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Comments
Don't think we have to worry. We're not driving a Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, or Subaru!
I doubt a cop is going to give a Lincoln LS a second glance as we hang the tail out around a freeway onramp. There are advantages to stealth after all!
The site that shall remain nameless has recently posted the procedure for replacing the bushings.
Generally, the symptom is a "clunk" when the front suspension is exercised, and the replacement is supposed to be covered by the warranty.
That's the relatively easy part. Convincing your dealer of any of this can be a somewhat larger hill to climb.
I'll try to find some and report back.
Stanny1 - now worried at 36,000 miles!
Not to worry. If you don't have a clunk from your front end you're okay. At 96,000 miles I haven't replaced mine and they don't clunk.
Told the dealer.
Fixed with new bushings, under warranty
no problem!
Anyway, the gist of my reply is that a Magnaflow cat-back system may be cheaper than you think under the right circumstances. There won't be anything cheap about buying any part of the '03 exhaust system from Lincoln, even if it fits. If the look is all you're after, try a good muffler shop. They could modify or fabricate tail pipes to give you the look you want. Be aware you'll have to cut the lower valance panel with a Dremel tool or something, to clear the pipes. For something a little closer to your current car, find an '02 LSE model at a dealer. It has an exhaust outlet setup similar to the '03.
I don't mean to sound cryptic here, but I'm a member of a club that has been asked not to promote our group on this site. We got our start here, many of us still appreciate and enjoy this board, so we are glad to comply.
Glad to help further if I can, and we can get our mail problem sorted out.
hmm . . . .
I wonder if this (umm, enhanced) 3.9L motor might show up under the hood of an LS - maybe a Type-R? Someday . . .
- Ray
Who obviously dreams of ever more HP.
something was loose. It mostly showed up when
the roads were rough as well, but even a little
bump would sound bad. Fixed just fine with
factory parts as well
After putting 5,100 miles on my 00 in 6 days, it would have had to sit in the driveway for the next 7 months to not go over my mileage allowance.
I stopped in today and said put me in an 02 with 0 down and for the same monthly payment and they did it.
Dollar wise I got a 39,000 LS for 33,000. The only option I gave up was a sunroof.
Logic didn't prevail and I got a black on black which should be toasty in the Texas sun. But then it's all about looks :-)
They looked the other way on scratches/dents/carpet stains on the 00.
But then again I was their only customer all day and they were a ton of LS's on the lot so they can get pretty creative.
So Scott, I'll ride shotgun with you again this summer in Wixom.
BUT, how can you walk away from a deal like that? A V8 LS for the price of a . . . well, let's not go there.:) You guys have made the buys of the century.
I understand completely about the color, Ray. I didn't want a black one, told myself the dark satin green is easier to keep clean and looks just as good. Then I park mine next to Bruno's and, no, it doesn't.
Phil
Congrats on the new LS.. I was not looking forward to seeing you go the way of the dodo bird(LS Wise of course).. Guess you will be involved in the club in Dallas still ay? Good to hear about your black beauty. Will look nice next to my Silver LS at Group Pics!
I just wanted to share my thoughts on Jim also. The first time I met Ray Chartrand was at Mania I in Lincoln HQ in Irvine, California hosted by Mr. Jim Rogers.. That is where we all met for the first time and even an Edmunds Representative went since it All did start here.. Her name was Melissa Adams if I remember correctly.
In any case we all had a great time and I have met people like Artie from New York, Stanny representing San Diego, Brian from Canyon Lake, CA, Chris Noyes in Arizona, Mr. Milano in Jersey, and on and on. I have also met many friends like Ray, Preston, and Dennis here in Dallas.
In any case I owe my LS Purchase, Growing pains (My LS had more teething problems than normal) and Resolutions to Jim Rogers. Without his involvement on this board I would not have purchased an LS, Met so many wonderful people at Lincoln and Club Events, and stayed a Lincoln Customer. When my LS had issues Jim ensured my LS issues were resolved and backed the product 100%. Thank you Jim. I missed you the day you went to the Premier Automotive Group. While I have heard great things about your replacement at Lincoln she never showed any interest for a group of people that have marketed the LS more in some ways than Lincoln Could. Jim, your work has not gone unnoticed and others at Ford Truck Marketing division have heard about your work here. I hope they will only build on it and on relationships with Grass Root Groups and Enthusiasts like us.
Jim I wish you the best in your new endeavour.
Regards,
Victor
I couldn't believe that I had received an email from a top executive at Lincoln. Talk about a personal touch - making a difference!
Thanks Jim!
I was told by my dealer that the cordovan was replaced with Autumn ORANGE (which is hideous enough on a Cougar or Ranger) so I was REAL hesitant even after I found out it was Autumn RED. Once I saw the color chart that Jim mailed me it was obvious that it was only a half shade difference so I placed my order the next day.
As much as I like having the marketing types involved, I think I enjoy the engineers participation even more. LS owners have discussions with engineers responsible for the V6, V8, auto tranny and suspension. What other vehicles afford that opportunity? The inside information (not trade secrets mind you, just things that the average person wouldn't know) is incredible. As an example, we learned why the LS doesn't have a dipstick for the tranny fluid. We thought it was because the tranny was so advanced it didn't need to be checked or some other technical reason. Turns out there simply wasn't enough room in the V8 engine bay to fit it, so they left it out. Great stuff!
