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My wife called our insurance to give them a heads up that we would be adding the LS V8 Sport. They told her that on a scale of 2 to 22 it is rated as a 19. I'm not surprised that it will add $1,000 a year to may rates but I was wondering if this is due to price, V8, deemed unsafe (doubtful) or often stolen? Any ideas?
First the easy one: Insurance. Shop around for another insurance company. The LS is rated a best-in-class for crash rating, getting 5 stars from the Institute for Highway Safety. It's not stolen easily thanks to the smart key that has a chip, and it sure isn't because it's a sports car.
Tires. Most people have had no trouble with either of the Firestone sizes on the LS. There have been some complaints about vibration but that was about it. If you are worried about the 'stones and the media hype, just remember back to the 80s when Audi had that "unintentional acceleration" issue that no one could duplicate. Car and Driver tried to create a rollover situation with a Firestone equipped Explorer and were unable to get it to so much as wander when the rear tire experienced a rapid deflation.
On my trans-Nevada trip in September I discovered a noise that occurred between 90 & 110 mph. Found out later that it was a missing screw on the RH air dam in front of the rear wheel. By the time I do this again in '01 (God willing), I'll see how things go above 110 mph. The car is willing, but I'm not, if it's making noises.
For oil changes, the ramps I use routinely do require restraint (fore & aft) so they don't move forward as I drive up on them. On the road, lower ramps (or rocks, or whatever) work fine, so long as they're lower than the forward air dam. Bless you for changing your own oil. I've a feeling that the manual transmission minority (to which I belong) is huge compared to the "changes their own oil" crowd. I'm proud to be counted there as well.
Thomas 1: Your autocross comments were much appreciated. I had the same feeling as I endured my first two or three rounds at the LS mania V6 course, but always felt the car was well under control. I was too gutless to even attempt the gymkana course, but more reports like yours may help the timid among us to step up. The car is more than worthy. I'm not so sure about some of the drivers, most especially myself. OTOH, my background is high speed driving on roads I haven't been on before, upon which the penalty for a mistake is either death or huge financial loss. Excuses. . .excuses.
Keep those seat heater stories coming in. I have no seat heaters. I will have no seat heater problems. (or auto trans issues. . .or automatic windshield wiper problems. . .or seat memory issues. . .or. . .).
You indicated that all cars built 1/00 on had the revised heater element and you would make sure that all parts depots were purged of old stock. I have an appt. for driver's side heater repair on 2/1.
How can I be assured that I am getting the right part? Is there a revised/new part # for the service parts?
Thanks for all the input on jacking points. That's one of the things I love about this board.
I kind of figured you should use the factory jacking points even with a floor jack. Since I could no longer use my ramps with the LS, I was just wondering if there were any other "safe" points anyone had discovered.
Dale-re rear jacking points. I remember reading somewhere, probably the OM, that the differential should never be used as a jacking point. Ditto being envious of your worldwide jaunts.
Akirby-Do you remember where you got the black plastic ramps? I do think I read about them in Popular Mechanics. Re the 3-seies competitor. At LS Mania, they said that this would be sized as "4-series", just as the LS- while aimed at the 5-series is actually sized between the 5 and the 7- a defacto "6-series." Should blow them right out of the water.
Giowa-I would expect the heaters to fail in the winter. I don't use them otherwise. Kind of like those air conditioners that fail during the summer:) My build date is 9/99; mileage- just turned 13K; first failure; they know I will be scrutinizing the work- I have a rep.
Took my LS in today for the trans reflash and a recalcitrant CD player. They got the trans done alright, but the CD is another story. With any luck, they'll take out that Audiovox and put a Ford CD player in! Anyway, I got a TC as a loaner. What a BOAT!! Took it up to ls1bmw0's neck of the woods (ate @ Rosa's, eat your heart out Brian!) today. It is a VERY nicy highway cruiser even though the steering was very vague. I was surbrised to see some creature features standard on the LS and not on the TC. It has a manual tilt wheel and single climate control. The dual visors are nice, as are the positional accelerator/brake pedels. I plan on measuring the visors to see if I can retrofit the TC dual visors to my LS. The radio is also tilted at a goofy angle upward, IMHO. It's a nice loaner, however, I need about 20 more years to fully appreciate the car
Artie, I was assured that all the parts have been purged, but I don't have a part# here at home to give you. I won't be in the office tomorrow, so I will check on Wednesday.
Hector, The only reason that the LS would have a higher insurance cost would be the fact that it is a $40k car. My insurance went up only about $350 when I bought my LS and I came from a '92 Mark VII. AND I live in New Jersey ... the capital of high auto insurance.
This car also allowed me to take deductions for ABS, Air bags, and Anti-theft.
I was away a couple of days, and the posts do mount up.
I think Mark forgot to mention the other subtle difference between SST and non-SST.
4th gear in non-sst is automatic, and will downshift as you slow down (as will 5th gear). On the SST if you tap into 4th, it will hold that gear and not automatically downshift following the general algorithm. Mark told me the software is the same for both, but just is not used in the non-sst gate configuration.
