After getting burned with Lincoln's plastic intake manifold problems in the late 1990's I was done with Lincoln. The sales feller in 2001 had me test drive an LS and one of his selling points was that it was a Jaguar engine. I was incredibly impressed with how the car handled and the build quality compared to a "true" Lincoln. I ordered 2002 fully loaded and I still have it today. I now have 119k and the car still runs and looks as good as the day I bought it. The car is still all original except for brakes and other maintenance items. In the very rare event the car needed to be repaired I have had no trouble finding a mechanic willing to work on it and found it to be no more expensive than any other American car I have owned. I have no plans on replacing it as it is a V8 rear drive, 5-speed that is 50/50 weight balanced and incredibly fun to drive. I own an auto electrical repair shop and see new cars come in all the time. I am 100% sure that none of these newer cars will ever last as long or age as gracefully as this 2002 Lincoln LS. It has been a terrific car and I plan on enjoying it for another 20 years.
I agree. I had mine for almost 3 years and kind of regret getting rid of it. What a fun and great handling car it was. I was pretty young when i bought it though and was quite the speed demon so it had a hard life. Many burnouts with the TC turned off. I remember it would rev out to like 7k. or close to it.
These were underrated cars if ford made had advertised these. As a sports sedan they would sold many more they are very good drivers cars and smooth too I love it
@@cbruno12180 Ford absolutely should've put an oval logo on these and called it a Falcon. That combined with less interior luxury stuff and more manual examples produced would've made this a great enthusiast car.
Those cars were made in Wixom Michigan and sat on the DEW 98 platform - which was a joint venture between Ford and Jaguar - not entirely Jaguar. I was an engine calibrator on the project from 1999 - 2003. IMO, the best years were 2003+: both engines got dual equal VVT (much fatter torque curve) and a surprisingly awesome THX sound system. Interesting trivia: the chief engineer was an audiophile and axed the manual trans option in the V6 in favor of a top-tier stereo. We toyed with the idea of doing a "hot rod" lincoln with a 6 speed manual and a 5.0L spray bore V8. Never gained any traction, but would have been amazing. Cheers,
I grew up across the water from Detroit and my first car was an 02 silver V6 with the 5 spoke chrome so I absolutely love this comment. I cannot fathom how awesome 5.0L LS would have been oh my. Great comment.
@@Est.1985- it was still looking and driving amazingly, I gave it to a family member, the transmission gave up once again on them, they never fixed, got sent to junk yard unfortunately. Search for hyelifels lincoln ls you will see pictures of it. I have few old videos of it on my channel.
My mom had bought a Black 2002 Lincoln LSE with chrome 5 spoke wheels and tinted windows from the Lincoln dealer back in ‘06 with 40k miles on it. It was soooo clean. Especially after a fresh car wash. What differentiated the LS and LSE model was the sportier front and rear bumper, side skirts, round fog lights, and a dual quad exhaust from factory that sounded amazing! The 3.9L V8 is what sold my mom the car. She bought it around the time the Lincoln Zephyr came out and she test drove both but fell in love with power the LSE’s V8 rather than the 3.0 in the Zephyr. Back in 2011 is when I got my first drivers license fresh out of high school. It essentially became to be like my “first car” because she simply just didn’t drive it as much like she used to. The smoothness of the ride, the quick acceleration and torque this thing pushed out was quite impressive. The Alpine stereo system rocked. I and she (whenever she drove it) would always get compliments on it as well. A lot would say it reminded them of a BMW because the great handling and power. It wasn’t until later years when I discovered it was essentially a Jaguar S-Type due to the odd engine displacement lol. It did have its problems though. For some reason, the coil packs would have to be frequently replaced due to misfiring. Then, the airbag system stopped working and there would be this annoying chime (25 chimes to be exact) every time you start the car. Other than that, it was a beautiful car that definitely served its purpose before we passed it on to another family member about 2 years ago with 120k miles. Kind of wished we would’ve kept it. I do miss it. Very rarely do I see a LSE model roaming the streets now a days.
I clicked so fast when saw this LS in the thumbnail, Wizard! 😂 I always admired these cars. I own this exact car in black. Had it now for 8 yrs. A 2002, tho. Mine is pretty much retired as a daily driver, tho. But, with currently 281k miles on the clock, she still runs and drives... 💪🏾💪🏾
I've owned an '03 and an '06 Lincoln ls. I daily drove and raced them. I got 367hp with an SLC tuner on 100 octane gas and a little exhaust work. I loved them. That said....every word you said Wizard is absolutely true. Priced any Motorcraft coils for these lately?? Keep making videos, I enjoy them.
I bought an 04 v8 black on black 4 months back. $1000 on coil overs, oil gasket, spark plugs, all in about $3000 and daily driving it. Absolutely love this rare gem drives wonderfully.
My mom has a 2004 LS V8 Ultimate. Owned since new. Still going strong with over 130k miles on the clock. She tells everyone it's a Jag underneath if they ask. Glad to see one on the Wizard's channel.
I am the original owner of a Silver/Gray 2002 LS V-6 Convenience that I factory ordered. The one you are reviewing is an LS V8 Sport. They were all made at the Wixom plant along with Continentals and Town Cars and currently has 96K miles on it. Over the life of the LS, 262K were made. It's been pretty reliable but for two things: it's got that weird hydraulic system that is solenoid actuated. Solenoids are no longer available new so I've purchased two good used spares, as failure sidelines the car. Also, I had to replace the entire rear end at about 80K miles because it whined. I have not had any problems with the injectors, solenoids, or transmission. I love this car, take very good care of it and will keep it for a long time.
A 2003 Lincoln LS was my grandmothers last new car before she turned in her keys for good. I drove it a few times and always came away impressed. It felt extremely solid compared to most FoMoCo products of the time, had wonderful steering, and the expensive chassis blended a good ride with handling ability. It really did drive like a discount BMW 5-series of the day.
I had an experience a few years ago where parts for my "American" vehicle came from an unlikely source. My 2008 Jeep JK Wrangler was in for a new clutch @ 130K miles after the throw-out bearing imploded, and the mechanics found that the input shaft for the gearbox was badly scored & heat-damaged from the collapsed bearing and needed replacing. This happened in the middle of the pandemic and due to the issues with international shipping and supply chains, it was going to take the dealer literally several months to source an input shaft from the US & get it shipped to Australia (where I am located) as there were none available locally from [now] Fiat Chrysler. Anyway, one of the shop's junior mechanics had recently completed his apprenticeship at a local Mercedes dealership and quickly solved the problem. My '08 Wrangler was built during the Chrysler/Daimler Benz merger days and he identified the German-made Getrag 6-speed manual gearbox as being the exact same one as was fitted to Mercedes light trucks & vans he had worked on in the past (as well as the Chrysler Crossfire, evidently). He used his contacts in the spare parts division of Mercedes Australia to source an input shaft for my "Jeep" gearbox locally, and they had my Wrangler back on the road again in under a week. Of course, being a "genuine OEM Mercedes part" it cost almost double what the Chrysler dealer was quoting for the exact same thing, however beggars cant be choosers as they say...
I have the 04' v6 Ls now, when I 1st purchase last yr. for 8k was exceptional comfort and wondered y the price, well now I know...bout the repair cost...thanks 4 update...love this car...36K miles.
