Fusion Titanium or Lincoln MKZ ?

[Beachboy]

Time to trade in my 2010 Mercury Milan, and since the Mercury brand is defunct, I'm in a quandry. Do I downgrade to the Ford brand or upgrade to Lincoln? I assume I'd have to go to the Fusion Titanium series at a minimum to get the content I had on my Mercury. Is the MKZ appreciabily a better vehicle for the money, than a hard loaded Fusion Titanium? By "better", I mean, build quality, materials, sound deadening, etc. Lincolns have always had steep depreciation, so in the long haul, are they a poorer choice than a Ford (or Toyota, Honda, etc)? I don't really want or need the electronic gimmicks on either one, but you seem stuck with them if you want the top of the line model. My driving is typically high speed Interstate trips, so I definitely need the biggest engine available.

 

Or would my money be better spent with a V-6 top-of-the-line Camry or Accord? I typically keep a vehicle 5 years or 75,000 miles.

 

Thanks for any recommendations or advice.

[Waldo]

First of all the current Fusion is an "upgrade" in terms of materials/quality/sound deadening compared with anything ever sold as a Mercury. Of course your 2010 Milan also had absolutely zero "upgrades" of materials/quality/sound deadening compared with the 2010 Fusion.

 

If what you're looking for is "content" but not "gimmicks", then a Fusion SE with the Luxury Package will probably be just right for you. It includes auto-climate, heated leather seats, chrome trim and a few other things you might be used to. The Titanium doesn't really have all that much extra.

 

High-speed Interstate driving uses about 40HP, so I don't see why you need a big engine. The 2.0L EcoBoost will be more than adequate and probably better than the V6 in your Milan but even the 1.5 is reasonable.

 

You'll really have to go try the Lincoln yourself to decide if it's differences are really important to you, but generally there's not that much difference and as you point out, Lincoln resale value is really terrible right now, but maybe 5 years down the road it might improve. Keep in mind that the Lincoln MKZ and the Fusion roll off the exact same assembly line, one after the other.

Edited July 21, 2015 by Waldo

[Beachboy]

Thanks for your input, Waldo. I'll look into the Fusion SE with the Luxury Package you suggest. My Milan has the 2.5 L 4 cylinder, and I find it's often straining to maintain highway speeds with the A/C on and on hilly roads, so I'm apprehensive about going to an even smaller engine. I also have concerns about the longevity of a turbo'd engine, after family experience with both Chrysler and Mercedes turbo'd engines in the late 80's.

 

I know Mercury had become nothing but a clone to Ford by the time I bought my Milan. Mercury seemed to infuse a Fusion with some of the gimmicky, undesirable features of an MKZ in 2010, in an attempt to differentiate themselves from Ford. I had hoped maybe Lincoln used a better grade of leather, or more supportive seats than a Ford, in addition to better sound deadening. For me, quiet ranks near the top of my wish list on my next new vehicle.

 

I'll wait until the 2016's start hitting the showrooms and see what I think.

[akirby]

The MKZ definitely has better sound deadening, better leather and other amenities not available on the Fusion. But a Fusion Titanium or SEL is light years ahead of the previous gen Fusion and Milan.

 

You really just need to drive both before you decide. The 2.0EB will be a great upgrade over the 2.5L I4. But you don't need to worry about the turbos - they're nothing like turbos in the 80s. These engines were built for the Turbo, just like turbo diesels for the last decade or two. No reason this won't last the life of the vehicle. Ford tests them to 150K just like all other engines.

[Waldo]

The late 80s was almost 30 years ago, anyone that worked on those turbo engines has long since retired. I was just reading yesterday about the Berlin Wall, remember that? That was the late 80s too, Things change.

 

If you drive an Ecoboost Fusion after coming from a 2.5 Milan, you will be AMAZED.

 

But if quietness and leather quality are your priorities (nothing wrong with that, those are great things), then maybe the Lincoln is for you.

[Beachboy]

Thanks for your input guys. I have a lot to think about. I was comparing overall dimensions last night between my Milan and a new Fusion, and I became concerned that the Fusion has grown to 2.7" longer and 3.4" wider than my Milan. My Milan is already a tight fit in my garage, so the increased length and width may be a deal breaker. I was shocked to see the new Focus is even wider than my Milan. On the plus side, I'm planning on buying or building a new house next year, so concerns over size may be moot.

 

I think I can probably rule out the Lincoln. The more I look at it, that bat wing grill just doesn't cut it with me, although I love the interiors. If I could combine the exterior of a Fusion with the interior of a Lincoln, then I'd be happy. I know I need to go look at these cars in person, rather than trying to figure everything out from Ford's website.

[hermans]

Time to clean out the garage?

[Beachboy]

Time to clean out the garage?

Just a small garage and it has to share room with an Explorer. At least I put my vehicles IN the garage -- most of my neighbors use their garages for overflow storage and park their vehicles on the street.