It was mentioned on this forum that some insurance companies were not giving the abs discount because of an oversight in the sticker-price wording. J. Rogers immediately notified those at Lincoln who are responsible for the error, but it may not have filtered down to the agents and carriers. Ask if they are giving you the discount for each of the options on your car - do not take it for granted.
Be glad that you get a discount for ABS. Out here in Ca. they quit giving that discount a few years ago. According to the Peoples Republic of California, there is no proof that ABS reduces accident rates or their severity! We do, however, get a discount for daytime running lights. Go figure. They don't call us the Golden State for nothin. Most of the year here in So. Cal. we get at least 12 hours of daylight. I installed them on my '96 Sable and promptly disconnected them when people started pulling out in front of me. Apparently the lights made them think I was further away!
I took my '01 LS V8 Sport to Fiesta LM here in Phoenix for its 5K mile check-up. The car came back about an hour and half later. Before the service writer would release it to me, I heard him call the tech about a $24 charge on the worksheet. (I had not yet seen any paperwork.) After his discussion with the tech, he told me he had to figure out why my "oil change" cost more than the standard oil change of $15.95. I cut him off and said that this didn't cost me a thing...it was covered by the factory. He remarked he didn't know anything about this...and the service writer next door said something like "yea, I think the '01's get their first check up or something for free."
I told him in no uncertain terms that the service was at no charge. He then did the disappearing act and came back 15 min later claiming that it was covered. And then he tells me they didn't rotate the tires but I could wait another 30 minutes or so. Of course, I am completely steamed at the experience and pressed for time so I said "forget it, the rotation can wait til 10K." And then I asked why he didn't know about the free maintenance and I get a lame excuse that "Lincoln changes these things all the time...it is hard to keep up with it." Amazing, huh.
And to add insult to injury, he tells me they had to use "can oil" of 5W-20 instead of the usual "bulk oil" they use for everyone else's cars, hence the original higher "charge" for the oil change. Doesn't the car use 5W-30??? (Will it matter that much though with the wrong oil?)
Guess I won't go back there again.
Here's the good news...car runs great, no problems at all. And it seems as if it prefers to be run hard and at high speed. Freeway on-ramps are FUN! After that initial break-in period of 1000 miles, the car is really a performer.
I'm near Valley Forge, PA. I guess it could be worse, it could be Philly! My rates would go up $408 a year if I sell the Explorer XLT V8 AWD '96. If I keep all 3 cars then I my rates go up $1,010 a year.
I was just questioning why the rating was a 19 on a scale of 2 to 22. In any case uisng Quicken I search for insurance quotes and I so far I can save $500 a year. I still have 2 more quotes coming in the mail. GE Financial was able to give me a quote online.
If you have prior military service, or a parent/in-law does (not sure about siblings), USAA is VERY reasonably. My ins. went up just a few hundred a year over the '91 Sable it replaced. They are also VERY service oriented. The few claims I've filed were handled swiftly and totally satisfactorily.
I just bought an LS V8 in November. My ANNUAL premium ( 12/2000 to 12/2001) for the car is $603 with the AAA (Automobile Club of Southern California). For me, this is about the same as the semi-annual quote I got from big-name insurance companies, and at least 40% less than those "really-competitive-low-rate" companies I keep hearing about on the radio.
After doing this exercise of getting several insurance quotes every 3 or so years I decided to save myself the trouble. No company, in the last 25 years of driving, ever gave me a lower insurance rate than the AAA - ever! I have been with them that long, and my insurance premium for 3 cars with the AAA is as much as the premium paid on 1 car to other companies by some people I know in my area. I really can't believe it ...
Make the SST transmission available on the non-sport, or ...
Modify shift strategy to allow heavy throttle crowding in D4 & D5 without inducing kick-down.
I believe that most LS owners value the feeling of control & predictability the car offers. Part-throttle kick-downs, in my opinion, are annoying and not consistent with these features.
If I have need for the acceleration provided by a lower gear, I have my foot on the floor.
I often have need for smooth, moderate acceleration that would be provided by ~90% throttle in 5-th gear (no kick-down). I cannot get this with present shift strategy with my non-SST
I suggest that throttle-induced kick-downs occur at no less than 90% throttle opening.
Is it possible that we can have this, and IMPROVED CAFE?
Just wondering out of curiosity what the average age of LS drivers on this forum are. I'm 30 years old. Also, what is the market that Lincoln is trying to target?
Is reassuring to know that our misfortune brightens your day.
Thing that is maddening about the heated seats is that you can only really use them a few months out of the year. When you need 'em, you need 'em. And when they work, they are wonderful. (I have noticed that women seem to really like them. My wife, mother, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law all raved over them. Some report really appreciating them at certain times of the month.)
I dropped by a new Liincoln dealer(Capitol Lincoln) here in Cary, NC about one mile from my house to set up an appointment for the ball joint recall and the new TSB. The service guy who did the write up pretty much told me that I could not request the TSB be done. The tech would have to verify that it needed it. He said that Ford has so many TSB's that it is impractical and not always needed.
It looks like I will need to have him do the write up as if the transmission is going to fall out and the shift delay is way to long. In the end, it will be my desire to have it done versus's some tech feeling that a 3-4 second delay is reasonable or unreasonable. Since there is nothing in the Ford computer system that makes it a manditory reflash, Wednesday should be interesting.
