Thinking about LS as a DD, opinons/advice please

Lux

Lux

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I need to purchase a new DD by Christmas and was hoping you guys could help me out. I have a few questions.

How reliable are they as daily drivers?

I have thought about picking up a 5speed LS, from what I saw it looks as they only come as a V6. I know they are rare, but I have time to look..and miss driving a manual lincoln...since my TKO600, 5 Speed 90 LSC.

So if i pick up a 5 speed, How reliable is the V6?

What are some problem areas to look for when purchasing an LS?

What are the main differences between the two gens?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, plans are to get as much road use as possible out of it. I dont plan to modify it, yet. I have the 97LSC for that. I need something thats solid, safe, and rides nice with 4 doors, and i've always loved the look of the LS.

Thanks for any help.
 
Get a 2nd gen they have wayyyy less problems
 
Reliability is right up there with the mark but we dont have air ride so no worries about that.

Its not too bad but its a luxury car and as such expect some basic things to be replaced.

The most important thing is coils and plugs...the LS seems to eat these. But a set of Visteon coils and NGK plugs can last a long time. Most of the time they fail either because of age/heat or because of oil in the plug wells. You simply need to replace the VCG's to fix this issue.

Second is the cooling system. All plastic parts under high pressure. Gen I's use a hydraulic system which needs more maintenance but can use an updated metal jaguar cooling tree. Gen II is electric fan but only plastic pieces.

Thirdly the car is highly electronic, mulitple computers and a bad battery can wreak havoc all over. Give false readings and error messages.

The 5speed LS's are very rare...expect to pay more for one. And from what i know its is more reliable than the V8. The 6 is a 3.0L Duratec while the V8 is a Destroked 4.0 Jaguar engine.

Lots of changes between gen I and II. Increased horsepower, real wood vs plastic wood trim. HID headlights available as an option, heated and cooled seats, electronic parking brake. Redesigned interior, backup sensors, THX Navigation system and other features.

Cons would be in terms of mods it is much more limited than the mark...but a stock LS can run with a mark and out handle it in both stopping power and turns. Wheel options are limited because of the 5x108 bolt pattern.

Also the transmission does not have a dipstick and is the same as found in mustangs. The manual is a Getrag if i remember correctly.
 
I love my Gen 1 but the Gen II is more horses and more options. Get a Gen II.
 
would you consider getting a mark for a DD? the LS is in a similar boat.

as far as reliability goes, the LS is not "bad", but when thing do go wrong (and sooner or later they probably will), it isn't cheap. i do agree that generally the newer you go, the fewer problems you will have.
 
BlackLS06 said:
Reliability is right up there with the mark but we dont have air ride so no worries about that.

Its not too bad but its a luxury car and as such expect some basic things to be replaced.

The most important thing is coils and plugs...the LS seems to eat these. But a set of Visteon coils and NGK plugs can last a long time. Most of the time they fail either because of age/heat or because of oil in the plug wells. You simply need to replace the VCG's to fix this issue.

Second is the cooling system. All plastic parts under high pressure. Gen I's use a hydraulic system which needs more maintenance but can use an updated metal jaguar cooling tree. Gen II is electric fan but only plastic pieces.

Thirdly the car is highly electronic, mulitple computers and a bad battery can wreak havoc all over. Give false readings and error messages.

The 5speed LS's are very rare...expect to pay more for one. And from what i know its is more reliable than the V8. The 6 is a 3.0L Duratec while the V8 is a Destroked 4.0 Jaguar engine.

Lots of changes between gen I and II. Increased horsepower, real wood vs plastic wood trim. HID headlights available as an option, heated and cooled seats, electronic parking brake. Redesigned interior, backup sensors, THX Navigation system and other features.

Cons would be in terms of mods it is much more limited than the mark...but a stock LS can run with a mark and out handle it in both stopping power and turns. Wheel options are limited because of the 5x108 bolt pattern.

Also the transmission does not have a dipstick and is the same as found in mustangs. The manual is a Getrag if i remember correctly.
Click to expand...

Very good info to know, thank you. Wasnt that 3.0 duratec in the Taurus?

Does the 5 speed share its transmission with any other vehicle?

I like the idea of cooled seats. Good to know.

I plan on leaving it stock for now. If anything I'd probably get it tuned as I already have a SCT Xcal3 for the VIII and maybe a CAI.

Understood about the 5x108 wheel availbility and braking..lol

I hubswapped my Mark VIII to 2005 mustang wheels and 13"/11" cobra rotors front/back. :cool:

Which transmission did not have a dipstick? I know manuals dont, but the LS automatic trans doesnt have a stick??

Thanks again.
 
1LoudLS said:
would you consider getting a mark for a DD? the LS is in a similar boat.

as far as reliability goes, the LS is not "bad", but when thing do go wrong (and sooner or later they probably will), it isn't cheap. i do agree that generally the newer you go, the fewer problems you will have.
Click to expand...

I have a Mark as a DD, i've had Lincolns as dailys for about 10 years now. VII's and VIII's but need to move to a 4 door.

I've thought about a Navigator but I feel as its to big and bulky for what I need and would use more Gas. However, that 5.4 DOHC option would be sweet. :shifty:
 
All 5r55 trannys for the LS do not have a dipstick, which is a pita. The engines are reliable. I have 207,xxx on my Gen I with no smoke and compression is great across the board. Tranny on the other hand has 2 lifetimes in it and it's about time for a rebuild. Still shifts smooth, but I know that it's starting to slightly slip. Already swapped solenoids, so it may be the frictions. All in all the LS is awesome. And this is my first American made car I've ever owned, and I won't give it up. It's going to become a money pit in a good way.
 
