I had my selling dealer change the fluid for about $120. I had it done at 30,000 miles and plan on continuing on the same schedule.
I've been changing my fuel filter and cabin air filter every 15K. -
Stanny,
I used all 5 tires equally. I don't drive too wrecklessly - as I have a 40 mile, one way trip to work and it is most highway cruising. i do have a couple of hills & turns to zip around... so it does get a workout!
I have a 2000 sport ls8 with 31000 miles, and im having a major problem with the car an unknown problem !!! this is my long story : first the air bag light was on and didn't turned off for about 45 min,after few days the ATS light turned on with CHECK ADVANCE TRAC warning on the screen, i toke the car to the dealer and they checked the car by computer and there was no problem on the car, i toke the car , weeks later the car sudnlly stopped on the road and i couldn't start it , i got this warnig on the screen (cheack advancetrack,gear data error, cheack engine and lots of warnings)and th securty lamp was flashing **i was driving in low speed , i call the dealer and they took the car , i went to them next day after they checked the car by computer they said it might be jumper or some wiring acording to the tsb they have and i have ,i wated for 2 month to get the wire and they replaced the part, i toke the car and it was ok , next day the car didnt start and i got the same problem before , i tried to start it sevral time but the engine was not turning and there was no cranking, i tried to start the car after 2-3 hours and the car started . i toke the car to the dealer and they said to me just leave the car and we will cheack every thing on the car (it took 1 week),, they said it might be a dameged wire or a diconnected wire.. they changed many wires and elctronic stuff ( i wated 20 days for the parts), and they changed the same wire they changed before, and the car was fine . and my dealer contacted germany and us dealers to find out the wrong with my car. they told me we fixed it .,when i took the car 3 weeks later,in a week the car didnt start i toke the car to them and they changed the odometer ( i wated 2 months tell they odometer came from us) and other things , next day the car didnt start .... so i took it to them and they told me we dont know what is wrong with it , so they told me we will do one last thing we will change the pcm and they did it, one week later i took my car finaly and it was fine ,i drove 1000 mile then i got the check advance trac , two times and the ats lite stayed on ,i turned the car off and on it was fine ,i dont know what to do now , i realy love the drive of my lincoln ls , and as i knew from my dealer that my car is the only car with the problem , i asked them to replace the car and they told me we cannot replace it (( i dont know why?? lincoln does replace cars under warranty )))anyone can help me or had the same problem before....!????
Given the fact the 03 has 500 great changes, etc.....can anyone convince me to buy a new 03 for 40K or so, rather than a CPO 2002 with 13K miles on it for 26K!! That is quite a delta for a one year old car.
Is an 03 worth the extra 13-15K?
You are talking to a guy who is slowly migrating his preference from a BMW 530 to a Lincoln LS -Sport, so go easy on my.
Your electrical system gremlins are unusual, and not something I've heard of before. That said, the LS does have a fairly sophisticated electrical system.
The pervasive yet intermittant nature of your gremlins almost feel like a ground problem, perhaps due to corrosion at a grounding point. I'm sure the dealer checked this, but you might check with another dealer.
The '03's are significantly better,both in terms of performance and interior luxury. But putting a price tag on it is personal, based on our own finances.
Have you driven both an '02 and an '03?
If you haven't yet driven an '03 do that before you make your decision. But also keep in mind that it looks like rebates are now available on the '03's and if you are financing it loan rates are almost always bettern on new cars.
I own an '00 LS, and the '03 has one major, major improvement that makes it superior to any previous models: VVT. The variable valve timing provides far superior low-end torque, plus better gas mileage. It's absolutely win-win.
There are 500+ more "improvements," which have yet to be listed anywhere I've seen, but the '03 is a major step up from the three previous model years, which weren't all that shabby.
I own an 02 V8 sport. I requested an 03 V8 Sport to use while mine is in for routine maintence. Yes, the 03 is deinitely superior. Is it worth the difference? That is for you to decide. When you compare the 02 to the 03 make sure you compare models as comparably equipped as possible. Make a list of the differences and get an accurate difference in cost for comparably equipped vehicles and decide. While I love my 02, I sure would like an 03.....