Mrs. Wizard has the most calming and relaxing cadence to her voice that I would enjoy her just reading the phone book. Great video as always, thanks to both you.
We had a new Jaguar S-Type purchased in 2003 and it was an absolutely terrific car - we traded it in when it was 2 years old and purchased a new Jaguar XJ. We actually preferred the S-Type. We tried the XF when it came out but it had lost all of its comfort so we ended up buying 3 XJs. Eventually left Jaguar in 2012 as we hated the new type XJ. We have had 5 Mercedes-Benz models since then and we totally love them. No faults and great quality. The only thing is you MUST keep them properly serviced. Do not skimp on this or you will pay dearly (literally). Great video as always.
I have an affinity for the LS. Especially the 06 LS V8 sport. Having said that, they are a nightmare. Notoriously failing coil packs, a radiator not suited for the engine resulting in overheating for something so simple as climbing a grade, fragile thermostat housings, and as everyone has mentioned the plastic parts that become brittle quickly because of high engine temp. 3rd and 5th gear need constant maintenance. Other than that, when they are running perfectly, they are a lot of fun.
Note the Lincoln LS was also available with the 3.0 Duratec and some even came with a manual transmission. A real rarity in a Lincoln. I owned one of these Lincolns and I miss it. The only thing that gave me a headache was the hydraulic fan for the cooling system. Yes, early models came with hydraulic fans, not electric. Work great until they spring a leak, then $$$. I ended up engineering a bypass for the cooling pump belt and installed an electric fan system from a Taurus to cool the engine. Not something your average mechanic can do.
Funny story about those hydraulic cooling pumps - we used them because Ford had benchmarked Lexus and they used one. We even got it from the same supplier - except - The supplier gave that "A" parts to Lexus, the "B" samples to Toyota and we got the rest, lol.
I have owned a few LS’s and I love them. They aren’t bad to maintain to if you do most of the work yourself. Also the 3.0 V6 is a Ford engine so they are more reliable and cheap to work on. They also made a 5 speed manual option in the V6 from 00-02 and they are a blast to drive! The 03-06 3.9 has the updated timing chain setup in them so they tend to be more reliable as well.
The Lincoln V6 was also a Jag/Ford engine; AJ-30. It was a Ford Duratec short block, with the heads done by Jag. This variant had VVT on Intake & Exhaust and Damb buckets on the valve train. It’s a great lump, for the engine swap community. The original design was by Porsche. Ford purchased the design & had it’s modded by Cosworth. It started life, in the Ford Contour; also Ford Mondeo, in Europe. It was also used as a Mazda 2.5 & 3.0 model, due to Ford’s investment in Mazda. From 1994-2012, it was used by MANY models of Ford, Lincoln, Jag & Mazda; too many, to list here.
Aston Martin also used their own handbuilt version of the engine with a dry sump in the Vantage. The engine is still used in F-types, F-Paces and various Range Rovers today.
The LS is also identical to the Ford T-Bird. Same engine, suspension and much of the interior. Modules are also the same. When we needed a module, we couldn't get a ford module, but the LS and Jag modules work like a charm. Many of the interior, modules, and other components (starter, etc.) are also identical in my AM DB9. Saves me money instead of paying the AM tax.
I had an 03 V8 LS. Had black leather interior and brushed aluminum trim. Always loved the key fob trick. Hit unlock twice and hold it down on the 2nd click. All the windows and sunroof would roll down. To close it back, stick the key in the lock and hold it to the right I believe and they all rolled up.
Most cars with a key fob will do this. It happened to me randomly one day with my wife’s 09 Rogue so I tried it on my 03 Pathfinder. I’ve been grabbing peoples key fobs to see if it works…and the majority of cars I’ve tried this with works!
No way! I drive one of these, everyday! Mines an 02, fully loaded minus the sport package. And I love it to pieces. Unfortunately, Ford quit making parts for these a while back, which makes it harder to maintain them. Thankfully Jaguar still supports this platform
Hey Wizard & Mrs Wizard, in 2002 I bought a brand new Lincoln LS V8. It was fun to drive!!! It was a little small though & underneath it all it was a Jaguar, as is the 2002 to 2005 Thunderbird!!! Thanks for sharing this review!!! 👍👍🙂
Fun Fact! : these were actually had a manual option(I think its only for the V6) and it was the first manual Lincoln used in decades.. btw Loved the look 2003+ Facelifted models of these
If you're really brave, the Getrag six-speed manual gearbox from a Land-Rover Discovery 3 2.7TDV6 will bolt right up to the AJ-V8 (custom flywheel required.) Not ideal ratios from the diesel, but it works. And, of course, the 4.2 litre Supercharged Jaguar engine will bolt in too...might need a bit of hotrodding to make everything fit, but it's just the kind of loony-toons stuff someone like Hoovie would love, I'm sure. 😁
Thanks for making this video! I bought my 02 in August 2022. One owner, older gentleman. I was an auto technician for 6 years before going into aerospace and we had a customer with a Lincoln LS and a frequent customer with a Thunderbird. They're a little difficult to work on but nothing super complicated. Always liked the LS and am very happy with it. Drives great. Just the right amount of power. Subtle looks.
Nice one wizard, finally a review of a Lincoln LS V8.....a product of the premium automotive group era....when ford owned jaguar, Volvo , land rover and Aston Martin....parts sharing galore....I remember reading about this car in a car n driver issue....Lincoln LS aka jaguar s type.... lovely machine..... honestly they should be quite reliable
I used to be a porter at a Lincoln dealership. When I started working there, they no longer sold the Lincoln LS, we were selling MKZ's at that point, but in the 4 years I worked there, I kid you not EVERY SINGLE DAY there were several Lincoln LS's that would come in for service and every night there was at least one left on a lift to be worked on the next day. I'd driven so many of these cars in various different conditions that I could probably draw the interior from memory. I liked driving them, very peppy and nimble, but absolutely atrocious in the snow. I mean, come on, V8, RWD, light car, how cool is that? But they came in for service so often I just had to stop and ask one of the techs "Is this a bad car or what?" And he tells me, "Nah, they're actually not bad cars, they just sold so many of them at the time that we get a lot of them in for service" And another tech said "Yeah, they've got that Jaguar drivetrain, so they're great when they work, but not so great when they don't". Note to any potential buyers, the same year Ford Thunderbird is the exact same car... weirdly. Somehow, they made a Lincoln LS a 2-door and gave the interior panels some matching exterior colors and boom, you've got a Thunderbird. Like I said, I could draw the interior of a LS from memory, I was absolutely shocked the first time I climbed into a Thunderbird and saw a spitting image of the LS all over again lol. Same thing under the hood.
Well done for saying Jag U R :) I am a retired mechanic and now what is classed as a Shady Tree Mechanic, to me a car is a car prices of parts vary but not to much (unless you get into the exotics) I charge the same rate be it a Honda/Mercedes/Jaguar or a Ford, they are just cars. you just have to learn the idiosyncrasies of each one no matter the country of origin. They all go wizz/pop/bang/varoom
I drove one for about a year before I lost it in a wreck when I hit some black ice in December of 2021. It was the best driving car I’ve ever owned, and easily the best American car I’ve ever had. It was also the least reliable car I’ve ever owned and it left me on the side of the freeway extremely frequently while I waited for the engine to cool down. That thing overheated like fish swim, it was just what the car did. Was also not great on gas. But those moments when I was gunning down the freeway in this thing nearly made up for it. I miss that car.
