Sooo, did you disconnect the power wire running from the battery when you did that change on the Airbox? I have had the airbox opened up for about a week and a half already and still have a growl. I don't mind the growl but, I read (Brunobus) state that it went to a purr and trottle response improved dramaticly? It sounds good on rerouteing the snorkle to the other side of the box but, you also have to consider the added heat coming from the engine into the bigger opening from the snorkle. Maybe if you would silicon that hole up it would work even better. Does anyone know where that hole in the fender that the snorkle attches too leads? It looks like it makes it way through to the under side of the wheelwell but, that wouldn't make much cents. Also, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone on this site. Mike
Thanks for the quick feedback on the tires and suspension. I plan to go to another dealer tomorrow to see what he has on his lot. I plan to look at Lexus GS 300, Acura RL, and Jaguar X Type as well. I am leaning towards Lincoln for several reasons: To buy American, V8 power, Value/Price and their strong finish in the JD Powers Five Year Dependability Survey. I want to like this car, I only wish the salesman was more Knowledgeable yesterday. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
First, if it's got a shimmy something needs attention. I'd get them to fix it *before* you buy.
Second: The LSes without the sport package have a somewhat smoother ride. Of course with a slight tradeoff in handling, but maybe the right balance for you.
I didn't ever disconnect the battery, but I think that the computer (using the MAF sensor and O2 sensor) would have noticed the change sooner than what it did had I pulled the battery cable.
A while ago on this board someone mentioned that one should pull the battery to reset the computer anytime any changes (performance wise) take place. Then, the computer can learn from scratch what it is seeing.
FYI I drive about 60-80 miles a day so that may also factor in to how long it takes for the computer to see the change.
On the snorkel, it is pretty typical on most modern day cars for it to go out to the wheel well. The idea is to get fresh, rather than engine heated, air.
I left the snorkel in place for 2 reasons: one is that it is still getting the fresh air in from the wheel well, the other is that it seems to create a barrier between the hole I put in the air box and the engine, thus minimizing the amount of hot air that gets pulled in.
Regarding whether the Covercraft LS Bra is is easy to take on and put off. It is a 2 piece so you have to lift the Hood. It is easy to put on. Has about 3 holders on each wheel well, one inside the hood on each side and 2 for the bottom of the bumper. About Five minutes to put on or take off.
I normally leave mine on and only everynow and then when I want to see the LS Face sans Bra do it take it off for about a week or two. Then it goes back on... The Silver LS just looks nice with it on. Like I said, I can't see any scuffing on MY car coming from the bra. Also the bra has been on when it rains but has never caused a problem. I know this can be a problem causing the paint to get cloudy. Has not been a problem for ME. The only beauty scars my car has on the frontal area are those caused by rocks hitting it when the bra was not on!
goodyrl, on my 2000 I get a chime after a couple of minutes of not having my seat belt fastened (as I wait to go through the car wash after gas). If I just press the release button where the belt anchors and the chime stops. Are you hitting the button when you don't get the chime? I don't remember if my red light stays on after I quiet the chime. I'll check next time I'm out. Do you get a chime when you leave your blinker on for 5 minutes? That might help you figure out if it's the chime or the belt.
Took the 2002 V8 Sport out for a second test drive Friday after test driving Jag S 3.0 and Jag X Type 2.5M/3.0A. Verdict: I was not all that overwhelmed by the Cat cars like I thougt I might be. The X Types is fairly small, while the S seemed like it caters to the over 55 crowd. Don't get me wrong, the Jags were quite quick, but I did not feel comfortable. LS was great on the other hand, I am quite sure about the car, just trying to choose colors and package. The one on the lot is Black on Black, but living in South Florida has me wondering how hot that combination can get in the middle of the summer? It is very striking though. I am use to light color exterior/interior cars my whole life.
Glad you like it, and also to hear from someone who's done a direct comparison with the Jaguars. Although the LS and S-type share the same basic platform, the Jag suspension is tuned more for ride than performance. The V8 version of the S-type has a bit more power than the LS, and perhaps a nicer interior, but at a large price. I was originally drawn to the LS by my interest in the Jaguar, but the Jag's price was too steep. If I had it to do over again today, the LS would be my choice, price notwithstanding.
