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http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/?http
Source: Autoexpress.co.uk
As for coupes, I LOVED my father's 1986 Mk VII LSC; attractive styling, adequate handling and lots of low rpm grunt. I even considered picking up one of those 1988 monochromatic editions for a work hack(I also checked out a used 351 five speed Roush-I think-special. Probably would have bought it had it not been on it's third MTX in 30000 miles...) For some reason, the Mk VIII leaves me cold-IMHO it lost the sporty edge of the VII. Nice car under the skin though...
Agreed. In fact, that is exactly what I am struggling with regarding buying an '03 LS Sport.
- Ray
Trying to decide if the numbers make sense in the long term . . .
I don't like the fact that Lincoln needs to offer the big rebates to sell it's cars either but when considering it's effect on resale value, although you're getting less on resale you're paying less up front. Is it any different than paying sticker now and and getting more on a trade or resale later? The people who are hurt by this are those that paid something closer to sticker and will get much less later because newer models are obtainable at lower costs. If you can get a great deal on an '03 V8 you're simply paying less now even though you'll get less later, and you have a fantastic car in between.
By the way, a nearby Lincoln dealer is advertising it has several '03 V8 LSs for about $32,000 MSRP is $42,500 (roof and advance trak?) with $6k rebate and $4,500 dealer disc. Can't complain too much about lower trade ins with that.
On the other hand, I agree with you about Ford's history of deleting nice features and then deleting the entire car. The bean counters & marketing people seem to have a habit of doing a customer poll and asking "If we deleted the auto wipers would you still buy the car." They get a YES for an answer so they conclude "we can delete the auto wipers and not loose any sales."
However they never ask the important question which is: "If we deleted the auto wipers AND deleted the cargo net AND made the auto lamps optional at extra cost AND deleted the auto dimming mirror AND delted the message center,AND kept the base price the same while making the heated seats optional AND replaced the rear disk brakes with drums AND replace the dual exhaust with single AND delted this.. AND deleted that.... would you still buy the car?"
Of course we know that once you put the whole laundry list of content delete together the answer changes to NO, I would not buy that car if you pulled all the nice features out. But the bean counters seem to fail to see this.
Basically got everything but the heated rear seats (not a desired feature in SE Texas) and the navigation system.
Build quality seems first class, the ride is very smooth on the highway, it's easy to exceed the speed limit without realizing it; look down and what felt like sixty is actually eighty. Handling is excellent with quick turn-in and the car corners without body roll or excessive drama. Very pleased so far.
Anyway, Happy New Year folks.
There is a list of stuff I will not do without anymore. I know there is no manufacturer who really knows I exist, but those who decontent a car, and think we don't notice, are way wrong.
You can't imagine how many times someone has told me (while the A/C is running) "I'm going to turn it down to make it cooler", after questioning them, they actually believe that pushing the mercury stick down to 60 means they'll have 60 degree air flowing out of their vents.
The gadget I enjoy the most is keyless entry. I always had a vehicle with it, but I can appreciate it since it makes entering the vehicle much easier specially when there's a downpour. I've always liked the LS' pull-style handles, over the common flap type.
Although because I'm younger, I didn't learn what a "crank window" was till in my high school years (where I stupidly pulled on the crank instead of turning it in a friends car).
The LS door handles have one additional benefit...safety. This is the easiest style door handles for rescue crews to open after an accident.
Features I do like are the backup warning system (but I wouldn't pay extra for it) and memory seats which I can't even get on the Jag. We got used to them on the LS and they are great. Now that I have had heated seats I love those as well and the heated and cooled seats on the LS sound really great.
This is probably why I prefer a stick shift. I hate the car deciding when to shift. As you can tell, I'm a control freak and not proud of it!!
I agree with you, by the way. I bought the simplest possible LS for myself not quite four years ago: manual with only two audio options. No rain-sensing wipers, no dual-memory seats/mirrors/what-have-you, no moonroof (that's what they call them here), no heated seats, no automatic transmission. . .no lots of things. I managed to piss off the majority of the people who drive LS's and "appreciate" this stuff over the years but, you know, I've never had any of this stuff fail. Imagine.
Anyway, I bought the car for its suspension and the Lincoln luxury reputation. I'd have preferred the V8, stripped, with only the two audio options, but it wasn't available. . .and never will be.
Bottom line is that the stuff that you and I would leave off a car is what this demographic seeks. If you want a relatively simple sports sedan that's still "nice" you're probably going to have to go elsewhere.
Either way, my car is still doing fine. If it gets through the next year without "issues," it'll have met my minimum expectations. If it makes it a few years beyond that, it'll have been golden.
It's a pity I won't be able to buy another.
As for features, I can see some people not necessarily wanting to use the auto headlights and wipers. But not using the keyless entry is just silly. BTW, I too love the LS's exterior door handles. They are not only easier to grab, but they look more upscale then the typical door handle. As for autodimming rearview mirrors leaking, that is the first report I have ever heard of such. I had an 89 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan years ago which had this feature and I never had a problem with the mirror not working or leaking.
This is an issue. Albeit it a Limited one I assume.