I own a '04 LS V8 ULTIMATE bought new and was made aware of the Jaguar connection after the fact. (OH NO!) While lots of the parts are Jag, many others are Motorcraft such as alternator, A/C compressor, etc. So no HUGH complaints on repairs. It can still rip the back tires off if or when you want to ....
The V6 version was made in Cleveland Engine Plant 2 in Ohio. It was a variant of the 3.0 Duratec with a different cam and valve actuation. DAMB vs RFF,.much bigger oil pans, VVT etc These engines had their own separate assembly line that it shared with the Jag 3.0V6, . I just commented on WatchJRGo about his new V6 S type. Love your content Wizard!
I have two silver LSV8's. The 04 got in '05 used and put 470k on it before replacing the original engine. The trans was replaced three times with the last as a AAMCO lifetime which has been 90k trouble free mile. Wizard is right about shops not wanting to work on them. I love mine the journey they have taken to learn to make them long mile cars
I had 2 of these cars, a 2002 v6 and a 2001 v8. Great cars. Never had issues at all. I miss them both very much! 😥 Thanks for making this video wizard! Brought back alot of good memories for me. 🙏
Great video Wizard! and nice explanation of factory franken-cars. But Lincoln LS came from even deeper rabbit hole - mechanically, engine wise, suspension, etc. is obviously Jag, but middle body parts (roof, doors, floor etc) it's not from Jag nor Mondeo (like jag X-type platform) but from (TADA!) European Ford Granada/Scorpio, 1986-1995 (anybody remembers Merkur Scoprio? the same). If you look at the mirrors, door lines, floor panels, it is from the same stamping/welding line as the last Granada... And this is the reason for those clunky bars between Granada's body and Jaguar's engine subframe...
The Mondeo doors don't fit the X-type -- body is completly different, some floorpan elements are the same, but almost nothing from the inside or outside. The LS does not have anything in common with the Scorpio --- nor with Merkur Scorpio, in Europe we had the next Scorpio in 1994-1998 called "whale" Scorpio Mk3 (sometimes (wikipedia) mk2) (the 4 lug suspension as the foxbody Mustangs etc. Mk1/2 had 5 lug and Merkur too), if you google Ford Scorpio 1998 rear -- you'll see why we called it a whale :D The LS looks like have the roof and glass from the S-type --- with unique to it's own rear door quarter windows and shape of the rear C-pillar
It is not "in common" as "you could replace door or mirror of S-type or Lincoln LS with Granada's parts" but as "where the Ford found the parts and stamping for the DEW98 platform". It was NOT a greenfield (even if Ford claims this AFAIR). BTW they "found" it in 1998, time when they canceled the Granada/Scorpio production. On the other hand, the I4/V6 transmission A4LD line is the same story, from European Bordeaux plant; '80 in Bronco/Ranger, Sierra/Scorpio etc up to V6 Lincoln LS and Jag S-type (as 5R55N tran). Ford always was frugal, sometimes in good way.
Don't see many videos on these forgotten relics. I owned 2 different "Gen 2" LS's (an '03 LS V8 Sport and an '04 LSE V8). A blast to drive with the AJ V8. After selling those off, my experience with my LSE was my rationale to upgrade to a 2005 Jaguar S-Type R with the supercharged 4.2 - found the car for 2 grand with misfire and transmission slipping issues. Replaced all the coils/plugs, did a transmission service and the car drove flawlessly before trading it off for my Arnage. I wouldn't mind finding another LS as a beater, but they are extremely hard to find in good condition (watch out for the plastic cooling components/Degas bottle - they get brittle and break!)
I loved mine, had to do the solenoid/switch for the weird hydraulic cooling fan. Typical problem on them, also the dual climate control system, coils. There were aluminum replacements for some of the plastic parts under the hood several years ago, not sure if that’s still the case. My only real complaint was the trunk was kinda small, and it got not great gas mileage, which normally wouldn’t be a problem but the gas tank was small. Got rid of it because of rust unfortunately.
Yea, I've heard stories about the hydraulic fan issues. I own an 02 Lincoln LS V8, 8 yrs now, currently with 281k miles on the clock. Fortunately I haven't had any issues with it (Knocks on wood).
I love these cars, I've owned two of them. I had the manual transmission versions. They were great for reliability. Half of the car was still very much Ford. At one of the Ford dealers in Toronto, Canada. I used to get parts that were stamped Jaguar made in England for very good prices.
hey, smart car shoutout! i drive one in southern ontario, and i named it "the nugget" its a crappy little car and i absolutely love it. handling is absolutely on point, it drives like a go kart with no power. worst transmission ever though
The Lincoln LS was the basis for the 2002-05 Ford Thunderbird so it's almost a Jag too. The difference between the Jaguar 4.0 engine and the Lincoln LS/Thunderbird 3.9 version is that Ford shortened the piston stroke by a quarter-inch. I'm thinking that was to tweak the torque a little for American drivers.
While the Lincoln LS shares many components with the Jaguar S-Type the “Car Wizard” didn’t give the complete story. First of all Ford owned Jaguar at that time. The basic chassis started out as a Ford project that was intended for the introduction of Lincoln to the European market. This changed when Ford purchased Jaguar. It was decided to adapt the platform to create a new mid-sized Jaguar. The motor in the LS, although derived from the Jaguar AJ engine family, is not identical and the v8 engines used in LS were assembled in the US from parts sourced in the UK and US. Interestingly the engines used in Jaguars were actually assembled in an English Ford factory. This continued even after Ford sold Jaguar until just a couple of years ago. It should also be noted that LS’s were also available with a Ford Duratech V6. The automatic transmission used was a Ford unit that was also used in Mustangs, Rangers and Explorers. The rear differential, was not a standard Jaguar unit, but designed for the platform. In my opinion calling the LS a Jaguar is no more valid than calling a Jaguar S-Type a Ford. I do agree that most shops used to working on Ford product’s don’t like working on an LS or a 2002-2005 Thunderbird (same basic platform ). However, parts aren’t that expensive if you can find them.
My grandmother had an 04 Lincoln LS with the V8. What a sleeper it was. I was barely 16 when she got it and ohh the many street races won and hurt feelings. Though it went crazy with age and the wiring system was jaguar and electrical nightmares plagued it. Still, it was a fun car.
Interesting that the influence travelled both ways across the Atlantic when Ford/Lincoln owned Jaguar. I knew the S type used the Thunderbird/Mondeo platform and engines, but didn't realise Ford also used European components on US models. Nice looking car. I'm in the UK, so it probably wouldn't be too difficult to run one here if you could find one. Plenty of shops here will work on Jaaaags and parts shouldn't be an issue.
The Mondeo (European Fusion)-based X-Type was so modified that it was sold Stateside ONLY with AWD installed. The RWD platform and engines of the Lincoln LS were shared with the Jaguar S-Type and the last Ford Thunderbird convertible.
