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And, after coming back from a vacation where I was stuck in a Buick LaSabre for a week, I really enjoy getting out of that boat and into my luxury ride. The seats just made all the difference in the world.
Oh, and I finally did it, hit 142mph for a brief moment and didn't hit a wall at a limiter, had to back off due to road conditions though.
I'll also repeat that going back to the dealer to get things fixed isn't all that convenient, however the "security" aspect of malfunctioning windows is really the prime issue to me. How can you protect yourself and/or your possessions if the windows won't stay up.
I sincerely feel that this is a case for a recall. Are the L-M folks listening ?? Or, does someone have to be carjacked before anything will be done on a widespread basis ??
By the way, has anyone heard if this is also a problem on the Jag S-Type ?
Brian, I'm sure that we could get an update if we emailed him. When he signed off here, he made it clear that the LS will always hold a special place in his heart. I'll volunteer if you don't care to.
I usually browse the Sunday paper used car section, just because. I sometimes think if my LS was totalled (hopefully it never will), what would I buy right now? Personally, I would probably have to lean towards a used BMW 330i, depending on the price. But, I might be able to get another LS for a great deal on the used car market since the resales for LS is pretty bad. Would never consider a FWD car, so that rules quite a few pretenders. Gotta be RWD, and gotta be in the 20k to 30k price range.
What about you guys?
Thank you Brian for the project car, and trying to optimize it. Maybe your feedback to Borla might help them make a better system. Like you said though isolate the HP Increase, take out the MAF.
Now at 10-12 HP for $683 dollars would not be a bad deal. Till then I will save my $683 for that M5 unless Lincoln would come up with a competitor. Brings up another question. Man this is somewhat of a Think/ Mod Testing Tank isn't it? Here it goes. I am sure Lincoln is not there yet but I will proposition it. What would we call the LINCOLN Performance equivalent of AMG and M?
Regards,
Airwolf1000
The tests that Brian and Stanny1 are doing on an isolated Borla system should prove interesting. I suspect the exhaust system is where the 02 MY LS V6 is getting its' extra punch.
V8 Sport LS - I still love it.
Acura 3.2TL Type S
Probably the best of the FWD sports sedans right now. My only issue (other than FWD) is that the front end looks like an Accord. The other day I saw two cars coming out of a side street, one behind the other, and I couldn't tell the difference until I saw them from the rear. One was an Accord and one was a TL. Other than that I like it.
Audi A6 2.7T
Gorgeous interior. But I'm not crazy about the rounded corners on the body. Gorgeous interior. And big bucks to get the 4.2 V8. Did I mention the gorgeious interior? Lincoln should let their interior designers drive an Audi for a few months.
BMW 5-series
3-series is too small. I'm not crazy about the interior, either, but I like the exterior and the performance. But not the price.
I don't personally care for the Maxima, Infiniti, Lexus, Mercedes or any GM product styling. Nothing specific, just not crazy about the overall package.
Now if the kids were grown it would be an easy choice: used Porsche 911 or Boxster S. And by the time I can get one a 2001 model should be really cheap. But in the meantime I'll take another LS in Silver/Charcoal.
There might be some other factors on the dyno run that may have contributed to the small difference. I'll know better if I can schedule some more dyno time tomorrow with the stock sensor and same tank of gas. It seems that out here in SoCal the premium octane rating has mysteriously dropped from 92 to 91 in a lot of places. If the dyno run shows a drop from stock pipes then there is something else wrong with the car and I may have to wait and put the stock pipes back on and redo the dyno runs, one after the other. All I gotta do is call in sick for a day and hope the boss doesn't call
I do have to tell you guys that watching your car be put on a dyno is a little heart-wrenching. The basic process is that the car gets strapped down on the roller, they start the car, put it in gear, and floor it until either the car hits redline or it runs out of power. Take it from me the sound coming out of the Borlas at complete full throttle at 140mph is rather terrifying being about two feet from the back. Not to mention that the dyno rollers are screaming. Not for the faint-of-heart. Hopefully it isn't shortening the life of the car too much.
