I have a 2000 v8 lincoln ls and I wood like to add chrome exhaust tips. Has anyone else done this and do you know what are the best ones to use. Also, right now the exhaust points down but I want the tips to stick out straight.
The Lincoln factory web side has been updated to have all the information on the 2003 Lincoln LS. This includes "Build Your LS" and a very handy new comparison window you can bring up that lets you compare the different LS model features. You can also now search dealer inventory for '03 LS's.
I had some installed on my LS (at the same time I was getting MagnaFlows installed) Just get the right diameter for the tail pipe. It was either 1 3/4" or 2" can't remember which. Make sure the guy that does the welding brings them out straight and level. My installer used some tin shears to cut a larger arc in the rear plastic fascia. He was good and it looked great.
After looking at Lexus ES 300s (elegant interiors, nice ergonomics, quiet, smooth, but kind of a remote-control driving experience) and GS 430s (way too pricey!), took a short test drive in an '03 Lincoln LS.
Great steering, more than quiet enough, very nice adjustability in the front seats, adjustable brake pedals (wife is 5"1", so that's a big deal :-) and a firm suspension that absorbed bumps and ruts very nicely.
I was surprised, though, at how much oomph the 6 had. Wasn't expecting much from the 6, but it had a LOT of power, both from a stop, and kicking down around 40 or 50.
Test car had 16" wheels w. Continentals.
Trim and finish were excellent, paint quality excellent. Wood trim on the inside very classy. The car had the THX radio/navigation combo. The radio was great, although I'm not sure I'm enough of an audiophile to tell the difference. Couldn't tell much about the nav unit; it wasn't programmed (or loaded?); the salesman just pulled the first '03 he could find.
The only downside I could find was that it seemed a bit hard to get in and out of the back seat, and a little bit, but less so for the front. (But then, I'm 6'1" and a bit chunkier than I used to be.)
Nice low-key sales staff. My guy brought over another guy to run thru all 500 to the changes/upgrades from '02 to '03. Spent over an hour walking me thru them. VERY knowledgeable, and an impressive demo.
Can't wait to test drive the 8. They suggested a longer drive, to "see what it can do on the road." Okay. I'm game. :-)
Interesting interview (July, '02) with Gerry McGovern, Lincoln's design honcho.
Here's the article intro: Inner Space
"Moving Lincoln from a second-string has been to a premium luxury brand won't be easy, but the division's chief designer, Gerry McGovern, has a strategy to do just that while redefining the term 'American Luxury.'"
Interesting quote in the last paragraph ("To build a real luxury brand, you have to walk away from revenues.") and comment on Jac Nasser's departure.
And finally, a detailed look at how the LS seats are made -- quality control issues, how the seats are actually made, quality checks, craftsmanship, etc. Here's the url: http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/010005.html
Definitely check out the V8. If you want to cut your cost by almost $3000, eliminate the navigation/THX system. The handling of the V8 should be better (a few suspension tweaks and 17" rubber).
Drop me an email at LobsenzA@Rose-Grp.com if you would like more information.
Thanks for the comments. Friends who have the earlier model V6 report that they are very tight, and really start to rev after a few break-in miles. If the '03 is strong brand new, it ought to really be something down the road. Definitely try the V8. And, if you're not dead set on this year's model, the deals on remaining '02s are outstanding. Loaded V8s are selling in the low- to mid-$30s.
The navigation system in the car you drove was probably missing the CD. They were in short supply when the '03s were first being shipped and sometimes getting to the dealers later than the cars.
Think I detect another soon-to-be member of the Few, the Proud, the Grinning.
Yes, the nav/THX system is a big chunk of change. The nav is a "nice to have" gizmo most of the time (for me; might be different for a realtor, for example), but a really helpful tool once or twice a year.
THX is, I think, supposed to counter the Mark Levinson set-up used in Lexi. In fact, the flip-out screen to access the CD player looks similar to the Lexus ES 300 dash. Clever, but makes inserting the CD a two-step operation, not that it's a big deal.
The V6 I drove had 28 miles on it, so I guess that qualifies as tight. :-) Couldn't really tell in my short ride, but it seemed like it would pull forever. Like I said, am really looking forward to driving the V8.
The dealers around here have more '02s than '03s with pretty compelling discounts. If we go with the '03, the extra horsepower is nice-- but it's really the adjustable pedals and driver door keypad we're after. :-) Still thinking about the money difference...
Scott, your detector could be on to something. I do miss my '66 Sunbeam Tiger. Parts were a nightmare, but I really liked the 260 cubic inch Ford V8. So you could say I have a thing for Ford small blocks. :-)
is that the '03's have variable valve timing, which is why the V6 felt so strong and the 8 will feel even stronger, obviously than the 6, but also than the '02 and earlier 8's. Then, to top it off, VVT means better fuel economy as well.
Nice to hear from a new prospect here. Good luck in your search, and welcome aboard.
Soon-to-be LS owner AND a British car guy. My kind of people. My "other" car is an '80 TR7 roadster, and my "I miss" was an Austin Healey 3000. Have to keep as much space between cars as possible in the garage; don't want those Lucas gremlins jumping over from the Triumph and infecting the LS.
The Lincoln web site www.lincolnvehicles.com has been fixed so that it again shows the proper incentives (rebates and special APR %) for both the 2002 and 2003 LS's.
Lucas is a company I love to hate. I was brought up in the country 50 miles south of Montreal and started driving bikes when I was 12. I have pushed every known variety of British bikes from 125 cc BSA's to 750 cc Triumphs. It was expected that lights would fail, parts would vibrate off and you'd ultimately one day have to push the sucker home. In 1970, I bought a new 350 cc Honda which I could ride on in a suit. I still have it and it has never failed to start in 33 years.
I installed a trickle charger in a friends 02 Jag up here in Montreal last night. He couldn't locate the battery! I was surprised at the size and look of it. It was 50% larger than a regular battery and was clear like a bike battery. Then I noticed it was lead free. This is an environmental pledge that Ford has made to be totally lead free in their cars by 2004.
I'm working on the electronics manufacturing transition to lead free. Like many other aspects of our industry, we'll wait to the last minute and get dragged in yelling and screaming while the Japanese have been it at for five years. They put their products into the market place without fanfare. That way if it failed they wouldn't lose face. Our LS has lead free electronics for the anti theft device. How's that for the history of automotive electronics in 30 seconds!