Here's another big plus, IMNSHO. First gear start in SST. You no longer need to input >60% throttle to get 1st gear off the line. The rear parking assist works very well and is a VERY nice feature. ZF steering, electric cooling fan vs. the current hydraulic one. More that I can't remember right now.
Mike - "rear parking assist" Is that the same as the Jag XTYPE where an alarm is sounded if there is an obstruction(including people) behind the car? Mine sounds more intensely the closer I get to the object. Has been very helpful on numerous occasions.
Some good points I admit - and I will be driving a 2002 LS - Sport with 13K miles on it today with the asking price of 27K, and then I'll drive the 2003 and see if it is worth 13-15K more.
How can it be? That is quite a difference for a one yr old car, especially when it is certified.
Actually you should look at a new leftover '02 LS. There is both a $3,500 rebate and dealer cash so the deals on them are incredible. You may find that for $3K or $4K more than the asking price on that used '02 V8 Sport you can get a new leftover '02.
In addition, there is now a $2,500 rebate on the '03 LS's so if you are a good negotiator you should be able to get a '03 V8 Sport that MSRP's for $42K for about $37K or only $10K more than the asking price on that used '02.
LS's depreciate like crazy. If your used 02 is very nice you'll take the least amount of financial hit on that compared to a new one no matter how good the deals are. Your new $37k 03 will be worth about $10k less in a year. I doubt the $27k CPO 02 will drop an additional $10k in a year. Push the dealer harder on price on the used 02 if it's a nice one.
I drove two LS's today. Drove both of them alone (no sales rep) and drove them hard. Not abusive, but they were thoroughly driven!! And it was a lot of fun.
The 02 LS Non Sport w/16 in wheels: Drove great, nice car, great ride - no complaints at all!! But I have to have the Sport so regardless of the price this is not the car for me. I was still very impressed with the HP, brakes, steering, and handle of the car.
The 03 LS Sport -- I have to admit, it kicked butt. An awesome ride that really put a smile on my face. And the Tip/Step whatever you call it was actually fun as well. With an MSRP of 43K - this was a great car.
I asked my salesman if there were any rebates or incentives on the 03 and he said no - so is he playing games with me and keeping the rebate for himself, or is there really a rebate on the 03 LS???
As for depreciation, yes they take a big hit - unlike a BMW - but I plan on keeping the car for 2-4 years so I can live with it!!
Was not thrilled with the loaner program from this dealer, as they use the rental car place across the street to provide a Towncar when your car is in the shop!!!
There are some incentives on the 03, but they are definitely not what they are on an 02. When comparing an 02 to an 03 make sure they are comparably equipped so you gat an accurate comparison. All 03 V8s are Sport models. I would figure out the cost difference and decide. The incentives may have changed on April 1.
As far as the loaner car goes, they are providing one and it is not an econobox. I would think that you could substitute another vehicle for the Towne Car if you desire.
Depending on where you live, I may have a few dealer suggestions for you. Drop me an email at LobsenzA@Rose-Grp.com
That LS on ebay has to be the worst ever. Nasty roof+nasty chrome strips on lower doors+gold package!!! No wonder its going for 13k. I wonder what dealer sold it..
I spent a lot of time; I went for LSV8Premium Sport with navigation, @46,990 MSRP but bought it below dealer cost, due to major holdbacks. This is a high performance Car. The BMW with similar equipment would have been a 540 at perhaps $58K. It's a shame Lincoln marketing is so inept; this car is very, very impressive.
I was checking the inventory where I bought my Jag XType and since he is also a Lincoln dealer I decided to check the LS inventory. He has 26 new 2002s in stock and shows no 2003s. Doesn't this seem kind of unusual? This is not the dealer that I bought my 2000 LS from. It is Alverez L/M/Jag. I was very impressed with their service.
