chikoo

This should help
https://www.quora.com/When-laying-ra...ngths-of-track

Toys4RJill

Yes, pretty disappointing. Lincoln should be getting the little right. They need to make a good impression on new buyers who might be intrigued by the new design.

mmarshall

That's the way that railroad and subway tracks used to be laid years ago, but then they started welding them together to eliminate the annoying "click-clack" sound of the wheels over the expansion-joints.

Toys4RJill

I don't think your claim of modern vehicle panel expansion holds any water. I believe my dads ES350, the hood is rubber sealed when the hood is closed. Not much a way to go. Same thing with the upper part of the doors.

mmarshall

Sorry, Jill, but I didn't write the laws of physics. In most cases, materials expand in heat and contract in the cold...water turning to ice is one of the rare exceptions, where it expands as it freezes.



....True, but the rubber-seal itself is flexible (rubber is not a rigid substance), and allows for a slight amount of panel expansion/contraction.

Toys4RJill

But you are not an engineer, I do not think car door expansion is a concern. We have not seen any problems and car makers have been building cars for 100 plus years. I think the way they build them is just fine. You make it should like there is this big concern we should all be watching out for.

mmarshall

As I said earlier, it's more of a problem with plastic body panels than with metal. That's why the Saturn S-series cars had such wide gaps.....they were deliberately there for a reason.

MattyG

Maybe Lincoln doesn't need to worry about marketing or panel gaps. The good folks at a Lincoln forum seem to be interested in the Continental:

http://lincolnforums.com/forums/thre...My-Continental

LOWFAST

Great, if Lincoln's sales goal is about 100 units they have it nailed!

mmarshall

Good point, Matty. I think this car is going to sell on its looks alone.

SW17LS

To people who like Lincolns...which clearly there aren't a ton of because they don't sell a ton of Lincolns.

The car is attractive, but I don't think its incredible looking at all...

mmarshall

Well, perhaps not incredible in the commonly accepted sense of the term, but certainly the best thing Lincoln has done in years is to get rid of those (IMO) silly-looking wing / buck-teeth grilles and use the Jaguar-like drone ends. Also, on the consoles inside, by getting rid of the frustrating finger-slide/sensor controls and using simple rotary *****. It has totally transformed the whole look and feel of the vehicles. (and some versions of the MKZ got a new softer suspension this year for ride comfort). My guess (though we'll wait and see) is that the MKC and MKX also get those new front ends at their first major redesign or facelifting.

Make no mistake about it, though...some gremlins still remain. The MKC, though a nice overall design, certainly doesn't exhibit the best overall build quality in its class (compact luxury SUV). The Lincoln dealer network, in general, is a borderline joke...although that nice big Ford/Lincoln facility you saw there in Chantilly yesterday is one of the exceptions. Jill, of course, got some shots of questionable panel-fit in the Continental, though I still think that issue may be a little overdone. And, as you have suggested, the rival Cadillac CT6's RWD may appeal more to those considering a shift from the RWD Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7-series....I don't think the Continental is going to draw them in as much the CT6. But I still think the Continental may draw in some of those moving up from lesser FWD cars....vehicles like the Taurus, LaCrosse, Impala, Cadenza, Azera, Avalon, etc.....

mmarshall

Well, I got my long-awaited chance today to review and drive the new Continental. For the most part, though there are a couple of minor flaws in the design, it was a great experience...well worth the wait. I definitely liked it more than the Cadillac CT6....especially the Continental's superb interior. Details coming up...should have the review written up in a day or two.

MattyG

Somehow I knew that waiting for an up close and personal look-see would be better than jumping to conclusions. Other than its engine/transmission layout I would rather read about what the car's really like first hand. Please make sure to dish on the panel-gap issue that is front page news on this thread.

mmarshall

Yes, I've addressed that in the EXTERIOR section. I should have it posted sometime late tomorrow.