Nice car, the Healey. Classy lines. And the TR7 isn't too shabby, either. Did Lucas make the windshield wiper motors? In the Sunbeam, I used to use a string to hand-operate the wipers when it rained. The motors conked out a lot. Wish I still had it, but a friend totaled it. Oh, well...
Actually, the TR has been OK electrically, except for some ignition problems inflicted by a previous owner. The Healey was another story. Actually, many stories. But I think the wipers worked OK.
Ray, what tires on on your new LS, & how do you like them so far? Driven it in snow yet? I put on a third set of Firehawks this fall, still hard to beat for a compromise between summer handling and winter traction, especially at the price. I'm sure they'll all be gone by the time I need tires again. Thought about the Michelins Lincoln is using on the '03 (MXM4, is that right?), but they're something like $210 per.
The electronics are soldered with a lead free solder as opposed to tin lead. Scott, for the gearhead I thought I was, I've got less than 800 miles on the new LS in 2 months. I had that on the 00 in a week! Until our Dallas chapter meeting, I hadn't even popped the hood. The tires are Michelins but I'm not sure what models. The turn in is very crisp but then again I'm not comparing apples to apples as I had them on the 00 but it was a non sport. Our club performed the 02 airbox swap and even laying them out on a table for pics, comparing the old to the new etc, it took all of 5 minutes to perform. Getting itchy about Mania IV. Are we going to hook up somehow?
The electronics are soldered with a lead free solder as opposed to tin lead.
Scott, for the gearhead I thought I was, I've got less than 800 miles on the new LS in 2 months. I had that on the 00 in a week! Until our Dallas chapter meeting, I hadn't even popped the hood. The tires are Michelins but I'm not sure what models. The turn in is very crisp but then again I'm not comparing apples to apples as I had them on the 00 but it was a non sport. Our club performed the 02 airbox swap on an 00 and even laying them out on a table for pics, comparing the old to the new etc, it took all of 5 minutes to perform. Getting itchy about Mania IV. Are we going to hook up somehow?
Thought I saw the title quoted here, but it must have been another site. Anyway, way to go engine guys.
Both the DuraTech and the V8 LS engines are sweet, and I can't wait to try an 03 with the extra ponies and especially even better low end grunt from the VVT.
As sweet as they are, think about what they put out. That V8 has 240 cid, or just a little more than Chrysler's big slant 6 (the V6 is the size of the small slant six). What do they produce, about twice the horse power? How about the 260 short block discussed above? That was the V8 in the very early Mustangs. Sure, you could squeeze the same 280 HP from those engines, but think how those engines ran at low RPMs, and how loud they were with big headers and straight pipes. Lets not even think about gas mileage.
Compare that to 280 ponies from a smaller engine with significantly more low-end torque that runs smooth as silk from 800 RPM through red-line and still gets 26+ MPG on the expressway.
Amazing!
Oh, did I mention 100K between tuneups and probably 200K before any engine work. What was that 260 good for? Plugs every 10,000, valves at 30, and rebuild the engine if run hard at 50K or less?
My LS V8 with 40,000 miles on it doesn't burn a drop of oil between changes, and was running in the driveway yesterday when I asked my kid why he shut the car off. I wasn't sure it was running until I looked at the tach.
...is one reason I installed a Borla exhaust. How sweet it is. I understand you can get a great Stainless Steel cat back exhaust system for under $500 these days.
Thought I saw the title quoted here, but it must have been another site. Anyway, way to go engine guys.
Both the DuraTech and the V8 LS engines are sweet, and I can't wait to try an 03 with the extra ponies and especially even better low end grunt from the VVT.
As sweet as they are, think about what they put out. That V8 has 240 cid, or just a little more than Chrysler's big slant 6 (the V6 is the size of the small slant six). What do they produce, about twice the horse power? How about the 260 short block discussed above? That was the V8 in the very early Mustangs. Sure, you could squeeze the same 280 HP from those engines, but think how those engines ran at low RPMs, and how loud they were with big headers and straight pipes. Lets not even think about gas mileage.
Compare that to 280 ponies from a smaller engine with significantly more low-end torque that runs smooth as silk from 800 RPM through red-line and still gets 26+ MPG on the expressway.
Amazing!
Oh, did I mention 100K between tuneups and probably 200K before any engine work. What was that 260 good for? Plugs every 10,000, valves at 30, and rebuild the engine if run hard at 50K or less?
My LS V8 with 40,000 miles on it doesn't burn a drop of oil between changes, and was running in the driveway yesterday when I asked my kid why he shut the car off. I wasn't sure it was running until I looked at the tach.
one HP per cubic inch was a big deal? They were still using gross HP numbers in those days, too! Now, any engine that doesn't produce it is practically a boat anchor. I'm old enough to be nostalgic for '60s performance cars and, from a standing start to 60, the best of them are still mighty hard to beat. Some time last year, one of the major car magazines did a Mustang vs. Camaro test, billing it as "the last". They published the performance figures for all the previous tests they had run and, except for one 428 Mustang and a 396 version of the Camaro, NONE of them were even as fast as the LS8 0-60. And, as we know, 0-60 is not the LSs element. Today's cars are FAST! And as for braking, handling, safety, and longevity, there is simply nothing in automotive history to compare to modern cars.
Nostalgia is fun, but when you look at the choices available to someone who wants comfort and performance and has a few bucks to spend (but not a fortune), these are the good old days.
Ray, the eastbound/northbound caravan is a work in progress. It will work out.
The Mania 4 dates are now set in stone. July 28-30, that's right 4 days! The last day, Thursday, is scheduled to be an all-day SCCA High-Performance Driving School, with a ratio of 1 instructor to every 3 students.
Tentative agenda:
Sunday evening: Welcome reception Monday morning: Wixom Assembly Plant tour Monday afternoon: Livonia Transmission Plant tour Tuesday morning: Romeo Proving Grounds Tour Tuesday afternoon: Round-table discussion with Lincoln Tuesday evening: Kart2Kart go-kart racing and dinner Wednesday (all day): show-and-shine and vendor showcase Thursday (all day): SCCA High-Performance Driving School
In addition, we are attempting to also put together eastbound and westbound LS caravans that will rendevous at a point to be determined and caravan together into Mania.