I can't remember where I got them - it had to be either Pep Boys, WalMart or possibly Costco. They work great. They're fully boxed on all sides and even have a carrying handle built in.
I think you should have bought the Manual.Then you could have your own "shift strategy". You can "hold" the gear of your choice for as long as you want. Unlike the Auto,you can even "skip" gears. Less weight,no cooler lines,no Aamco down the road. And no reflashes are needed. I get a flash every time I blow off some 525 at a stoplight. I think the kickdown is like it is for the "Grandma Effect". Grandma may jump in an LS Auto and not know the strategy, try to pass a truck, and get killed. There are no such caveats or liabilities with the Getrag. Once broken in, the clutch and shifter are really smooth and easy. It's amazing how little downshifting one needs with the Manual. The torque application is instantaneous, and the lack of a torque converter and hydraulic losses is really worth 30-35 hp in 0-60. That's why the Manual is only a tad slower than the V-8 despite the 42 hp difference, with better balance to boot.
I can skip gears. I've done it by accident. If you want a really confused tranny, miss 2nd, hit 3rd, and while the tranny is dutifully complying, go back to 2nd! you get a huge WASS UP???? from the tranny!
Thank goodness, my are fine... knock on faux wood...
My car has 13K miles - build 2/00. Here in NW PA my heated seats are the most used feature in the spring fall and even on chilly summer mornings... of course in the winter (if the roads are dry!) And I do put them on several times in a row, too!
My question is for those who have had problems and needed the new part... Does your driver's seat travel back and forth frequently? I'm tall enough, that my seat stays put, in the all-the-way-back position. I was just wondering if there was a corelation?
I dropped mine in for it's driver seat bottom element this morning. I got a nice Focus to drive so hopefully it will get done fast. They got the part in late last week so there was only a 1 week delay in getting the repair part in hand. Hopefully it will be the new one and my seat will stay toasty until at least next winter!
Georgia has historically had crappy insurance enforcement = high auto premiums. I get my best discount through a Metropolitan group plan through my credit union. I get the homeowners discount, multi-car, garage on two, ABS, and airbag. The big rate pressure is on the price of the car and lack of crash statistics (I asked when I added the C240 since they didn't even have it listed in their "system"). In the case of a new model (I now have two first year cars) their underwriting dept makes a SWAG based on similar models. At least with the C240, it is close enough to the C230/280 that it was not a big deal. With the LS.. do they compare rates to a Mk VIII? Mustang GT? Catera? 528? GS400? My guess is they will play it safe and go high for a year or two until they get a handle on how much it costs to fix a wrecked LS (and its occupants and whatever else it takes out before coming to rest).
If you were in Georgia, the offending driver would assume that if you could afford something new enough to have DRL's you probably have kick [non-permissible content removed] insurance too and pull on out nice and slow - while getting ready to whip on the neck brace and cell phone the attorney.
Do you mean mentally or actual? After you drive this car it tends to separate! Based on the LS MANIA crowd the age range is pretty spread out. We had anywhere from the late 20's to the 60's. This is probably a more extended demographic that what Lincoln initially looked at, from the lower end. It's sure that this is an unexpected benefit from the car!
One of the perks provided by Jack Ross Lincoln Mercury, in Scottsdale (And Tempe) AZ is their "Platinum Care" package which provides totally free service, including all oil changes, tire rotations, balancing, etc. for the first three years of ownership. This was also provided for the year 2000 LSs.
At the time we bought ours I thought, "well that's sort of nice", but perhaps I underestimated its value. After reading so many posts about fairly "stick it to you" charges for oil and other minor things, I guess we should offer a kudo to Jack Ross. So far, the only service I've ever had to pay for was an oil change done in Madison, Wisconsin because it was a little to far to go to run over to Jack Ross's in Arizona ;-)
Correction Mid 20's (25) too be exact... Was their anyone younger there? What about Brentskic and Cowboy hat guy(Winner of Autocross times)? I would say avg. at ls Mania was late 30's and 40's and early 50's though wouldn't you Brian? Damn! Everybody loves this car! Not to many from the Female side though. Even though I think Melissa from Edmunds appreciated the car.
Ok - I'm nosey so I had to see. That post about I-95 north from Miami (#60 something) had me howling! I make about a quarterly trip to W. Palm to see my sister and niece and have lived that Florida trip in person! Skid-mark upholstered pavement, Nee-son pickup, and all!!! Today's adventure for Thomas was a ride on the Alpharetta Autobahn (GA-400) in the loaner Focus. I can honestly say it wasn't as bad as a past trip in a Geo Metro, but plenty of fodder for my wife and I teasing each other about being car snobs ;-D
Sorry wolfy, didn't mean to leave you young guns out! You are correct. Brian and brentski are about the same range. And the folks at Mania fell into the range you said. I think Rene and Anna will take that as a compliment!
Now since the yahoos who joined in on the last chat didn't realize we are on standard time and showed up an hour late to the chat.....
Mark Kovalsky aka The Transmission God, has graciously offered to be the guest for our next chat session. He will be chatting from Yellowknife with us about all things automatic tranny related. Mark your calendars and the CORRECT time. He said as long as there are questions he'll keep typing.
