MM Full-Review: 2017 Lincoln Continental
10-07-16, 05:30 PM
#32
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Lots of grandpas right now with the baby boomers aging and having a lot of disposable income, there is definitely a market. The thing is you really do want younger customers who aren't going to die on you or are too old to drive in 15 years or so. Cadillac had this problem back in the 90's/early 2000's, most of the people who bought them was the greatest generation, then they all started to die off. Luckily Cadillac did reinvent themselves and didn't become totally irrelevant like Lincoln. Still, compare Cadillac's sales to their heyday, its a drop in the bucket.
10-07-16, 05:33 PM
#33
Lexus Fanatic
I would agree that they're still irrelevant, and I do still believe that it's partly a vehicle problem. The new products are nice, they're just not special in any way.
10-07-16, 05:34 PM
#34
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Some of my friends were also like that, but, yes, we took a few barbs about "Grandpa" vehicles. To be clear, I also liked the muscle-cars of the period....driving them could be fun, though, unlike some of my colleagues, I was careful enough (and sensible enough) behind the wheel not to try anything really dumb.
10-07-16, 05:40 PM
#35
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Well, the big, modern, and spacious Chantilly Ford/Lincoln shop is certainly not a joke (you know that...you yourself have probably seen it). But, some of the other local Ford/Lincoln shops I've seen aren't impressive at all. While I do respect your opinion, to me, it still seems to me more of a dealer-problem than the vehicles themselves, though I have to admit that just having the MKT itself on the premises is a joke. Lincoln needs to dump that vehicle ASAP....... with the new (and much better) 2Gen MKX on hand, I don't know why they even bother to keep the MKT around in the first place LOL.
10-07-16, 05:54 PM
#36
Lexus Fanatic
Why is it a joke? There are over 950+ Lincoln dealers in the United States. That means that it its not too hard to find the car or dealer you are looking for. As for being separate from Ford, I can see how that is an issue but it is not always a deterrent
10-07-16, 05:56 PM
#37
Lexus Fanatic
it's definitely problematic and it seems to be a crucial point that lincoln has missed. by attracting the aging boomers, lincoln may straggle along just fine for a few years and then set its hopes high that the next generation of aged citizens will take favor to the overall design language and driving dynamics that the marque has going for it.
it's a poor strategy, indeed, although one that lincoln seems to be employing. they can't count on livery service vehicle sales alone to compensate for brand health.
it's a poor strategy, indeed, although one that lincoln seems to be employing. they can't count on livery service vehicle sales alone to compensate for brand health.
10-07-16, 05:58 PM
#38
Lexus Fanatic
We can agree on that- I personally think something went very wrong fairly recently and caused a delay in the media push. For luxury vehicles at least there's usually a healthy amount of build up as cars are being transported to dealers. I just wanted to point out that just because you don't see anything right now doesn't mean its not coming.
10-07-16, 06:07 PM
#39
Lexus Fanatic
Well, the big, modern, and spacious Chantilly Ford/Lincoln shop is certainly not a joke (you know that...you yourself have probably seen it). But, some of the other local Ford/Lincoln shops I've seen aren't impressive at all. While I do respect your opinion, to me, it still seems to me more of a dealer-problem than the vehicles themselves, though I have to admit that just having the MKT itself on the premises is a joke. Lincoln needs to dump that vehicle ASAP....... with the new (and much better) 2Gen MKX on hand, I don't know why they even bother to keep the MKT around in the first place LOL.
Nobody objectively would drive a Continental and a Genesis G90 back to back and choose the Continental unless they couldn't afford the Genesis.
If Lincoln wants to break through, they need to make an excellent car, and they just haven't done that yet.
As for the MKT, its around because of fleet sales. If you go to NYC they are everywhere.
10-07-16, 06:09 PM
#40
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
...but it's something that, IMO, Ford and Lincoln needs to work on. The average Continental or Navigator buyer isn't going to be looking at Focuses or Fiestas....and vice-versa.
10-07-16, 06:12 PM
#41
Lexus Fanatic
The combination dealers don't cut it, and thats going to be an issue for Genesis too. Today for instance, I had to go to a Hyundai dealer and drive the car with a guy with a big Hyundai emblem on his polo. Thats not going to cut it either, and their approach (which is also Lincolns approach) of valet service will only take them so far. the Continentals I drove were parked next to Ford Transit Connect work vans. Not gonna cut it.
Owners of luxury goods like the trappings of being a consumer of luxury goods, and they need a separate dealership where they can be consumers of luxury goods.
Owners of luxury goods like the trappings of being a consumer of luxury goods, and they need a separate dealership where they can be consumers of luxury goods.
10-07-16, 06:17 PM
#42
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
As for the MKT, its around because of fleet sales. If you go to NYC they are everywhere.
.
10-07-16, 08:34 PM
#43
Lexus Fanatic
I've seen a few exceptions, but, in my experience, the average Lincoln shop, IMO, is not as impressive as the average Cadillac shop. OK...that doesn't mean it's necessarily a joke (perhaps I could have used a better term) ...but it's something that, IMO, Ford and Lincoln needs to work on. The average Continental or Navigator buyer isn't going to be looking at Focuses or Fiestas....and vice-versa.
...but it's something that, IMO, Ford and Lincoln needs to work on. The average Continental or Navigator buyer isn't going to be looking at Focuses or Fiestas....and vice-versa. I personally dont think the FWD set up is an issue as I don't think the Continental competes with the very best from Japan and Germany. The next generation ES is where the Continental will compete best But a lot of others on here believe that the Continental is DOA or simply not good enough.
10-07-16, 08:39 PM
#44
Lexus Fanatic
Average transaction price is way more than the ES. Remember the $45k version I mentioned is absolutely base, no sunroof even. That's a well optioned ES350, almost loaded.
10-07-16, 09:08 PM
#45
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
oh and they're still looking for fun or real luxury. this stretched taurus barge seems to provide neither.