One of the responses elicited on another board regarding the Jaguar S Type with a manual trans:
I'm excited. But it's only available in the 3.0 L V-6 version. Imagine what a manual tranny would be like coupled to a V-8! There's one for sale on Ebay at $40k and they haven't moved it in months. It's been advertised several times. Seems most Americans want automatics. I wonder what resale value would be on a manual S? A dealer told me, off the record, that he won't order any because, they would just "sit there" on the lot. His exact words were "a manual S is a dog. It would just sit there."
If I do go the LS V8 Sport route - does anyone have some experience driving these cars 25-30k miles per year. I am in outside sales and drive a lot - so reliability is key for me!
How many people out there have an LS with over 100K miles on them?
LS1BMW0 turned 100K miles about a month ago. He can fill you in on the details, but I believe the biggest problem he had with his LS in 100K miles was a fuel pump failure. There are several other LS owners kicking around here that are in the 60K to 80K mileage range.
kellyo is correct, there is now a $3k rebate on the '03 LS's effective yesterday. On a $43K MSRP LS Sport, you should be able to get at least $2K in dealer discount on it and maybe over $2.5K discount if you are a hard nosed negotiator. In addition with the $3K rebate that means you should pay about $37.5K for it + taxes and registration. So that's more like $10K over the asking price on that used '02 LS.
The Lincoln (factory) web site lincolnvehicles.com shows the incentives. Lincoln itself in the past has been slow to update their web site, but they have been a lot faster to update it recently.
Yes, you guys are right - thanks! I know this sounds greedy but so what: Are there dealer hold-backs on these cars at all. If there are, maybe I can push my dealer even closer to Invoice, and get the car for 37-38K!
The V6 MTX Jag has VVT. That might make up for any increased weight. I'd like to see the specs to see if it also has the 3:07 rear ratio, and it's 0-60 time as well. Somehow I think of a Manual in a Jag as being out of character. Very low % take factor. Can you imagine seeing an MTX Jag in San Francisco? The town is probably full of Escalades with 24" wheels.
Why would anyone buy a 2002 LS, when an 03 will most likely be the same price - now that the rebate is being offered? Or are 02's going for below Invoice before the rebate?
There are extra incentives on the 02's plus the dealers are probably willing to dip into their holdback. A comparably equipped 02 is still probably $5K less than the equivalent 03 even with the 03 rebate.
When considering an 02LS vs an 03LS consider that there are features on the 03 that you just can't get on the 02 that make it a much nicer car. I put 25K on an 02 and have now put 8K on 03 and I am still surprised by how much better the 03 is. There is a better ride, a quieter car, a quicker car, what feels like more room for the front seat passagers and overall better interior materials. With some warm days finally coming the cooled seats feature is becoming important. The electronic break is an excellent feature and eliminates the need to nudge a passenger when setting or disengaging the brake. I could go on but needless to say I am a big fan of the 03LS.
I agree, so why would anyone in their right mind buy a new 02 vs. a new 03, even if you do save 3-4K! It does not seem worth the 3-4K to pass on getting an 03!
Anyone seen the latest issue of Motor Trend? They compared the 2003 LS V8 to the Infinity M45. Their pick overall? The LS. Infiniti beat LS in acceleration (5.8 vs 6.8 0-60) but MT said that advantage would be quickly wiped out once the road turned twisty! Go LS.
took my 2000 ls in last week to the dealer to get oil changed and they are recommending a transmission flush and coolant flush. i have heard varying opinions on if this is necessary so could someone tell me why this needs to be done? i have owned other cars and never had to do this on them. please help
I won't speak as to the Coolant, but I feel sorry for cars that never received a Automatic Transmission Fluid Flush/Change. Trannies whose fluid hasn't been change Fail easily by 100,000 miles.
The Fluid on the LS Needs to be changed every 30,000 miles (Manual calls for 60,000 normal schedule and 30,000 Severe I believe) per one of the Engineers for the LS Transmission. I had mine done and will do it again at 60,000, 90,000 and 120,000 if I still have it and not a new LS.