I believe that setting it to 60 degrees will achieve a 72 degree interior temperature more quickly than setting it to 72.
Why? Because the blower speed is dependent on the difference between the set temperature and the interior temperature. As the interior temperature APPROACHES the set temperature, the blower speed is automatically, and in steps, reduced, until it reaches the set temperature at which point it goes to low.
If set at 60 degrees, the blower stays at max speed as the interior temperature approaches 72.
Why do I believe this? I've experienced it.
Despite this, I leave mine set at 72 year-around ... except for the rare extremely hot start-up, where I'll set it to 60.
One thing I perceived is that the "volume" types are walking around the Ford line-up with a pocket full of Lincoln logos to re-badge everything in sight. Heritage, prestige, cache, premium, luxury, are all expendable. Read and report back what you think.
If you use a thermostat at home why don't you use the one in the car? Principle is exactly the same. I NEVER take mine off auto - I just adjust the requested temperature.
Not flaming - I just don't understand the issue. Same thing with turning off the A/C every time. I can't even tell it's on anyway.
Would you clarify the following, please?
"... So yes, setting the temp control at 60 might cool the car to a particular degree quicker than if it were set at say 70, but it will not cool the cabin any quicker from what ever temp it was when you got in the car."
I understand that cars have a variable speed blower but both allow you to set and maintain a desired temperature. What else is so different?
I also know that the 92 Conti has a Sun-Load sensor (I think the LS does, too.) This also may play a role in how the A/C system works, too.
"I understand that cars have a variable speed blower but both allow you to set and maintain a desired temperature. What else is so different?"
Maybe nothing else ... now. At one time, A/C output was regulated by throttling the refrigerant flow. I don't know whether that is done anymore. If not, then the compressor clutch cycling on the car is analogous to the home thermostat cycling the compressor.
As to windshield wipers, I live in a desert and don't wish to pay a significant premium for my windshield replacement when (not if, but when) it's hammered by yet another rock here in the growing, always under construction, metropolis that everyone else seems to enjoy so much.
The headlights I'm not so sure about. I have (along with every other LS possessor) the auto feature, and I'm sure it's reliable and doesn't cause reliability issues or maintainability cost.
Yet, I keep it on manual. Why? Well, when I turn my lights off in a parking lot, or in my garage, they go off. If I drive into a tunnel (which doesn't happen here in AZ, but I do travel), the lights come on when I want them to. Perhaps I'm a control freak, or the true Luddite.
I actually drove a British sports car (back in the '60's, when Lucas was afoot) over 100K miles, so probably share more than I'd wish to with people who scoffed at roll-up (or down) windows (sidescreens) in the '50's.
Point being (yes, there is one) that the original LS had enough real substance to attract even people like myself. Many here would question whether that was a good thing.
Either way, it's now moot.
But with that said, with a climate control system like the LS (& I'm sure many other cars also have) there is little need to dink with the A/C controls. The climate control automatically adjusts both the fan speed and the cooled air temperature to cool down your LS fast when it is hot and then continuously blow cooled air of the appropriate temperature to keep your car at the temperature you have selected w/o freezing parts of your body with overly cold air as would happen if the A/C cycled on and off.
I agree about not wanting to add complexity or expense if you don't want a feature. But once you have it I don't understand not using it. It's not like you'll wear it out.
To each his own I guess.
Speaking of automatic lights and wipers, I wish Lincoln had a wiper activated headlight feature. I think nearly all states require you to turn your lights on when it's raining(it's a good idea to anyway) and sometimes it is bright enough in the day that the lights do not come on in the rain. Cadillac has had such a feature since the mid 90s and I think the Mark VIIIs had this feature after the 97 update.
The '03 LS headlights activate shortly after the wipers are activated.
I prefer to have the choice.
Meaning: I need an automatic trans., for several reasons. But I enjoy the man-u-matic that I have now, and had on my Y2K LS8 Sport. I have ATC, but typically I run it in ‘manual’ mode.
I think it is critical that all auto manufacturers address the issue of choice. More so than now.
With electronic systems now so pervasive – there is the option / choice to offer amazing flexibility to tailor the car behavior to the individual.
For the LS, in SST for instance: [for driver 1, ID by remote / key] Want the trans. to allow the engine to bump off the rev limiter and not upshift – press 1. Want the trans. to upshift at redline instead – press 2.
Want the trans. to upshift when shift lever is moved forward [default behavior] - press 1. Prefer the trans. to upshift when the shift lever if moved to the rear (I believe BMW and others have selected this) – press 2.
(We are really only talking about interpretation of various electronic signals here – why not allow us choice?)
Always start in 2nd (or even 3rd gear) for Winter driving – press 1. Next Spring: resume default / always start in 1st gear – press 2.
Want the headlights to come on with the wipers – press 1.
Etc.
Etc.
Let us select. Let us make the choice and tailor the vehicle behavior to us – not the reverse . . .
Just my $.021251291 (precisely adjusted for inflation)
- Ray
Preferring to have the car adjust to me (where it makes sense) rather than me adjust to the car . . .
I actually had to teach my kids how to roll down a window and manually lock the doors since they had never seen it before !!!
They were also amazed that I have to "change gears".