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Comments
I'm not sure Lincoln would want to use a Winston Cup personality to pitch the LS. While Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace, and DJ are in the Ford stable, they drive a Taurus. Plus, I'm not sure folks that don't follow NASCAR would recognize them. Personally, I really enjoy NASCAR, probably more so than IRL and/or CART. My favorite form of racing is the TransAm series and cars that run the Rolex 24/Le Mans. It's too bad that this type of racing doesn't get better TV coverage. Speedvision televised the entire Rolex 24, and I believe they plan on covering the 12 hours of Sebring in its entirety. I really enjoyed watching that race unfold. I'm hoping Leavy can get the Spirit of Detroit Motorsport LS on the starting grid sometime soon! These cars are more similar to what we drive on a daily basis, so I'm more drawn to this type of racing. Paul Newman drives/drove this series (mostly in Nissans), but like others, he's getting a little old.
In general, I'm afraid that there are fewer contemporary American race car drivers that have risen to prominence where their names are immediately recognized.
. . . Now donning the nomex
With respect to the radio not shutting off when the door is opened, that happened to me once a few months ago. I started and shutoff the car, and then it worked. I could open and close the door to my hearts content, but the radio just kept boogying.
For spokesperson, how about Hunter S. Thompson? Seriously, I do think Lincoln could do with a bit more aggressive advertising, if you didn't know from reading the automotive press most of their ads wouldn't even give you a clue that this is a performance car. Audi and BMW have been doing some impressive image ads that also convey a sense of high performance. Maybe an ad that starts with the driver smoothly driving along inside the car, then ending with it 4 wheel drifting through the corners on a mountain road? Of course, with the usual "Professional driver on a closed course. Don't try this yourself" legalese.
I remember a feature article on this car appeared in an issue of Motor Trend and on their TV show last year, but I don't remember which. There are no new details on the web site, but I know how much we all love seeing anything LS-related.
BTW-preliminary results in new gov't vehicle rollover tests commend 4 cars: Toyota Camry, Crown Vic/Grand Marquis and, drum roll please: Lincoln LS.(Will we be now seeing LS police cars?:) Just one more feather in Lincoln's cap.
Hope you all have a great Valentine's day.
I've long felt that they could play up the performance aspect some more. IMHO the original commercials were better, i.e, "wood, leather, adrenaline." How about something along the lines of the Lexus IS300 where they depict the car out in front of a BMW? I realize this is something of a different target market, but there is some overlap. They could play the theme down just a bit. Just my .02 worth.
This is a common questions. First check your "build date" which can be found on a label on the frame behind the driver's door. If your car was built before 10/17/00, then there is a TSB (#01-01-05) which will help your situation. Have your dealer install the updated software.
If that's not it, you can "train" your transmisssion. See the FAQ (#4) at the LS Owner's Club site www.LLSOC.com
Joe
(So much for daydreaming, back to work!)
Dick
Seriously, Taurus was not hurt by a celebrity spokesperson (how many pups did Lindsay stuff into that wagon?)(and SPRINT has a long, positive branding - remember the "dime lady"?)
Notwithstanding the studies, in certain applications, a spokes person or spokes voice (Orson Welle's and wine, for example) really defines a brand to wide audience.
If this wasn't so, we wouldn't pay Julia Roberts so much to "open" a picture.
Sorry- off topic.
Madonna.....fast, naughty, but still a family matron.
Best of all would be 007 himself....the first one, the original...Sean Connery.
Us guys think it's all about us. My wife like her car for the first time ever. Enjoys driving, and looks good whild doing it.
We don't need no race car image. Those folks also believe in oil addiditves and treatments.
Greg
Wichita
Brian(who knows that this will probably elicit a chuckle or loud guffaw from the more knowledgeable types in the audience)
I know when I grow older I will aspire to be like Sean Connery! (Currently I will be 26 later on this month... I am getting closer to being like him every day!)