Mine is dark satin green and the AC cools it off very quickly. However, my interior is very light grey. Bruno, if you're lurking, does your black LS have the charcoal interior?
Being in South Florida you may want to try Carlos Lopez at Palm Beach Lincoln. He is the web sales guy there and got me a better deal than I could find anywhere else down here. He is a good guy to boot.
Who ever said it doesn't rain in Southern California LIED!! I thought I could run our errands and be back before the <20% chance of rain hit! I didn't and it's pouring (yea, it's even REAL rain!). Now I have to wash my car! Wouldn't it be great to get paid 6 figures and be wrong a good part of the time!?
I think my Firehawks have about 35k on them. 25 from Ray (correct me if I'm wrong) and 10k of my own. I thought they were fine until I hit some not so deep water. I started sliding away from the puddle. I've hydroplaned before, but never this bad. If it looks like we will have the wet weather they are forcasting, I will need new rubber. Any thoughts on the Yokohama AVS db?
This is a great board BTW! Thought I would share my test drive experience with Jag and LS with some more detail. What I was trying to convey earlier was that the S-type feels like a well-bred English gentlemen's car which is stated by its interior/dashboard layout. The Jag S 3.0 and the LS are very similar, the common platform really shows, but they also have distinct differences. On the whole, the S-type just feels more refined, but stodgy in ergonomics. I did not observe any significant problems with either platform and the ambient noise level seemed about the same at 50 MPH. I could not take the Jag on the interstate. The salesman at Jag was fairly knowledgeable, but very reluctant to mention the shared parts by Ford. Denied any knowledge of a Jag X Type rebate that seems to be rumored on the Jag BB.
As I mentioned earlier, the first thing I did last Wednesday was run the LS to 80 MPH on the Interstate and take my hands off the wheel and observe some steering wheel shimmy. There was a very slight resonance in the S-type but neither the wheel shake nor the resonance noises were anywhere as bad as the LS. Power from the VVT 3.0 V6 was more than adequate. The transmission shifts seemed firmer and crisper than the LS. Hard to say because of the distinct different driving conditions. The Lincoln salesman was a very well mannered but limited knowledge of his own car.
After Friday’s testing of the Jag and LS, compared to the S-type the LS just feels more 1960's American. All in all I prefer the LS, especially with its extra V-8 torque. The Jag felt softer in ride, but harder in creature comforts in terms of the interior; e.g., very stiff leather seats. I thought the LS seats were quite comfy compared to Jag S.
As for color, the dealer says he has one of the Tri Colors coming in Monday—can’t remember which one? I would like to see it before considering the black car. I also noticed they park the Black/Black car under cover? Is that so no one notices how hot it gets? I have to find someone down here with that color combination soon.
Questions: 1. Did Lincoln fix the rear window regulator problem? 2. What is this air box problem? 3. What is the “X” Plan? 4. Are the shiny chrome wheels popular or is it a fad? I tend to keep a car at least 5-6 years. 5. The tires are Bridgestone Tiranza (sp?) Are these good tires? I see people mentioning Firehawks a lot?
Wheel shimmy seems to be not too uncommon with the LS. BUT, it also appears to be a tire balance weight problem, as having the tires balanced seems to "cure" almost all shimmy issues. I thought this was a Firehawk issue, but perhaps it's not.
Window regulators - redesign finished but I don't know if parts are in production yet.
There is no air box "problem." The 2002 MY has a less restrictive air box (and exhaust) giving the 2002 V6 an additional 10 HP & 10 ft-lbs.
Not familiar with the X-plan.
Chrome wheels will hold-up to cleaning better than clear-coat aluminum. If you prefer the looks then go for chrome else order a different wheel.
Not familiar with the bridgestones, Ford dropped Firestone after the Explorer tire recall, so no Firehawks on LS's.
