Hardware Geeks

Today is my last full day with the 2009 Lincoln MKZ and well I am a bit sad, because the car is amazing. It handles well it’s comfortable to be in and it is loaded with features in particular Sync.

Being that today is Sunday and typically my down day I really didn’t do much with the car today, I only drove her around the neighborhood to see how she handled and she handles oh so well. Living in NYC you face a lot of obstacles and the MKZ handled them all flawlessly. One scary moment I did have was while driving down Utica Ave in Brooklyn NY. There is a lot of bus and cab traffic on that street and there was a bus at a bus stopped and I was in the lane next to it when suddenly a cab pulled out from in front of the bus. I did not see it as it was hidden behind the bus, but if it weren’t for the good brakes that the MKZ has, I don’t think if I could of slowed the car down enough to prevent an accident.

But I was able to slow down enough, even came to a complete stop and the cab and I both went on our way with no incident what so ever.

Something I did test today was the emergency features in the car. The first thing I did was tell the car I wanted to go to the Navigation Menu and then told it I wanted a police station. It found one right away and I was able to plot a route. I did the same for a Fire House and Hospital.

I also found out that the hospital I thought was closest to me is actually .5 miles further away than one which I thought was further away, so if I ever had an emergency the car would help me get to medical personnel fast, especially when seconds count.

Three weeks ago when at a Microsoft event, I was given a demo on this very same car, and I was also told that unlike OnStar if I ever dial 911 I can leave the car with my cell phone and still be on the line with an emergency operator, I also wouldn’t have to go through a 3rd party operator like I would have to if I were to press that blue OnStar button.

So with the permission of the NYPD (well actually a cop friend of mine who said it would be no problem and with him in the car) we called 911 to see how exactly the emergency called would be handled by the car and if when out of the car would the bluetooth signal release the connection to the phone.

It did but I did need to get at few feet away from the car before the bluetooth connection was severed.

But it is true, since the Sync system uses your cell phone signal to make calls, all emrgency calls go to your local emergency number. Unlike OnStar where you have to deal with a third party operator that relays information to the 911 operator and you run the risk that they may not connect you to the right one.

I really lik the Lincoln MKZ, and I really like the Sync system. So if you are looking for a car and you want a Ford or Lincoln, I definitely recommend the Sync option.