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

[peterk9]

I would like wireless carplay, slightly wider front seats and roof that is not so sloped, running boards as standard equipment and do away with that darn stop-start function. The stop-start function will only wear out the starter and battery prematurely.

Vehicles wirh the start/stop feature have equipment designed to cope with it. It's a common misconceprion the feature will cause premature parts failure. This has been duscussed before.

Peter

 

[2011MKSFavour]

Lincoln executives have been watching this community for years. They've also made improvements to their vehicles based upon what they've read here. They are listening to you.

This discussion will serve as a quick and easy way for Lincoln executives to gauge interest and help make decisions moving forward.

As am Aviator driver, you should state exactly what you'd like to see enhanced, added, and/or omitted from your Lincoln Aviator.

Any posts that don't stick to the subject matter will be moved elsewhere.

When I think of Aviator, I truly think sleek and edgy design on the exterior.
https://cdna.artstation.com/p/asset...arge/encho-enchev-mix-ngx-may1.jpg?1685338605

Then when I think of the Dashboard I think of

Lincoln executives have been watching this community for years. They've also made improvements to their vehicles based upon what they've read here. They are listening to you.

This discussion will serve as a quick and easy way for Lincoln executives to gauge interest and help make decisions moving forward.

As am Aviator driver, you should state exactly what you'd like to see enhanced, added, and/or omitted from your Lincoln Aviator.

Any posts that don't stick to the subject matter will be moved elsewhere.

 

[2011MKSFavour]

I want the Aviator to be exciting and aggressive. It needs to be UNIQUE when you see any Lincoln there should not be any question that it is TRULY a Lincoln. If you going to use the Aviator name then embrace it in design inside and out. That is why I chose the picture of the fighter jet and I had Co-Pilot create for me exactly what I interpret the inside to look like. Co-Pilot did an awesome job. Now I love sedans but Lincoln Designers get the exterior right and the inside. Just maybe I could be persuaded.

 

[breichert23]

The 2025 resolves both of those issues.

No fog lights on the 2025 model. At least I haven’t seen them yet.

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[breichert23]

Over the air updates would be nice to have also instead of having to purchase a flash drive and then having to manually install it.

 

[peterk9]

Over the air updates would be nice to have also instead of having to purchase a flash drive and then having to manually install it.

The 2025 with the Google system has true
OTA updates. My previous 2023 also perforrmed an update when connected to my home network.
Even on my 2020 I was able to manually update the system by downloading it from my Sync account. Never had to purchase the flash drive.

Peter

 

[bbf2530]

Hi gang. Just a quickie refresher:

-SYNC 3.0 had/has the ability to download SYNC system updates via computer download and USB installation, and/or when connected to a WiFi network.
Updating is essentially limited to the SYNC infotainment system.
However, WiFi updating was/is problematic at best, and very undependable.

-SYNC 3.4 also had/has the ability to download SYNC system updates via computer download and USB installation, and/or when connected to a WiFi network.
As with SYNC 3.0 updating, SYNC 3.4 updating is essentially limited to the SYNC infotainment system.
And while WiFi updating capability is still not ideal, some owners have more luck with SYNC 3.4 than with SYNC 3.0 systems.

-SYNC 4 had/has the ability of both WiFi updating via WiFi network connection, and OTA updating via a simple data connection. Even while on the road.

And as an FYI…in the Lincoln/Ford lexicon, WiFi update ability, and OTA update ability, are two different types of update processes.
SYNC 4 also introduced the ability for Lincoln to make WiFi and OTA updates to the engine management and other systems, as opposed to the SYNC 3.0 and 3.4 infotainment limitations.

The new Google based/“SYNC 5” (?) system is an entirely new animal with all the WiFi and OTA updating capability, plus more.

Again, just a basic, top-line look at the various systems.

Good luck.

 

[Scouty29]

A couple things for Lincoln to do.

1. Make your paint better. I have a black metallic on my 2023 Corsair reserve. Chips easily . Paint should be thicker and durable.
2. Interior rattles. While it rides nice small interior rattles that are heard consistently are annoying for a 60k car it should not be present. I didn’t buy a Kia.
3. Upgrade your plastics. Some interior portions of the car have soft touch plastic or vynyl. If im spending 60 k on a car or more any thing I can touch while driving should be of high quality. Save the hard plastics for the kick panels where it’s warranted to have this materials.
4. Take care of your dealers and weed out bad performers. When you nickel and dime them they nickel and dime your customer. I’m not saying good business practices shouldn’t be a part of Lincoln But What companies often forget is that when you don’t support your dealers they don’t support you endusers. This is why people hate the dealership experience. Also I realize dealerships and car makers are not a charity but poor service and poor experiences make for non returning customers. My brother has a 2018 continental with a sunroof that makes noise . Its done it since day one.It’s an 80k car but from the time he has had the car he has gotten the run around on the fix. To this day it still rattles and it’s still not fixed. Not a good experience.
5. Fix your surveys. Stop asking questions like do I trust ford or Lincoln . Trust comes with good customer service it takes a lot of effort to keep customers but one bad experience to loose them. That question will be defined by quality of your product and good experiences and service from the dealer. Ask questions like do I feel the dealer treated me fairly. Does the dealer provide an experience that makes me want to use them again. I know that your grading your dealers with these surveys but you should also know that the customer gets asked that we the dealer need to get a 10. I am of the opinion that the numbers should be earned not requested or given. Not prompted or expected.
6. Quality in the build wins the game. Sometimes it’s about how well you build something that keeps you on the map with your customers. Rather than how many you can slam out the factory door . It’s a delicate balance of quality and productivity that produces a product that people flock to.
7. Bring back the sedans and bring it back with retro fins like the 50s and 60s had but with a futuristic flair. That would be cool.