Just to Clarify, Mark Kovalsky is still working on transmissions, he is just working on them for other Ford products(Mark were you on Loan to Lincoln?). Jonathan is also still there and not only the Vehicle Dynamics engineer but has been the LS Vehicle Engineering Manager for a while now. With him at the hjelm I only worry about the bean counters!
Regards,
Victor
Participation here by Jim & Mark probably makes you nervous, but it does sell cars to those on this forum, and the people we talk with. And since we're enthusiasts, our advice is often sought by 'normal' folks who are car shopping.
Lincoln does have some of it's own Transmission Engineering now.
I'm still with the Automatic Transmission Engineering Office, now working on SuperDutys and Excursions.
Mark
Jonathan is now at NVH. The former mgr. of NVH now has Jonathan's job. In essence, they swapped positions.
Artie
Nah... it's just that the LS is tomb quiet compared to the Sable (except for the Borla, of course).
Regards,
V.
P.S. Who is the Manager of Vehicle Engineering for the LS Now? (Starting to get worried again)Just Kidding:)...
Artie
If I fall into money over the next couple of years, I will probably get a pearl white or pearl ivory LS - 2003 or newer, of course... but those wheels...
Mark has also emailed me personally in regard to the tranny reflash.
It was nice to have access to such caring and committed people - who still show that they care even now!
Not to worry we are in excellent hands. For those who went to Mania 2 in Dearborn the new LS Vehicle Engineering Manager is Paul Randall, who was the Wixom Factory LS Production Vehicle Manager at that time. Good guy, very knowledgeable, very dedicated to the LS.
That car had the fewest options I've ever seen in a car manufactured in the last 3 decades. (I do realize cars before the 80's weren't extremely well equipped...but...) It had a large section in the dash for a clock and the tick marks for the hours were etched into the plastic, but the clock was not ordered. The Climate Control consisted of "Off Heater Defrost." The front seat was a bench - literally - everybody had to slide all at the same time to move the seat... It had a horn -I think that was the biggest feature. (That 305 V8 sure could turn the back wheels, though...)
How did we ever survive without electrochromatic mirrors, power/heated mirrors & seats, and power tilt & telescoping steering wheels?
Regardless of what one might think of the new Mustang styling, with a live rear axle, it is WAY too retro for me to even consider – as a (past) mid-life option . . .
Cheers,
- Ray
Who had also hoped, when purchasing the Y2K LS8, that the LS / T-Bird / Mustang parts sharing would have resulted in LS hi-po equipment long before now . . .
This is a big deal right now for those that want the Mustang to continue its value point... Its a very hard decision and maybe the correct solution is to offer a few models priced apropriately for performance options offered..
The Point is though I would be inclined to look at a mustang since I know where it is coming from assuming it takes advantage of LS Chassis and suspension.
Of course with good HP Numbers mated and a superb manual Tranny.
Regards,
Airwolf1000
Indications were that the DEW suspension was just too expensive for the Mustang's price point.
I don't know what to make of these latest rumors about a solid axle. One of the stories was that a solid axle was needed to make room for the back seat. This doesn't make a lot of sense to me as you should be able to get more room with an IRS setup, since the differential is fixed in place.
Both the coupe and convertible concept cars at NAISA have IRS on them.
First, I believe that the more commonality of parts between DEW98 platform cars, the more the possibility that aftermarket hi-po parts suppliers will be willing to invest in the R&D and production of parts that might also be available for the LS. In this particular case, aftermarket shock absorbers that would fit a new Mustang with a similar IRS might also fit – and / or could with relatively little additional, incremental expense, be made to work well in an LS.
And also (stanny1) an LSD unit for the Mustang would likely also be adaptable to the LS.
Second, with L-M moving into a non-traditional market with the LS, competing against the likes of BMW 3 and 5 series, I had hoped that Ford might also look seriously at utilizing the opportunity of redesigning the old Fox platform mustang to also compete with some of the more contemporary coupes available and in the pipeline. 2 with IRS: The Infiniti G35 and the new GTO come to mind – but there are many others, including 3 series BMW coupes.
And I hear what you are saying, Brian, about drag racing and live rear axles, but Mustang Cobras (and many others with IRS) seem to do OK. I would not purchase a Mustang expecting to drive it at the drags every Friday night – though I did take my last 2 cars, including my LS to see what they’d do. But in the day to day driving world, I see IRS as a big advantage over a live axle on any but the smoothest roads, and particularly an advantage on corners that are not quite like glass. And re-engineering the chassis for a solid rear axle sounds expensive, eating up some of the production savings of a lower cost compared to the IRS. Just seems strange to me . . .
To re-make Ford / L-M in this mold, willing to seriously compete in this arena, rather than making the new Mustang largely a continuation of the line, would have made me happy. And I am a potential customer for the new ’03 (or more likely ’04) LS – but no longer for the upcoming Mustang, if the only way to buy one with an IRS is in a 400 hp, limited production, rather expensive Cobra version.
Just my $.02. YMMV.
Cheers,
- Ray
Who has hopped sideways in cornering in too many solid axle Mustangs over the years . . .
P.S. I agree with you BTW.
Mid-life crisis averted.