The window regulator fiasco is almost over. You may not have any problem and time is on your side. Worst case scenario is one replacement when final redesign is in production and if you have a problem. Chrome wheels: the stock Sport wheels are heavy enough; chrome just adds weight. The 2002 air box is the one we 1999-2001 owners are paying $140 for. You will already have it at no extra charge. X plan and similar plans are for Ford employees or employees of suppliers when buying Ford products. Balance problem: there is a certain high-end Hunter balancer that balances in three planes. Out West, many Discount Tire stores have this balancer. My Firehawks were rebalanced once and what a difference it made ($29.95). Well worth it. Weak spots in the LS: Exhaust system (especially in the V-6), door speakers, 1999-2001 air box,window regulators. Not bad and all easily fixed. On 2002, get 4 Polk Dx-7's, Borla,and enjoy. You don't need to play with the engine or suspension. That's a relief.
The spacing (108 mm) and offset (40 mm) for the S-type standard wheels are the same as the LS, I THINK. The spare wheel on my '01 LS is a 16" Jag S-type wheel, painted black, so that should mean that the S and LS wheels are interchangeable in terms of fitting the hubs correctly.
Tire Rack's list of wheels for the LS and the S-type are the same, so that's another good indication. Tire Rack says that 18" and even 19" wheels will work on the LS. The only area of real concern, then, would be tire clearance; you'd likely have to go to a 40-series tire. Tire Rack doesn't appear to stock the Monaco, unfortunately, but you might try calling their 800 number and asking them--they're supposed to be really good at answering questions. Their website is at www.tirerack.com & you can find the number there.
The Monaco is a two-piece wheel made by BBS, and is available from Jag dealers, so it probably costs a fortune. Here's an article I found with a good picture of the Monaco:
Sounds like you have a bad case of LS fever; congratulations! ;-)
Most of your questions have already been answered by others; here's my two cents' worth. The Firestone Firehawks were standard equipment on the LS Sport from start of production through the middle of the '01 model year. They were replaced by the Turanzas at that time. I don't recall that we've had a that much feedback on the Turanzas yet, but the LS suspension team spent a great deal of time and effort on tire selection, so I'm guessing that they're a good choice for the car.
The balance machine that Stan is referring to is the Hunter GSP9700, I believe. Here's a link to a page on the Hunter website that will locate shops in your area that have this particular Hunter in case you need one:
Color is, obviously, a very subjective topic. I personally think that black is the best exterior car color, bar none. (I don't care much for black interiors, but again, it's subjective.)
I've had two black cars--I live in Central Texas--and I can tell you from personal experience that they get VERY hot when sitting in a parking lot in 100-degree weather. Having your windows tinted and using a windshield sunshade will certainly help mitigate it. A black interior with a black exterior compounds the problem. You might try going to a large dealer that has a bunch of cars in stock and checking out a black LS with either the parchment or graphite interiors; they're much lighter & would help some with heat buildup.
Black looks fabulous when it's clean, and it stays clean for about 20 minutes after you wash it. You also have to be careful when washing; use a real sheepskin mitt or some other high-quality organic cloth to avoid surface scratches, because black will show every mark. Never, ever use a sponge on paint. A California Duster is a great tool to get rid of dust, and would probably be particularly helpful on a black car. Black takes some extra work, but I think it's worth it.
I'm not trying to scare you away from black; again, it's my favorite. Just giving you some heads-up info that I learned from experience. One of the posters here (I forget who) has a detailing business, and has provided some great information; maybe he will chime in with his experiences in dealing with black paint.
My LS is ivory parchment tricoat; the other tricoat is white pearl, and they both look great, IMHO. This is the first really light-colored car I've had in years, and it's surprising how much difference it makes regarding heat buildup.
Hope this helps; remember, it's up to you to make the choice. Get what makes you happy.
We've been kicking around this topic for so long we all know what the other guy is talking about, so just to clarify: Rear window regulators in the LS were prone to failure from day one. It is not a cheap part; Lincoln buys them from the same company that makes them for BMW. It was redesigned around the beginning of this calendar year. Most of us are driving around with these replacements with no problems. Last month at Wixom they showed LLSOC members the final new design, which they planned on having on the production line this month, and in dealers' parts stocks by Dec. or Jan.
