03LSV8 A month later-Observations and ramblings

[Archer28]

Well, I've had my 03 for a month, so far so good.
Currently at around 23k
Problems have been:
Leaking driver door weatherstrip-replaced under warranty
Leaking rear trunk tailight-replaced under warranty
Cigarette lighter console door-replaced under warranty
Rear passenger window regulator - replaced under warranty

Those are problems that existed when I bought the car so I wouldn't say they all failed within a month.

Things I like about the car:
I love the way it drives. The closest thing I had was a 87 Formula firebird. The LS is quicker, handles better and is just so much more refined. The firebird was all over the road in the smallest rain. Fun for donuts, but not so fun for safety. The LS just hugs the road so well.
Power is very good. I can hit 60 in under 7 seconds every time just letting it shift itself. Even at higher speeds there is always power available.
The ride is just what I like. Not too rigid, but very sporty. Still quiet and luxurious, but never floaty.
The 6CD sound is great. I'm not into big booming bass, but the factory system satisfies my ear very well.
I actually like the autowipers. I keep rainX on my shield everywhere but on the sensor. I only use the wipers in traffic.
Love the brakes as well. I always feel in control while driving the LS.
The backup sensor is a nice feature. Great for parallel parking.
The heated/cooled seats-I use this feature more than I thought I would.
Speed sensitive steering is great
Effortless to drive at speed. 80 is sooo smooth.
Easy to clean chrome wheels!
Program your own keys/fobs/light delay
HID's are nice
Keypad- my first and not my last, too handy
Memory seats/tilt/mirrors- nice
Heated mirors work great as do the auto-dim
Adjustable pedals are nice feature
Cruise holds well, responds well.
Used price-nice buy for the level of auto you get
Rear seat heaters, kids love them on these frosty mornings
Sounds great at WOT now that I removed the snorkel
Dimmers on the vanity lights are a cool excess
One touch windows
Classic looks that won't get old fast

What I don't like:
Seats are just a tad firm.. I don't know if I'm just not used to them (because I never feel sore after a long ride in the LS) or if I've had seats that were too much like a couch in the past.
Center console arm rest feels cheap, and if you slide it forward you can't use the second drink holder.
The concert, hall, etc... settings on the radio are overblown. Could have been really nice if they added an adnustment for the amount of processing you wanted done. As is, its cool for about 10 seconds.
The speedo is sits too high in the dash (or too low). When I get the wheel where I like it, it blocks the top of the gauge. It would be nice to have a high dash mounted speedo like the hondas have, or at least have it lower where you can see it.
The on-board computer doesn't do much...my old venture van would read out gallons in the tank, trip computer data, average speed, highest speed, etc... features the LS should have.
Gear indicator should read out current gear even in D5/D4.
SST shifts poorly from 3rd to 2nd.
Horn.. too much effort to honk. Can't get a nice neighborly double-tap.
Lights- too much travel to go from lows to highs. I prefer push forward for H, pull back for L, like my cheap Ford Escort has..
Smoke- When I start up the car to move a short distance (get in the shade for waxing) the NEXT time I move it, there is a puff of smoke. The car needs to run a minute or so to keep this from happening.
Not a lot of leg room in the rear, especially with the seats back much.
No rear seat fold-down release from inside.
6.5 quarts? would it be so tough to work to a whole number?
Rev limiter? How about 5k anyway?
Tiny glove box and tiny door pockets
Easy entry goes back too far for rear passenger. Needs a way to set it, or have only the wheel move.
Reverse the volome/media control on the wheel. I'm always changing songs when I'm trying to set the volume.
Seat fans are a little "whiny"
AC "sizzles" sometimes inside the dash, no problem but puts a puzzling look on passenger faces.
Premium gas
Mileage a tad low around town, needs a sport/economy tranny setting.
Should come with LED interior lights, lose the yellow
GREEN dash lights... Almost anything else would have been sportier.
A nice flat spot on the dash would have been nice for radar detectors/GPS
Coin holder would have been nice
24" wiper is tough to find sometimes

A month later I still love to crank up the LS and take a ride anywhere. 30 minutes or 3 hours, I enjoy every minute.