@@syxepop Naaaahh The X-type in Europe came also with front wheel drive versions: 2.0 and 2.2 diesel 4 cylinder or the Jaguar unique 2.1 V6 , (2.5 and 3.0 V6 were only available with the 4x4). Mondeo of this generation (Mk3) was never available with the 4x4 -- but many suspension parts are almost the same (with the wagon version). The transferbox used some Mondeo Mk1/ Escort Mk5-6 4x4 ideas :)
@@MikeB4pl - in North America the X-Type came only with the AJ petrol / gas 2.5L and 3.0L V6's (no TD's here) and only as a 4-door (no estates / station wagons). And, since no North American customer would take seriously a FWD Jag, all of the US-spec ones had AWD standard.
Most Minis are made in England in the UK, some are made by Magna Steyer in Austria and some convertibles where made in the Netherlands. They had Chrysler engines though. The 1,6L in the 2001 - 2006 Minis was the same as in the Chrysler PT Cruiser.
The USA never had a 1.6L PT Cruiser, only other markets. (PT in USA only had Mitsubishi 2.4L). The first gen Mini motor was made in Brazil for Chrysler/Mini.
i've watched your channel for a long time. i've always hoped you would show a lincoln ls. the lincoln ls is one of my favorite cars. i've owned four and a half of them. one of the most common problems with them is the ignition coils. i've replaced them in the past with cheap replacements. the lincoln ls's i've purchased have been on the "cheap", because of the ignition coils. the engine is missing, and that tends to make people think the engine is going to fail. the last lincoln ls i owned had more than 200 thousand miles on it. i sold it because i needed money, and it had cooling issues. it was the last model they made- i think 2007. they're amazing vehicles, and if i can find another one, i would definitely buy it.
Actually, Renault owns Nissan, and Mitsubishi and Samsung Cars. However, recently, they have been...drifting apart a bit. HR 1.6 petrol with and without turbo were "co-developed" by Nissan and Renault and installed in many cars outside North American market. Some rumors said it was pure Nissan product ( like other engines from HR series) as Renault was in charge of (mostly quite good) diesel engines.
The Renault K9 1,5 diesel is one of the - if not the - most famously reliable modern diesel engines of all; proven by the fact that it has been produced in mostly unaltered base configuration for more than 20 years, but has still been able to be updated to modern emissions regulations all around the world. The previous generation Mégane had FIVE different versions of that engine marketed at the same time, and still one type is used in the recent model, this reduction being due to the downfall of diesel in general.
I had a second gen 2003 Pearl White on an attractive grey leather interior, and while it did have a couple chronic problem areas like the heater control valves, injector coils etc, it was a hell of a lot more fun to drive than your grandpas Lincoln. Set of Pilot Sport PS2s on that thing and it did stuff it had no business doing. Sold at 110,000 miles reluctantly, I wish I hadn't. Also one of the first cars to have air conditioned seats!
Ford co-developed this platform along with Jaguar, the DEW98 platform was intended to underpin the Mustang as a replacement for the SN95 but that plan was nixed. Always liked these when they came out. I remember they were originally called LS6 and LS8, but that created some issues with I think Lexus and Ford left it as "LS". I think some very early cars had the LS6 and LS8 emblems.
Everyone seems to forget that Ford OWNED Jaguar during this time period. Ford also owned Volvo, which is how the 500 and last Gen Taurus came to be. It’s still 100% Ford, just crossing the pond a little bit. Ford sold Jaguar/Volvo/Mazda in the late 2000s.
I had one of those new. The V-8 was a rocketship and cornered without any lean or sway! I thought it was a great car. Front fenders were aluminum and battery in the trunk for better front to rear balance.
This car is on my bucket list of cars but the facelift with the sport package. I knew about the timing chain issues but truly I just love the way these cars look. I'm a sucker for late 90s/mid 00s cars
Super clean looking design. Looks somewhat like my Ford Fusion. I had a buddy with one of these back in the early 2000s. If i remember right these things had horrible resale value.
It wasn't lost on used car dealers that it was a Jag underneath, and thus carried the requisite bills for maintenance and repair. Coupled with Lincoln just not doing great compared to other luxury brands, you get some heavy depreciation. That said, it was a great way to get what was ostensibly a Jag for cheap as hell. My gramps had one for years and absolutely loved it. TBH if I could find one in this shape with similar miles, I'd strongly consider it.
Yep, that look was very popular that they carried it over to Fusion/Milan/MKZ when it went front wheel drive platform. My old 2003 LS was awesome but it couldn’t keep a rebuilt transmission under it and I live where it snows so a sporty rear wheel car is pretty scary in the winter. Traded it for a low milage 2009 MKZ. There are quite a few compromises in the front wheel drive model but the look is real similar.
Lincoln was going to call these LS models the "LS6" and "LS8", depending on the engine size option. Toyota threatened a lawsuit, due to how close this was to the Lexus LS name. While this was occurring, Ford threatened Toyota with a lawsuit regarding the Toyota T150 name. They said the name was too close to the F150. In the end, Lincoln called the cars the "LS V6" or "LS V8" and Toyota called their pickup the Tundra.
My stepbrother is a truck driver and can pretty much afford whatever he likes. He bought an LS a couple years back and liked it. But felt it was a bit cramped inside(he's a really big boy). He ended up buying a Town Car and gave the LS to his mother. Got to drive it a few times and absolutely loved it, as did my dad and stepmother. Sadly, it developed a crack in the passenger side exhaust manifold and the repair cost was going to be astronomical, so down the road it went. 😢
The big selling point for this car was that it could outhandle the E39 5 series BMW. They had a commercial just for that and these things had heated and cooled seats. Even my S type's when you pull the speakers they are stamped with Ford logos. The 3.9 could move. My friend had like a 2017 Charger V6. He found out the hard way.
I was looking a couple of years ago (at the beginning of the pandemic) and when I researched the LS they did mention a Jaguar based engine. Just checked and they still do. Of course that doesn't mean that most people will research or realize it means Jag repair prices. So thanks for the head's up.
Amazing, I thought it was the other way around as I own a 2005 XJ and knew that the entire subframe is interchangeable. Also those back seats look just like mine
I can't get my wife to get rid of hers, bought 2 vehicles to replace it and she still drives the LS as much as she can. There's a lot of things Ford did for the first time with this car as far as electronics and there were some issues but they're fun to drive, even the V6 has a decent amount of power
I always thought these were some of the cooler Lincolns of all time because their styling and (for the time) powerful engines - this explains it. It's not a Lincoln at all lol I still have a soft spot for them though, just wish they had managed better on the interior. One of the few cars I prefer without wood paneling inside.
It's called "badge engineering". Not really trickery, just sharing the cost of developing a new product. It's been going on for years in all walks of life. There are very few tire manufactures but many tire brands. TV's (Funia), stereos (Sherwood), power tools (AllTrade). Lots of products with many brand names on them, all made by the same manufactures and sharing the cost of development. I drive a General Motors bobtail at work...with a "Manufactured By Isuzu" sticker on the door jam! Anyway have a great day!
Ayyyy! Love these things, owned 2, a 2002 LSE, which was a special edition they only made 500 examples of. And my current one that is a 2004 V8. And MAN is that 2004 quick, 280hp gives it quite the pep. And MAN do they handle good, like weirdly good. For a 3800 pound car, they feel like a Miata. Maybe a little more body roll, but the steering feel and everything else is about on par with a much lighter car.