It became a fiasco mainly for two reasons. 1) It's a small but glaring fault in an otherwise superb car, and 2) the replacements were on back order for quite a while earlier this year and many people were unable to get their windows fixed.
Apologies to all who have heard this a zillion times. But now, as Paul Harvey would say, you know The Rest of the Story.
And thanks for your impressions on the Jaguar. Considering the shared components, we get surprisingly little input from S-type owners both here and over at the LLSOC site.
IIRC, at Wixom they told us that ALL production 2002 cars would have the new regulators, and that replacements would be available at dealers in early 2002 for us unlucky souls.
With the new airbox and optimized window regulators, your 2002 is way ahead of the curve. Spend much less than $1000 on the Polk DX-7's and the Borla system (which comes with a less restrictive air filter) and you will have a car that will outhandle, outaccelerate and sound better than a 5 series BMW at many more $$$$. Members of this board can recommend sources for the above components that can save you time and money. Been there, done that. You'll soon be taking off-ramps at twice the posted speed. Have Fun!
I cut out most of the vertical side right behind the headlight, to the right (fender side, as you look at the installed airbox) of the mount for the snorkel. I removed the snorkel totally and installed a (heat riser) hose from a hole I drilled on the left (engine) side of the mount down through the hole in the sheetmetal. I hope this makes sense. If I had a digital camera I would take a photo. I'll try and work something out.
Why does the V6 selectshift not allow 1st gear starts? Most likely because it's the same software and it would be too expensive to make it different. Besides, you don't buy a V6 automatic if you want maximum performance.
You say that the seat belt light comes on but, there is no chime. There is a way to activate and deactivate that alarm/chime in the owners manual. I just recently deactivated it because I couldn't stand that annoying chime every 30 sec. when I'm just going down the road. It does exactly the same as you described your too do, light up but NO chime. I do understand why the feature is on the car to promote seat belt wearing. I wear my seat belt on far drives but, leave it off during inter-city driving. The Lincoln LS does have the governments five-star rating so I feel pretty safe when I drive my car plus, it handles so well; you can avoid alot of the other drivers on the road; lol. But, back to what I was saying, I'd keep it off personally but, if you want to turn the feature on look in the owners manual. I forgot what page it's on but, you'll find it; just look through it.
You can find some pretty nifty stuff in the owners manual like how to properly use the RDS on the radio and here's one: next time you go to unlock the car using the keyless remote; hold the unlock/open button for four sec. or longer; you will not only unlock the doors but, you will also open all the windows plus even your sunroof if you have one.
Yokohama AVS db is an excellent tire, especially in the rain! Extremely quite, tenacious grip...I sound like a tire salesman now. Try a set you will like them...I put a set on my LS6 nonsport and crank those 35mph squiggles at 90mph!!!
Thanks! My son has them on his Mustang (87 convertible, 5.0, 5-spd, GT) and they look like really nice tires! I also have the non-sport 6, but I AM sporting the 17" chrome wheels. At tire rack they are about $150 per. OUCH! Oh well, you gotta pay to play! I will probably have to go with the 245/45/17.
OK, I'm going to sound like a nanny here, but driving a car full of air bags without wearing the seat belt is asking for it, IMHO. Even at city speeds you can easily sustain an impact sufficient to trigger the air bags, and if your body is not located where the safety engineers planned for it to be, those things are going to hurt you.
Right you are, Scott. That's why they're called SUPPLEMENTAL restraint systems. They're designed to be used in conjunction with seat belts/harnessses. Aside from the obvious, using the belts will hold you in place and allow you to maintain position with the controls to possibly avoid a secondary collision.
badazzls6-around here, there are police checks solely for the purpose of catching those not wearing belts. After my son got the 3rd ticket and hefty fine, he finally got the message. The best handling car in the world isn't going to help when the drunk or cell-phone talker crosses over the center line. Sorry for the lecture. I hate to lose fellow LS owners.
I found in my 2000 that below about 25 mph only the light comes on. The sound activates as soon as you go above 25 mph (could be off by a few mph but it's close to 25). Now I normally wear my seatbelt at ALL times but every now and then I do ride without it going back and forth to the tennis courts in my subidivison and that's where I found this out.