Wednesday, January 31 at 7:00pm Pacific time. If you guys show up late again I'm going to put it in GMT time!
For an interesting perspective on how things break on these executive playthings look at the Edmunds 7-series board. The delay that some experience in our transmission has nothing on some of the problems they have in theirs. Some of it makes for fun reading!
OK, so my Autumn Red manual LS gets built next Monday!! So, i'll be getting it within a couple-three weeks !! And I'm thinkin', "What should I have the dealer do before I take delivery?" I mean like xtras I may want the dealer to install eg: splash guards, extra tint, remove front lic plate bracket, moon roof air deflector, spoiler, ...others? or stuff I may want to buy, like: trunk stuff like tray or cargo net etc, vinyl mats, mini bra, ... I've just been to Ford store website where some of these are listed. However, the only splash guards I found say 'Continental' on them. Er, I'll pass.
No, I won't be getting all of these things. But am considering most. If anyone has comments about particular items like cost, ease of install etc, I'd love to hear it. Like:
- Where did folks get their splash guards? Are folks satisfied with their looks/performance? If dealer, what did dealer charge for install? Or, if self-installed, did u have to remove the wheels?
- Does anyone think the moonroof deflector is important? The mr has a built-in pop-up deflector, no?
- Anyone get the bra? Comments?
- has anyone had a rear deck spoiler installed? Does anyone know who might make such a beast for the LS? Websites?
- Are there other neat accessories that someone really likes they want to share?
Thanks much for any advice.
George, who's starting to get a wee bit antsy waitin for his LS ...
I have the splash guards from Lincoln--I can probably scare up the part numbers if you need them--and I definitely recommend them. They're molded to fit, are relatively unobtrusive even on a light-colored car like mine, and work great.
I had them installed by the dealer; the front wheels don't have to be removed, but the rears do. Total cost for me, parts & installation, was $55. I've heard of some dealers charging as much as $200, so be careful.
I've had 5 sun/moonroofs and I've never gotten a deflector, so I'm not sure what I've missed. The one on the LS does have a deflector that pops up when the roof is open; seems to work fine for me. From what I recall, others have said that the Ford deflector is easy to install, so you can always add it later if the wind bothers you.
I'm firmly anti-bra. (Insert jokes here.) I personally don't like the way they look, but the real problems are: Dirt & crud can get under them so that they potentially act like sandpaper; they get wet & can hold moisture against the paint; paint can fade in sunlight so you eventually have a two-tone car; and they deteriorate & can start flapping around. Since I've never had one, this is all speculation, but I think the downside outweighs the upside.
I don't much care for spoilers, either. My local megadealer adds them for $895, but they're notorious gougers. There's a link on the LLSOC site to a company that sells them for significantly less, if I remember right.
I added a trunk organizer from Lincoln that I really like, but it takes up some room; might be a problem if you tend to carry lots of luggage on a regular basis. It was $129, I think; I can get you that part number, too, if you're interested.
I also got the LampGard kit from WeatherTech. It's a set of clear sheets of laminate that you apply over the fog lamps & headlamp covers that protects them from rocks & such. Mine haven't been tested yet, but other folks have had good luck in saving their lamps.
I got a custom sun shield from Beverly Hills Motoring, but in hindsight I think the universal ones probably work just about as well for a lot less $. I also added the small (9-piece) trim kit from Exotic Wood Dash. That one's a matter of personal preference, but I'm pleased with mine--I left off the A/C and stereo pieces & it worked out quite well for me.
If you want more info on any of this stuff, let me know; I can Email details if you like.
I have the LS mud flaps, and consider them quite important, especially if you have the 17 inch wheels. They stick out just enough to really splatter the sides of the car in mud. The factory flaps are great, stick out just enough to greatly help the problem, but are so unobtrusive you have to look closely to see them. Others here have installed them on their own, you do have to remove the wheels. I just had the dealer do it while it was in for service, ran about $100 more or less. Yes, I'm at that age where I have more money than time or energy on the weekends, it's hard hitting 43, however leaving work after dark when there's maybe 5 cars in the lot and looking at the LS makes me realize why I work this hard, so I can have a classy, fast toy!
Haven't ridden in a car with the sunroof deflector, don't even open mine much with all the pollen here in FL, but when I've had it open, particularly with the windows up, I didn't really feel the need for it, not much draft from the roof, not like my 83 GTI which would vacuum your hair off your head, and which I personally blame for my baldness. I really like sliding the moonroof cover back though, just to let some sun in and so I can look up and see sky from time to time.
I have the cargo net, very very useful, cheap, and I put it in myself very easily.
Don't have and haven't seen one with a bra. Tinting windows makes them look really cool, but every car I've had tinted, no matter by how good an organization, has started wrinkle and come loose after 5 or 6 years. Even here in FL the standard tint seems pretty adequate, though I admit it would look meaner with darker tint.
The Lincoln dealer here offers a couple of non-Lincoln, aftermarket rear spoilers. One looks quite nice, and has the 3rd brakelight integrated into it, so it looks factory. Their cost was around $500 plus for installation and paint matching. In the end I decided I liked the rear as it was, but I still go back and forth on this. I wish they offered taillights with amber turn signals, this would make the rear of the car look very European.