Mannnnnn how was the LSE? I heard the early models 02 and under had a complete handling package vs the later years which was more cosmetic improvements. I just bought an 04 V8 that I'm DD'ing just hit 200k minus the gas prices I love this thing
@@picturemerollin6427 it Definitely handled better than my 04, But it eventually gave up the ghost. The V6s Plastic Timing chain guides gave out, and that clogged the oil pump, which killed the Rod bearings. It was just a cascade of failures, I only recently sold it as a parts car.
Thank you Wizard and Mrs. as always a learning moment. Who did Ford borrow the most from Mazda, Volvo, Jag, or Land Rover? Like the Saab 9-2X is a Subaru, Toyota Corolla Cross is a Mazda CX-50, the Mercedes 500e is a Porsche, Toyota Yaris Cross is a Mazda 2
I just bought one of these, 90000k in beautiful low miles. Gosh they're fast and they handle amazing, I had no idea about the Jaguar part until I looked it up. Tired of hearing people saying how unreliable they are and you steered me in the right direction you're completely right about the GM 3.8 too bad they retired
I had 2 Lincoln LS's very good cars can have small issues but reliable especially if the v6 all jaquar/Ford the v6 is close to a duratech V6 with jaq influence
@@Powersproductions130 I believe the Intakes and heads were a bit different but yes duratech all the way that's how I meant it haha. The V8 was more problematic especially because the all Plastic cooling system
You are correct about everything you mentioned in the video, I would know as I am on my second LS V8. They’re great cars but like he said do your research and understand what you’re getting before buying one,this car runs on premium fuel and it needs premium parts as well.
I'm British and your pronunciation of 'Jaguar' at 4:37 is the closest to the correct British pronunciation I've ever heard from an American. Well done! I have a Jaguar S-Type 3.0 V6 which understand is also shared with the '99 Lincold LS. Thanks for the video!
I never understood the "we don't work on European cars" mindset. They're different, sure, but most repairs are still straightforward enough. The extra labor hours are extra money, right? There are specific examples that are more difficult, like a lot of Audi repairs have you take the front bumper off for some reason or how xDrive always seems to get in the way on BMW's, but that can be said about certain American cars, like how annoying spark plugs are on an older Caravan or how you have to undo a motor mount to change the serpentine belt on a lot of GM 3.8L models.
There actually a lot that come up on Lincoln ls when you google it! I own two of these and by far my favorite! I have 2006 with roush racing exhaust and roush 2inch lowering kit and it handles like a sports car and it can get out of its own way easily!!! I will keep this thing on rd as long as I can! So much fun to drive Lincoln ls!!!
To be fair Renault owns about 46% of Nissan, Nissan only owns about 15% of Renault. They have an alliance, but Renault seems to pull all the strings. But believe the VQ came of that, so that worked well for them.
The look of the Lincoln ls was stunning back when it came out such a beautiful car even today it looks great but I've been told they are turds and that has always kept me from buying one as a second vehicle for myself even tho they are priced cheaply ...
Yeah if you want a similar car that's actually a beast look at the old school Ford Taurus sho with the V8. that thing sounds like a demon. And it has a personality to match!
@@Tipman2OOO The only SHO that came with a V8 was the catfish era SHO, which was automatic only and had horrible engine reliability by way of camshaft failure. A Lexus GS430 or LS430 is the way to go for a reliable RWD cruiser.
@Porkoid yeah, that yamaha v8 in the bug eye taurus sounds amazing but has Northstar level design failures sadly. I've always wanted one for the novelty of owning a v8 made by yamaha. If the camshaft fix was more mainstream and easily doable I'd get one but an LS400 or town car Is a fraction of the price so I can't justify it 😭
just bought an 02 ls v8...black with tan leather....cheap interior but its a fun big comfy ride.....153k miles and doesn't use a drop of oil...well maintained from the carfax history....tune up and engine maintenance was done at around 135k miles....
I expect if you tried to sell that in the UK you couldn't give it away most USA cars are looked at with suspicion except muscle cars . strange how the world of motoring is polarised
Even British cars are viewed with suspicion in the UK, lol. The British market seems to have the misguided belief that German cars are the best, for some reason... If I'm not mistaken even in the UK, BMW, Mercedes and Audi each sell more units per annum than Jaguar Land Rover? The less said about the demise of regular Rover (& Wolseley, Triumph etc), the better. 😔
@@TassieLorenzo And I recall the Brit motoring press endlessly slagged anything Japanese. A CB7 Accord is a very rare sight there while in my city literally a day never goes by without seeing one even now, and I'm not talking about mine lol
Had an 04 and it was fun to drive but had problems with the plastic coolant inlet multiple times and the hydro bushings dried out so the suspension squeaked like crazy.
I had an ‘03 with the V6 and loved it… drove solid at least until 150K when I sold it for something newer… I don’t think Ford was pulling any shenanigans to mislead any customers… it was just a co-developed global vehicle platform between Ford & Jaguar.
At age 71 my 2001 LS was the favorite auto I ever owned new (of a bunch). Car was marketed as an "American" competitor to the 5 series BMW of the time. All the magazine reviewers loved it, and it tested well straight up vs the BMW. Ultimately it was not a great success (although a pretty good bargain vs European Iron) because Lincoln dealers never knew how to market it as a performance sedan. Also buyers looking for a sport sedan did not go to the Lincoln Dealer. It was cross marketed as the Jag Type "S", not much of a secret that it shared many parts at the time to those who cared. Drove it 100K in 9 years, sold it to my bro-in-law who drove it another 8 years without unusual repairs. Yes it had valve cover gaskets (under warranty/recall), steering rack was recalled (again warranty) Ate the COPS one time at about 60K, replaced with Motorcraft ($1200!) and never again. Fuel pump died at about 70K and was replaced (another $1000!) once only. Don't think it was any less reliable than any other relatively sophisticated vehicle of its era. People driving them now (it IS a 20+ year old car you know) are indeed finding that the plastic parts under the hood fail and replacements are not available from Ford/Lincoln. Also true of suspension parts, which are also wear items. A lot of this stuff is available from Jaguar and most of the replacement parts appear to be metal - as they should have been initally. Hard to maintain one now, short model run, not a lot of sales to justify continuation of parts. Look under the hood of your current generation vehicle, all that stuff is plastic. The LS just loved to GO and had extremely good handling for its size.
Thanks for this Major Heads Up on this, Mr. Wizard. I had no idea this was a Jag in Lincoln Clothing. I used to want one of these years ago but never bought one.
I am wanting to say that this car rode on the rear-wheel-drive DEW98 chassis that also underpinned the 2000-05 Ford Thunderbird and the Jaguar S-type for many years. The D2C platform that underpinned the 2005+ Ford Mustang was loosely based on this platform. IIRC this car as well as all Lincoln cars and the Ford Thunderbird was built at Ford's Wixom Assembly plant prior its closure in 2007. (Town Car production was transferred it St. Thomas Assembly where the Panther Platform cars were assembled prior to that plant closure in September, 2011.) I think Lincoln called their V-8 a 3.9 liter while Jaguar called theirs a 4.0 even though they were very similar? The car has an almost perfect 50/50 weight distribution, like BMW, and has good handling. My Marquis is 28 years old with 440,000 miles and I have installed 3 intake manifolds. Other than that, it has been a pretty tough old car. I don't really see a need to go out and pay $50-60,000 for a vehicle and have it worth less than half that 4 years later. I already have one that isn't worth anything. Great video!