Regards,
Airwolf1000
P.S. Thanks for the info Johnnylinc, the shop I take my baby too is very good. I just don't think they have the latest reflash. They said they will flash it with the one they have now but they say its the same one my car has ( Build Date 2/08/2000) Yikes!
The Automatic Transmission chat is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 22, 2001 at 8:30 Eastern, 5:30 Pacific in the LLSOC Chat room. This way all you early sleepers back east can participate!
2 batteries - 42 volts. Don't ask me how or why it's 42 volts instead of 24 or 48.
I think the TV ads need to tone down the luxury and concentrate on the sport. Bring back the " wood, leather, adrenaline" campaign, with more mention of the sports aspect.
Since she's a journalist with integrity, I doubt she'd never consider endorsing a car for money, and only a relative handful of the buying public would know who she is; consequently, it probably wouldn't work at all. I'd still like to see it, though.
A few of her photos were on display at the Petersen. They reminded me of Jesse Alexander's work; the one of Masten Gregory and Sir Jack Brabham was particularly good. What an immensely talented lady!
People who should NOT be paid to advert the LS:
Anna Nicole Smith
Rich the Naked Guy from that ridiculous "Survivor"
Eminem
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Richard Simmons
The Sheens, the Estevezes, or the Baldwins
Angelina Jolie
John Rocker
Now, about Sela Ward: You can put me down as a "yes". Nicely done, Dick.
JohnnyLinc, not contemplating a career change (and apologizing for this questionable use of resources...)
Since you brought the subject up, the climate control on the LS is the one thing that baffles the hell out of me. RTOM I read the owners manual and I still don't understand how to set it up so not to engage the AC when its 0 degrees out side. Is there anybody else that is as confused with the climate control as I am. Even on the warmer days this time of year, if the AC is on it gives off a musty smell. I realize you guys in the warmer climates might not have this problem. Any insight would be appreciated.
Tom......
To operate an electrically powered A/C you need to create the electricity. The engine provides power to do this by turning the alternator. The alternator has an efficiency of something less than 100%. I don't know what the real efficiency is, but for the sake of this discussion let's say it is 90%. That means that for every 10 horsepower the engine provides to the alternator you get 9 horsepower worth of electricity.
If the A/C requires 9 horsepower at maximum load (and that's somewhere in the ballpark) you need the engine to produce 10 horsepower.
The belt driven A/C gets it's 9 horsepower directly from the engine. So in this example you have one more horsepower to drive the wheels with a belt driven A/C. There is already a clutch on the A/C compressor that turns off the A/C when needed, such as wide open throttle. It will turn off here to get more acceleration.
I've neglected the losses for the belts because I'm assuming the losses for the A/C pulley and the alternator are about equal.
This also ignores the problem of producing enough electricity to operate an A/C unit. It takes a lot, and there would probably need to be a second very large alternator to be able to run the compressor.
I think Dick had an *EXCELLENT* suggestion with Sela Ward! Let's get her to the next Mania! I believe she would make a much better spokesperson than any of us Lincoln types. Only those of you who already know the LS would want to listen to us.
I promise to be at the chat this time. I apologize that I missed the first one I was supposed to be the featured person. I found out minutes before I was scheduled to start that I could not participate with my company issued laptop. Chat sites are blocked! And since I was 2,000 miles from my personal computer I had no way to connect.
Mark
At the end of the last paragraph I used the word refrigerant instead of Freon, because the auto A/C world had chosen to change from Freon (actually correctly CFC based refrigerants as Freon is a trademark name and is now also use on modified and not CFC refrigerants) to other refrigerants that are allegedly more environmentally friendly. I believe that Ford was the first major auto manufacturer to build cars with CFC free refrigerant.
On to 42 Volt cars. Our 12 volt cars are really 13.8 - 14 volt cars. The new 42 volt systems are acknowledgment that present cars are really 14 volt systems and then new cars will operate on three 14 volt units or 42 volts.