Some have added outside rear view mirrors with turn signals in them that supposedly look cool.
Definitely remove the front license bracket, it looks like a huge plastic wart.
Depending on sound system, i.e. non-audiophile with subs, changing out the door 5x7 speakers for something with decent tweeters is a big improvement. Also, you can fit seperates in the front with the tweeters mounted on the little triangles on the front edge of the door where the mirrors are with excellent results (did this in a Taurus SHO).
All I can think of now. Have fun with the car, I think you'll love it!
Enjoyed the report on average and spread of ages for LS owners. Wonder what the real demographics are? It appears that this is doing what Lincoln wants, that is sucking some of us baby boomer professionals away from imports, and doing a good job of it.
I would love to see Lincoln make a BMW 3 series fighter. I could see several advantages. Would appeal to people who would love a luxury sport car but can't cough up the bucks for a LS or BMW, would appeal to people who want a luxury/sporty car but live in cities and have severe parking problems, or who just want a smaller luxury car. I know my wife would be interested in a smaller version.
I could see how you could easily cobble one together with existing LS parts, on a shortened wheelbase. Use the same suspension, probably offer only the V6, with either a manual or auto-stick (which would help Lincoln's CAFE ratings a lot), use the same brakes (which would give a smaller car outstanding braking), etc. I could see such a car really boosting Lincoln's sales and taking a lot of customers from smaller imported cars, such as BMW, Lexus, Acura, Infinity, etc.
I am back in the states but not back home until Friday. My wife says she is still hearing air noise from drivers door. The dealer replaced the window seal last time. Guess I will demand the door seal be replaced when I schedule to take it in for tranny re-cal and 4th oil leak fix. I remember checking the door seal and didn't see and rips or out of aligned of the seal. Has anybody run into a door seal problem and had it replaced?
For those who were envious of my trip just think about being on a plane for 14+ hours at a time for some segments (business/first class help some) and do this 4-5 time per year and you will be envious of the people who can stay at home and drive their LS everyday.
Someone (Ronniepooh? Stanny1?) reported that their front license plate was screwed into the bumper leaving two big holes to fill and paint when they removed it. I can't imagine the factory doing that. Do you think the dealer did it or does it really come from Wixom that way? Mine came without it and I do not have any holes. You should be safe and tell the dealer not to put it on.
laws are in Georgia, it is how I make my living...what I would really like to see is very stiff penalties for driving w/o insurance...at least 25% of GA drivers are uninsured, which means the other 75% had better have med-pay and uninsured motorists riders to cover themselves in case of an accident..."no insurance" here gets barely a slap on the wrist, when it should be a $1000 fine and a few days in jail...then we will see how many people "forget" to renew their auto policies...the other problem is insurance-speak...if you go and request "full" coverage, to the insurance agent that only means liability, comprehensive and collision...but the buyer thinks they have "full" coverage, including med-pay, u/m, rental car, and towing...agents frequently also tell people that if they have health insurance, med-pay is not needed...crap...you are still subject to deductibles, co-pays, and some services are limited in coverage...I wish I could educate these insurance agents to understand how they are screwing these people beyond belief, and yet they think they are saving customers money...they are costing them thousands, but only when they have an accident...AAAAARRRRRGGGGG!
We like the subtle single maroon pinstripe we had put on our light parchment gold LS. It adds an unobtrusive custom touch without looking cheap or gawdy.
I was already thinking of asking the dealer to add the splash guard and cargo net. I do appreciate reading all the good comments and advice on this board. I opted to have my dealer go find an LS instead of requesting one built. I did not want to wait. He told me that I should be able to pick it up at the end of the week. I thought that going over 40 would bring me more maturity and patience. Boy was I wrong!!
I have to share this with everyone. I requested some quotes from the web to see if they can beat what my current insurance (Prudential) wants for the LS. I got a call from AMICA (???) asking for more information. They aske me for the mdoel name for the Lincoln and I said LS. They asked, is that Navigator? I said no, is an LS. They asked, is that a Continental. I said no, is an LS. They asked, what is LS short for? I said LS!! I thought I was in an Abbott and Costello skit!
What would everybody think of a two or three day event, say in June, say in Detroit, say for the Detroit Grand Prix, say for all LS owners, say possibly a Wixom tour? Therein, of course, lies the tie-in to the name
This couldn't be freebie like LS Mania 2000(the event itself. I realize everyone who flew in or drove in incurred expenses!). Something similar along the lines of the SVT Experience?
Like I said, nothing in the works yet, just want to see what interest there would be for an idea. Reply here on the board so we can see if there is any interest.
Brian(who suddenly remembered that he used to do those 14+ hour flights and decided he's not at all envious anymore!)
Be sure to tell the dealer not to put a front license plate frame on the car under penalty of death. These things are riveted on by the dealers.Just say NO !!!