Just a small reminder, That 5 star crash rating is only obtained WITH the seat belts in use as supplemental restraints! Without the belts, all bets are off as to what the rating (if any) wouid be.
The wife of a friend lost her life in a late model Continental when the car went off the road, struck an object that rotated (yawed) the car just enough for her to hit the instrument panel BETWEEN the air bags. That object could have been another car, a tree, or whatever.
IF I were inclined to not wear belts during part of my driving, I would remove them on X-way driving, but keep them on during the much more hazardous urban driving.
The perception of safety at low speeds is insidious. Imagine the following: A mock-up of the instrument panel, windshield, mirror & steering wheel mounted on a solid wall. Run (on foot)at top speed toward the mock-up, reaching 15-20 MPH (if you're really good) and collide with the mock-up. Imagine how your head and neck feel impacting the mirror or windshield. This is equivalent to what happens to an un-belted occupant at only 15-20 MPH. The energy of a 35 MPH crash would be more that three times as great.
Does anyone remember the statistic about the percent of crashes (not "accidents") that occur within 25 miles of home?
Yes, mine is black on black and yes even though everyone thinks that we live in Alaska, Denver does get very hot in the summer.
But, I had my windows tinted and use a sunshade in the summertime. With this combination, my car stays much cooler than others who have light paint/light interior and are only using a sunshade. Many people have been surprised about how cool it stays relative to their own cars with all the rumors about black getting so hot.
I can't, however, comment on what it's like without the tinting because I had it installed within a week of buying my LS. I would guess that the rumors would then be quite true.
Some of us can't seem to get into the Town Hall on a regular basis anymore. We get an error message saying something about a Script Error. Is anyone else experiencing this?
Wow Pat, haven't heard from you in a while. I thought maybe Giowa and you finally had it out and killed each other being that you both disappeared at about the same time.
That was a good one Bruno! It had been a while since we had heard ya speak Pat. I know that is the way I felt when I saw Pat's post(s). Not that we necessarily need more Edmunds agreement enforcement on this board or anything. Anyway good to see you are still with the living Pat!
I've been researching adding a couple of LCD monitors in the back of the front headrests. I plan to install a mobile DVD player in the trunk with infrared remote for the player in the passenger compartment. Only issue is that I would prefer to use the more popular 5 inch sized monitors vs. the smallish 4 inch monitors. Couple of installers that I visited and that viewed the LS headrests have told me that due to the size/curvature of the LS headrests, they recommend only using the 4 inch monitors as the 5inch would probably be too large, when the curvature of the back of the front headrests are taken into account. This leads me with a couple of questions. #1. Has anyone here installed monitors in your headrests? #2. Does anyone by chance know if any other Ford/Lincoln headrests that are larger than the LS headrests, fit the LS? Im thinking of using separate headrests from a another vehicle if I can get matching materials, and an exact fit.
Some of the guys who post on the LLSOC forums have installed video equipment. Go to the LLSOC message boards under "General Discussions" and check out the "Audio/multimedia" topic. There are several photos posted, including one of a headrest-installed monitor that was done by Special Vehicle Concepts. Unfortunately, nobody says anything about screen size, but you might be able to get some info there.
There's not much info about what they installed, but there's a contact point for questions about their products. Their screen sure looks like it's bigger than 4" to me, but it's hard to tell. It does look like the stock 'rest, though.
Several Ford products (Navigator, Econoline, Excursion, F150 Crew Cab, etc.) have factory video systems available, but they all have screens that are mounted to the ceiling & flip down; none are headrest-mounted as far as I can tell.
Wish you'd posted your question yesterday; I was at my dealer today for an oil change & could've checked out lots of headrests! I don't know what interior color you have, but Medium Parchment is available in a whole bunch of Fords, Mercs, & Lincolns. I'll take a look at my mom's Town Car tomorrow & see what those headrests look like--I have no idea whether headrests are interchangeable, but I can measure the TC & see.