This is the most ambitious Mania event so far and as usual, will have the typical surprises that these events have come to be known for.
You can probably credit today's ignition and fuel injection systems for the increased efficiency we are experiencing and therefore the better acceleration times. This is despite the effect of neutered fuel and catalytic converters. Today's fuel mixtures are so close to stochiometric at all times with these closed loop feedback systems, and the ignition timing is so optimum compared to the old mechanical systems that it's like night and day. VVT is like adding frosting to the cake, as is coil on plug ignition and other enhancements. A friend of mine inherited a 1979 motor home with a 454. I've been helping him with getting this beast up and running after being stored for some time. It's like working on a dinosaur. I've been forced to remember the 7 systems of a carburetor, and the last time I tore through a Quadrajet was 1968. I think a lot of today's engine longevity can be traced to effeciency technology. Many people do not realize the uneven and often rich mixtures that engines digested in the past resulted in carbon production, oil dilution and premature piston ring wear that reduced engine life by leaps and bounds. A common culprit was the carbon that eventually stuck the top piston ring in place and eliminated it's ability to expand. From that point on, engine death was not far off. This is rare today, and synthetic oils don't contribute to coking as much as Dino oils to this problem. So if I can give you one (more) reason to run Syn instead of Dino oil, it is Syn's ability to resist degredation when lubricating the critical top ring area. This literally controls the life of your engine. Scott's memories of the 60's Supercar days remind me of my 2 64 GTO's. Ah, the feeling of a 389 with Tri-power accelerating me up the on-ramp! I'm sure it felt faster than it really was. And then the painful hours of rebuilding engines, replacing clutches and tearing into Muncie four-speeds. Life seems so simple now. Just turn the key and go. I rarely open the hood. And the LS just goes like clockwork, no matter how hard I drive it! 0-60 in 7.2 is probably a little slower than the GTO, but then 9" drum brakes all around and cornering worse than a Hummer could ruin your day after getting up to speed. In perspective, these are the real days of Supercars, and the LS is really a superb ride.
Stanny, you are so right. It's a while since I told the story of living in the shadow of Detroit (Ann Arbor) during some of its darkest days, 1979 through 1981. I'll be polite---the cars of the late 70's and early 80's were not ideal. (What vintage is that 454?)
I had a roommate born and raised in Motor City who explained "The automobile is an incredibly complicated piece of machinery designed by incredibly talented people so that it can be repaired by your average shade tree mechanic".
Think about the light switch, and how many times it needs to perform its intended function over the life of a vehicle, and that's just the light switch.
Of course, the energy crisis, unleaded gas, and pollution concerns all changed that in the 70's, and our friends in Detroit were a little slow catching up (remember the little belt driven blowers that injected fresh air into the exhaust system for no apparent reason other than to improve the exhaust gas ratios). Geez!
Of course, you can't adjust the points with a matchbook any more, or tune the carburator by ear. Those systems don't even exist, and were replaced with systems that generally don't break, and have evolved to greatly improve performance.
Way to go engine guys (and you tranny guys) (and girls too). Thanks for making these the good old days!
Oh, and that light switch --- my autolamp system works flawlessly. I'm honestly not even sure how the light switch works.
It is very interesting that the cars of old that were so vaunted only have middling performance compared to todays performance cars.
The thing not to forget is how horribe the "non-muscle" cars were. This is all about perspective.. To the average car person then those cars were the Vipers of today... And in comparison to the average street junk they were!
Back then HP and gears made it fairly easy to make a car stand out from the crowd.
Now we have cars that are only 10th's apart in the quarter or 0-60 made by different manuacturers !!!
I propose we make all of the "non" performance cars slow down so ours will look even faster again in comparison! heh heh
For instance, the '03 brochure I have says that Ceramic White and Ivory Parchment are extra cost "tri-coat" paint. Does that make 'em more durable? Richer looking? Easier to take care of?
I thought the metallics -- Silver Birch, Light Parchment Gold, and the reds -- were quite attractive. Paint quality seemed good to me, but I'm no expert.
I haven't found ANY tri-coat LS's on dealer lots and haven't seen any on the road. Anyone have a tri-coat paint on their car?
And for everyone, how happy are you with the color you picked?
I like my charcoal gray a lot, and will buy it again if available.
The tricoats are beautiful, with great depth of color. I like the Ivory. It's a special process that others can describe better than I can, but they are nice. I understand you need to be pretty careful as to who does any bodywork you might need in the future as the finish can be a challenge to match.
The tri-coat colors have some tiny red and blue metallic speckles (technical term) in them that give them a pearlescent look. Imagine metallic white. I love it, and am leaning that way for my next car. There's no advantage to them as far as care or durability, and they are more difficult and expensive to touch up or repair, if that's an issue.
Everybody loves black, but it's a SOB to take care of, shows every speck of dust. My '00 is dark satin green metallic, very dark. Looks great when clean, but I doubt I'll own another dark car. I happened to get a good deal on a leftover '00 in Oct of 2000. Like the color, but didn't choose it.
Of course, color choice is purely subjective; get what you like. What I'll do differently next time: Order the car and instruct (and I mean insist, in writing) that the dealer do NOTHING to the car when it comes in except hose it off. No buffing, waxing, polishing, nothing. Period. Then I'll take it straight home, wash it properly, maybe clay it, and apply my own polishing regimen to it, Zaino in my case. The ham-handed amateurs dealers employ can't help but put swirls in the paint. There was a new black '01 LS at my dealer the day I bought mine that looked like someone had been after it with steel wool when the sunshine hit it.
Too bad you can't find a tri-coat car to see in person. It really is gorgeous.
The reason tri coat cars are more expensive is that they have to be removed from the production line and run through the paint process an extra time to get the tricoat effect. I have pearlescent while and love it.
for carrying the cudgel over there in the BMW 5-series board.
He's bloodied, but unbowed.
They make an interesting point. Outside of the Infiniti G boards, I don't see too many BMW people trying to convince others that their choice is the right one. Even the G boards have calmed down recently.