If you have the climate control on Auto I think it always engages the air conditioner compressor. The only way I turn mine off is to go to manual and turn off the A/C switch. I noticed that even when it's cold here(I know that a relative term in SoCal) that whenever I switch from Auto to manual there A/C light goes on, no matter how cold it gets.
The musty smell sounds like you may have the system on recirculate. I know on one of my other cars I had a similar problem and it was because I would run it in recirculate mode and then turn off the car. Once I switched it to bring in outside air I didn't have that problem anymore.
Mark, thank you for your informative lecture. I knew there where good reasons for not doing it. Now I know why!
I think the reason the A/C comes on along with the heat functions is for it to remove excess moisture/humidity from the air. Rain and Snow that drag into the car on your feet will evaporate and cause high humidity levels that will quickly fog the windows. The A/C function is to remove humidity to cool the inside more quickly, hence the condensation on the compressor that drips on your driveway/garage floor in the summer.
I agree with Brian that the musty smell is probably the recirc. button. But it may also just stale air from the compressor circulating briefly until the fresh outside air mixes in and the filter removes the smell.
It took me a while to get use to seeing the A/C light come on, but trust me, it works like a charm to keep the windows clear.
Sorry about the double post if it occurs, I realized that I wasn't logged in.
Now that we are hitting 85 degree days here in FL, I am experiencing an A/C problem (once again) I had last fall. I was driving today with windows open for 15 minutes and decided to turn on A/C. I set on auto at 70 degrees. As I drove the drivers side seemed to cool down slowly, the passenger side not at all. I drove 5 miles like this and the passenger side never did cool down. The drivers side A/C got co1d only towards the end of the 5 miles. At times the drivers side seemed a bit warm too. The air coming in the pass. A/C vents felt like the same temp as the outside air. I even set it to max cool (60 degrees) and no change.
I stopped the car, put it in park, and then the passenger side A/C vents seemed to magically cool down quickly. I have repeated this scenario a few times.
I believe the problem has been there since day 1 and the dealer has looked at it twice. The first time they replaced a heater valve. The second time they replacred the whole A/C control module (user interface) to no avail. Still no change. The dealer does not know what to do and I am getting frustrated, especially when the Town Car loaner is ice cold inside of 30 seconds after sitting in a parking lot under the hot sun all day.
The asst. service mananger also said that apparently the dual climate controls seem to take longer too cool down on the passenger side on all of their cars.
Anyone else have A/C problems like this? Please HELP!!! I need to get an answer to this soon, its going on way too long now.
You're making the right choice.
I don't consider Advance Trac to be a necessity, but all it has to do is save your butt once and it's paid for itself. If you're not strapped for cash, buy it...it does work.
$1k over invoice sounds kind of high to me. I'd expect to pay around $300-500 over for this hot-selling car. But there are many variables.
Are you ordering or buying off the lot?
Joe
Two days later, they called me to apologize and told me to come in, at my convenience, so they could do it on the spot.
I'm pleased with this kind of reaction. Everyone makes mistakes but not all dealers will bother to correct them. This is a good sign.
This dealer complained to me that LM never sent them the updated service requirements for 2001 despite many requests. Their manager finally had to "call headquarters" to get a faxed copy.
Mr. Rogers, are you communicating with your dealers effectively, or are they just giving me a line of b_ll?
More to come.
Joe
My question to everyone is their experience with the Auto sense for the lights. It waits way too long to turn the lights on when it is overcast. Mind you I live in Cleveland, and in winter that is all we have, sunshine leaves us from Dec - Mar. I talked to the service tech at the dealer where I bought the car and he said no adjustment exists. Is this true? I want it to come on much earlier.
I saw the earlier post of the "cones" over the sensor. A little to hokey for me. Anyone else with this issue? Looking for suggestions.
