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It's a pick up? It's a tank? No - it's a Lincoln Mark LT

Karthik Sivakumar, MBA1

Issue date: 4/10/06 Section: Automotive
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As I drove along Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor in the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT to run some errands, I began to wonder if I had made a mistake. Over a hundred people were waiting for me to bring some Indian food to the Indian party of Rangotsav, Festival of Colors, and I was running late. Driving the huge $47K behemoth rapidly through the crowded and narrow streets seemed as tough a task as acing the Accounting 553 finals - possible but not fun, and, if late, I would be an unpopular person at the party. However, when I stepped on the gas and the truck surged forward, I noticed that people and cars got out of my way rather quickly.

When we picked up this monster, and my fellow Auto Editor, Ray, and I knew we had a tank to drive around for a week. On a serious note, all you high-end haulers, your wait is over. Ford has listened to your needs of combining serious towing capabilities with some luxurious amenities. The all-new Lincoln Mark LT attempts to appeal to a more affluent customer base with its luxurious trappings. Our tester came fully loaded with a 5.4L V8 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, the four-wheel drive option, and leather interior- all the essential elements to compete with the Cadillac Escalade EXT pickup.

This is a four door crew cab with a short cargo box (truck bed) in back. The cabin is spacious and can accommodate 5 adults comfortably. The front seats are adequate while the rear bench seat is just average. The seats are scarce in the padding department; so long trips could be an issue. The rear bench seat could easily be folded - very convenient for quickly loading bulky items into the back.

The interior is a marked improvement for a Ford (ok, Lincoln) vehicle. The wood accents and the leather add-ons actually were of good, consistent quality. The dash and center console has a harmonious look and blends well with rest of the interior. The seating position is high and is adequate for a truck of this size. The controls on the dash and steering wheel are easy to use and the neat stitching on the leather-covered shift lever is a nice touch. The Audiophile sound system, with the six-disc in-dash CD changer and MP3 capability, provides 290 watts of powerful music through six speakers and a subwoofer. The system definitely kicks the Escalade's butt. Speaking of butt, after climbing into the truck, it feels good to sink into the front heated passenger seats.
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