This should cost about $160 dollars give or take if done properly by the dealer. They take out all the Fluid Vs. a partial change that some places do.
thanks for your info on the coolant flush and trans flush. i will schedule that with my dealer. my ls is a 2000 and i have 38,000 miles on it.do i need to do any other maintanance on it at this milage??
I agree with Scott on the fuel filter change. If you're the least bit handy, it'll take you longer to jack the car up than change the filter. Locating it may take a while as it's hidden behind drivers side inner fender liner. Jack the front and remove the drivers wheel, then all you'll need is a socket wrench for the filter clamp and pliers for the hose clips. Speaking of filters, I just changed the oil and filter on my new 02. The original UK filter caved in before it came loose. I was afraid of being stuck with a collapsed filter and unable to drive it to the dealer when it finally broke loose. It was certainly more than finger tight and the metal was super thin.
Anyone know of a dealer that will actually go into their "holdback" on an 03 Sport?
How much is their holdback? With my Company Purchase plan with Lincoln - I can get an "almost Sport Premium" for 40K. Take the 3k off for the rebate and I am at 37K.
Frankly, it worries me that my mother-in-law and my taste in cars is congruent but, she's coming off a three year lease and she's only put 11K on the car! The buyout is about $1K less than Edmunds figures it's worth so I'm in! I've driven it, and even though it doesn't have heated seats, I like it! My questions? What should be done to this like-new car? I want a dealer to run the VIN to see if any recalls are outstanding but, should I change/flush all fluids? How 'bout the fuel filter? I probably will change the wiper blades and interior air filter. Anything else you Lincoln guys would recommend? Thanks for your advice! BTW, it's a Florida car that will live in NE Ohio come June.
Read back a couple of posts - it is covered about changing the Tranny & Coolants. The tranny can probably wait until you have 30,000 miles. The coolant - you may consider having flushed when your baby turns 3.
As for oil - it probably wouldn't hurt to start out your ownership with a fresh oil change - switch to synthetic oil (I use Mobil 1 - expensive - but worth the price. I change oil/filter myself every 5,000 miles with sythetic - 3K with dino oil in my other cars.)
Go to fordpartsnetwork website and order yourself the 2002 airbox and install it - worth every penny and you'll notice a difference in the pick up.
The holdback is 3% of MSRP. At this time it would be unusual for a dealer to dip into their holdback unless they are real desparate to sell the car. But, it doesn't hurt to ask, especially if you buy at the end of the month. All they can say is no.
I'd guess that your company purchase arrangement is probably X - plan which is about $300 over invoice. X-plan is a discount arrangement for companies that do business with Ford and for friends and extended family of Ford employees. X plan gives you a very good price without any hassles. But, if you are a tough negotiator you can probably beat X plan, especially if the dealer is hungry.
in-law's 2000 LS
There has been only 1 recall, it was for the nuts on the front lower ball joints not being properly torqued. The recall affects a relatively small # of '00 LS's built during a specific time.
Depending on when her LS was built, there have been 3 revisions of the PCM code. I think the last REV was June 01. The newer PCM code improves transmission shifting (I'm assuming that your mother-in-law has an auto).
There also are updated rear axled to get rid of a droning noise in the rear of the LS when the torque converter is locked in 4th & 5th gears (41 MPH 4th 51 MPH 5th). However I think this affects the V8's more than the V6's. If you do hear a low pitched noise in the rear at these speeds that's what is causing it and it can be fixed.
The only other thing to worry about, espcially since her car has been in a hot climate, is failure of the retainers on the rear window power drive. Lincoln will not replace the parts with the updated ones under warranty unless they have failed. This problem seems to affect mainly cars in hot climates as the original retainer was plastic.
If you can get a dealer to run the VIN on Ford's Oasis system, it will tell you what REV the PCM code is, if the ball joint recall was done and if any other repair work has been done.