Thanx. I did check out the LLSOC forum, and the SVC install. I also sent an email to LSondubz who appears to have some experience or knowledge about some serious audio/video mods to the LS. Also sent an email to special vehicles asking about their install. True, those monitors appear to be larger than 4 inch, Im guessing they are 5 inchers. Its a neat install, and I like the fact tha they used a flush mount, with no frame, but personally, the upper corners of the monitor appear to be pushing through the material, which turns me off a bit. Im looking for a very neat install. I stopped by the Lincoln dealer late today. A sable on the used lot had larger, flat headrests, which would be perfect for 5 or maybe even 5.6 inch monitors, but the distance between the metal supporting posts was different than the LS. This weekend I plan to check out the dealership in more detail, and maybe even venture over to the Ford lot as well. Thanx for the feedback...
Comments
Mike
Second: The LSes without the sport package have a somewhat smoother ride. Of course with a slight tradeoff in handling, but maybe the right balance for you.
I didn't ever disconnect the battery, but I think that the computer (using the MAF sensor and O2 sensor) would have noticed the change sooner than what it did had I pulled the battery cable.
A while ago on this board someone mentioned that one should pull the battery to reset the computer anytime any changes (performance wise) take place. Then, the computer can learn from scratch what it is seeing.
FYI I drive about 60-80 miles a day so that may also factor in to how long it takes for the computer to see the change.
On the snorkel, it is pretty typical on most modern day cars for it to go out to the wheel well. The idea is to get fresh, rather than engine heated, air.
I left the snorkel in place for 2 reasons: one is that it is still getting the fresh air in from the wheel well, the other is that it seems to create a barrier between the hole I put in the air box and the engine, thus minimizing the amount of hot air that gets pulled in.
Bruno
LLSOC member
I normally leave mine on and only everynow and then when I want to see the LS Face sans Bra do it take it off for about a week or two. Then it goes back on... The Silver LS just looks nice with it on. Like I said, I can't see any scuffing on MY car coming from the bra. Also the bra has been on when it rains but has never caused a problem. I know this can be a problem causing the paint to get cloudy. Has not been a problem for ME. The only beauty scars my car has on the frontal area are those caused by rocks hitting it when the bra was not on!
Regards,
Airwolf
Mine is dark satin green and the AC cools it off very quickly. However, my interior is very light grey. Bruno, if you're lurking, does your black LS have the charcoal interior?
Scott
LLSOC Member
You will not be sorry with an '02 LS. Good luck!
Gary
LLSOC Member
I think my Firehawks have about 35k on them. 25 from Ray (correct me if I'm wrong) and 10k of my own. I thought they were fine until I hit some not so deep water. I started sliding away from the puddle. I've hydroplaned before, but never this bad. If it looks like we will have the wet weather they are forcasting, I will need new rubber. Any thoughts on the Yokohama AVS db?
As I mentioned earlier, the first thing I did last Wednesday was run the LS to 80 MPH on the Interstate and take my hands off the wheel and observe some steering wheel shimmy. There was a very slight resonance in the S-type but neither the wheel shake nor the resonance noises were anywhere as bad as the LS. Power from the VVT 3.0 V6 was more than adequate. The transmission shifts seemed firmer and crisper than the LS. Hard to say because of the distinct different driving conditions. The Lincoln salesman was a very well mannered but limited knowledge of his own car.
After Friday’s testing of the Jag and LS, compared to the S-type the LS just feels more 1960's American. All in all I prefer the LS, especially with its extra V-8 torque. The Jag felt softer in ride, but harder in creature comforts in terms of the interior; e.g., very stiff leather seats. I thought the LS seats were quite comfy compared to Jag S.
As for color, the dealer says he has one of the Tri Colors coming in Monday—can’t remember which one? I would like to see it before considering the black car. I also noticed they park the Black/Black car under cover? Is that so no one notices how hot it gets? I have to find someone down here with that color combination soon.
Questions:
1. Did Lincoln fix the rear window regulator problem?
2. What is this air box problem?
3. What is the “X” Plan?
4. Are the shiny chrome wheels popular or is it a fad? I tend to keep a car at least 5-6 years.
5. The tires are Bridgestone Tiranza (sp?) Are these good tires? I see people mentioning Firehawks a lot?
Scott
I thought this was a Firehawk issue, but perhaps it's not.
