." For those that haven't heard about it, it is a current promotion where, "by invitation" a potential buyer, is offered the use of an MKC, for 24 hours along with a $100 to go out to dinner. Naturally, we're going to do it - next week. This is the MKC that we'd like to buy:

2015 LINCOLN MKC FWD, 2.0L EcoBoost® Engine / Silver Sand Color / White Sands Upholstery / Reserve 102A Equipment Group /
Technology Package / Continuously Control Damping Suspension / Climate Package / Enhanced THX® Audio Sound System / Large Soft Cargo Organizer

Here's what we don't like about the MKC:



1) New model - conventional wisdom says "don't buy the first yr (examples are the START/STOP switch problem and the fuel pump recall)

2) Poor gas mileage. Small gas tank but that's probably so as to not make the poor mileage any worse.

3) Panoramic roof (should be a separate choice by itself) We don't happen to want one but have to take it to get other features that we do want.

4) SYNC system / SYNC 3 coming in 2016

5) 6-speed transmission can be slow to downshift at times: "There were a few times, such as on a slight uphill climb with constant acceleration, that the transmission tended to hesitate, unsure whether to go up or down for its next gear."

6) Rear legroom is tight

7) Push-button shift - we prefer "console stick"

8) "The lack of online destination search with navigation and the slowly rendering maps are troubling." "Navigation rendering a very granular slowly rendered maps"

10) the trunk and console well need better lighting

11) Needs a better antenna on roof

I plan to follow up on the forum in the future.

Kronr00004:

I don't feel this belongs in this thread but, as an MKC owner I disagree with most all your conclusions.

1) If no one purchased new models, there be no year two. The s/s button location was only an issue for a select few early owners. The fuel pump's small part in question was only installed on 367 MKC's.

2) Real miles per gallon may seem to be on the low side; but unlike some others it is an honest print and is 4,000 lbs. Most vehicles of this size use the same general capacity and if there was any space available for a larger tank, I don't think 24 pounds for three extra gallons is going to change mileage to speak of.

3) All vehicles have packages, which one may or may not like.

4) No comment, as I'm more interested in drive than SYNC.

5) Totally disagree, as I don't experience or have those problems.

6) MKC is 9 inches shorter than a Mustang, want more space buy bigger.

7) At first it was a concern, as an owner I now like it very much.

8) Totally disagree, as I have no problems you speak of.

9) There could be another light in the cargo hatch.

10) I have no problems concerning the antenna.

When you find the perfect vehicle, let us know! :smile