Thanks
John
Service Bulletin # 0065
Bulletin Sequence #128
Date 0003
SB 612913
Like I say, I don't know if this will help.
Regarding headlights on an overcast day, yes I agree that the lights don't light soon enough. I found a nifty cure for this, I reach over and turn them on by the switch.
I finally found a place where people are as nuts about ML's as I am. I lease a 99 contain. and love it for it's shear power and hill climbing stamina. I like the looks of LS but find it's interior a bit cramped... I'm 53 around 250 and need a comfortable "plus seat" to get me over from ant Crux to San Jose....I have been looking at the Tone Car artier as my next Lincoln, partially because I want a smoother ride ... less stress at the end of the day is better. Are there any of you who are in a similar mind frame and considering moving into the larger Cartier...I know this flies in the face of the "handling over pillow ride" younger crowd...but there maybe someone out there like me... I have had good luck with the Cont. and may buy out the lease in a year...if it behaves itself!
Anyway good talking to you all...hope to contribute more on my experiences and future purchases. I dedcided to rent a Cartier for a week from Hertz and than do the same with an LS just to compare. It's a pricey way to do things but sometimes you can only see car manners over an extended period of time rather than a "honeymoon" test drive...
Nice meeting you all
Bill
You'll find the LS is very comfortable for driving. There are quite a few of us that can't seem to resist super-sized meals and I don't think I remember hearing anyone complain about the seat comfort. I have driven a lot of miles in my LS and it is the most comfortable car I have driven in.
dac01ls: Get a hold of the owner of the dealer and tell him in no uncertain times that his service dept. is incompetent and you want to talk to the zone service rep. That usually motivates them a little better. If that doesn't work find another dealer and email me the name of your dealer for the Hall o' shame collection.
teal_gtp: Get the AdvanceTrac option. You won't regret it.
Brian
We have similar weather and I can tell you something is wrong with your air conditioning system. On 100 degree-days my LS blows ice-cold air after about 1 minute out both Passenger and Driver registers. It takes less than 5 minutes to cool the car down to 68-70 degrees.
My advice is that you find another dealer that is willing to do a proper diagnosis and repair your system. Since the LS is a state of the art vehicle, some dealers just do not have adequately trained service technicians.
Believe me, this car is almost all electronic and if they do not have a highly trained auto computer tech in the service department they will not have a clue.
teal gap(#838), I think that you might want to consider the AdvanceTrak option. The benefits that you glean from it, when needed, are amazing. I can see use racing up I-40 with it on! Actually, my Aunt lives in Brevard, so I take I-40 often, and it's a gas in the LS.
Bill (#844), you're a light weight. I'm about 260 and 44 years old and I love my LS. It's the most comfortable car that I've ever owner, and I own a V-8 Sport model. I cannot make a statement about how the non-sport rides, but I know that I've put on over 15 hours in mine without any crippling effects. I actually have no idea of what the Continental or Town Car ride like, but if you have any enthusiastic blood in you, the LS is for you. I tend to believe that this is the way the American Luxury Vehicle should have evolved, but we got spoiled by the Interstate System.
So, almost 10k miles and the car is still flawless. Been doing my 90 mile daily round trip on a lot of snow packed roads with the Firehawks, and no real problems. They are not good snow tires but the fantastic balance and handling of this car seem to make up for it.
Somewhere, somebody is making a better car than this, but it's hard to imagine, and certainly not at this price.
Scott
Now, about the 6-speed.......
The good news is the tranny now works great! The bad news is that while leaving the dealership, the "check engine" light came on. They did a quick check on the spot, and got a strange code that they couldn't readily understand, so they reset the light. A couple of days later, it came on again. I took the car back, and this time the code was diagnosed as a faulty brake light/cruise control cancel switch. They told me that this has recently surfaced as a trouble area. Anyone else had this crop up yet?
The parts are on order, so hopefully by next week the light will be extinguished....it's really annoying