Either way, those of us with LS's have them for a number of reasons. Impressing others had better be way, way down on the list, or disappointment is sure to follow. Enjoying driving with an LS, OTOH, is an entirely different scenario -- 100% pleasant, but it's a solitary thing.
Well, just to be my usual cantankerous self, I do NOT like black and I do not even think that it is all that flattering on a LS. IMHO the LS looks best in the lighter colors although some of the mid darkness colors look good too.
Saw a '03 in the new Steel Blue last week and it looked pretty good.
Silver Birch looks very good, it has a surprising amount of brown in it. Just put it next to a Gold Parchment and you'll be surprised at how similar they look. Or put a Silver Birch one next to the old Silver Frost and you be surprised at the difference.
The old White Pearl tri-coat looked great as does the new Ceramic White tri coat. I didn't like the old Ceramic White (not tri-coat), it looked kind of flat to me,
Ivory Parchment looks great and hides dirt and road grime exceptionally well.
I heard on another board the LS is being discontinued and the Mark might be back? Is there any truth? I have a 2000 Continental and have a chance to get a 2002 LS8 for $15,500 with 32,000 miles on it. If it is changing in the next yr or two I dont want to.
I believe it is more likely to be renamed in an attempt to regain Lincoln heritage and DNA. Now that Lincoln has left PAG they will be much more focused on the American market. Not all bad but it will probably push me to Jag. I believe Lincoln completely missed the boat with the LS. They should have had a wagon version, a smaller 2 door version (maybe based on the Xtype/Mondeo Platform) with a convertible top. If all this had been done we could start to see some performance models like BMW's M series. I think Cadillac has done a better job of this platform morphing even though their cars are wierd and I would never buy one. The LS is a Gem but it appears to be the runt/forgotten child. Where is the McLaren? Where is the equivilant to the Stype R? Where is the 6 speed. I bought into the Lincoln story but with Jac and Wolfgang gone I am probably going to turn mine in in July (lease is up) and I have not decided what to do now. I will probably drive my Jeep for a few months as it is paid for and the economy is sour. I can save up a nice downpayment then. Will I come back to Lincon? Don't know yet....
This interview with the main Lincoln Designer http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/070202.html will allow you to draw your own conclusions. The Continental concept is clearly based on the DEW platform...
Is that 2002 V8 a Sport? That is a heck of a deal! When I turn my 2000 V8 Sport in the residual is still 20K. Mine only has 25k miles on it right now and will likely have only about 30 on it at turn in in July. I would buy it for 15k but not 20k.
I would make sure that one has not been wrecked...
Before I bought my LS, I had a 1993 Mark8. It was painted a beautiful pearly white tri-coat. Even when it was 8 years old, I was getting compliments on the paint job. I sold it to my sis-in-law, she's got 150K on it now and it still looks great. I had to have the rear bumper repainted after I got rear-ended and they had no problem getting it right.
LS colors: If you like white, I'd recommend one of the tri-coats. IMO, it looks better when new and ages better as well. My LS I ordered in Autumn Red. I was tired of white, to tell te truth. Wanted something different. If I were going to buy a new LS, I would order it in Vivid Red. The LS looks spectacular in that color AND, it's VERY rare, having only been offered starting in late 2002.
Who are u , lincolnlover? Who is offereing u a 2002 LS V8 for $15,500?, a rich uncle? That's a ridiculous price. If u don't buy it, please tell me who the seller is. If it's not a wreck or a buyback, I'll buy it and make a quick 10 grand at least. And the LS certainly is NOT going away any time soon. They sell a LOT of them, and they just redesigned the whole thing and will sell many more in '03 and '04 before the next scheduled redesign in '05. Assuming the marketing dept doesn't blow everything before then.
I'm not sure about Vivid Red. Rare is good. I just wonder if the color would be a radar magnet. All I want is a color that looks great, is easy to keep clean, won't show dirt, and won't attract the gendarmes. Is that too much to ask? :-))
One of the advantages of the LS's somewhat conservative (and to me, very tasteful, elegant and attractive -- best looking American sedan, IMO) styling (compared to, say, the G35 or CTS) is that it doesn't attract unwanted attention from local law enforcement.
Is it an old wives' tale, or would a color like the new Vivid Red work against the LS's stealth advantage?
Scott, great tips on how NOT to let the dealer prep the car exterior! I'll have to remember that.
And, yup, we're getting kinda serious, but we're looking to refinance our mortgage first, so we've got some time.
The red LS shown in the link you provided is Autumn Red rather than the Vivid Red. The Vivid Red, I believe, is non-metallic whereas the Autumn Red has a metallic fleck in the paint. Both are nice colors, though I'm rather fond of my 2000 Silver Frost. Looks great both day and night and hides road grime quite well.
may be greatly exaggerated. There may be some shifting of priorities at Ford, maybe even some confusion (or what appears to be confusion to the uninformed observer). Ford sunk a lot of money into the development of the DEW98 platform and it seems unlikely they'd abandon it. Maybe in five years there won't be a car called "Lincoln LS" but I think our car will still be around. Bear in mind also that Ford bashing is a popular pastime with automotive "journalists" lately.
I wish there were a date on the McGovern article that was linked to. There have been some rumors that he's on the way out. He had nothing whatsoever to do with the LS; it predated his employment with Ford. His Mark 9 concept was pretty universally disliked, both within and outside Ford. He is by most accounts a rather difficult man to like. And, regardless of his future with Ford, as head of styling he would have little or no say in the future of the sport luxury sedan at Lincoln, other than what it will look like.
I dearly miss the light parchment of my 00. The black beast I currently have is dirty by the time I hit the end of the driveway. The parchment could go for months without a wash and still look clean.
Vivid Red is back as of March 1, 2003, that is you can get it on new 2003 LS's. According to the 2003 LS brocure it IS metallic.
The LS was just updated for 2003. Expectations are that it will be pretty much the same for 2004, with some possibility that there will be a higher HP V8 model for 2004 (in addition to the 280 HP V8).