[DuratorqSupporter]

The ONLY reason I would consider buying an MKZ over a Fusion, would be (of course assuming I had an extra 10 grand burning a hole in my pocket) to get the 3.7L v6. Otherwise the cars are essentially identical. MKZ is a little quieter, and the leather feels a little nicer, but unless you have to have the v6 I'd say stick with the fusion.

 

I agree that the exterior of the MKZ isn't my cup of tea (specifically the grill), but if you like having nice interiors, its worth noting that you'll be seeing the inside of the car more often than the outside. Sit in both, get the one that has a better interior in your opinion. You'll get used to the exterior as I actually used to dislike the exterior of the Fusion, but have since grown to love it... just need to de-chrome the grill.

Edited August 17, 2015 by DuratorqSupporter

[akirby]

The Z has a lot of additional features not found on the Fusion. THX audio. Lincoln Ride Control (magnetic shocks). Fully retractable glass roof. Adaptive LED headlamps. etc. etc.

[Waldo]

The Z has a lot of additional features not found on the Fusion. THX audio. Lincoln Ride Control (magnetic shocks). Fully retractable glass roof. Adaptive LED headlamps. etc. etc.

 

 

Please, Lincoln doesn't use the cheap hack magnetic shocks. They are electronically adjusted valves, not magnetic fluid.

[DuratorqSupporter]

And none of those features are something I would be willing to pay a price premium for a fusion in fancy sheetmetal, your still getting the same car, you just payed more to have a different brand of speakers and a glass roof? I don't think so.

 

Even this Lincoln ride control seems unnecessary, I haven't driven an MKZ with it, but the fusion chassis does a fine job on the broken streets of chicago I can't even imagine claiming that that would be worth the money due to the fact that the chassis is already so competent.

 

If you ask me, it won't be too long before Lincoln goes the way of Mercury; as Lincoln seems to be using the same business model Mercury had been using in the years before they got axed. Lincoln needs to offer its own unique vehicles, at least one, that isn't shared by a Ford stablemate.

Edited August 17, 2015 by DuratorqSupporter

[akirby]

And none of those features are something I would be willing to pay a price premium for a fusion in fancy sheetmetal, your still getting the same car, you just payed more to have a different brand of speakers and a glass roof? I don't think so.

 

Even this Lincoln ride control seems unnecessary, I haven't driven an MKZ with it, but the fusion chassis does a fine job on the broken streets of chicago I can't even imagine claiming that that would be worth the money due to the fact that the chassis is already so competent.

 

If you ask me, it won't be too long before Lincoln goes the way of Mercury; as Lincoln seems to be using the same business model Mercury had been using in the years before they got axed. Lincoln needs to offer its own unique vehicles, at least one, that isn't shared by a Ford stablemate.

 

Then you need to qualify your statement, because even though YOU don't care about such things there are a lot of buyers out there who do care about them and for them the Z is quite different even with the same drivetrains.

[akirby]

 

 

Please, Lincoln doesn't use the cheap hack magnetic shocks. They are electronically adjusted valves, not magnetic fluid.

 

Oops. Must have been thinking of the GM system.....

[drolds1]

If you ask me, it won't be too long before Lincoln goes the way of Mercury; as Lincoln seems to be using the same business model Mercury had been using in the years before they got axed. Lincoln needs to offer its own unique vehicles, at least one, that isn't shared by a Ford stablemate.

Lincoln sales were up 21% in July, among the top gainers. I don't think they're going anywhere.

[Beachboy]

The Z has a lot of additional features not found on the Fusion. THX audio. Lincoln Ride Control (magnetic shocks). Fully retractable glass roof. Adaptive LED headlamps. etc. etc.

 

I can see these types of features and options as helping differentiate Lincoln from Ford, but they don't really appeal to me. I guess I see the increased maintenance costs of some of this tech stuff being a nightmare a few years down the road. Unlike the old days, the quality of materials and workmanship between Lincoln and Ford products is pretty much the same, as they roll off the same assembly line. Not like Lincoln vehicles are lovingly hand crafted in their own assembly plant. Weren't Lincoln Continental (along with Thunderbird) bodies built by Budd, back in the early-mid sixties?

[indifferent]

you have to remember many people driving the Lincoln either wont keep it long enough to worry about repair costs or they are in a different economic bracket than you(maybe) and really don't care they see it as the cost to own. My neighbor has a loaded MKZ and it is a dream to drive and the interior is a different world all together.

they may roll off the same lien but are in no way identical...http://www.truedelta.com/Lincoln-MKZ/specs-187/vs-Fusion-98<-Fusion specs vs same engine equipped MKZ.. 200lb difference and pretty much none of the specs are the same....

[DuratorqSupporter]

Lincoln sales were up 21% in July, among the top gainers. I don't think they're going anywhere.

