How is Lincoln Still Around?

[Hawk]

Who buys Lincolns? Honest question. I know it sounds like trolling, but I'm trying to picture the Lincoln customer in my mind when I watch ads for Lincoln and I can't for the life of me figure it out. Is it basketball players and mobsters? I know I get a ride in a Lincoln Continental when I take a limo to and from the airport. Is it fleet sales? Please shed some light.

[cougar]

Lincoln needs a shot in the arm, that's for certain. I'm hoping the new MKZ will be the first of that.

[jamerican1]

I'm not sure... but I am pretty sure you get a ride in a Lincoln Town Car when you get a ride to the airport. Just sayin

[kingrukus]

I see a lot of the MKX here in Toronto, but never see any of the other models.

MKX:

[Grey Mouser]

How is Chrysler still around while we are at it.

[BRealistic]

Ford needs Lincoln now more than ever since they sold off their Your Oh Pee In premium brands.

...

Is VW bringing back the Phaeton again? What the eff?

And how the flock is Porsche still selling SUVs?

[Hawk]

I'm not sure... but I am pretty sure you get a ride in a Lincoln Town Car when you get a ride to the airport. Just sayin

Sorry, I stand corrected.

See, I don't even know which Lincoln I'm in!

Is is very smooth though. And the driver says he'll be sad to see them go.

[Art Vandelay]

I was thinking the same about you, actually.

I see about as many Lincolns as I do Cadillacs, so I don't know what you're on about.

[Hawk]

I was thinking the same about you, actually.

ZOMG! I was just thinking the same about you too. Strange.

[BRealistic]

I see about as many Lincolns as I do Cadillacs, so I don't know what you're on about.

For a normal luxury car- I would pick Lincoln over Cadillac in a heartbeat because I think a Lincoln will hold up better (based on the last 15 years).
But for fun? A manual CTS-V for me please.

[Internal Combustion]

Because the MKZ Hybrid is a fantastic vehicle that kicks the sh*t out of anything in the 40k and under price point for features and MPG.

[Mazda 3s]

How is Lincoln still around?

[firstorbit84]

my dad has been thinking of getting a MkS. He's 66.

[aleksl]

Lincoln needs a shot in the arm, that's for certain. I'm hoping the new MKZ will be the first of that.

I seem to recall reading in C&D that Ford has a plan to revamp the entire Lincoln lineup in the next few years.

[l88m22vette]

(Roger Sterling pic)

Exactly what I thought of, though I think the real crowd is people who want luxury without a stereotype - think about it, we have an internet thread about "who is a Lincoln driver?" Maybe that's the whole point!

[Owhora]

Their main target audience is Senior Citizens (your grandparents) as Caddilac's one. Instead of competing with BMW, Lexus, and so on, Lincoln's competing with Buick and Caddilac.

[Pool Runner]

My dad was 63 in 2010 when he bought his "retirement" car so to speak. His three front runners were last gen 535 BMW (New model wasn't out yet) And then I persuade him that the bangled 5er was severely aging at the time so he then limited it to the Lincoln MKS of which he really never saw one or knew what it was until seeing one at the Autoshow and thinking what a handsome car. The last was the Mercedes E350, I had recommended it and after showing him a few at the dealer he was sold.

When I see an MKS it turns my head and gets my attention but I have no desire to own one. It's one of those cars that would be nice as a free upgrade on a rental lot but would not want to own one.

And I think I have only seen one of those MKT R-Class looking thingies since it's been out, did they stop making those (Too lazy to check right now)

[TM87]

I only see town cars around.

I agree, Lincoln could be for (semi) rich people who dont care about a badge.
Its like Buick, you dont notice it till you are old enough for SS.

[MrRline]

Honestly the problem for the brand for me is the outlandish grills on the cars. I understand this is what the brand grew up on doing, but when I look at it such as today next to a bmw 5 series and a mercedes at a light I just can't help but say 1. it looks wayyyyyy chunky and 2. the grill kills it. It literally kills it I couldn't think of anything less sleak or cool looking to throw on the front.