The LS is scheduled for a significant makeover in 2005. Based on slipping schedules for many Ford vehicles I'd guess that the update won't see the light of day until Mid 2005 or later as a 2006 model. There has been very little info. available on the next generation LS. Rumors are that styling will be significantly different and it may be slightly larger. Also a rumor is that the 3.9L AJ-V8 derrived engine will be replaced by a version of the 4.6L DOHC (300 HP) mod motor. The 3.0L V6 is scheduled to be replaced by the Gen II 3.5L Duratech (250 HP).
I am certain that the LS will be changing in the future. All vehicles have to change otherwise they become dated and non competitive. But I doubt that the next generation LS (or whatever they call it) will stray too far from the current LS formula. Keep in mind that LS sales have been double what the Continental was and LS customers are significantly younger (15 years I've heard) than tradidtional Lincoln car customers (Town Car and Continental). I'd guess that Lincoln dearly values those younger customers.
I have the Ivory, and I like it very much. As slunar said, it hides dirt quite well, and mine looks as good today as it did when I took delivery in September '00. My folks have a '99 Town Car in the same color, and it has held up very well, too. Someone backed into a fender on Mom's car, and the repaint job looks perfect--can't even tell that it has been painted. It IS true, though, that extra care & skill must be used in order to get a good match if painting is necessary. Hope I never have to find out!
The Ivory is very popular where I live (Central Texas). It's one of the more common LS colors, and it's quite prevalent on Continentals and Cartier-model Town Cars, too. If your dealer doesn't have an Ivory LS, check the other new & used vehicles; you're bound to find something on the lot in Ivory & that'll give you an idea of what it'll look like on an LS.
Slunar is correct; Vivid Red is metallic. In fact, Black is the only non-metallic color available on the LS for 2003. The Ivory and Ceramic White are technically non-metallic, but the tricoat layer makes them look metallic. If I was going to order a new one, Vivid Red would probably be my choice. It's bold, but not TOO bold; it was offered in a limited run during the '02 model year, so I've seen a few, and it works really well on the LS, IMO.
Like Scott said, color choice is totally subjective. There was a color in '02 called Cypress Green that most people probably wouldn't have cared for; it was a sort of green-bronze mix. I thought it looked great, though--very unusual, and set off the LS quite nicely. It all depends on what looks good to you.
Remember that all of the LS colors are available on other Lincolns, so cruising the lot at a large dealership will usually allow you to see just about every color. Even if it's not on an LS, you can get a good idea of what the color is really like. Good luck; let us know what you choose.
Rocketsports Racing has developed racing versions of the Jaguar V-8 engine which is fundamentally very similar to the LS V-8 engine. More information is available at http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030222/lasa001_1.html.These engines qualified first and second and then won the Trans Am race at St Petersburg today competing against other engines that have had many years of development. This immediate success may be an indication of the potential this powerplant has for development.
Lincoln, one sure way to improve the performance image is to RACE your product!
I have to admit if Vivid Red was available I would have bought it. Or a decent green. In 99 the dark green was too dark and looked grey and the light green was too light. Autumn Red really shines (pun intended) in sunlight. It takes on a brighter red hue with metallic highlights. My next vehicle (whatever that is) will most likely be silver with a charcoal or black interior. I'm just tired of the tan interior after having it on my last 3 vehicles.
Hmmm.. never noticed this til I A/B'd my Aut Red above vs the new one also above - The '03s (or at least the one shown in familycar.com) do not have chrome trim around the side windows.
Comments
The Lincoln factory web side has been updated to have all the information on the 2003 Lincoln LS. This includes "Build Your LS" and a very handy new comparison window you can bring up that lets you compare the different LS model features. You can also now search dealer inventory for '03 LS's.
The incentive info is still screwed up however.
www.lincolnvehicles.com
right diameter for the tail pipe. It was either 1 3/4" or 2" can't remember which. Make sure the guy that does the welding brings them out straight and level. My installer used some tin shears to cut a larger arc in the rear plastic fascia. He was good and it looked great.
Great steering, more than quiet enough, very nice adjustability in the front seats, adjustable brake pedals (wife is 5"1", so that's a big deal :-) and a firm suspension that absorbed bumps and ruts very nicely.
I was surprised, though, at how much oomph the 6 had. Wasn't expecting much from the 6, but it had a LOT of power, both from a stop, and kicking down around 40 or 50.
Test car had 16" wheels w. Continentals.
Trim and finish were excellent, paint quality excellent. Wood trim on the inside very classy. The car had the THX radio/navigation combo. The radio was great, although I'm not sure I'm enough of an audiophile to tell the difference. Couldn't tell much about the nav unit; it wasn't programmed (or loaded?); the salesman just pulled the first '03 he could find.
The only downside I could find was that it seemed a bit hard to get in and out of the back seat, and a little bit, but less so for the front. (But then, I'm 6'1" and a bit chunkier than I used to be.)
Nice low-key sales staff. My guy brought over another guy to run thru all 500 to the changes/upgrades from '02 to '03. Spent over an hour walking me thru them. VERY knowledgeable, and an impressive demo.
Can't wait to test drive the 8. They suggested a longer drive, to "see what it can do on the road." Okay. I'm game. :-)
Here's the article intro:
Inner Space
"Moving Lincoln from a second-string has been to a premium luxury brand won't be easy, but the division's chief designer, Gerry McGovern, has a strategy to do just that while redefining the term 'American Luxury.'"
Interesting quote in the last paragraph ("To build a real luxury brand, you have to walk away from revenues.") and comment on Jac Nasser's departure.
Here's the url:
http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/070202.html
The site also has a recent, positive review of the '03 V8 here:
http://www.autofieldguide.com/driven/1102dri07.html
(A bit of float sometimes from the rear dampers being the only negative comment)
And a more superficial, but also positive review from the Washington Times:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/autoweekend/20021025-40864816.htm
And finally, a detailed look at how the LS seats are made -- quality control issues, how the seats are actually made, quality checks, craftsmanship, etc. Here's the url:
http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/010005.html
Interesting reading...
Drop me an email at LobsenzA@Rose-Grp.com if you would like more information.
The navigation system in the car you drove was probably missing the CD. They were in short supply when the '03s were first being shipped and sometimes getting to the dealers later than the cars.
Think I detect another soon-to-be member of the Few, the Proud, the Grinning.
THX is, I think, supposed to counter the Mark Levinson set-up used in Lexi. In fact, the flip-out screen to access the CD player looks similar to the Lexus ES 300 dash. Clever, but makes inserting the CD a two-step operation, not that it's a big deal.