Window regulators - redesign finished but I don't know if parts are in production yet.
There is no air box "problem." The 2002 MY has a less restrictive air box (and exhaust) giving the 2002 V6 an additional 10 HP & 10 ft-lbs.
Not familiar with the X-plan.
Chrome wheels will hold-up to cleaning better than clear-coat aluminum. If you prefer the looks then go for chrome else order a different wheel.
Not familiar with the bridgestones, Ford dropped Firestone after the Explorer tire recall, so no Firehawks on LS's.
Happy shopping....
Weak spots in the LS: Exhaust system (especially in the V-6), door speakers, 1999-2001 air box,window regulators. Not bad and all easily fixed. On 2002, get 4 Polk Dx-7's, Borla,and enjoy. You don't need to play with the engine or suspension. That's a relief.
Tire Rack's list of wheels for the LS and the S-type are the same, so that's another good indication. Tire Rack says that 18" and even 19" wheels will work on the LS. The only area of real concern, then, would be tire clearance; you'd likely have to go to a 40-series tire. Tire Rack doesn't appear to stock the Monaco, unfortunately, but you might try calling their 800 number and asking them--they're supposed to be really good at answering questions. Their website is at www.tirerack.com & you can find the number there.
The Monaco is a two-piece wheel made by BBS, and is available from Jag dealers, so it probably costs a fortune.
http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/001207-5.htm
Another source of information might be the Jaguar forum site at www.jagtalk.com.
Remember, this post is by JohnnyLinc, so take it with a grain of salt & do your homework, k?
JLinc, LLSOC member
Most of your questions have already been answered by others; here's my two cents' worth. The Firestone Firehawks were standard equipment on the LS Sport from start of production through the middle of the '01 model year. They were replaced by the Turanzas at that time. I don't recall that we've had a that much feedback on the Turanzas yet, but the LS suspension team spent a great deal of time and effort on tire selection, so I'm guessing that they're a good choice for the car.
The balance machine that Stan is referring to is the Hunter GSP9700, I believe. Here's a link to a page on the Hunter website that will locate shops in your area that have this particular Hunter in case you need one:
http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/search/FindGSP9700.cfm
Color is, obviously, a very subjective topic. I personally think that black is the best exterior car color, bar none. (I don't care much for black interiors, but again, it's subjective.)
I've had two black cars--I live in Central Texas--and I can tell you from personal experience that they get VERY hot when sitting in a parking lot in 100-degree weather. Having your windows tinted and using a windshield sunshade will certainly help mitigate it. A black interior with a black exterior compounds the problem. You might try going to a large dealer that has a bunch of cars in stock and checking out a black LS with either the parchment or graphite interiors; they're much lighter & would help some with heat buildup.
Black looks fabulous when it's clean, and it stays clean for about 20 minutes after you wash it. You also have to be careful when washing; use a real sheepskin mitt or some other high-quality organic cloth to avoid surface scratches, because black will show every mark. Never, ever use a sponge on paint. A California Duster is a great tool to get rid of dust, and would probably be particularly helpful on a black car. Black takes some extra work, but I think it's worth it.
I'm not trying to scare you away from black; again, it's my favorite. Just giving you some heads-up info that I learned from experience. One of the posters here (I forget who) has a detailing business, and has provided some great information; maybe he will chime in with his experiences in dealing with black paint.
My LS is ivory parchment tricoat; the other tricoat is white pearl, and they both look great, IMHO. This is the first really light-colored car I've had in years, and it's surprising how much difference it makes regarding heat buildup.
Hope this helps; remember, it's up to you to make the choice. Get what makes you happy.
JLinc, LLSOC member
It became a fiasco mainly for two reasons. 1) It's a small but glaring fault in an otherwise superb car, and 2) the replacements were on back order for quite a while earlier this year and many people were unable to get their windows fixed.
Apologies to all who have heard this a zillion times. But now, as Paul Harvey would say, you know The Rest of the Story.