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
After getting burned with Lincoln's plastic intake manifold problems in the late 1990's I was done with Lincoln. The sales feller in 2001 had me test drive an LS and one of his selling points was that it was a Jaguar engine. I was incredibly impressed with how the car handled and the build quality compared to a "true" Lincoln. I ordered 2002 fully loaded and I still have it today. I now have 119k and the car still runs and looks as good as the day I bought it. The car is still all original except for brakes and other maintenance items. In the very rare event the car needed to be repaired I have had no trouble finding a mechanic willing to work on it and found it to be no more expensive than any other American car I have owned. I have no plans on replacing it as it is a V8 rear drive, 5-speed that is 50/50 weight balanced and incredibly fun to drive. I own an auto electrical repair shop and see new cars come in all the time. I am 100% sure that none of these newer cars will ever last as long or age as gracefully as this 2002 Lincoln LS. It has been a terrific car and I plan on enjoying it for another 20 years.
I agree. I had mine for almost 3 years and kind of regret getting rid of it. What a fun and great handling car it was. I was pretty young when i bought it though and was quite the speed demon so it had a hard life. Many burnouts with the TC turned off. I remember it would rev out to like 7k. or close to it.
These were underrated cars if ford made had advertised these. As a sports sedan they would sold many more they are very good drivers cars and smooth too I love it
@@cbruno12180 Ford absolutely should've put an oval logo on these and called it a Falcon. That combined with less interior luxury stuff and more manual examples produced would've made this a great enthusiast car.
Agree. Water pump $48 on eBay. BMW X5 $78. No big deal
The intake manifold issue was easily fixed lol. So many town cars are driving just fine today.
Those cars were made in Wixom Michigan and sat on the DEW 98 platform - which was a joint venture between Ford and Jaguar - not entirely Jaguar. I was an engine calibrator on the project from 1999 - 2003. IMO, the best years were 2003+: both engines got dual equal VVT (much fatter torque curve) and a surprisingly awesome THX sound system. Interesting trivia: the chief engineer was an audiophile and axed the manual trans option in the V6 in favor of a top-tier stereo.
We toyed with the idea of doing a "hot rod" lincoln with a 6 speed manual and a 5.0L spray bore V8. Never gained any traction, but would have been amazing.
Cheers,
6 speed would be nice in the S-type :) or any manual in the V8..... only the 2.7 diesel had the 6 speed manuals in S-type
I grew up across the water from Detroit and my first car was an 02 silver V6 with the 5 spoke chrome so I absolutely love this comment. I cannot fathom how awesome 5.0L LS would have been oh my. Great comment.
I would have thought a 5l V8 Ford would have been in there right out of the gate as for me it's a no-brainer
The proposed 5.0L 6-speed version would've been ideal for a US Falcon revival if it wore an oval.
A supercharged AJV8 LS would have been cool too, even if it was auto only.
Oh man finally an LS. I had one for 17 years until 322k miles. Loved it.
Seriously? Wow! And here I thought I had the highest mileage Lincoln LS, with currently 281k miles. Lol
@@Est.1985- it was still looking and driving amazingly, I gave it to a family member, the transmission gave up once again on them, they never fixed, got sent to junk yard unfortunately. Search for hyelifels lincoln ls you will see pictures of it. I have few old videos of it on my channel.
@@DEEuroworks Gotcha. At what mileage did the trans give out the first time?
@@Est.1985- it was on the 5th transmission. So often.
@@DEEuroworks Damn. 🤨 Mine is still on the original..
My mom had bought a Black 2002 Lincoln LSE with chrome 5 spoke wheels and tinted windows from the Lincoln dealer back in ‘06 with 40k miles on it. It was soooo clean. Especially after a fresh car wash. What differentiated the LS and LSE model was the sportier front and rear bumper, side skirts, round fog lights, and a dual quad exhaust from factory that sounded amazing! The 3.9L V8 is what sold my mom the car. She bought it around the time the Lincoln Zephyr came out and she test drove both but fell in love with power the LSE’s V8 rather than the 3.0 in the Zephyr. Back in 2011 is when I got my first drivers license fresh out of high school. It essentially became to be like my “first car” because she simply just didn’t drive it as much like she used to. The smoothness of the ride, the quick acceleration and torque this thing pushed out was quite impressive. The Alpine stereo system rocked. I and she (whenever she drove it) would always get compliments on it as well. A lot would say it reminded them of a BMW because the great handling and power. It wasn’t until later years when I discovered it was essentially a Jaguar S-Type due to the odd engine displacement lol. It did have its problems though. For some reason, the coil packs would have to be frequently replaced due to misfiring. Then, the airbag system stopped working and there would be this annoying chime (25 chimes to be exact) every time you start the car. Other than that, it was a beautiful car that definitely served its purpose before we passed it on to another family member about 2 years ago with 120k miles. Kind of wished we would’ve kept it. I do miss it. Very rarely do I see a LSE model roaming the streets now a days.
It also has stiffer suspension,LSE was a rare option.your mother has awesome taste.
I clicked so fast when saw this LS in the thumbnail, Wizard! 😂 I always admired these cars. I own this exact car in black. Had it now for 8 yrs. A 2002, tho. Mine is pretty much retired as a daily driver, tho. But, with currently 281k miles on the clock, she still runs and drives... 💪🏾💪🏾
mine too.. good to hear this I recently purchased one with 70K miles.
@@kylewujcik412 Nice. That's what you call a cream-puff. 👌🏾
I've owned an '03 and an '06 Lincoln ls. I daily drove and raced them. I got 367hp with an SLC tuner on 100 octane gas and a little exhaust work. I loved them.
That said....every word you said Wizard is absolutely true. Priced any Motorcraft coils for these lately??
Keep making videos, I enjoy them.
P.S. I was impressed at the fact that the V8 is only 239 cubic inches and has almost 11:1 compression....stock!
I bought an 04 v8 black on black 4 months back. $1000 on coil overs, oil gasket, spark plugs, all in about $3000 and daily driving it. Absolutely love this rare gem drives wonderfully.
Wow man good for you great ride I can't believe it's been that long since they've made that car
Still a great looking car.
Great looking car but not a lincoln..a jaguar through in through.
The chassis is a Volvo
How’s the transmission?
Finally! A Lincoln ls video! These cars are really underrated, I personally have an 04 v8 and it’s nice car.
My mom has a 2004 LS V8 Ultimate. Owned since new. Still going strong with over 130k miles on the clock. She tells everyone it's a Jag underneath if they ask. Glad to see one on the Wizard's channel.
I am the original owner of a Silver/Gray 2002 LS V-6 Convenience that I factory ordered. The one you are reviewing is an LS V8 Sport. They were all made at the Wixom plant along with Continentals and Town Cars and currently has 96K miles on it. Over the life of the LS, 262K were made. It's been pretty reliable but for two things: it's got that weird hydraulic system that is solenoid actuated. Solenoids are no longer available new so I've purchased two good used spares, as failure sidelines the car. Also, I had to replace the entire rear end at about 80K miles because it whined. I have not had any problems with the injectors, solenoids, or transmission. I love this car, take very good care of it and will keep it for a long time.
