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Comments
Regards,
Airwolf1000
Yesterday for the first time (it was 95 degrees) I was driving my LS over to a friends for a pool party in my bare feet.
The first time I stepped on the brakes I was surprised to find the brake pedal has what appears to be a soft center that gives quite a bit when pressing on it. It's like a rectangular frame with a soft rubber covering. Using your big toe you could make quite a depression in the center of the pedal.
Maybe it's the pedal that's mushy and not the brakes themselves???
Anyway just thought I'd bring up a new subject.... not that glass replacement and transmission fluid isn't exciting stuff!!
Kevin
2000 V8 ls 16K miles who still get's lot of remarks about how well she Clean's up.
Gear T-bird LS
1st 3.22 3.25
2nd 2.41 2.44
Their chart shows T-bird reaching 42 mph in 1st gear versus 39 mph in LS8. Estimate top speed, 5th gear, of both at 4,800 rpms (est) to be 140 mph (electronically limited). Their chart shows T-bird hitting max rpms of 6,400 in 1-2-3-4 gear versus LS8 hitting 5,800 rpms in 1st and only 6,200 in 2-3-4.
T-bird test 4 deg F hotter but LS8 tested on 39% humidity (vs 6%) and LS8 tested at 1,010 ft versus 150 ft elevation for T-bird. Heavy wind for T-bird and calm for LS8.
T-bird rode Michelin Pilot HS MXM4, P235/50-R17 95V. LS8 Sport on Firestone Firehawk LH, P235/50VR-17 95V.
T-bird braked slightly better, pulled same .83g, and was faster thru the 700 ft slalom (by .3 mph). LS8 had better fuel economy.
My passenger side rear crashed for the second time yesterday. Fortunately, I was already scheduled to bring the car in for other various niggling problems.
The one good thing is that now that the TSB is out, they should fix both windows rather than just the one like last time.
On another note, they gave me a TC to drive and all I gotta say is what a boat. Drove a Conti a couple of times in the past and expected some similarities, but there are none. Drove the TC for a fairly extened 90 mile one-way trip and anywhere above 90 MPH, it just starts to get downright scary. Floating around with no control, bouncing up and down on the heaves in the road, eek.
One day and I already miss the LS, and bad.
Bruno
I'm disappointed with the direction of the marketing for our beloved LS -- actual data (as in the reference above) is beyond irrelevant to the audience appeared to be targeted by LS television and radio (as if there were any?) ads. Image is everything, and as nearly as I can tell, the LS is perceived by the bulk of the American Public (gosh, don't we all want to be included?) as a somewhat smaller version of the Continental. . .or whatever.
It appears to me that the LS isn't being put forth as a legitimate competitor with the BMW, Infiniti, Acura or (God forbid) Catera, all of which are advertised as performance sedans.
. . .all others bring data.
Steve
The change was to improve the gears, not for any performance change.
The final drive ratios also changed. The early build V8s had a 3.58:1 ratio. This was changed about August 1999 to 3.31:1, which is what it still has. The V6 auto has always had a 3.58:1.
Mark
The transmission symptoms you describe are almost exactly like mine. I drove my LS 6 hours on the interstate last weekend and the problem became very noticeable; that's what prompted me to post a message to Town Hall. I'm going to send our messages to my dealer to show them there are at least 2 of us having this problem; I suspect others have similar problems but may not be as observant. I have the V8 but not the sport version. My LS was built in June 2000. I would like the dealer to find the problem BEFORE the tranny goes belly-up; I don't want my wife sitting along side of the interstate, waiting for Lincoln's customer care service to show up. I'll let you know what the dealer tells me when I take the car in for service on Thursday (5 July). I appreciate your feedback. I'll try to keep in touch.
As to the seats, the only areas that are leather are the "seating surfaces". If they used glove soft leather like the hides in the Jaguar you could tell the difference easily, in the LS it is much harder since the leather is kind of stiff and not a lot softer then the vinyl. I don't, however understand the problem. Obviously the back of the seat is vinyl and probably the sides too. Everything else might be leather and since most vinyl reacts well to leather cleaner and conditioner, why not just use it on the whole seat and if it doesn't work to your satisfaction, then adapt by using vinylex or some similar product on the parts that aren't coming clean.