The newer airbox won't pin you back in the seat but will improve breathing efficiency. We swapped one into an 00 as part of our monthly club meeting. It probably took less than two minutes to change and that included taking photos to compare the old to the new. Beware that some replacements for whatever reason have a flap that blocks the lower half of the snorkel which kind of defeats its purpose. We pulled my new 02 airbox to compare and the flap wasn't there. An Xacto knife made short work of the flap.
I wondered about that darn little flap & just shrugged it off as being part of it - but knowing that your 2002 doesn't have it - I will make short work of it being there... I'll let you know if it makes a difference.
My 00 V8 Sport lease is done in 2 months. The residual is 20k.
The dealer is trying to get me into a new 03 (or 02). I am not interested in the 02. I like the 03 with all the options (THX etc) and got them to a price of about 44.5k. With 60 months at 0%. I would rather save the interest than get the rebate.
I still like my 00 though and if I could get it for 18-19 k.... I could then do magnaflows, eibach springs/bilstein shocks, 02 airbox, etc. I can even beef up the sound system (satellite radio, sub etc) and add a portable nav system and still save big bucks over the 03... It only has 28k miles....
Comments
Is there a URL that will give me a listing for the LS?
Thanks
I've been changing my fuel filter and cabin air filter every 15K. -
Stanny,
I used all 5 tires equally. I don't drive too wrecklessly - as I have a 40 mile, one way trip to work and it is most highway cruising. i do have a couple of hills & turns to zip around... so it does get a workout!
this is my long story :
first the air bag light was on and didn't turned off for about 45 min,after few days the ATS light turned on with CHECK ADVANCE TRAC warning on the screen, i toke the car to the dealer and they checked the car by computer and there was no problem on the car, i toke the car , weeks later the car sudnlly stopped on the road and i couldn't start it , i got this warnig on the screen (cheack advancetrack,gear data error, cheack engine and lots of warnings)and th securty lamp was flashing **i was driving in low speed , i call the dealer and they took the car , i went to them next day after they checked the car by computer they said it might be jumper or some wiring acording to the tsb they have and i have ,i wated for 2 month to get the wire and they replaced the part, i toke the car and it was ok , next day the car didnt start and i got the same problem before , i tried to start it sevral time but the engine was not turning and there was no cranking, i tried to start the car after 2-3 hours and the car started . i toke the car to the dealer and they said to me just leave the car and we will cheack every thing on the car (it took 1 week),, they said it might be a dameged wire or a diconnected wire.. they changed many wires and elctronic stuff ( i wated 20 days for the parts), and they changed the same wire they changed before, and the car was fine . and my dealer contacted germany and us dealers to find out the wrong with my car. they told me we fixed it .,when i took the car 3 weeks later,in a week the car didnt start i toke the car to them and they changed the odometer ( i wated 2 months tell they odometer came from us) and other things , next day the car didnt start .... so i took it to them and they told me we dont know what is wrong with it , so they told me we will do one last thing we will change the pcm and they did it, one week later i took my car finaly and it was fine ,i drove 1000 mile then i got the check advance trac
Is an 03 worth the extra 13-15K?
You are talking to a guy who is slowly migrating his preference from a BMW 530 to a Lincoln LS -Sport, so go easy on my.
The pervasive yet intermittant nature of your gremlins almost feel like a ground problem, perhaps due to corrosion at a grounding point. I'm sure the dealer checked this, but you might check with another dealer.
The '03's are significantly better,both in terms of performance and interior luxury. But putting a price tag on it is personal, based on our own finances.
Have you driven both an '02 and an '03?
If you haven't yet driven an '03 do that before you make your decision. But also keep in mind that it looks like rebates are now available on the '03's and if you are financing it loan rates are almost always bettern on new cars.
There are 500+ more "improvements," which have yet to be listed anywhere I've seen, but the '03 is a major step up from the three previous model years, which weren't all that shabby.
"rear parking assist" Is that the same as the Jag XTYPE where an alarm is sounded if there is an obstruction(including people) behind the car? Mine sounds more intensely the closer I get to the object. Has been very helpful on numerous occasions.
How can it be?
That is quite a difference for a one yr old car, especially when it is certified.