 

[jtscully82]

I agree could have been improved. I would like an oil pressure gauge.

There was no coin holder in ur center storage area.

 

[ToddG]

Archer, there should be a coin holder in the center console. It's a 3-hole rectangular box that should fit on a lip inside the console in the upper right (passenger side) corner. It is removeable, so yours may have been removed prior to getting your car. See picture attached.

 

[SoonerLS]

What I don't like:
Seats are just a tad firm.. I don't know if I'm just not used to them (because I never feel sore after a long ride in the LS) or if I've had seats that were too much like a couch in the past.
The concert, hall, etc... settings on the radio are overblown.
The speedo is sits too high in the dash (or too low). When I get the wheel where I like it, it blocks the top of the gauge. It would be nice to have a high dash mounted speedo like the hondas have, or at least have it lower where you can see it.
SST shifts poorly from 3rd to 2nd.
Rev limiter? How about 5k anyway?
Easy entry goes back too far for rear passenger. Needs a way to set it, or have only the wheel move.

The seats are a bit firm, but that's a side-effect of having the Peltier device that does the heating/cooling. I don't know if the non-climate controlled seats are softer, but the non-heated seats in the Town Car are definitely softer.
The only "DSP" setting I use is "Driver Seat" to center the soundfield around me. It makes a noticeable difference.
In my '04, I had the problem of not being able to see the top of the speedo because it was blocked by the steering wheel even when the wheel was all the way up. For some reason, I do not have that problem in my '06; maybe the wood of the Ultimate wheel makes the difference.
The 2nd/3rd transition is always going to be a problem. 2nd is really 1st plus Overdrive, so the 2/3 transition actually involves two shifts.
The rev limiter is only 3K RPM in Park or Neutral; in D4/D5/SST, it's much higer (I don't recall what redline is off the top of my head).

 

[Archer28]

No biggie on the coin holder. Plenty of those available aftermarket. I didn't realize that the car came with one stock (I'm the second owner of mine).

The firm seats is more of an observation than a complaint. I never feel fatigued after a long session in the LS.

My kids complain about sliding around in the rear seat when I get speedy through the twisties. I wish there was a cleaner that was the opposite of armour all, that gave you a bit of "grip" in the seats.

I have the wood wheel on my 03 but the top of the speedo is blocked if I don't adjust it up a bit.
I wonder if aftermarket GPS like the pioneer system has the option to display speed? My small garmin units show MPH. I used it to check the calibration of my LS speedo. It was right on the money.

 

[ToddG]

My kids complain about sliding around in the rear seat when I get speedy through the twisties. I wish there was a cleaner that was the opposite of armour all, that gave you a bit of "grip" in the seats.

QUOTE]

Put the rear armrest down. This will confine each kid to their own portion of the back seat as you slalom through the twisties!

 

[beaups]

or maybe buckle them up When I put the kids in my car (god forbid) I use the ratcheting (carseat) mechanism built into the seatbelts. Pull the seatbelt out as far as it goes and hold it there. The put child in and buckle it and release the slack. You'll here it click as the seatbet retracts and it won't allow any slack to come back out.

 

[northstar11]

My kids complain about sliding around in the rear seat when I get speedy through the twisties. I wish there was a cleaner that was the opposite of armour all, that gave you a bit of "grip" in the seats.

QUOTE]

Give em a gameboy, n put em in the trunk! Jk

 

[Fla02LS]

My kids complain about sliding around in the rear seat when I get speedy through the twisties. I wish there was a cleaner that was the opposite of armour all, that gave you a bit of "grip" in the seats.

I'm not even going to start to comment on why your getting "speedy through twisties" with your kids in the car.
As far as the cleaner question, Lexol leather cleaner and conditioner will do just what you want. Doesnt leave the leather all slippery and its a great product.