Here are the #'s for the splash guards: XW4Z-16A550-AA XW4Z-16A550-BA I assume that the first number is the front and the second the rear. You do need to remove the rear tires to install the rears, the front just need to have the wheels turned. It took me about an hour to do all four. As for the front bracket, try to have it deleted om the order. I was told by my dealer that they HAD to have the bracket installed as The Peoples Republic of California requires a front plate. When I removed mine two pretty ugly holes were left in the bumper cover. I did an okay job filling them and touching them up, however I plan on having a body shop fix it right, eventually. I hear a "no front plate" ticket is the same as running a red light...$271! I figure I'll take my chances and keep the plate, attached to the bracket, in the trunk.
Comments
Hector
Tires. Most people have had no trouble with either of the Firestone sizes on the LS. There have been some complaints about vibration but that was about it. If you are worried about the 'stones and the media hype, just remember back to the 80s when Audi had that "unintentional acceleration" issue that no one could duplicate. Car and Driver tried to create a rollover situation with a Firestone equipped Explorer and were unable to get it to so much as wander when the rear tire experienced a rapid deflation.
Brian
On my trans-Nevada trip in September I discovered a noise that occurred between 90 & 110 mph. Found out later that it was a missing screw on the RH air dam in front of the rear wheel. By the time I do this again in '01 (God willing), I'll see how things go above 110 mph. The car is willing, but I'm not, if it's making noises.
For oil changes, the ramps I use routinely do require restraint (fore & aft) so they don't move forward as I drive up on them. On the road, lower ramps (or rocks, or whatever) work fine, so long as they're lower than the forward air dam. Bless you for changing your own oil. I've a feeling that the manual transmission minority (to which I belong) is huge compared to the "changes their own oil" crowd. I'm proud to be counted there as well.
Thomas 1: Your autocross comments were much appreciated. I had the same feeling as I endured my first two or three rounds at the LS mania V6 course, but always felt the car was well under control. I was too gutless to even attempt the gymkana course, but more reports like yours may help the timid among us to step up. The car is more than worthy. I'm not so sure about some of the drivers, most especially myself. OTOH, my background is high speed driving on roads I haven't been on before, upon which the penalty for a mistake is either death or huge financial loss. Excuses. . .excuses.
Keep those seat heater stories coming in. I have no seat heaters. I will have no seat heater problems. (or auto trans issues. . .or automatic windshield wiper problems. . .or seat memory issues. . .or. . .).
How can I be assured that I am getting the right part? Is there a revised/new part # for the service parts?
Thanks-Art
I kind of figured you should use the factory jacking points even with a floor jack. Since I could no longer use my ramps with the LS, I was just wondering if there were any other "safe" points anyone had discovered.
Dale-re rear jacking points. I remember reading somewhere, probably the OM, that the differential should never be used as a jacking point. Ditto being envious of your worldwide jaunts.
Akirby-Do you remember where you got the black plastic ramps? I do think I read about them in Popular Mechanics.
Re the 3-seies competitor. At LS Mania, they said that this would be sized as "4-series", just as the LS- while aimed at the 5-series is actually sized between the 5 and the 7- a defacto "6-series." Should blow them right out of the water.
Giowa-I would expect the heaters to fail in the winter. I don't use them otherwise. Kind of like those air conditioners that fail during the summer:) My build date is 9/99; mileage- just turned 13K; first failure; they know I will be scrutinizing the work- I have a rep.
I was assured that all the parts have been purged, but I don't have a part# here at home to give you. I won't be in the office tomorrow, so I will check on Wednesday.
Dick
The only reason that the LS would have a higher insurance cost would be the fact that it is a $40k car. My insurance went up only about $350 when I bought my LS and I came from a '92 Mark VII. AND I live in New Jersey ... the capital of high auto insurance.
This car also allowed me to take deductions for ABS, Air bags, and Anti-theft.
You should shop around.
Joe
I think Mark forgot to mention the other subtle difference between SST and non-SST.
4th gear in non-sst is automatic, and will downshift as you slow down (as will 5th gear). On the SST if you tap into 4th, it will hold that gear and not automatically downshift following the general algorithm. Mark told me the software is the same for both, but just is not used in the non-sst gate configuration.
I took my '01 LS V8 Sport to Fiesta LM here in Phoenix for its 5K mile check-up. The car came back about an hour and half later. Before the service writer would release it to me, I heard him call the tech about a $24 charge on the worksheet. (I had not yet seen any paperwork.) After his discussion with the tech, he told me he had to figure out why my "oil change" cost more than the standard oil change of $15.95. I cut him off and said that this didn't cost me a thing...it was covered by the factory. He remarked he didn't know anything about this...and the service writer next door said something like "yea, I think the '01's get their first check up or something for free."
I told him in no uncertain terms that the service was at no charge. He then did the disappearing act and came back 15 min later claiming that it was covered. And then he tells me they didn't rotate the tires but I could wait another 30 minutes or so. Of course, I am completely steamed at the experience and pressed for time so I said "forget it, the rotation can wait til 10K." And then I asked why he didn't know about the free maintenance and I get a lame excuse that "Lincoln changes these things all the time...it is hard to keep up with it." Amazing, huh.
And to add insult to injury, he tells me they had to use "can oil" of 5W-20 instead of the usual "bulk oil" they use for everyone else's cars, hence the original higher "charge" for the oil change. Doesn't the car use 5W-30??? (Will it matter that much though with the wrong oil?)
Guess I won't go back there again.