I absolutely loved my Lincoln LS 3.0 liter V6. Great looks, great handling, good MPG, very few repairs in 15 years of ownership.
A 2003 Lincoln LS was my grandmothers last new car before she turned in her keys for good. I drove it a few times and always came away impressed. It felt extremely solid compared to most FoMoCo products of the time, had wonderful steering, and the expensive chassis blended a good ride with handling ability. It really did drive like a discount BMW 5-series of the day.
I had an experience a few years ago where parts for my "American" vehicle came from an unlikely source. My 2008 Jeep JK Wrangler was in for a new clutch @ 130K miles after the throw-out bearing imploded, and the mechanics found that the input shaft for the gearbox was badly scored & heat-damaged from the collapsed bearing and needed replacing. This happened in the middle of the pandemic and due to the issues with international shipping and supply chains, it was going to take the dealer literally several months to source an input shaft from the US & get it shipped to Australia (where I am located) as there were none available locally from [now] Fiat Chrysler.
Anyway, one of the shop's junior mechanics had recently completed his apprenticeship at a local Mercedes dealership and quickly solved the problem. My '08 Wrangler was built during the Chrysler/Daimler Benz merger days and he identified the German-made Getrag 6-speed manual gearbox as being the exact same one as was fitted to Mercedes light trucks & vans he had worked on in the past (as well as the Chrysler Crossfire, evidently). He used his contacts in the spare parts division of Mercedes Australia to source an input shaft for my "Jeep" gearbox locally, and they had my Wrangler back on the road again in under a week. Of course, being a "genuine OEM Mercedes part" it cost almost double what the Chrysler dealer was quoting for the exact same thing, however beggars cant be choosers as they say...
These things drive so much better than people would imagine. I wish the v8 had come in a manual like the 6 cylinder did.
I had two of them. Fun!
I might be mistaken but I thought it did have a V8 manual option.
@@tonycombo nope
I have the 04' v6 Ls now, when I 1st purchase last yr. for 8k was exceptional comfort and wondered y the price, well now I know...bout the repair cost...thanks 4 update...love this car...36K miles.
Mrs. Wizard has the most calming and relaxing cadence to her voice that I would enjoy her just reading the phone book. Great video as always, thanks to both you.
We had a new Jaguar S-Type purchased in 2003 and it was an absolutely terrific car - we traded it in when it was 2 years old and purchased a new Jaguar XJ. We actually preferred the S-Type. We tried the XF when it came out but it had lost all of its comfort so we ended up buying 3 XJs. Eventually left Jaguar in 2012 as we hated the new type XJ. We have had 5 Mercedes-Benz models since then and we totally love them. No faults and great quality. The only thing is you MUST keep them properly serviced. Do not skimp on this or you will pay dearly (literally). Great video as always.
I have an affinity for the LS. Especially the 06 LS V8 sport. Having said that, they are a nightmare. Notoriously failing coil packs, a radiator not suited for the engine resulting in overheating for something so simple as climbing a grade, fragile thermostat housings, and as everyone has mentioned the plastic parts that become brittle quickly because of high engine temp. 3rd and 5th gear need constant maintenance. Other than that, when they are running perfectly, they are a lot of fun.
I bought an 05 LS V8 2 years ago with over 200k on the odometer and haven't had a single problem. I love this car and drive it every day
Note the Lincoln LS was also available with the 3.0 Duratec and some even came with a manual transmission. A real rarity in a Lincoln. I owned one of these Lincolns and I miss it.
The only thing that gave me a headache was the hydraulic fan for the cooling system. Yes, early models came with hydraulic fans, not electric. Work great until they spring a leak, then $$$. I ended up engineering a bypass for the cooling pump belt and installed an electric fan system from a Taurus to cool the engine. Not something your average mechanic can do.
Funny story about those hydraulic cooling pumps - we used them because Ford had benchmarked Lexus and they used one. We even got it from the same supplier - except - The supplier gave that "A" parts to Lexus, the "B" samples to Toyota and we got the rest, lol.
Also owned a MT LS. Added an electric fan to supplement the hydraulic fan which only ran in slow once the controller failed.
I have owned a few LS’s and I love them. They aren’t bad to maintain to if you do most of the work yourself. Also the 3.0 V6 is a Ford engine so they are more reliable and cheap to work on. They also made a 5 speed manual option in the V6 from 00-02 and they are a blast to drive! The 03-06 3.9 has the updated timing chain setup in them so they tend to be more reliable as well.
The Lincoln V6 was also a Jag/Ford engine; AJ-30.
It was a Ford Duratec short block, with the heads done by Jag. This variant had VVT on Intake & Exhaust and Damb buckets on the valve train. It’s a great lump, for the engine swap community. The original design was by Porsche. Ford purchased the design & had it’s modded by Cosworth. It started life, in the Ford Contour; also Ford Mondeo, in Europe. It was also used as a Mazda 2.5 & 3.0 model, due to Ford’s investment in Mazda. From 1994-2012, it was used by MANY models of Ford, Lincoln, Jag & Mazda; too many, to list here.
That is very interesting ! I drove a Mondeo for a period in 2000 and loved it.
Aston Martin also used their own handbuilt version of the engine with a dry sump in the Vantage. The engine is still used in F-types, F-Paces and various Range Rovers today.
@@6ettinold Indeed. Their 6.0L V12 was, essentially, two Duratec 30s; spliced together
Also, the Duratec 30 evolved into the 3.5 & 3.7L Mustang & F150 engine; as well as the 3.5L Ecoboost
Duratechs are actually pretty durable engines
The LS is also identical to the Ford T-Bird. Same engine, suspension and much of the interior. Modules are also the same. When we needed a module, we couldn't get a ford module, but the LS and Jag modules work like a charm. Many of the interior, modules, and other components (starter, etc.) are also identical in my AM DB9. Saves me money instead of paying the AM tax.
I had an 03 V8 LS. Had black leather interior and brushed aluminum trim. Always loved the key fob trick. Hit unlock twice and hold it down on the 2nd click. All the windows and sunroof would roll down. To close it back, stick the key in the lock and hold it to the right I believe and they all rolled up.
Nice that's funny I had an 03 G35 and did the same thing same way but not the roof tho. Always liked the LS tho it aged nice
Most cars with a key fob will do this. It happened to me randomly one day with my wife’s 09 Rogue so I tried it on my 03 Pathfinder. I’ve been grabbing peoples key fobs to see if it works…and the majority of cars I’ve tried this with works!
