Open Letter to Lincoln - How I'd Improve the Aviator

Relocate or recess the Captains chair (2nd row) seat fold/release buttons on the top. They are way too easy to accidentally actuate.
 
EcoBrick Bob said:
MItch,
Where is the start/stop button in the touch screen??? My 2023 Aviator Reserve has it on the top of the dash. This is in the same general area as my 2020 Explorer ST. I recently spent hours looking for it on the touch screen..... Wife made me come in and go to bed. Never found it! Maybe tomorrow.

The window sticker shows the model, whether it's AWD, and all options. As for determining what series the Aviator is on a used vehicle, hopefully the selling store will get that information and provide it to any interested party. As for those attempting to determine what model they see in the local grocery store parking lot, I think that there are very few automobiles that have specific model identifications, to deliniate between levels of models. Explorer does, but none of my current vehicles do.

Also... Who, but you really cares.... Wait... sometimes I do!!!
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He means the auto start/stop function not the ignition switch.
 
I agree. Unfortunately, not many vehicles offer them as OEM options.

I have one installed next to the inside mirror. It runs in a 15 minute loop when engine is on. Both my C7 Corvettes have OEM Cameras. It was an $1,800. option that also included navigation. One has to turn the Corvette OEM camera on every time you start the vehicle. This option became available in 2014, with the introduction of the C7 Corvette.
 
As for the start/stop button, I forgot about it as I have mine turned off permanently.

t I guess for those who are really into climate change or wanting the ultimate in gas mileage, the concept is worthwhile where there are 2 minute or longer traffic light times. These are common in Naples, FL. Unfortunately, having to use one's horn to wake up the driver in front, negates any energy saving!!
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Now that the rear drivers side leak has been repaired, and the various recalls have been performed I really can't think of anything I would change - love the looks, the ride, the performance (especially), utility, features. Only thing I miss on the standard model is the adaptive cruise and the adaptive headlights, but I could have ponied up for those if I wanted. Great vehicle, as another has said, maybe Chicago assembly isn't doing them any favors.
 
EcoBrick Bob said:
As for the start/stop button, I forgot about it as I have mine turned off permanently.

t I guess for those who are really into climate change or wanting the ultimate in gas mileage, the concept is worthwhile where there are 2 minute or longer traffic light times. These are common in Naples, FL. Unfortunately, having to use one's horn to wake up the driver in front, negates any energy saving!!
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My sons Hyundai alerts you if the car in front of you begins to pull away and you don't move. The timing is perfect and is a cool function (and yes you can disable that if you want).
 
jzweedyk said:
Wife says that they should have a memory seat on the passenger side. Hates when passengers mess with her settings. Why not?
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Agree 100%, how much did this save them. Luxury cars like Benz, BMW and Mercedes used to have that and they got cheap and began to remove that. Crazy not to have at least one saved setting for the passenger.
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Last edited:
The 2025 resolves both of those issues.
 
More settings tied to the driver memory setting. I like auto hold, my wife does not. Guess which setting is kept off almost 100% of the time.

The bass on the revel system can at times be impressive but seems flat more often than not. Seems like someone at Lincoln believed that "feeling" bass wasn't luxurious. My MKT has fuller richer bass over a larger frequency range, but i think that has a 10" woofer vs the 8" in the Aviator. The "sweet spot" of that 8" woofer is narrow so there is a peaky and narrow frequency range that drops off quickly. Most of the time it feels like the 6x9s in the doors are doing more of the bass work. Lets down an otherwise amazing sound system.

More control over the drive modes. My MKT allows me to set the handling feel for the two available drive modes meaning i can have smoother throttle and sharper handling by setting D to sport handling. The available modes on the Aviator seem to change throttle, transmission and AWD settings with no real noticeable difference to ride and handling.

Don't drop park assist, but DO make it simpler. My wife uses park assist all the time on the MKT, it's the one feature that sold her on getting that car. She NEVER uses park assist on the Aviator because it's too complicated for her even after i gave her a tutorial. When I told her Ford was dropping park assist as a company her response was "guess we're not getting a Lincoln next time"

We ended up with a 6 passenger reserve despite the wife's trepidations, the ideal configuration for us was a 7 passenger grand touring black label..... This was never offered. You can get the grand touring as a 7 passenger and i think the black label was also available as a 7 passenger.... why not the BL GT? Would have made our conversations about which trim to get much simpler.

It's already been mentioned in this thread but build quality. My hud has visible NVH tape hanging out, my infotainment screen occasionally rattles. I have a strange clunk in the drivers door over large bumps that sounds like the door itself is loose, my passenger door has a rattle in the speaker like it's not mounted properly or is interfering with something in the door. The drivers power mirror is jerky when in folding/unfolding. One of the clips in the rear passenger door was installed at an angle and never pressed in all the way leaving a visible gap. The exterior panel gaps aren't consistent and even the paint has defects that seem odd on a vehicle in this price range. Don't even get started on the recalls and TSBs out there on this car. The car only has 15k miles at this point. My MKT had nothing like this and at 10 years old is still chugging along without any real or perceived quality problems.

I've had several Lincolns and despite the flaws I'm happy with my Aviator. As someone with brand affinity I'm more likely than most to be forgiving of these concerns, but I can imagine many people experiencing this after coming from a Benz or BMW or any other lux brand and being turned off from the Lincoln brand for life. Which is painful to imagine for someone who wants to see Lincoln at its very best

It remains to be seen how the 25 Aviator fares vs the above concerns and as someone who buys and hangs onto cars for a long time my next one is likely to be a 2028 or 2029 model, which will probably be a whole new platform by then.
 
2023 BL and I’m still shocked at how far behind the cameras and display combination are. I figured everyone had these figured out by now.

My last vehicles in order: 2024 Acura MDX Advanced, 2023 Genesis G80 2.5 Sport Prestige, 2022 Genesis GV70 3.5 Advanced, 2022 Palisade Limited, 2021 BMW 430 ix….ALL absolutely CRUSH the camera/display quality and resolution. And be careful backing into a darker area like your garage at night relying on the backup lights to be enough for these awful cameras.
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Vin0770 said:
.............................. And be careful backing into a darker area like your garage at night relying on the backup lights to be enough for these awful cameras.
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That's when the sensors come in handy. ;) Also, my garage lights come on when entering.

Peter
 
Yup mine too. I don’t even bother trying to see through the backup camera….side view mirrors work fine.
 
Auto tilt down sideview mirrors when in reverse. Yes we have cameras, but I like options!
 
They should also advertise the Aviator using this song

Ruelle - Come Fly With Me

The Navigator ad with Ruelle was amazing.
 
And how could I have forgotten this incredible three row SUV fubar. In the order I’ve owned: Murano Platinum, Hylander Platinum Hybrid, Palisade Limited, GV70 Advance, ALL have security shade that covers the ENTIRE back storage area even with third row down. I’ll never use the third row but need the space for work…and I can’t cover whatever is in the back including $2000 of golf equipment? WTF…so someone walking by looks in the back and wonders what’s in those boxes? And bashes out the rear glass to have at it!

DUMB AS HECK 😤
 
The only 1 of the 5 vehicles listed in my Signature that had a removal and retractable cargo cover was the 2011 Limited. That cover sat in the garage until the vehicle was returned to the dealer 3 years later. Although I don't keep things in the cargo area, I agree it would be a handy item to have.

Peter
 
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