But that would only be if I got enough money out of the lawsuit that I would file against the idiot who ran into me
second choice Subaru WRX (gotta love that 5.6sec 0-60, and AWD)
Like ronniepooh, front-drive is not an option for me. I'd probably have to give an S4 Avant a look, but I'd still probably wind up with another LS. After 13k miles, I've had excellent dealer support & service and absolutely no problems, and I still get compliments on a regular basis. At the gas station a couple days ago, a guy was staring at my car and said, "That's a beautiful color--what's it called?"
Not EVERYBODY hates ivory...;-)
BTW, my brother purchased a Boxter S 3 weeks ago (the SOB paid cash!) It is VERY nice, outstanding acceleration and handling, but the seats are not as comfortable as the LS for extended trips; and I can have almost as much fun in a Miata and save $40K. Who wouldn't rather have the Boxter than the Miata though, and it is his money.
I will reiterate that the mass air flow sensor may be the power robber in this particular setup. Definite answer will be the results after we do the next dyno using the stock sensor.
I know that jnowski, stanny1, ezaircon, and several others have had the Borlas on their cars for a while now. What are their thoughts regarding performance, gas mileage, etc.?
Even though the club sells the Borla I wouldn't sell them under false pretenses so we will truthfully report on the performance gains or lack of. Our first priority is the members of the club not the vendors. If all you get from the Borla is sound we'll let you know.
After having my Borla for a month, I am very pleased with the sound. Unobtrusive while cruising, but they speak-up when they are called for! It's a great compromise.
If my car got totaled, I guess that it would be another LS or a new T-bird. I'm really sold on this DEW platform!
Brian, I think that you are on the right track with the Dyno testing. When looking for improvements that are in the 5% and under range, you pretty well need to do the testing back to back with the same tank of gas, temp, humidity, etc. You may even have to factor in what the engine management system is doing. Just a difference in the trans fluid temps from test to test can affect HP a couple of percentage points. The other thing is that maybe you won't see a big increase in peak power, but the lower part of the torque curve will "fatten up" some.
By the way, the car guys on the radio have been talking about the change to 91 from 92. You lucky guys outside Calif have 93+. And what gas we have is pretty pathetic. Besides lower octane, it yields reduced mileage. So the BTU content must be lower as well. Then we have these smog laws. I'm surprised they run at all here in Calif.
The LS is 7.2 , 15.5 and 90.9 respectively. If you look at it in $/performance or Horsepower/speed I don't think that says a lot about the LS's ability to smoke everyone. But again that's perhaps not what all buyers look at.
And thankfully there are a ton of different cars for car nuts to choose from!
(squat, fooled ya!)
OK, I'd make one change. The new one would be white. Dark satin green looks terrific when it's clean, but only stays clean for about 10 minutes out of the garage. In fact, I'm convinced that my AC filter stays clean longer than average because dust and dirt are attracted to the paint.:)
Price is still an object for me & at this price point, there's no question in my mind. I'd choose another LS, warts and all!
Our friends got a new TL Type-S last week. Got a short ride as a passenger. Nice car, but my back hurt after 10 minutes in the front passenger's seat. I'll report back when I get to drive it.
Since they're not at all "car folks" I was curious as to why they got an S-type instead of the standard model. They really were clueless as to the differences. The chief reason: the wife wanted the white faced gauges! Now she's annoyed B/C they paid 2G's extra & the gauges flip colors at night!
If mine were totalled, and the insurance company didn't have to be taken to court to pay a decent settlement, there are only two choices as to companies and three as to models.
I've been enamored of late with Audi, but the more I read their archived messages, the less I want to deal with a company with almost no dealers and some significant problems. If I were a leasing kind of guy, I'd go with the A6 2.7T or the S4.
Other choice has to be the 530. If I had more money than (I do), the 540 is an interesting option. . .but in my case, it doesn't make sense.
I am TRULY disappointed that none of you offered up the use of your LS while mine slumbered at the dealer! What kind of fellow LSers are you?! Not to worry. As I got my car back after work, I won't need to come get any of your "loaner" LSes or therapy.