In addition, there is now a $2,500 rebate on the '03 LS's so if you are a good negotiator you should be able to get a '03 V8 Sport that MSRP's for $42K for about $37K or only $10K more than the asking price on that used '02.
The 02 LS Non Sport w/16 in wheels: Drove great, nice car, great ride - no complaints at all!! But I have to have the Sport so regardless of the price this is not the car for me. I was still very impressed with the HP, brakes, steering, and handle of the car.
The 03 LS Sport -- I have to admit, it kicked butt. An awesome ride that really put a smile on my face. And the Tip/Step whatever you call it was actually fun as well. With an MSRP of 43K - this was a great car.
I asked my salesman if there were any rebates or incentives on the 03 and he said no - so is he playing games with me and keeping the rebate for himself, or is there really a rebate on the 03 LS???
As for depreciation, yes they take a big hit - unlike a BMW - but I plan on keeping the car for 2-4 years so I can live with it!!
Was not thrilled with the loaner program from this dealer, as they use the rental car place across the street to provide a Towncar when your car is in the shop!!!
As far as the loaner car goes, they are providing one and it is not an econobox. I would think that you could substitute another vehicle for the Towne Car if you desire.
Depending on where you live, I may have a few dealer suggestions for you. Drop me an email at LobsenzA@Rose-Grp.com
This is a high performance Car. The BMW with similar equipment would have been a 540 at perhaps $58K.
It's a shame Lincoln marketing is so inept; this car is very, very impressive.
I'm excited. But it's only available in the 3.0 L V-6 version. Imagine what
a manual tranny would be like coupled to a V-8!
There's one for sale on Ebay at $40k and they haven't moved it in months.
It's been advertised several times. Seems most Americans want automatics. I
wonder what resale value would be on a manual S? A dealer told me, off the
record, that he won't order any because, they would just "sit there" on the lot.
His exact words were "a manual S is a dog. It would just sit there."
Does this sound familiar or what?
They have been trying to get me to return my 2000 V8 Sport early.
Today I got this:
3k rebate or 60 month 0%
I am getting the fever....
How many people out there have an LS with over 100K miles on them?
kellyo is correct, there is now a $3k rebate on the '03 LS's effective yesterday. On a $43K MSRP LS Sport, you should be able to get at least $2K in dealer discount on it and maybe over $2.5K discount if you are a hard nosed negotiator. In addition with the $3K rebate that means you should pay about $37.5K for it + taxes and registration. So that's more like $10K over the asking price on that used '02 LS.
shows the incentives. Lincoln itself in the past has been slow to update their web site, but they have been a lot faster to update it recently.
I know this sounds greedy but so what: Are there dealer hold-backs on these cars at all. If there are, maybe I can push my dealer even closer to Invoice, and get the car for 37-38K!
I'd like to see the specs to see if it also has the 3:07 rear ratio, and it's 0-60 time as well.
Somehow I think of a Manual in a Jag as being out of character.
Very low % take factor.
Can you imagine seeing an MTX Jag in San Francisco?
The town is probably full of Escalades with 24" wheels.
1. A '03 V8 Sport has a MSRP about $1,500 higher than an '02 V8 Sport
2. The '02 Rebate is $3,500 vs '03 rebate of $3,000
3. There is dealer cash on the '02's but not on the '03's. Dealer cash is extra discount that Ford gives the dealers to help move the cars.
4. Some dealers are willing to dip into their holdback to get the remaining '02's off their lots at this point.
Bottom line, there are 2 dealers here that are advertising new '02 V8 Sports and Premiums for $29,999 (MSRP's around $40K).
An equivalent '03 V8 sport should end up around $36,500 after the $3,000 rebate.
If you have 6% sales tax like I do, drive away price on an '03 will be $7K more than an '02 right now.