 

Fleet sales to livery services won't keep them in the game forever, remember in 96 when Ford redesigned the Taurus, which was the midsize sedan that put them on the map back in the late 80's? Back in 96 the Taurus was the best selling car in the midsize segment, by 97 Ford only kept that title by selling close to 50% of their sales volume to rental fleets and by 98 everyone hated the car and it tumbled behind Toyota and Honda, and by 99 was an also ran. I don't mean to hate on Lincoln, its just that history has a tendency to repeat itself, and this song has been sung by Mercury. Offer products that are damn near identical to Fords, make them seem a little more upscale and charge a slightly inflated price. Sure, Indifferent pointed out that almost none of the specs are the same, this is likely due to the extra weight from the extra sound deadening material, or other pseudo lux options like a panoramic sunroof (available on the Mustang and C-Max although I believe those are fixed rather than retractable). In the end this will hurt any specs a Lincoln has, compromising handling figures, braking distances, and since were talking about cars with the same engines their acceleration and fuel economy would suffer as they are lugging around extra weight. If your happy with your Lincoln, then I am glad. All I know is that unless they make the interiors something to write home about, my money would rather go to a Ford that is fully loaded as I can get 90% of the options list that Lincoln offers and save a significant amount of money, while having a lighter car that will achieve better mpgs not go through brakes and tires as often, and will handle better.

[akirby]

If you polled 100 people at random, 85 would say the fusion and mkz were completely different vehicles. 14 would know they share a platform but still find the MKZ an upgrade, and 1 who feels like you do. Nothing wrong with that - we all have our personal preferences. Just understand that you're probably in the extreme minority. This isn't a rebadge job like the latter Mercurys.

[indifferent]

Completely agree. Your opinion is yours and your entitled to it. Just like my opinion is Ford seems to have put a concerted effort towards making them clearly different vehicles. I would agree Ford/Lincoln/mercs as little as 5 years ago looked very similar brand to brand. Also with Lincoln I believe has a longer warranty so u r paying some of that cost into it.

 

That panoramic sunroof is nice, plus on Michigan roads the suspension makes a world of a difference.

 

Also let's not under estimate Ford... They don't want the mkz taking sales from the fusion or vice versa as you eluded to this is part of why mercury went buh bye. They designed these cars to appeal to different consumers.

Edited August 18, 2015 by indifferent

[drolds1]

 

Fleet sales to livery services won't keep them in the game forever, remember in 96 when Ford redesigned the Taurus, which was the midsize sedan that put them on the map back in the late 80's? Back in 96 the Taurus was the best selling car in the midsize segment, by 97 Ford only kept that title by selling close to 50% of their sales volume to rental fleets and by 98 everyone hated the car and it tumbled behind Toyota and Honda, and by 99 was an also ran. I don't mean to hate on Lincoln, its just that history has a tendency to repeat itself, and this song has been sung by Mercury. Offer products that are damn near identical to Fords, make them seem a little more upscale and charge a slightly inflated price. Sure, Indifferent pointed out that almost none of the specs are the same, this is likely due to the extra weight from the extra sound deadening material, or other pseudo lux options like a panoramic sunroof (available on the Mustang and C-Max although I believe those are fixed rather than retractable). In the end this will hurt any specs a Lincoln has, compromising handling figures, braking distances, and since were talking about cars with the same engines their acceleration and fuel economy would suffer as they are lugging around extra weight. If your happy with your Lincoln, then I am glad. All I know is that unless they make the interiors something to write home about, my money would rather go to a Ford that is fully loaded as I can get 90% of the options list that Lincoln offers and save a significant amount of money, while having a lighter car that will achieve better mpgs not go through brakes and tires as often, and will handle better.

Do you have a reference for what percentage of sales were to liveries? The only Lincolns I see in livery service around here are MKTs, sales of which were nearly non-existent before Lincoln decided to make this the new Town Car for that very reason. Lincoln sold 9536 units in July and 591 were MKTs. That's roughly 6% of the total. Even if all of them were to livery, that hardly leads one to conclude that fleet sales are keeping them alive. The sales increase was driven chiefly by the MKC and MKX as well as the refreshed Navigator. I've never seen an MKX in livery service and the few MKCs I've seen were privately owned.

 

WRT a Fusion handling better than an MKZ, an AWD MKZ equipped with the summer tire handling package outcornered a BMW M5. WRT wearing out brakes faster, I doubt it. The MKZ has bigger brakes than the Fusion. I also doubt that there's any significant difference in tire wear between the two.

[DuratorqSupporter]

I admit that I do not have sales figures to back this up, but only my own perception of driving around in chicago (anecdotal evidence ftw), the only Lincolns I see driving around are MKS and MKC, always black and always with livery plates. Again I may be a bit biased on this, to each their own I suppose.