We love the Lincoln brand but

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[peterk9]

Get rid of the 21" and 22" wheels and standardize the 20" or at least make the 20" an option with all trims. I've never had as much damage to my right rear wheel as with the current 22" wheel all while driving in the same fashion and places as with my previous vehicles.

Peter

 

[Glennnfrisco]

I came from a Telluride and there are some “small” things that the Telluride had that I think would be a good add for the Aviator:

1. Have a 2 position cargo cover that could co behind either the 2nd row or 3rd row.

2. A 1-2 second delay after you push the tailgate close button. Gives a person a change to grab “that last bag of groceries” before getting hit on the head with the tailgate

3. Have the blind spot indicator light up yellow on the HUD when a vehicle is in your blind spot.

4. Some additional display options in the driver cluster. Take some from the Explorer

 

[peterk9]

I came from a Telluride and there are some “small” things that the Telluride had that I think would be a good add for the Aviator:

1. Have a 2 position cargo cover that could co behind either the 2nd row or 3rd row.
2. A 1-2 second delay after you push the tailgate close button. Gives a person a change to grab “that last bag of groceries” before getting hit on the head with the tailgate
3. Have the blind spot indicator light up yellow on the HUD when a vehicle is in your blind spot.
4. Some additional display options in the driver cluster. Take some from the Explorer

Welcome to the Forum.
As for the tailgate delay, that's not a bad idea. I think I know why you suggested that. I have on occasion removed the last item and my hands are full so I'm unable to press the button. That is why I found the foot-activated feature on my previous Aviator handy.

Peter

 

[inmanlanier]

A couple things for Lincoln to do.

1. Make your paint better. I have a black metallic on my 2023 Corsair reserve. Chips easily . Paint should be thicker and durable.

We also have a moderate number of chips on the hood. Perhaps I should drive slower to and from NC

1. Quality in the build wins the game. Sometimes it’s about how well you build something that keeps you on the map with your customers. Rather than how many you can slam out the factory door . It’s a delicate balance of quality and productivity that produces a product that people flock to.

Not that long ago we noted how the improperly placed right side rear door trim was improperly installed. The front edge would rub the paint on the B pillar each open/close. We noted when we saw the primer. The local dealership did a good job replacing the trim piece and properly mounting it, then touching up the worn B pillar paint.

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[Homer1946]

Lincoln... You need to add a MUTE button to our radio controls. I'm shocked there doesn't seem to be one. Remember there was one on my 2020 Explorer ST.

The power/volume button essentially acts just like a mute button. It instantly pauses the playback (and of course mutes it) and then resumes when the button is pushed again. No significant power up or power off delay.

 

[Homer1946]

I have read some great responses and wanted to put my list. Recently I rode in a new fully loaded Jeep and was frankly disappointed that it had more (and sometimes better) features than my Lincoln. I know most of these were already mentioned, but I want to give them weight by mentioning them again:

• Touch-free liftgate (the whole reason I bought my first Aviator)
• Auto-lock when I walk away. The car auto unlocks when I approach, and I would like the option to lock when I leave.
• Memory seat positions for the passenger side.
• Allow pausing audio from the steering wheel.
• Night vision assistance
• Auto dim the HUD when the headlights come on
• Allow me to adjust the height on my own - would be especially helpful when trying to pick up my elderly mother.
• Would it be possible to allow the check engine error codes to be sent to the app on my phone?
• I would also like more control over the layout of my dashboard. On the Jeep, I could move the odometer, tach, speedometer, compass, clock, etc., etc. to wherever I wanted it. On the Lincoln I feel very stuck in what somebody else feels is best.

I want to amplify these. Especially:

• Would it be possible to allow the check engine error codes to be sent to the app on my phone?

Currently the Aviator will turn on warning lights that are not obvious in meaning, and that require me to take a picture of the dash and do a Google image search to define. It has a fully digital dash. It could display a message in English (even if that clears with an OK or automatically after 15 seconds) or, even show the message in the warning section of the maintenance screen. However, just not explaining the warning at all...WFT?

 

[sspradley]

I'll add - self-drive longer. The few seconds we get are nice but it'd be nice on a long drive - straight highway to get self-drive. Also - what's with no loaners being available at the dealer when the car's in for a week or more? That seems really odd. Even Toyotas and Hondas have plenty of loaners. Didn't have to be an Aviator - just something while the Aviator was getting a new transmission...?

 

[peterk9]

Your concerns were addressed in your other post/thread.

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