I am going to go to the dealership tomorrow to speak with the general manager. I intend on getting free service or at least a free detail and will never go back to Peyton Cramer again. My wife's lease expires in a few months and we were going to go buy her a Navigator. Because of my experiences, we may not get a Navigator and if we do it will never be from this dealership. So they have lost a 50k sale because they fail to treat their customers they way they should, however I would be surprised if they even cared. In addition, as much as I love my LS chances are I will not buy another one as I had planned because while Lincoln has made a fine car, they have consistantly failed in meeting even the lowest standards for customer service at their dealerships. They simply will never be able to compete fully with Mercedes, BMW, Lexus and others until they address their dealership woes.
Sorry for the long post and the rant, but I needed to vent to someone! Again, I do not intend to impugn the LS with this rant. It is a very fine automobile. Just that Lincoln has a very long way to go in terms of taking care of the customers who spend their hard earned money on their products.
Again, stay away from Peyton Cramer LM. Note: The people at Edmunds got their long term tester from Peyton Cramer and even they were treated like crap. You'd think they would go out of their way to please these people as they knew they were going to write about the dealership experience as part of their long term updates. They had similar experiences with most of the LM dealerships during their test.
joe166 is right about the headlights. It is a known problem and the fix is a new assembly. My right one went last Oct and the left one just a few weeks ago. Still no window crashes, though.
You make a good point about at least letting them believe that if they do the right thing they can keep me as a customer. However, I want Lincoln to care about keeping me as a customer and not necessarily this dealership. But yor point is well taken about getting some satisfaction from Peyton Cramer.
With regard to the loaner car issue, all I can say is that Mercedes always offers us a loaner car when ours is in for service as did the Lexus dealer did when I owned my GS300. If they can do it, why can't Peyton Cramer? I believe they don't because they have no idea how to treat buyers of upscale luxury cars. Sure they have the TC and the Conti, but how many of those owners really need a loaner?
Then it really doesn't even become an issue.
Bruno
Brian
I was just browsing the NHTSA listings of TSBs and found item number SB618079. It refers to seat comfort and a possible lack of padding in some vehicles! Would this mean that some folks find all LS seats uncomfortable, or does it mean that some seats were not manufactured properly?
Anyone know what prompts a "concern" to become a TSB? Seems I recall that Ford looks at TSBs in a different light than many other automakers.
"Lincoln dealers reported June sales of 16,846, down slightly (two percent) from a year ago. The Lincoln LS mid-size sedan set a new June sales record (4,921)." (thats up 8.6%)
Tom
Akirby - I did not realize that Lincoln had revised their policy on loaners. I guess they must have traded it for the free maintenance.
Being that I do most of my own maint. I guess I like the free loaner idea better. Maybe they can make it a customer's choice at time of purchase.
Bruno
Dealerships need to learn that SERVICE brings you back for the next car, even more than PRICE. My Mazda dealer treated me like a redheaded stepchild. I walked into my Audi dealer expecting the same...just sell me the $&*# car and get out of my way. Well, surprise! Getting my car serviced has been a pleasure, even though they made a mistake and left the belly pan on my car flopping in the wind.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you go to the service area next time and ask people how they like the service...good and bad.
Fortunately I have not had to use this perk, the S-Type had been absoultely flawless and the first service is not until 10,000 miles.
Has anyone had any luck getting the dealer to reprogram the locks so that when the car shuts off all the locks unlock rather than just the driver's?
Given all the talk about transmission problems and service, I'm feeling pretty good about my manual right now. Does anyone know how it will hold up if I increase power with a supercharger? I would think it would do better than the auto-boxes, but there isn't a v-8 manual. Could that just be marketing? While I'm talking about engine breathing, doesn't the v-6 have the same air filter and manifold supply plumbing as the v-8? How about exhaust pipes? I've heard this cars weak point is breathing, but I would think the v-6 breathes relatively better than the v-8. Any thoughts?
The V-6 uses the same airbox, and I believe, the same mass air flow sensor as the V-8(I could be wrong so don't quote me on the sensor). The manifold supply plumbing is different. If anything the V-6 appears to have a less restrictive run since it doesn't have to do two right angle bends before getting to the intake manifold.
