Cars.com Podcast: Crossover Craziness

It seems the gremlins in our podcast feed have been exposed to sunlight, and our stream of enlightened musings is flowing again. That’s good because it means you get to hear Kelsey Mays explain how the new Honda Accord Crosstour really is like a fish out of water.

His conflicted feelings are countered by David Thomas’ outright love for Lincoln’s MKT, and Joe Wiesenfelder talks about his time in the all-new Audi S4 and why it couldn’t live up to his expectations.

You can download the podcast via iTunes here (yay!) or just hit the play button below. 

Cars.Com Podcast #31

Dads Weigh In on Lincoln MKT's Looks

It’s not often I get in a new test car and fall in love with it. I take that back — it’s not often I get a non-sports car/sedan and fall in love with it. As a car reviewer, it does happen, and there are usually good reasons for it. Such was the case with the 2010 Lincoln MKT. I liked the looks, roominess, comfortable seats, tech features, huge sunroof, ease of loading the kids and cargo, and the EcoBoost engine. I just dug it. My full review can be found here.

However, I wondered if other dads shopping for a family crossover or luxury SUV would feel the same way about it. Would the MKT’s looks win them over or drive them away? For the most part, it was a one-sided conversation and I was on the losing end.

Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Lincoln MKT

The boldly styled 2010 Lincoln MKT has a grille that looks like the maw of the T-Rex from “Jurassic Park,” but that isn’t the only thing about the MKT that will grab your attention. As Cars.com reviewer David Thomas explains, the MKT has been built and priced to dominate the luxury-crossover market without apologies. Allow him to explain how this crossover could succeed in his full review of the MKT.

2010 Lincoln MKT Review

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2010 Lincoln MKT Video

It’s a tricky proposition to slice into that perfect middle ground for luxury-car buyers who want plenty of room but don’t want the heft or associations of a minivan or large SUV. Lincoln is trying to do this with the 2010 MKT, a three-row crossover. Cars.com’s David Thomas shows you the ins and outs of the MKT in this video and explains why you might want to spring for the EcoBoost engine.

2010 Lincoln MKZ Video

With distinctive styling, a powerful engine and plenty of built-in tech, the 2010 Lincoln MKZ made a lasting impression on Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley. Check out this video as Hanley takes you through the luxury sedan and explains why — if you’re test driving cars in this segment — you might want to add the MKZ to your list.

Cars.com Podcast: 2010 Lincoln MKZ, MKS EcoBoost

The current state of Lincoln as a brand is debated among the editors as they discuss two of its recent sedans that visited the Cars.com offices. Mike Hanley, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder discuss the redesigned 2010 Lincoln MKZ and the 2010 Lincoln MKS with the twin-turbo EcoBoost engine. Can either or both help a brand struggling to define itself in a competitive environment?

Download the podcast via iTunes here or listen in a browser here.

2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost Video

V-8 power with V-6 fuel economy? That’s what Lincoln says its EcoBoost engine will get you in the 2010 Lincoln MKS. Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley got behind the wheel of the EcoBoost model to find out if this held true. Even if it did, would it be worth the extra $5,000 tacked on to the price tag? Hanley puts the EcoBoost MKS to the test and compares it to its very stiff competition.

Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

The Lincoln MKS previously made do with a standard V-6 engine, but Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley climbed behind the wheel of a 2010 MKS with an EcoBoost V-6. What does the EcoBoost engine provide for the driver? And does it make the 2010 MKS worth more than $50,000, even with plenty of solid competition at that price? Read Hanley’s full review to find out how the MKS and its new engine fare.

2010 Lincoln MKS Review

Spy Photos: 2011 Lincoln MKX in Chicago

As our readers know, we don’t publish many spy photos here at Cars.com, but when an automaker is brazen enough to drive a camouflaged test car past our headquarters in downtown Chicago — nay, past the very Dunkin’ Donuts we frequent daily — they’re just asking for trouble.

Hence, you have three Cars.com staffers snagging photos of this decked-out next-generation Lincoln MKX in downtown Chicago with their iPhones and Palm Pre — geeks, feel free to guess which is which.

We could tell it was a Lincoln because it’s sporting the same wheels as the new MKT crossover — though here they’re painted black for undercover work — and because there was a numeric keypad on the door. There’s only one company still using those, and it’s Ford. The new MKX is likely to inherit the new Lincoln grille found on the new MKS and MKT.

More images are below.  

Recall Alert: 2009 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator

Ford has issued a recall for 1,357 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles from the 2009 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The brake stop lamp switch may be adjusted incorrectly, which could cause a delay in the brake lights’ illumination.

In other words, the brake pedal could be depressed and the lights could either illuminate late or not at all. The failure of brake lights could endanger the vehicle’s occupants or other drivers on the road.

Dealers will adjust the brake stop lamp switch for free. Owners may contact Ford at 866-436-7332 or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

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