Here's the good news...car runs great, no problems at all. And it seems as if it prefers to be run hard and at high speed. Freeway on-ramps are FUN! After that initial break-in period of 1000 miles, the car is really a performer.
I'm near Valley Forge, PA. I guess it could be worse, it could be Philly! My rates would go up $408 a year if I sell the Explorer XLT V8 AWD '96. If I keep all 3 cars then I my rates go up $1,010 a year.
I was just questioning why the rating was a 19 on a scale of 2 to 22. In any case uisng Quicken I search for insurance quotes and I so far I can save $500 a year. I still have 2 more quotes coming in the mail. GE Financial was able to give me a quote online.
After doing this exercise of getting several insurance quotes every 3 or so years I decided to save myself the trouble. No company, in the last 25 years of driving, ever gave me a lower insurance rate than the AAA - ever! I have been with them that long, and my insurance premium for 3 cars with the AAA is as much as the premium paid on 1 car to other companies by some people I know in my area. I really can't believe it ...
BTW, I live in Orange County, Southern CA.
Modify shift strategy to allow heavy throttle crowding in D4 & D5 without inducing kick-down.
I believe that most LS owners value the feeling of control & predictability the car offers. Part-throttle kick-downs, in my opinion, are annoying and not consistent with these features.
If I have need for the acceleration provided by a lower gear, I have my foot on the floor.
I often have need for smooth, moderate acceleration that would be provided by ~90% throttle in 5-th gear (no kick-down). I cannot get this with present shift strategy with my non-SST
I suggest that throttle-induced kick-downs occur at no less than 90% throttle opening.
Is it possible that we can have this, and IMPROVED CAFE?
Thing that is maddening about the heated seats is that you can only really use them a few months out of the year. When you need 'em, you need 'em. And when they work, they are wonderful. (I have noticed that women seem to really like them. My wife, mother, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law all raved over them. Some report really appreciating them at certain times of the month.)
It looks like I will need to have him do the write up as if the transmission is going to fall out and the shift delay is way to long. In the end, it will be my desire to have it done versus's some tech feeling that a 3-4 second delay is reasonable or unreasonable. Since there is nothing in the Ford computer system that makes it a manditory reflash, Wednesday should be interesting.
Try this site:http://www.ekemper.com/home.asp
They beat AAA by 400.00
I think the kickdown is like it is for the "Grandma Effect". Grandma may jump in an LS Auto and not know the strategy, try to pass a truck, and get killed. There are no such caveats or liabilities with the Getrag. Once broken in, the clutch and shifter are really smooth and easy.
It's amazing how little downshifting one needs with the Manual. The torque application is instantaneous, and the lack of a torque converter and hydraulic losses is really worth 30-35 hp in 0-60. That's why the Manual is only a tad slower than the V-8 despite the 42 hp difference, with better balance to boot.
My car has 13K miles - build 2/00. Here in NW PA my heated seats are the most used feature in the spring fall and even on chilly summer mornings... of course in the winter (if the roads are dry!) And I do put them on several times in a row, too!
My question is for those who have had problems and needed the new part... Does your driver's seat travel back and forth frequently? I'm tall enough, that my seat stays put, in the all-the-way-back position. I was just wondering if there was a corelation?
At the time we bought ours I thought, "well that's sort of nice", but perhaps I underestimated its value. After reading so many posts about fairly "stick it to you" charges for oil and other minor things, I guess we should offer a kudo to Jack Ross. So far, the only service I've ever had to pay for was an oil change done in Madison, Wisconsin because it was a little to far to go to run over to Jack Ross's in Arizona ;-)
Regards,
Airwolf1000
I use NJ Manufacturers. Their rates are great and they don't charge for accidents or tickets within reason (I can attest to this).
Joe
Mark Kovalsky aka The Transmission God, has graciously offered to be the guest for our next chat session. He will be chatting from Yellowknife with us about all things automatic tranny related. Mark your calendars and the CORRECT time. He said as long as there are questions he'll keep typing.
Wednesday, January 31 at 7:00pm Pacific time. If you guys show up late again I'm going to put it in GMT time!
Brian
No, I won't be getting all of these things. But am considering most. If anyone has comments about particular items like cost, ease of install etc, I'd love to hear it. Like:
- Where did folks get their splash guards? Are folks satisfied with their looks/performance? If dealer, what did dealer charge for install? Or, if self-installed, did u have to remove the wheels?
- Does anyone think the moonroof deflector is important? The mr has a built-in pop-up deflector, no?
- Anyone get the bra? Comments?
- has anyone had a rear deck spoiler installed? Does anyone know who might make such a beast for the LS? Websites?
- Are there other neat accessories that someone really likes they want to share?
Thanks much for any advice.
George, who's starting to get a wee bit antsy waitin for his LS ...
I had them installed by the dealer; the front wheels don't have to be removed, but the rears do. Total cost for me, parts & installation, was $55. I've heard of some dealers charging as much as $200, so be careful.
I've had 5 sun/moonroofs and I've never gotten a deflector, so I'm not sure what I've missed. The one on the LS does have a deflector that pops up when the roof is open; seems to work fine for me. From what I recall, others have said that the Ford deflector is easy to install, so you can always add it later if the wind bothers you.