It's things like that that make you feel Ford is servicing your car and not Lincoln! I expect a certain level of service that Lincoln/Mercury can't or won't provide (BTW, I had to call about the status of my car after they had it for 24 hours, it was already done!). If Lincoln wants to truly compete with BMW/Acura/Lexus heck, even Cadillac, then they better start thinking like Lincoln and not Ford. I bought an LS, NOT a Sable! I don't want to be treated like I'm a charter member of AARP (no offence intended), I want to be treated just like the other marques treat their customers. As an example: co-worker has 95 540i. BMW screwed up a recall head replacement (they forgot to torque a head nut and it disintegrated in the head). It took them 3 weeks to diagnose the problem, find what was left of the nut and get a new head. During that time they gave him a brand spanking new 330i to drive. That is service! He gets comperable car, I get an Intrepid. Hmmmm.....
Oh yea. It's a no-brainer for me. V6 manual. Or maybe the V8, but another LS for sure! I still want to be the first with 2 in the garage!
"Launched in 1950 at the Turin Motorshow, the all-new Aurelia was designed to replace the ageing Aprilia. It used an all new 60º V6 engine, actually the world's first production V6 engine in a car."
From Lancia Company history.
How much does a Saleen or Rousch Mustang go for? I would NOT consider a FWD, not even a possibility. I'd drive another Audi A6 2.7T w/Quattro, as I did 2 years ago, but I keep coming back to the balance issue . . . not to mention that it is several thousand $ more than an LS and dealers are few and far between.
I hope I'm not jinxing myself here, I really don't want to replace my LS8 sport for a few more years yet, but if forced to, the MY03 would probably be worth waiting for.
I understand how a bigger diameter sensor will allow more air into the system, thereby allowing the vendor to calibrate the sensor with the corresponding increase in fuel flow, theoretically (I just love that word!) providing for a more efficient, and therefore producing more power. The oxymoron or quandry that I see is that if the front of the bigger sensor needs to fit into the stock air box opening and the back of the sensor needs to fit into the stock snorkel, how does more air flow through if you still have the same size parameters?
I could see it providing the increased efficiency if you also went to a different filter element, aka a round filter with a different nose to accomodate a bigger mouth(the sensor not mine. And also a bigger snorkel tube. But not the stock pieces. Are my assumptions off base? The sensor doesn't appear to have the shape of a venturi which would speed up the air flow through it either. This modification has always sounded a little like snake oil and on initial testing appears to validate my assumption.
Thoughts? Then I'll shut up about it.
P.S. While the Jag XKR is really nice, I'd probably buy 2 LSes for the same price, one manual and one V-8, just for variety!
Brian
If my LS bought the farm, I would wait for a MY 03 LS, hoping for a 250 HP V6 or a 300 HP V8.
Call me crazy, but my other car is a '99 2.5L 5 speed Porsche Boxter, and as an everyday commuter I like the LS just as much...when I can get it away from my wife. The LS Sport can hold its' own at 80 MPH on a 90 degree highway curve which is about as winding a road as I can find in South Florida.
Of course on a sunny weekend the Boxter, with the top down, and the B&B Tri-Flo exhaust purring, takes first prize. These two cars are quite a set of book ends and I am very fortunate to have them both.
P.S. Thank YOU, Brian!
In the ad copy, they make a reference to "State of the Art, Hybrid Electronics". I guess we're to assume that their sensor within the MAF housing is somehow more "aggressively calibrated" than the stock part, and this, along with the somewhat larger diameter housing, provides the HP increase.
Several of the GM oriented mags have done back to back dyno tests, and all of them swear that 10-12 HP is picked up at the rear wheels. This, however, is at WOT. As I once mentioned a while back, how often do we drive at WOT? For the Camaro, the piece is $329. On one hand, 10 quick and easy HP for $329 isn't bad, but I'd rather spend the money on suspension mods that are effective at all speeds, not just the upper ranges.
If the LS suddenly was gone, perish the thought, I'm at somewhat of a loss as to what I'd replace it with. I definitely don't care for FWD, so the choices are limited. I'd like to say another LS would probably be first choice, and an S-Type would be second, since the S was my wife's first choice when we bought the LS. Other that that, I don't know....maybe an M-B C320 ??
not to worry... he said it shouldn't be more than a 2 week wait......
geesshhh...