And thanks for your impressions on the Jaguar. Considering the shared components, we get surprisingly little input from S-type owners both here and over at the LLSOC site.
Scott
LLSOC Member
Gary
LLSOC Member
Thanks
It then frees up the front side of the airbox because the snorkel is no longer there right?
So now you could open it and add your fleximundo tube eh?
What did you do with the original 2.5 inch hole in the airbox..? cap it or just leave it open?
BTW..Whats next for SoCal LLSOC?
Yes. Yes
Left it open. The hole is really like 3"!
Don't know, yet. I haven't a free weekend almost until February!!
How's that for short and sweet answers? :~)
You can find some pretty nifty stuff in the owners manual like how to properly use the RDS on the radio and here's one: next time you go to unlock the car using the keyless remote; hold the unlock/open button for four sec. or longer; you will not only unlock the doors but, you will also open all the windows plus even your sunroof if you have one.
Hope that answered any questions,
Mike
Mike
LLSOC Charter Member
Scott
LLSOC Member
badazzls6-around here, there are police checks solely for the purpose of catching those not wearing belts. After my son got the 3rd ticket and hefty fine, he finally got the message. The best handling car in the world isn't going to help when the drunk or cell-phone talker crosses over the center line. Sorry for the lecture. I hate to lose fellow LS owners.
Artie
LLSOC member
The wife of a friend lost her life in a late model Continental when the car went off the road, struck an object that rotated (yawed) the car just enough for her to hit the instrument panel BETWEEN the air bags. That object could have been another car, a tree, or whatever.
IF I were inclined to not wear belts during part of my driving, I would remove them on X-way driving, but keep them on during the much more hazardous urban driving.
The perception of safety at low speeds is insidious. Imagine the following: A mock-up of the instrument panel, windshield, mirror & steering wheel mounted on a solid wall. Run (on foot)at top speed toward the mock-up, reaching 15-20 MPH (if you're really good) and collide with the mock-up. Imagine how your head and neck feel impacting the mirror or windshield. This is equivalent to what happens to an un-belted occupant at only 15-20 MPH. The energy of a 35 MPH crash would be more that three times as great.
Does anyone remember the statistic about the percent of crashes (not "accidents") that occur within 25 miles of home?
But, I had my windows tinted and use a sunshade in the summertime. With this combination, my car stays much cooler than others who have light paint/light interior and are only using a sunshade. Many people have been surprised about how cool it stays relative to their own cars with all the rumors about black getting so hot.
I can't, however, comment on what it's like without the tinting because I had it installed within a week of buying my LS. I would guess that the rumors would then be quite true.
Bruno
LLSOC member
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
Actually, I think they made some improvements in the spell checker - at least it doesn't seem to default to MISspelling everything anymore.
I'm still scared to use it, though.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
Bruno
Regards,
Airwolf
;->
If anyone needs any help on this cookie mess, shoot me an email.
#1. Has anyone here installed monitors in your headrests?
#2. Does anyone by chance know if any other Ford/Lincoln headrests that are larger than the LS headrests, fit the LS? Im thinking of using separate headrests from a another vehicle if I can get matching materials, and an exact fit.
Thanx
The SVC website is at http://www.specialvehicles.com
There's not much info about what they installed, but there's a contact point for questions about their products. Their screen sure looks like it's bigger than 4" to me, but it's hard to tell. It does look like the stock 'rest, though.
Several Ford products (Navigator, Econoline, Excursion, F150 Crew Cab, etc.) have factory video systems available, but they all have screens that are mounted to the ceiling & flip down; none are headrest-mounted as far as I can tell.
Wish you'd posted your question yesterday; I was at my dealer today for an oil change & could've checked out lots of headrests! I don't know what interior color you have, but Medium Parchment is available in a whole bunch of Fords, Mercs, & Lincolns. I'll take a look at my mom's Town Car tomorrow & see what those headrests look like--I have no idea whether headrests are interchangeable, but I can measure the TC & see.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=4410
http://www.auto.com/industry/town27_20011127.htm
photo available for a limited time at:
http://www.auto.com/