The V6 I drove had 28 miles on it, so I guess that qualifies as tight. :-) Couldn't really tell in my short ride, but it seemed like it would pull forever. Like I said, am really looking forward to driving the V8.
The dealers around here have more '02s than '03s with pretty compelling discounts. If we go with the '03, the extra horsepower is nice-- but it's really the adjustable pedals and driver door keypad we're after. :-) Still thinking about the money difference...
Scott, your detector could be on to something. I do miss my '66 Sunbeam Tiger. Parts were a nightmare, but I really liked the 260 cubic inch Ford V8. So you could say I have a thing for Ford small blocks. :-)
Nice to hear from a new prospect here. Good luck in your search, and welcome aboard.
In 1970, I bought a new 350 cc Honda which I could ride on in a suit. I still have it and it has never failed to start in 33 years.
I installed a trickle charger in a friends 02 Jag up here in Montreal last night. He couldn't locate the battery!
I was surprised at the size and look of it. It was 50% larger than a regular battery and was clear like a bike battery. Then I noticed it was lead free. This is an environmental pledge that Ford has made to be totally lead free in their cars by 2004.
I'm working on the electronics manufacturing transition to lead free. Like many other aspects of our industry, we'll wait to the last minute and get dragged in yelling and screaming while the Japanese have been it at for five years. They put their products into the market place without fanfare. That way if it failed they wouldn't lose face. Our LS has lead free electronics for the anti theft device.
How's that for the history of automotive electronics in 30 seconds!
Do you mean it employs a lead-free battery like NiCad? Or do you mean that the entire assembly is lead-free... i.e. no tin-lead solder?
Actually, the TR has been OK electrically, except for some ignition problems inflicted by a previous owner. The Healey was another story. Actually, many stories.
Ray, what tires on on your new LS, & how do you like them so far? Driven it in snow yet? I put on a third set of Firehawks this fall, still hard to beat for a compromise between summer handling and winter traction, especially at the price. I'm sure they'll all be gone by the time I need tires again. Thought about the Michelins Lincoln is using on the '03 (MXM4, is that right?), but they're something like $210 per.
Scott, for the gearhead I thought I was, I've got less than 800 miles on the new LS in 2 months. I had that on the 00 in a week!
Until our Dallas chapter meeting, I hadn't even popped the hood. The tires are Michelins but I'm not sure what models. The turn in is very crisp but then again I'm not comparing apples to apples as I had them on the 00 but it was a non sport.
Our club performed the 02 airbox swap and even laying them out on a table for pics, comparing the old to the new etc, it took all of 5 minutes to perform.
Getting itchy about Mania IV.
Are we going to hook up somehow?
Scott, for the gearhead I thought I was, I've got less than 800 miles on the new LS in 2 months. I had that on the 00 in a week!
Until our Dallas chapter meeting, I hadn't even popped the hood. The tires are Michelins but I'm not sure what models. The turn in is very crisp but then again I'm not comparing apples to apples as I had them on the 00 but it was a non sport.
Our club performed the 02 airbox swap on an 00 and even laying them out on a table for pics, comparing the old to the new etc, it took all of 5 minutes to perform.
Getting itchy about Mania IV.
Are we going to hook up somehow?
Both the DuraTech and the V8 LS engines are sweet, and I can't wait to try an 03 with the extra ponies and especially even better low end grunt from the VVT.
As sweet as they are, think about what they put out. That V8 has 240 cid, or just a little more than Chrysler's big slant 6 (the V6 is the size of the small slant six). What do they produce, about twice the horse power? How about the 260 short block discussed above? That was the V8 in the very early Mustangs. Sure, you could squeeze the same 280 HP from those engines, but think how those engines ran at low RPMs, and how loud they were with big headers and straight pipes. Lets not even think about gas mileage.
Compare that to 280 ponies from a smaller engine with significantly more low-end torque that runs smooth as silk from 800 RPM through red-line and still gets 26+ MPG on the expressway.
Amazing!
Oh, did I mention 100K between tuneups and probably 200K before any engine work. What was that 260 good for? Plugs every 10,000, valves at 30, and rebuild the engine if run hard at 50K or less?
My LS V8 with 40,000 miles on it doesn't burn a drop of oil between changes, and was running in the driveway yesterday when I asked my kid why he shut the car off. I wasn't sure it was running until I looked at the tach.
Great job engine guys!
Both the DuraTech and the V8 LS engines are sweet, and I can't wait to try an 03 with the extra ponies and especially even better low end grunt from the VVT.
As sweet as they are, think about what they put out. That V8 has 240 cid, or just a little more than Chrysler's big slant 6 (the V6 is the size of the small slant six). What do they produce, about twice the horse power? How about the 260 short block discussed above? That was the V8 in the very early Mustangs. Sure, you could squeeze the same 280 HP from those engines, but think how those engines ran at low RPMs, and how loud they were with big headers and straight pipes. Lets not even think about gas mileage.
Compare that to 280 ponies from a smaller engine with significantly more low-end torque that runs smooth as silk from 800 RPM through red-line and still gets 26+ MPG on the expressway.
Amazing!
Oh, did I mention 100K between tuneups and probably 200K before any engine work. What was that 260 good for? Plugs every 10,000, valves at 30, and rebuild the engine if run hard at 50K or less?
My LS V8 with 40,000 miles on it doesn't burn a drop of oil between changes, and was running in the driveway yesterday when I asked my kid why he shut the car off. I wasn't sure it was running until I looked at the tach.
Great job engine guys!
Nostalgia is fun, but when you look at the choices available to someone who wants comfort and performance and has a few bucks to spend (but not a fortune), these are the good old days.
Ray, the eastbound/northbound caravan is a work in progress. It will work out.
Tentative agenda:
Sunday evening: Welcome reception
Monday morning: Wixom Assembly Plant tour
Monday afternoon: Livonia Transmission Plant tour
Tuesday morning: Romeo Proving Grounds Tour
Tuesday afternoon: Round-table discussion with Lincoln
Tuesday evening: Kart2Kart go-kart racing and dinner
Wednesday (all day): show-and-shine and vendor showcase
Thursday (all day): SCCA High-Performance Driving School
In addition, we are attempting to also put together eastbound and westbound LS caravans that will rendevous at a point to be determined and caravan together into Mania.
