Today Has Been a Year Since Purchase, How About You?

[lincolnls8]

So Far so good. But I am looking forward to finding a dealership I can tolerate and has updated service bullentins. How are things going with other owners? I am still getting in the 20's on mpg.

[Lscman]

Too bad the service bulletins are even necessary. The basic LS design is awesome but the TSB's are concerning. I hope they come out with an M-ish version someday. The current i-ish version is nice but can't satisfy everyone.

[lincolnls8]

Yeah,
I know what you mean. But most are still considering it a "Grocery Getter". Or at least that is what they are telling my wife. Too bad for them she has a little bit of Shirley Muldowney in her and leaves them standing at the red lights. I do enjoy taking the Advance Trac off and smoking the tires!!!

[351CJ]

I picked up my LS-8 on Feb 29, 2000, so I still have 3 more years to go to celebrate it's first aniversary.

I'm averaging about 21 MPG. My driving is 50% back roads, 25% interstate and 25% city.

Problems:
1. Had TSB for replacing the half-shafts done, it reduced the drone but doesn't eliminate it.

2. Starter wouldn't engage, just free spun. The following morning after flatbedding it to the closest dealer it started right up, but they replaced the starter anyway.

3. Have had an ongoing vibration / rumble in the rear of the LS. Had the original Firestone tires balanced and rotated 2 times, made it worse. At 8200 miles the dealer replaced the tires with Goodyear Eagle GT+4's. The vibration is now significantly reduced, it's more of a 30 Hz rumble, feels like a resonance in the unibody. It's only annoying because it has a peak right at 73 MPH which is the speed of normal traffic flow on the interstates here. Had the local Lincoln field engineer test drive it, he said all vibrations and noises were in spec. I can feel a vibration at the same frequency in the steering wheel sometimes but not always.

4. The passenger side rear window is going to crash soon from the noises it makes when raised. Just heard that all LS's build before the upgraded window mechanisms were used can expect window crashes eventually.

On the + side I love the way it handles, the engine started to feel a lot more responsive after about 5K miles. I knew I was taking a risk with a 1st year car but I chose the LS because is just plain felt and drove better than any other car near it's price point plus I had about $2k of rebates from the old Ford Citibank credit card. I think Ford made a mistake ending the program as in 2 years when I get a new car I won't have any Ford bias. To hedge my bet I took a 3 year lease, which I'm glad I did.

[351CJ]

Two more comments:

1. The Goodyear Eagle GT+4's absolutly suck. They make way more noise than the original Firestones, don't have as good of an on center feel and they are absolutly the worst tire in the snow that I have had in 28 years, since I had a set of Goodyear wide oval bias ply tires on a 72 Torino. With the Goodyears I can barely make it up my driveway when there is any snow on it had no problem getting up it with the Firestones. Also I have to be real careful driving in the snow because with the Goodyears as they give my LS a nasty tendancy to kick the rear end out, even when going straight. At least now I know why Goodyear only participates in major racing series where they are the only tire supplier.

2. I've heard that the 2002 LS will have a more agressive sport package. If you are following LS options a Premium package has been added that has the 17" tires and wheels but regular suspension. I think this is making way for 2002 with regular, mild and wild handling packages.

[Lscman]

I'm looking forward to wild! Thanks for the great info, as usual.