Aviator: Discontinued

[blichy]

Just came as a surprise. I have a friend working on NVH for Lincoln and they aren't doing much with it now.

 

[98EBV8]

What a Luxury Car Should Be

If you can contact your close associate at Lincoln and ask them to add these in their future models, that would be great!

-Power Liftgate

-Power Folding Third Row Seat and perferably the second rows too.

-Auto dimming mirror on both rear view and dual-side view mirrors

-Heated steering wheel

-Two-tone application similar to Eddie Bauers, including the color-in-plastic air dams and bumper top.

-Headlamp washers

-Power tilt steering wheel that pivots too, not just height adjustment currently

-Rear load leveling. Perferably, four corner air suspension for height adjustment for off-road conditions such as deep snow.

-Beige & Cream dashboard top and interior trim combo (Currently there is a black dash top)

-Auto up and down windows with safety if not offered already

-Adaptive cruise control

-Rear view camera integrated into the DVD navigation display

-Intelligent key keyless entry and start

-Remote gas filler release

-Other high-tech features not mentioned here found in competing models

Now, that is what I call, "What the luxury car should be" !!

 

[Stephen]

How about high quality materials, solid switchgear and a rattle free interior that STAYS rattle free for over `100,000 miles. How about a smooth solid ride with no jitters, and a smooth solid reliable powertrain?

Thats always been Lincoln and Cadillac's problem. They think they can build a car with the build quality of a Ford and a Chevy and sell it as a competitor to cars like Lexus, Mercedes and BMW just because it has all kinds of "cool" gadgets.

Gadgets do not a luxury car make.

I've had Lincolns and I've had a Cadillac. They have a lot of features and gizmos, but after 5000 miles the gizmos are no longer interesting (or they no longer work) and you're left with a $50,000 Ford or Chevrolet that feels like a Cavalier. A true luxury ownership experience is felt in a QUALITY automobile. Not one that massages your ass and opens the door for you. Those things are all well and good, but without the quality they're pointless.

Lincoln and Cadillac both need to put gizmos on the back burner and focus on improving the quality of their products.

 

[98EBV8]

Yes, I agree that the quality of workmanship and materials are very important, but high-tech gadgetry DOES make one car "luxurious" than your typical Ford or Chevrolet. It has to be useful, rather than just gimmicks. The message center for instance, I find it useful in how many miles I have left with the remaining fuel in the tank, oil change reminder, washer fluid low, etc.

Take the DVD navigation system, for example. how many models does Ford offers them? Not much, but you do see them in many high-end models, especially in the imports. I feel that the domestics are falling behind in offering technolgies like these, even safety features like the latest generations of ABS, stability/traction systems.

Even the Lexus RX 330 has the optional powered liftgate and depending on options, it is competitively close to the Aviator. Even the Aviator is priced nearly close to the Navigator with the optional power liftgate!

I can find many things that I was or am not crazy about in my Explorer, but back in 1997 when I bought it, the competitors did not closely match what the Explorer was offering. The MLs and the RXs started coming out, but I did not trust first model year vehicles.

For our money that we pay to domestic auto makers, I agree that they should listen up and match or exceed their competitors in terms of quality and features, especially when they are priced closely with the competition!

 

[Stephen]

Having had the gadgets, had the quality, and now having the quality and the gadgets (the LS430 has way more gadgetry than my LS400 did, DVD navigation, massaging rear seats, heated and cooled seats, you name it) I can WHOLEHEARTEDLY say that I would QUICKLY give up gadgets before I gave up the high quality feel. After being used to the Lexus, and Lincoln feels like......well a Ford...

No amount of gadgets can fix that.

If Toyota can do it with Lexus, make an already high quality car feel so different and so much more solid, Ford can with Lincoln.

The new Lincoln LS and Town Car are both a step the right way. They're MUCH MUCH better in the quality departmant than their direct predecessors.