The exhaust pipes are puny on the V-6. We put a Borla on ezaircons and it seems to open up the breathing pretty good. He has a recent post on here about it. He's also opened up his airbox and added a piece of intake hose to make it a quasi-cold air intake, along with the K&N replacement filter. Betweeen these two mods. it seems to allow the engine to rev freer.
Brian
For some time now most cars have been using some device either full time or selectable -- usually some type of economy setting on the controls -- to do the same kind of thing. This started as a way to increase fuel economy I think and add a little pep to the low powered cars of the time. I suspect LS models like most cars today use their computers to control this feature.
The good news is, it held it's own against the imports in the all-important Cupholder category. And BMW cupholders finished dead last. Hah!
Happy Independence Day, everyone.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
Thanks
Happy Birthday to US!! 225 years and counting!!
To reset oil or filter life, you have to press and hold the reset button when the display shows the item you're trying to reset. After you've held it down for about five seconds, you will be prompted to press it again to reset it.
I think the later is the case. Today, most monthly reports will show what a dealership is spending on this and that and if some tool unaware of what keeps the money flowing decides to take out the loaners, he is losing in service however, that is not his concern, it’s the service dept concerns etc. It’s manager v manager or dept v dept and too much this and that will hinder true front line people needs. HELLO.
Folks are so tuned up about the bottom line that they forget that goodwill is not a thing of the past with a customer. I would like to see a column in any financial report that shows the benefits of goodwill to satisfied returning customers ratio, or would that be too much concern? Many dealer’s focus on the profit margin of a single transaction too much. They should focus on monthly profits per unit weighted on averages rather than micro-managing each repair order.
I see dealers doing very well and making plenty of profit that there is room for these changes like it used to be when spending a hunk of cash at any establishment.
Move onto another dealer you may find they will do more for you knowing you are interested in their services even if they are out of your way.
If Lincoln would correct the bad attitute of some of their dealers, they would have a happier customer base and sell more cars....
#4: When the manual IS300 comes out, it's 0-60 will make the manual LS6 look really slow, and it will no doubt have LSD as well.
I think my old idea about the "two LSs" would be great. Keep the V-8 as the luxury LS and spend some time on the Manual V-6 as a real performance model. Six-speed, VVT, LSD, and keep the bland interior. Work on the intake and exhaust systems and the car should compete with the mainstream 5 series. Maybe just take it out of the "entry level luxury" class and make a new class of "luxury-performance". The other option is to lower the price so it is the best RWD value compared to the Acura. But just don't sit on the fence.
OPA2
I've been MIA for a while moving office twice since the beginning of the year and cutbacks have not afforded me the time to read the posts. Anyway I have a question.
Has anyone had a problem with FM reception after tinting their windows. I got my LS tinted last week and I had to leave it out in the dew of the night for the first time. When I kicked on the window defogger I noticed that a couple of the elements seem to be heating a bunch, a couple not at all and my FM reception drops out. Has anyone had this problem or should I beat on the tint installer?
All I know is when I look at my LS it is a car of substance, and that being said none of the other cars evoke that feeling, at lease not until I get into the Bigger Beemers and Benzos..
Regards,
Airwolf1000
P.S. So what is the Official Scoop on the Tires? My tires probably got about 6k miles left on them...
Brian
FYI-Will we ever get it!!
"2) The Lexus has a manufacturer flaw in the upshift from 2nd to 3rd - Only a few people will notice this. I did notice and asked. We drove a few more GS and they all do the same thing. A mild shake during an upshift. Nothing we can do about it. It only happens under mild acceleration. Hard acceleration does not produce this problem"
Even the passionate pursuit of perfection misses the mark on occasion.
Given that Acura and BMW (to say nothing of Infiniti, Benz or others) have a reputation already, any entity attempting to "join the crowd" had better be measureably better to even be looked at. We're potentially as good, but actual performance still leaves something to be desired.
As always, one person's opinion.
Lincoln, you'd better make certain the 2003 or 2002 1/2 LS gets VVT and maybe a supercharger to boot for the Sport Package...or else the LS will fall behind pretty quick. Great handling is priority, but falling behind the pack in HP aint good..