I'm firmly anti-bra. (Insert jokes here.) I personally don't like the way they look, but the real problems are: Dirt & crud can get under them so that they potentially act like sandpaper; they get wet & can hold moisture against the paint; paint can fade in sunlight so you eventually have a two-tone car; and they deteriorate & can start flapping around. Since I've never had one, this is all speculation, but I think the downside outweighs the upside.
I don't much care for spoilers, either. My local megadealer adds them for $895, but they're notorious gougers. There's a link on the LLSOC site to a company that sells them for significantly less, if I remember right.
I added a trunk organizer from Lincoln that I really like, but it takes up some room; might be a problem if you tend to carry lots of luggage on a regular basis. It was $129, I think; I can get you that part number, too, if you're interested.
I also got the LampGard kit from WeatherTech. It's a set of clear sheets of laminate that you apply over the fog lamps & headlamp covers that protects them from rocks & such. Mine haven't been tested yet, but other folks have had good luck in saving their lamps.
I got a custom sun shield from Beverly Hills Motoring, but in hindsight I think the universal ones probably work just about as well for a lot less $. I also added the small (9-piece) trim kit from Exotic Wood Dash. That one's a matter of personal preference, but I'm pleased with mine--I left off the A/C and stereo pieces & it worked out quite well for me.
If you want more info on any of this stuff, let me know; I can Email details if you like.
Happy accessorizing!
Haven't ridden in a car with the sunroof deflector, don't even open mine much with all the pollen here in FL, but when I've had it open, particularly with the windows up, I didn't really feel the need for it, not much draft from the roof, not like my 83 GTI which would vacuum your hair off your head, and which I personally blame for my baldness. I really like sliding the moonroof cover back though, just to let some sun in and so I can look up and see sky from time to time.
I have the cargo net, very very useful, cheap, and I put it in myself very easily.
Don't have and haven't seen one with a bra. Tinting windows makes them look really cool, but every car I've had tinted, no matter by how good an organization, has started wrinkle and come loose after 5 or 6 years. Even here in FL the standard tint seems pretty adequate, though I admit it would look meaner with darker tint.
The Lincoln dealer here offers a couple of non-Lincoln, aftermarket rear spoilers. One looks quite nice, and has the 3rd brakelight integrated into it, so it looks factory. Their cost was around $500 plus for installation and paint matching. In the end I decided I liked the rear as it was, but I still go back and forth on this. I wish they offered taillights with amber turn signals, this would make the rear of the car look very European.
Some have added outside rear view mirrors with turn signals in them that supposedly look cool.
Definitely remove the front license bracket, it looks like a huge plastic wart.
Depending on sound system, i.e. non-audiophile with subs, changing out the door 5x7 speakers for something with decent tweeters is a big improvement. Also, you can fit seperates in the front with the tweeters mounted on the little triangles on the front edge of the door where the mirrors are with excellent results (did this in a Taurus SHO).
All I can think of now. Have fun with the car, I think you'll love it!
I would love to see Lincoln make a BMW 3 series fighter. I could see several advantages. Would appeal to people who would love a luxury sport car but can't cough up the bucks for a LS or BMW, would appeal to people who want a luxury/sporty car but live in cities and have severe parking problems, or who just want a smaller luxury car. I know my wife would be interested in a smaller version.
I could see how you could easily cobble one together with existing LS parts, on a shortened wheelbase. Use the same suspension, probably offer only the V6, with either a manual or auto-stick (which would help Lincoln's CAFE ratings a lot), use the same brakes (which would give a smaller car outstanding braking), etc. I could see such a car really boosting Lincoln's sales and taking a lot of customers from smaller imported cars, such as BMW, Lexus, Acura, Infinity, etc.
For those who were envious of my trip just think about being on a plane for 14+ hours at a time for some segments (business/first class help some) and do this 4-5 time per year and you will be envious of the people who can stay at home and drive their LS everyday.
Hector
Hector
What would everybody think of a two or three day event, say in June, say in Detroit, say for the Detroit Grand Prix, say for all LS owners, say possibly a Wixom tour? Therein, of course, lies the tie-in to the name
This couldn't be freebie like LS Mania 2000(the event itself. I realize everyone who flew in or drove in incurred expenses!). Something similar along the lines of the SVT Experience?
Like I said, nothing in the works yet, just want to see what interest there would be for an idea. Reply here on the board so we can see if there is any interest.
Brian(who suddenly remembered that he used to do those 14+ hour flights and decided he's not at all envious anymore!)
XW4Z-16A550-AA
XW4Z-16A550-BA
I assume that the first number is the front and the second the rear. You do need to remove the rear tires to install the rears, the front just need to have the wheels turned. It took me about an hour to do all four. As for the front bracket, try to have it deleted om the order. I was told by my dealer that they HAD to have the bracket installed as The Peoples Republic of California requires a front plate. When I removed mine two pretty ugly holes were left in the bumper cover. I did an okay job filling them and touching them up, however I plan on having a body shop fix it right, eventually. I hear a "no front plate" ticket is the same as running a red light...$271! I figure I'll take my chances and keep the plate, attached to the bracket, in the trunk.