Nooby looking for input

[paclockman]

Hello all, A nooby here trying to find out a few things. I've owned a few Lincolns in the past, a 66 Lincoln coupe, a 70 town coupe, an 81 Mark VI coupe an 86 Mark VII and a 95 Continental. I've recently retired and was looking for something to replace my trusty Subaru now that I no longer need the AWD for the commute to work. There are a couple of LS's in my area for sale, an LS6 with 56k and an LS8 with 52k.... I have a couple of questions...

1) Reading over the forum my major concern is, Are there really as many problems with these cars as reading the forum would lead you to believe? Does anyone buy an LS and not have problems?

2) Is there anything in particular I should look for when looking at a used LS6 or 8?

3) Are coil issues as prevalent on the 6 as they seem to be on the 8?

4) Any one model year to steer clear of?

Thanks for your input......a great forum!

 

[LS4me]

Get an '06. Wait if you must. The mpg difference between the V6 and V8 is negligible.

 

[StarPower]

Things to check before buying a LS:

• Windows: Verify they go all the way up and down smoothly. Any clicking or binding means the regulator is about to fail.
• Headliner: The sunroof drain tubes can break, causing water to leak down the pillars. Check for any stains or signs of water leakage. It's not that hard to fix, but if left unattended for a long time it could start grow mold.
• Cooling: Plastic cooling system parts are prone to failure. Try to look at the car after it's been sitting all night to check for drips. Check the heat. No heat could mean either cooling system problems or climate control system problems.
• Transmission: Check for any harsh shifting, including into and out of reverse and park.
• Coils and plugs: Just plan on replacing all of them. It'll start to idle a little rough long before it throws a code, and if left unattended it could damage the catalytic converter.
• Suspension: Listen for any bumps/knocks while driving/starting off in D or R. Try to get it on a lift to check the wheels for play.

I'm sure I've left something out, but this is most of what I've replaced since I bought mine about two years ago. This seems consistent with what most of the other members on here have reported. Getting everything done at the dealership (I work about 90hr/wk, which leaves little time or energy to work on my own car), I've been averaging $3-4,000 per year.

Lastly, there's a huge difference in the condition of some of these cars online. Some these cars (mine included) were bought by an older couple, gently driven, and meticulously serviced (doesn't mean problem free, just probably fewer surprises). Others are on their 3rd or 4th owner who can't afford to fix it and is trying to hide a bunch of problems to sell it. Try to find as much about the history of the car as you can and look for signs of neglect before buying.

 

[1LoudLS]

the newer the LS the fewer problems they seem to have...