This is the most ambitious Mania event so far and as usual, will have the typical surprises that these events have come to be known for.
More details will follow......
This is despite the effect of neutered fuel and catalytic converters.
Today's fuel mixtures are so close to stochiometric at all times with these closed loop feedback systems, and the ignition timing is so optimum compared to the old mechanical systems that it's like night and day.
VVT is like adding frosting to the cake, as is coil on plug ignition and other enhancements.
A friend of mine inherited a 1979 motor home with a 454. I've been helping him with getting this beast up and running after being stored for some time.
It's like working on a dinosaur. I've been forced to remember the 7 systems of a carburetor, and the last time I tore through a Quadrajet was 1968.
I think a lot of today's engine longevity can be traced to effeciency technology.
Many people do not realize the uneven and often rich mixtures that engines digested in the past resulted in carbon production, oil dilution and premature piston ring wear that reduced engine life by leaps and bounds. A common culprit was the carbon that eventually stuck the top piston ring in place and eliminated it's ability to expand. From that point on, engine death was not far off.
This is rare today, and synthetic oils don't contribute to coking as much as Dino oils to this problem.
So if I can give you one (more) reason to run Syn instead of Dino oil, it is Syn's ability to resist degredation when lubricating the critical top ring area.
This literally controls the life of your engine.
Scott's memories of the 60's Supercar days remind me of my 2 64 GTO's. Ah, the feeling of a 389 with Tri-power accelerating me up the on-ramp! I'm sure it felt faster than it really was.
And then the painful hours of rebuilding engines, replacing clutches and tearing into Muncie four-speeds.
Life seems so simple now. Just turn the key and go. I rarely open the hood. And the LS just goes like clockwork, no matter how hard I drive it!
0-60 in 7.2 is probably a little slower than the GTO, but then 9" drum brakes all around and cornering worse than a Hummer could ruin your day after getting up to speed.
In perspective, these are the real days of Supercars, and the LS is really a superb ride.
I had a roommate born and raised in Motor City who explained "The automobile is an incredibly complicated piece of machinery designed by incredibly talented people so that it can be repaired by your average shade tree mechanic".
Think about the light switch, and how many times it needs to perform its intended function over the life of a vehicle, and that's just the light switch.
Of course, the energy crisis, unleaded gas, and pollution concerns all changed that in the 70's, and our friends in Detroit were a little slow catching up (remember the little belt driven blowers that injected fresh air into the exhaust system for no apparent reason other than to improve the exhaust gas ratios). Geez!
Of course, you can't adjust the points with a matchbook any more, or tune the carburator by ear. Those systems don't even exist, and were replaced with systems that generally don't break, and have evolved to greatly improve performance.
Way to go engine guys (and you tranny guys) (and girls too). Thanks for making these the good old days!
Oh, and that light switch --- my autolamp system works flawlessly. I'm honestly not even sure how the light switch works.
It is very interesting that the cars of old that were so vaunted only have middling performance compared to todays performance cars.
The thing not to forget is how horribe the "non-muscle" cars were. This is all about perspective.. To the average car person then those cars were the Vipers of today... And in comparison to the average street junk they were!
Back then HP and gears made it fairly easy to make a car stand out from the crowd.
Now we have cars that are only 10th's apart in the quarter or 0-60 made by different manuacturers !!!
I propose we make all of the "non" performance cars slow down so ours will look even faster again in comparison! heh heh
For instance, the '03 brochure I have says that Ceramic White and Ivory Parchment are extra cost "tri-coat" paint. Does that make 'em more durable? Richer looking? Easier to take care of?
I thought the metallics -- Silver Birch, Light Parchment Gold, and the reds -- were quite attractive. Paint quality seemed good to me, but I'm no expert.
I haven't found ANY tri-coat LS's on dealer lots and haven't seen any on the road. Anyone have a tri-coat paint on their car?
And for everyone, how happy are you with the color you picked?
The tricoats are beautiful, with great depth of color. I like the Ivory. It's a special process that others can describe better than I can, but they are nice. I understand you need to be pretty careful as to who does any bodywork you might need in the future as the finish can be a challenge to match.
The tri-coat colors have some tiny red and blue metallic speckles (technical term) in them that give them a pearlescent look. Imagine metallic white. I love it, and am leaning that way for my next car. There's no advantage to them as far as care or durability, and they are more difficult and expensive to touch up or repair, if that's an issue.
Everybody loves black, but it's a SOB to take care of, shows every speck of dust. My '00 is dark satin green metallic, very dark. Looks great when clean, but I doubt I'll own another dark car. I happened to get a good deal on a leftover '00 in Oct of 2000. Like the color, but didn't choose it.
Of course, color choice is purely subjective; get what you like. What I'll do differently next time: Order the car and instruct (and I mean insist, in writing) that the dealer do NOTHING to the car when it comes in except hose it off. No buffing, waxing, polishing, nothing. Period. Then I'll take it straight home, wash it properly, maybe clay it, and apply my own polishing regimen to it, Zaino in my case. The ham-handed amateurs dealers employ can't help but put swirls in the paint. There was a new black '01 LS at my dealer the day I bought mine that looked like someone had been after it with steel wool when the sunshine hit it.
Too bad you can't find a tri-coat car to see in person. It really is gorgeous.
He's bloodied, but unbowed.
They make an interesting point. Outside of the Infiniti G boards, I don't see too many BMW people trying to convince others that their choice is the right one. Even the G boards have calmed down recently.
Either way, those of us with LS's have them for a number of reasons. Impressing others had better be way, way down on the list, or disappointment is sure to follow. Enjoying driving with an LS, OTOH, is an entirely different scenario -- 100% pleasant, but it's a solitary thing.
Well, just to be my usual cantankerous self, I do NOT like black and I do not even think that it is all that flattering on a LS. IMHO the LS looks best in the lighter colors although some of the mid darkness colors look good too.
Saw a '03 in the new Steel Blue last week and it looked pretty good.
Silver Birch looks very good, it has a surprising amount of brown in it. Just put it next to a Gold Parchment and you'll be surprised at how similar they look. Or put a Silver Birch one next to the old Silver Frost and you be surprised at the difference.