I had a 97 Mark VIII I used as a daily driver. Traded it for an 06 LS when the air ride gave out. Air ride is completely pointless in a car. "Oh, but it lowers on the freeway and you get better gas mileage". BS! The MARGINAL amount of money you'd save in gas over the life of the car would a drop in the bucket the first time you have to replace an airbag/pump. Waste of money. Terrible, poitless design.

Anyway, after I traded that heap I got my LS. Absolutely love it. It is my DD and will be for years to come. And being someone who also owned a 97 Mark VIII I can tell you the LS V8 is faster off the line. Upgrades are limited to intake, exhaust and tune for the most part but even those three things will give you a noticeable difference.

Speaking of upgrading, if you're intent on upgrading your future LS, get a V8. Upgrading means you obviously like to go fast, right? :) Do it right. Get an 06 V8 and love your car. Probably spend the same amount of money for an older manual V6 anyway, get the LS the way it was MEANT to be. A luxury SPORTS car, not a mid-size Ford Taurus alternative...
 
marcredd said:
Not inerently always. Previous owner care goes along way with any used car.
Click to expand...
+1 My father gave me his LS before he retired out of country. All of his work was done at Lincoln and religously. He even went for tires through Lincoln. If he could have got gas through Lincoln, he would have. He always said piece of mind was better than wondering all day. He also had a fat wallet too, LOL!!!
 
Lux said:
Very good info to know, thank you. Wasnt that 3.0 duratec in the Taurus?

Does the 5 speed share its transmission with any other vehicle?

I like the idea of cooled seats. Good to know.

I plan on leaving it stock for now. If anything I'd probably get it tuned as I already have a SCT Xcal3 for the VIII and maybe a CAI.

Understood about the 5x108 wheel availbility and braking..lol

I hubswapped my Mark VIII to 2005 mustang wheels and 13"/11" cobra rotors front/back. :cool:

Which transmission did not have a dipstick? I know manuals dont, but the LS automatic trans doesnt have a stick??

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Not sure as the Taurus is fwd but this one has 210 hp. As a comparison the gen II V8 has 280hp.

The Jaguar S-type has the same transmission in manual. Both 5R55N and 5R55S dont have dipsticks.

Lux said:
I have a Mark as a DD, i've had Lincolns as dailys for about 10 years now. VII's and VIII's but need to move to a 4 door.

I've thought about a Navigator but I feel as its to big and bulky for what I need and would use more Gas. However, that 5.4 DOHC option would be sweet. :shifty:
Click to expand...

The LS gets about the same mileage in the city around 15mpg average. Also the 5.4 has lots of torque but its a slug of a motor. An 07 limited Expedition would be a better choice than a navi.

Be advised that although the LS is a 4 door there is no room back there. My driver seat almost touches the rear seat the way i drive. But it does have a 5 star crash rating.
 
DD get genII

I have 01V6 DD 141K, costly to repair, loads of money sunk into this car, but it runs fine everyday. I would go with GenII with electric fans, because the hydra fans don't last (at least not for me) and are really expensive to fix.
 
Sounds like the gen2 was a superior machine. A 5 speed would be nice but watching some vids i think id rather have a v8. Thanks for the info.
 
And you sir, have made the CORRECT choice. :)

First thing you should do is get a new intake. Man oh man, I just put a K&N Typhoon in mine a couple weeks ago and wow. I don't think I'll EVER get tired of that growl. :) V8 all the way!
 
Yeah, I havent been able to get my foot out of this poor car's ass since I got my intake last week. Really a beautiful sound.
 
Go to a track and you will get 5mpg :)

It's all relative.
 
Have used my 2000 V6 manual as my DD for the last 9 years. Got it with 36,000 now at 143,000.

Work done
Two sets of plugs, one set of coils, two front wheel bearings, ac charge, new starter, new alternator, new power steering line (rust), set of rear brake rotors, two sets of front brake rotors, four sets of pads, 3 sets of snow tires, 2 sets of regular tires (third set goes on next week), one rear window motor, hydraulic fan only runs on slow so I've installed an electric, two sets of front swaybar bushings (one an OEM rubber when they were available and one set of energy poly). Two windshields (cracks from stone chips). Accessory drive belt (when I did the alternator).

Current issues - check engine light on (inefficient catalyst) had this light for 4 years (drove with bad coils too far). It goes out if I do a lot of stop and go driving and comes back on if I drive on the highway, its always been off at inspection time. Needed to change left front tie rod, ball joint and upper control arm, bumper, headlights, hood and grill due to someone hitting the front of car (and ramming into the left front tire). Driver side heated seat has stopped working (need to remove the cover and fix short when I get the time). Cruise control just stopped last week. Underbody rust (driven to Vermont every other weekend during the winter for skiing) so lots of salt. Water leak in truck. Every now and then (once or twice a summer) the heat sticks on, I've just turned the heat up for a minute and then turned it back down and I get cold ac again.

Regular maintenance - mobil one every 5,000 miles, trans fluid (Pennzoil sychromesh) every 70,000 (Ford recommends every 60,000), brake fluid flush after 10 years, radiator never flushed, original battery, gets 22 - 26 mpg. I've done all repairs and I rarely drive in heavy traffic.

After accident last October considered dumping it for a late model (2004 - 2008) XJ8, but lack of a manual transmission in the Jaguar kept me in the Lincoln.
 
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