Infiniti beat LS in acceleration (5.8 vs 6.8 0-60) but MT said that advantage would be quickly wiped out once the road turned twisty! Go LS.
circlea
The Fluid on the LS Needs to be changed every 30,000 miles (Manual calls for 60,000 normal schedule and 30,000 Severe I believe) per one of the Engineers for the LS Transmission. I had mine done and will do it again at 60,000, 90,000 and 120,000 if I still have it and not a new LS.
This should cost about $160 dollars give or take if done properly by the dealer. They take out all the Fluid Vs. a partial change that some places do.
Best Regards to you and your LS
You didn't say how old or how many miles on you LS, but not changing the coolant can lead to big (and expensive) problems later on.
my ls is a 2000 and i have 38,000 miles on it.do i need to do any other maintanance on it at this milage??
circlea
Speaking of filters, I just changed the oil and filter on my new 02. The original UK filter caved in before it came loose. I was afraid of being stuck with a collapsed filter and unable to drive it to the dealer when it finally broke loose. It was certainly more than finger tight and the metal was super thin.
How much is their holdback?
With my Company Purchase plan with Lincoln - I can get an "almost Sport Premium" for 40K. Take the 3k off for the rebate and I am at 37K.
Dare I go lower by trying for holdback $$$?
My questions? What should be done to this like-new car? I want a dealer to run the VIN to see if any recalls are outstanding but, should I change/flush all fluids? How 'bout the fuel filter? I probably will change the wiper blades and interior air filter. Anything else you Lincoln guys would recommend?
Thanks for your advice! BTW, it's a Florida car that will live in NE Ohio come June.
Jay
As for oil - it probably wouldn't hurt to start out your ownership with a fresh oil change - switch to synthetic oil (I use Mobil 1 - expensive - but worth the price. I change oil/filter myself every 5,000 miles with sythetic - 3K with dino oil in my other cars.)
Go to fordpartsnetwork website and order yourself the 2002 airbox and install it - worth every penny and you'll notice a difference in the pick up.
Jay
I'd guess that your company purchase arrangement is probably X - plan which is about $300 over invoice. X-plan is a discount arrangement for companies that do business with Ford and for friends and extended family of Ford employees. X plan gives you a very good price without any hassles. But, if you are a tough negotiator you can probably beat X plan, especially if the dealer is hungry.
in-law's 2000 LS
There has been only 1 recall, it was for the nuts on the front lower ball joints not being properly torqued. The recall affects a relatively small # of '00 LS's built during a specific time.
Depending on when her LS was built, there have been 3 revisions of the PCM code. I think the last REV was June 01. The newer PCM code improves transmission shifting (I'm assuming that your mother-in-law has an auto).
There also are updated rear axled to get rid of a droning noise in the rear of the LS when the torque converter is locked in 4th & 5th gears (41 MPH 4th 51 MPH 5th). However I think this affects the V8's more than the V6's. If you do hear a low pitched noise in the rear at these speeds that's what is causing it and it can be fixed.
The only other thing to worry about, espcially since her car has been in a hot climate, is failure of the retainers on the rear window power drive. Lincoln will not replace the parts with the updated ones under warranty unless they have failed. This problem seems to affect mainly cars in hot climates as the original retainer was plastic.
If you can get a dealer to run the VIN on Ford's Oasis system, it will tell you what REV the PCM code is, if the ball joint recall was done and if any other repair work has been done.
Beware that some replacements for whatever reason have a flap that blocks the lower half of the snorkel which kind of defeats its purpose. We pulled my new 02 airbox to compare and the flap wasn't there. An Xacto knife made short work of the flap.
Jay
My 00 V8 Sport lease is done in 2 months. The residual is 20k.
The dealer is trying to get me into a new 03 (or 02). I am not interested in the 02. I like the 03 with all the options (THX etc) and got them to a price of about 44.5k. With 60 months at 0%. I would rather save the interest than get the rebate.
I still like my 00 though and if I could get it for 18-19 k.... I could then do magnaflows, eibach springs/bilstein shocks, 02 airbox, etc. I can even beef up the sound system (satellite radio, sub etc) and add a portable nav system and still save big bucks over the 03... It only has 28k miles....
Decisions decisions.