 

[98EBV8]

Gadgets makes up a luxury vehicle, IMHO. Of course, quality and reliability/durability issues must be addressed or car companies like Ford would be facing dissatisfied customers. Without the gadetry, we would be driving a bare-bones vehicle that we would not enjoy.

I consider my next vehicle to be another SUV like the Aviator. Since, one of the posters has a friend working at Lincoln doing nothing to the Aviator at this time, I thought I could contribute in making the model more practical and popular to have. If the Navigator is having brisk sales because of the popular running boards or the power liftgate, why not put them into the Aviator. Otherwise, I'll keep my Eddie Bauer Explorer for a bit longer.

My family member's Sidekick is more reliable and durable than my newer loaded Explorer. Why? Because the Sidekick is the basic vehicle you can have, no power windows/locks, no A/C, mechanical auto tranny, no cruise, etc. Another thing probably, is because it's an import. Whatever the reason that may be, it is cheap and reliable to drive. But, I wouldn't caught driving that thing in the long run without the "luxuries" or gadgets such as automatic climate and cruise controls.

This is the new century and now is the time to make cars more practical, reliable, durable, and enjoyable to drive. That is why I create a list to help Lincoln to improve their Aviator and be more competitive with SUV in their class with the Lexus models, for example.

Much of the features I have included are available in Ford's divisions. Power liftgate is obviously in the Navigator. Headlamp washers are in the Range Rover. I assume that the heated steering wheel and the adaptive cruise control are in the Rover as well because of the BMW design. All they have to do then, is go to parts bin, make it work, test it, and of course, they got to make the parts of the vehicle a solid whole, while at the same time placing emphasis on quality and reliabilty/durablity.

If car companies offers a lifetime warranty as standard equipment, that would be wonderful!!

So, Stephen how is your new gadget-loaded Lexus so far

 

[Stephen]

I love it, but I definately maintain the position that quality is more important that gadgetry in the luxury market

 

[Christian]

Aviator Grounded!!!

My understanding is that the Lincoln Aviator is going to be discontinued for 2005 in the form that it is presently in. I have read that new Lincoln crossover type SUV is in the development stages. Apparently it now has been pushed up a bit due to the poor response the Aviator has received. While the Aviator has been widely praised for its performance it has been widely critisized for its close resemblence to the Navigator in looks and in price. The Avaitor competes in a highly competivley market segment and buyers of such vehicles not only demand quality but value as well. Many of you have mentioned here that a Aviator fully loaded costs the same as a Lexus RX330, the Lexus has the power lift gate the adaptive laser cruise control the Rearview camera. Heck the Aviator doesnt even have HID lights standard, something that I believe in this price range and class should be standard equipment. And who can argue about the quality of the Lexus and its resale potential. This is another area where Lincoln suffers and also in not giving the vehicle its own personality. Look what happen to the Blackwood truck after 1.5 years in production. Ford got the message that no one wanted to pay $53K for what was basically a Ford F-150 with a useless truck bed.

 

[woodychitwn]

I saw the new Aviator concept at the Chicago Auto Show last weekend. It's definitely a bad direction to go in I think. Someone over in the Lincoln design department needs a reality check. What's up with the retro designs? Cadillac has embraced modern cars with sleek lines and sharp edges. Cars that look big, mean and powerfull. And they're demographics are dropping rapidly because of it.

But if Lincoln really wants to go after the "retro" look, I say make a modern luxury crossover with styling from the 30's and 40's. Kinda like the PT Cruiser, but bigger and more luxurious. Something that implies luxury from a bygone era with timeless appeal. Now that would be an impressive looking Lincoln SUV.

 

[Garth]

Since all of this has been said, I have seen quiete a lot of Aviator around town.
I think the problem is not even the look alike aspect, which Caddilac is so into also but its infact the price. All these car company are giving so much in their packages. Tell me why a Sunroof and Navigation system is not included in a $42,000. Explorer.