The old White Pearl tri-coat looked great as does the new Ceramic White tri coat. I didn't like the old Ceramic White (not tri-coat), it looked kind of flat to me,
Ivory Parchment looks great and hides dirt and road grime exceptionally well.
This interview with the main Lincoln Designer
http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/070202.html
will allow you to draw your own conclusions. The Continental concept is clearly based on the DEW platform...
I would make sure that one has not been wrecked...
Before I bought my LS, I had a 1993 Mark8. It was painted a beautiful pearly white tri-coat. Even when it was 8 years old, I was getting compliments on the paint job. I sold it to my sis-in-law, she's got 150K on it now and it still looks great.
I had to have the rear bumper repainted after I got rear-ended and they had no problem getting it right.
LS colors: If you like white, I'd recommend one of the tri-coats. IMO, it looks better when new and ages better as well.
My LS I ordered in Autumn Red. I was tired of white, to tell te truth. Wanted something different. If I were going to buy a new LS, I would order it in Vivid Red. The LS looks spectacular in that color AND, it's VERY rare, having only been offered starting in late 2002.
Who are u , lincolnlover? Who is offereing u a 2002 LS V8 for $15,500?, a rich uncle? That's a ridiculous price. If u don't buy it, please tell me who the seller is. If it's not a wreck or a buyback, I'll buy it and make a quick 10 grand at least.
And the LS certainly is NOT going away any time soon. They sell a LOT of them, and they just redesigned the whole thing and will sell many more in '03 and '04 before the next scheduled redesign in '05. Assuming the marketing dept doesn't blow everything before then.
I'm not sure about Vivid Red. Rare is good. I just wonder if the color would be a radar magnet. All I want is a color that looks great, is easy to keep clean, won't show dirt, and won't attract the gendarmes. Is that too much to ask? :-))
One of the advantages of the LS's somewhat conservative (and to me, very tasteful, elegant and attractive -- best looking American sedan, IMO) styling (compared to, say, the G35 or CTS) is that it doesn't attract unwanted attention from local law enforcement.
Is it an old wives' tale, or would a color like the new Vivid Red work against the LS's stealth advantage?
Scott, great tips on how NOT to let the dealer prep the car exterior! I'll have to remember that.
And, yup, we're getting kinda serious, but we're looking to refinance our mortgage first, so we've got some time.
P.S. There's a photo spread of the '03 LS on FamilyCars.com that I THINK is Vivid Red. Here's the link:
http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/LincolnLS/photos.htm
The Vivid Red is VIVID!
Check out this for LS colors:
http://www.lincoln.com, select the LS, Gallery, and Colors
I wish there were a date on the McGovern article that was linked to. There have been some rumors that he's on the way out. He had nothing whatsoever to do with the LS; it predated his employment with Ford. His Mark 9 concept was pretty universally disliked, both within and outside Ford. He is by most accounts a rather difficult man to like. And, regardless of his future with Ford, as head of styling he would have little or no say in the future of the sport luxury sedan at Lincoln, other than what it will look like.
The black beast I currently have is dirty by the time I hit the end of the driveway. The parchment could go for months without a wash and still look clean.
The LS was just updated for 2003. Expectations are that it will be pretty much the same for 2004, with some possibility that there will be a higher HP V8 model for 2004 (in addition to the 280 HP V8).
The LS is scheduled for a significant makeover in 2005. Based on slipping schedules for many Ford vehicles I'd guess that the update won't see the light of day until Mid 2005 or later as a 2006 model. There has been very little info. available on the next generation LS. Rumors are that styling will be significantly different and it may be slightly larger. Also a rumor is that the 3.9L AJ-V8 derrived engine will be replaced by a version of the 4.6L DOHC (300 HP) mod motor. The 3.0L V6 is scheduled to be replaced by the Gen II 3.5L Duratech (250 HP).
I am certain that the LS will be changing in the future. All vehicles have to change otherwise they become dated and non competitive. But I doubt that the next generation LS (or whatever they call it) will stray too far from the current LS formula. Keep in mind that LS sales have been double what the Continental was and LS customers are significantly younger (15 years I've heard) than tradidtional Lincoln car customers (Town Car and Continental). I'd guess that Lincoln dearly values those younger customers.
The Ivory is very popular where I live (Central Texas). It's one of the more common LS colors, and it's quite prevalent on Continentals and Cartier-model Town Cars, too. If your dealer doesn't have an Ivory LS, check the other new & used vehicles; you're bound to find something on the lot in Ivory & that'll give you an idea of what it'll look like on an LS.
Slunar is correct; Vivid Red is metallic. In fact, Black is the only non-metallic color available on the LS for 2003. The Ivory and Ceramic White are technically non-metallic, but the tricoat layer makes them look metallic. If I was going to order a new one, Vivid Red would probably be my choice. It's bold, but not TOO bold; it was offered in a limited run during the '02 model year, so I've seen a few, and it works really well on the LS, IMO.
Like Scott said, color choice is totally subjective. There was a color in '02 called Cypress Green that most people probably wouldn't have cared for; it was a sort of green-bronze mix. I thought it looked great, though--very unusual, and set off the LS quite nicely. It all depends on what looks good to you.
Remember that all of the LS colors are available on other Lincolns, so cruising the lot at a large dealership will usually allow you to see just about every color. Even if it's not on an LS, you can get a good idea of what the color is really like. Good luck; let us know what you choose.
Lincoln, one sure way to improve the performance image is to RACE your product!
I have to admit if Vivid Red was available I would have bought it. Or a decent green. In 99 the dark green was too dark and looked grey and the light green was too light. Autumn Red really shines (pun intended) in sunlight. It takes on a brighter red hue with metallic highlights. My next vehicle (whatever that is) will most likely be silver with a charcoal or black interior. I'm just tired of the tan interior after having it on my last 3 vehicles.
IS autumn red, but look at the skies - they're cloudy and grey and don't really show the color well.
Here's my Autumn Red one. Skies are bight but hazy IIRC
http://www.whitneygallery.com/Jenn/Jenn_files/MY_69_Lincoln.jpg
George
I think I like it better *with* the chrome.