akirby

It looks very similar to the Lexus RX350 and they sell a TON of those. Or at least 100K or so. Regardless of the name, the MKX will sell quite well.

I corrected that post after re-reading the owner's manual. See corrected post above.

Oops - missed that distinction. Here's the corrected version: D with O/D - shifts 1-6 normally D without O/D shifts 1-4 normally (5 and 6 are locked out) If you're in 4Lo 4WD mode then D will shift 2-6 with or without the O/D button engaged. 3 - starts and stays in 3rd gear 2 - starts and stays in 2nd gear 1 - starts and stays in 1st gear

Interesting - works for me on both Firefox and IE. Here's the info from the 2007 Expedition OM: D with O/D - shifts through 1-5 normally D without O/D shifts through 1-4 normally 3 - starts and stays in 3rd gear 2 - starts and stays in 2nd gear 1 - starts and stays in 1st gear

It's not the car, it's the platform. The D3 platform was originally designed by Volvo who doesn't use large V8s. They're working on a compact V8 (smaller than the 4.6L) that should work nicely but that's still a few years off. Until then they'll do fine with a 3.7L standard V8 and Twin Turbo option. The RL only had 300 hp. A Twin Turbo 3.7 should be pushing 375. More than enough to compete with the NA import V8s.

There is no difference between ordering and taking one off the lot - that's up to the dealer. There are very few models that Ford says are not eligible for A/X/Z plan. Here is the current list: However, it's totally up to the dealer whether they sell you a vehicle on A/X/Z plan or not. Most dealers would not do X plan on a Mustang GT until recently because they were selling all they could get at MSRP. If dealers are selling the Edge and MKX as fast as they can get them for close to MSRP then you'll be hard pressed to find a dealer willing to do A plan (or X plan), and you can hardly blame them unless you're a long time customer.

RTFM: https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/owne...als/default.asp

It's at least $2K less than a comparably equipped Murano, it's closest competitor, even at MSRP. And it outperforms the Murano.

I think it would be easier to provide a user selectable setting such as normal, sport and track that would dictate shift speed, engine braking and upshift points rather than trying to "guess" what the user wants based on throttle/braking and/or steering inputs.

Check with the dealer. Some of the rebates aren't allowed with A/X/Z plan. Hopefully the college grad rebate is ok. I know the $500 Quarter Horse Association rebate isn't combinable with A/X/Z plan (wish I'd known that before I joined).

It was 91 for both the 05 and 06 Navigators but for 07 it's 87. The hp and torque ratings are the same, so either they used different software tuning for the 05/06 but didn't advertise the power difference or they said 91 was required when it was really 87. Can't imagine how they'd make a mistake like that for both the 05 and 06 models but I guess it's possible. The 2007 Expedition uses 87 octane. You can get owner's manuals for all vehicles here: https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/owne...als/default.asp

True - but actually developing the software that uses the sensor inputs to modify the shifting is incredibly complicated. Shift quality is relatively easy - there is a table of shifts by rpm with the current pressure and expected shift time. Each shift is compared to the expected shift time and the pressure adjusted if necessary. But trying to figure out when to shift or not or how hard or soft based on numerous inputs either requires software that's incredibly complicated or it requires an algorithm that's so simple that it's not very useful. Some simple things like not upshifting if you're negotiating a curve can be done but it's going to take awhile for the software to catch up with the hardware capabilities.

Adaptive shift-quality control is what I was referring to - it's common. I'd like to see examples where the Adaptive shift scheduling is actually used. I bet it's Land Rover, Jag and/or Volvo. I doubt it's in any F/L/M vehicles yet, although it would be nice.

I didn't say it did. But the shift control is usually in the PCM software - so it's logical to think that over vehicles would use the same strategy. I know the controls for the 6F are in the software - that's one difference between the Ford and GM version of that tranny. I think transmissions that actually adapt their shifting to the driver are rare. I think you may be overestimating the meaning of the word Adaptive in advertising. Do you have any real examples that clearly say the tranny adapts to the driver?

I know that the 5R55 family does not learn driving patterns but does learn the proper shift pressure required to return a perfect shift (per factory specs). It measures the pressure used and the amount of time that each shift takes and adjusts the pressure to account for manufacturing variances or wear over time. Some people think that it adjusts to how they drive the car but that's not true, at least for the 5R55's used in the explorer/tbird/LS.

Apparently there was a TSB for some problem with the FFV vehicles that suggested not using E85 until a fix could be determined. I think that was the basis of the lawsuit - that some vehicles labeled FFV were not able to use E85 because of this problem that Ford apparently hasn't yet fixed. Unless it affects all vehicles and they're unable to fix it I think the lawsuit is without merit - not that it matters when it comes to suing Ford.

I wasn't given any details. That would seem to make sense, but the MKZ and Edge/MKX are different so there could have been issues that only affected the MKZ. It could have also been a supply issue. If I was buying one it would really matter to me. I just expected the new 6F50 to be used hand-in-hand with the 3.5L.

My information that the Aisin unit is being used came from a Ford transmission engineer. Not sure why iluvford feels the need for any further confirmation.

Why wouldn't you take the word of a Ford transmission engineer?

I confirmed it with a Ford engineer as I reported on Edmunds. It's the same Aisin unit used on the Zephyr. I expect to see the 6F in the next model year. I don't think there was anything wrong with the Aisin unit - they're both 6 speeds. I think the main push was that the 6F would be cheaper and more plentiful.

It was a press release for the new transmission that said it would be used in the Edge/MKX and MKZ. And according to my engineering contact that was the plan, they just ran out of resources to make it happen for this year.

The early press releases on the MKZ touted the new tranny and that was the plan but they simply didn't have enough resources to get the engineering done in time with all the other changes. I expect to see it next year. It has to be cheaper than the Aisin unit because it's built in house. The plan was to use the new tranny exclusively with the new 3.5L duratec so from that standpoint it makes perfect sense - now they have 1 engine with 2 different trannies.

Don't you remember the Toby Keith commercials (one was in a diner) where he compared the F150 frame section to the Chevy and Dodge? They were on a lot a year or two ago.

Ford could still use it even if it's patented - they'd just have to pay GM and that might kill the business case.

67 Mustang Fastback and 77 F100 Ranger.