Word to lincoln put the stupid star on the headrest and be done with it. i don't want to see a massive grill with the star on the outside.

[Pool Runner]

Their main target audience is Senior Citizens (your grandparents) as Caddilac's one. Instead of competing with BMW, Lexus, and so on, Lincoln's competing with Buick and Caddilac.

The problem is the Baby Boomers who drove most of our asses around as kids in their SUV's when they were in their 40's & 50's don't want to be like their parents when they were old and drive Buicks, Impala's, Lincoln or Cadilac's

They want a comfy Infiniti, Lexus ES or Acura TL, I'm seeing more and more older folks in higher end Kia's and Hyundai's too.

[Pool Runner]

I only see town cars around.

I agree, Lincoln could be for (semi) rich people who dont care about a badge.
Its like Buick, you dont notice it till you are old enough for SS.

Navigators are still pretty healthy in my 5-star school district suburban sprawl. I can't say I've seen a brand new one of late, but there are pleanty of 5-7 year old ones pre-facelift and 1st gens. Probably more Navigators than town car sightings but not nearly as many Navigators as say Escalades or Denali.

Personally the only thing the Navigator needs to kill Escalade & Denali sales is the 3.5L EcoBoost from the F-150, seems like a no brainer. Even the 6.2L and at the minimum 5.0L would be a huge improvement over the lackluster 5.4L.

[DedRok]

Yeah, Lincoln should have went before Pontiac did...

[das internet]

Haters gonna hate.

[Silenius]

They should have never changed the front end on this car: I love the Monochromatic Limited Edition

[Pool Runner]

I think these vehicles alone are solely responsible for the backlash with the brand…



Then this...



IMO Lincoln had their game on when this was out, it was one of my favorite cars of it's era and was way ahead of it's time when it was released with OE HID, neon taillamps etc... When I think of Lincoln even today the Mark 8 still comes to mind.

[kraut_pauer79]

Because they coasted on Navigator and fleet sales for a long time, and a fair number of bluehairs still buy the Town Car.

Expect to see them remake themselves quite drastically in the next decade or so. They'll probably try to be a closer competitor to Lexus while Cadillac continues to compete with BMW.

[AudiVwMeister]

[DrFrisker]

Ford needs Lincoln now more than ever since they sold off their Your Oh Pee In premium brands.

...

Is VW bringing back the Phaeton again? What the eff?

And how the flock is Porsche still selling SUVs?

all relevant questions that need answering

[bajaboyextra]

With this ugly pos on the market, how is it even legal for Lincoln to still be in business?

[Tuneman7]

Their design department really needs to shake things up.

[C4 A6]

Too big to fail.

[DTMTrini]

Currently...rental companies and honestly, i've only seen 60yrs+ old people driving new Lincolns into the garage/needing valet service. I still see a lot out there and their new lineup looks pretty good.

[firstorbit84]

I kinda like the front grille on the new lincolns. It's so big that its different and a little edgy.

While I was with my dad checking out the MKS, I looked at the new MKT, and the thing was actually pretty damn nice. Its also available with 3rd row seating and the Taurus SHO drivetrain, twin turbo all wheel drive... makes a good alternative to boring minivans if you can afford the $50k+ pricetag.. I will probably consider a used one in a few years, although I will admit the fuel economy is horrendous and I don't like the rear styling that much

[TM87]

Lincoln LS was my car to get for the longest when i was younger. I had a hard time finding one in 5spd.

[vwlarry]

Complexities come into play regarding Lincoln's status within Ford Motor Company. The company is still a family-run business, and the Ford family still honors its heritage and legacy of their ancestors. Thusly, since Lincoln was the marque that Edsel Ford personally guided to greatness, and his sons took equal pride in (ask Barry Wolk about William Ford's involvement in the Continental Mark II project, for example), the prospect of euthanizing the division is not a purely business decision to make. The division is also Ford's sole remaining luxury maker, and thusly is not likely to die, in spite of its present poor state of health. One would think that TCL people, after seeing so many other moribund makers such as Cadillac restored to viability, that they could imagine a revived Lincoln brand, too. Perhaps I'm expecting too much though.