No way! I drive one of these, everyday! Mines an 02, fully loaded minus the sport package. And I love it to pieces. Unfortunately, Ford quit making parts for these a while back, which makes it harder to maintain them. Thankfully Jaguar still supports this platform
Hey Wizard & Mrs Wizard, in 2002 I bought a brand new Lincoln LS V8. It was fun to drive!!! It was a little small though & underneath it all it was a Jaguar, as is the 2002 to 2005 Thunderbird!!! Thanks for sharing this review!!! 👍👍🙂
Fun Fact! : these were actually had a manual option(I think its only for the V6) and it was the first manual Lincoln used in decades.. btw Loved the look 2003+ Facelifted models of these
Oh heck yes. The stories I could tell about that manual. Worked on the car when I was at Ford years ago.
correct, a neighbor had the V6 manual trans version
If you're really brave, the Getrag six-speed manual gearbox from a Land-Rover Discovery 3 2.7TDV6 will bolt right up to the AJ-V8 (custom flywheel required.) Not ideal ratios from the diesel, but it works. And, of course, the 4.2 litre Supercharged Jaguar engine will bolt in too...might need a bit of hotrodding to make everything fit, but it's just the kind of loony-toons stuff someone like Hoovie would love, I'm sure. 😁
@@ScotDouglas how was it reliability wise? (manual)
@@markfox6741 This is great information
Thanks for making this video! I bought my 02 in August 2022. One owner, older gentleman. I was an auto technician for 6 years before going into aerospace and we had a customer with a Lincoln LS and a frequent customer with a Thunderbird. They're a little difficult to work on but nothing super complicated. Always liked the LS and am very happy with it. Drives great. Just the right amount of power. Subtle looks.
Nice one wizard, finally a review of a Lincoln LS V8.....a product of the premium automotive group era....when ford owned jaguar, Volvo , land rover and Aston Martin....parts sharing galore....I remember reading about this car in a car n driver issue....Lincoln LS aka jaguar s type.... lovely machine..... honestly they should be quite reliable
I used to be a porter at a Lincoln dealership. When I started working there, they no longer sold the Lincoln LS, we were selling MKZ's at that point, but in the 4 years I worked there, I kid you not EVERY SINGLE DAY there were several Lincoln LS's that would come in for service and every night there was at least one left on a lift to be worked on the next day. I'd driven so many of these cars in various different conditions that I could probably draw the interior from memory. I liked driving them, very peppy and nimble, but absolutely atrocious in the snow. I mean, come on, V8, RWD, light car, how cool is that? But they came in for service so often I just had to stop and ask one of the techs "Is this a bad car or what?" And he tells me, "Nah, they're actually not bad cars, they just sold so many of them at the time that we get a lot of them in for service" And another tech said "Yeah, they've got that Jaguar drivetrain, so they're great when they work, but not so great when they don't". Note to any potential buyers, the same year Ford Thunderbird is the exact same car... weirdly. Somehow, they made a Lincoln LS a 2-door and gave the interior panels some matching exterior colors and boom, you've got a Thunderbird. Like I said, I could draw the interior of a LS from memory, I was absolutely shocked the first time I climbed into a Thunderbird and saw a spitting image of the LS all over again lol. Same thing under the hood.
Don't forget there was an extra couple hundred lbs of bracing bolted on to the bottom of those birds as well! XD
Thats would explain why the Thunderbird was so long and had so much room behind the seats
i am glad you reviewed the LS. i have a 04 with glass packs and i love it baby. catch me in Springfeld, Ohio
Well done for saying Jag U R :)
I am a retired mechanic and now what is classed as a Shady Tree Mechanic, to me a car is a car prices of parts vary but not to much (unless you get into the exotics) I charge the same rate be it a Honda/Mercedes/Jaguar or a Ford, they are just cars. you just have to learn the idiosyncrasies of each one no matter the country of origin. They all go wizz/pop/bang/varoom
I drove one for about a year before I lost it in a wreck when I hit some black ice in December of 2021. It was the best driving car I’ve ever owned, and easily the best American car I’ve ever had. It was also the least reliable car I’ve ever owned and it left me on the side of the freeway extremely frequently while I waited for the engine to cool down. That thing overheated like fish swim, it was just what the car did. Was also not great on gas.
But those moments when I was gunning down the freeway in this thing nearly made up for it. I miss that car.
I have one of these. The early models had plastic tensioners on the timing chains. That was a fun repair
I own a '04 LS V8 ULTIMATE bought new and was made aware of the Jaguar connection after the fact. (OH NO!) While lots of the parts are Jag, many others are Motorcraft such as alternator, A/C compressor, etc. So no HUGH complaints on repairs. It can still rip the back tires off if or when you want to ....
The V6 version was made in Cleveland Engine Plant 2 in Ohio. It was a variant of the 3.0 Duratec with a different cam and valve actuation. DAMB vs RFF,.much bigger oil pans, VVT etc These engines had their own separate assembly line that it shared with the Jag 3.0V6, . I just commented on WatchJRGo about his new V6 S type.
Love your content Wizard!
I have two silver LSV8's. The 04 got in '05 used and put 470k on it before replacing the original engine. The trans was replaced three times with the last as a AAMCO lifetime which has been 90k trouble free mile. Wizard is right about shops not wanting to work on them. I love mine the journey they have taken to learn to make them long mile cars
I had 2 of these cars, a 2002 v6 and a 2001 v8. Great cars. Never had issues at all. I miss them both very much! 😥
Thanks for making this video wizard! Brought back alot of good memories for me. 🙏
Good to hear.. recently purchased 2002 with 70K miles.. hopefully the message is just take care of it.
Great video Wizard! and nice explanation of factory franken-cars. But Lincoln LS came from even deeper rabbit hole - mechanically, engine wise, suspension, etc. is obviously Jag, but middle body parts (roof, doors, floor etc) it's not from Jag nor Mondeo (like jag X-type platform) but from (TADA!) European Ford Granada/Scorpio, 1986-1995 (anybody remembers Merkur Scoprio? the same). If you look at the mirrors, door lines, floor panels, it is from the same stamping/welding line as the last Granada... And this is the reason for those clunky bars between Granada's body and Jaguar's engine subframe...
The Mondeo doors don't fit the X-type -- body is completly different, some floorpan elements are the same, but almost nothing from the inside or outside.
The LS does not have anything in common with the Scorpio --- nor with Merkur Scorpio, in Europe we had the next Scorpio in 1994-1998 called "whale" Scorpio Mk3 (sometimes (wikipedia) mk2) (the 4 lug suspension as the foxbody Mustangs etc. Mk1/2 had 5 lug and Merkur too), if you google Ford Scorpio 1998 rear -- you'll see why we called it a whale :D
The LS looks like have the roof and glass from the S-type --- with unique to it's own rear door quarter windows and shape of the rear C-pillar
It is not "in common" as "you could replace door or mirror of S-type or Lincoln LS with Granada's parts" but as "where the Ford found the parts and stamping for the DEW98 platform". It was NOT a greenfield (even if Ford claims this AFAIR). BTW they "found" it in 1998, time when they canceled the Granada/Scorpio production. On the other hand, the I4/V6 transmission A4LD line is the same story, from European Bordeaux plant; '80 in Bronco/Ranger, Sierra/Scorpio etc up to V6 Lincoln LS and Jag S-type (as 5R55N tran). Ford always was frugal, sometimes in good way.
Don't see many videos on these forgotten relics. I owned 2 different "Gen 2" LS's (an '03 LS V8 Sport and an '04 LSE V8). A blast to drive with the AJ V8. After selling those off, my experience with my LSE was my rationale to upgrade to a 2005 Jaguar S-Type R with the supercharged 4.2 - found the car for 2 grand with misfire and transmission slipping issues. Replaced all the coils/plugs, did a transmission service and the car drove flawlessly before trading it off for my Arnage. I wouldn't mind finding another LS as a beater, but they are extremely hard to find in good condition (watch out for the plastic cooling components/Degas bottle - they get brittle and break!)
absolutely love these, drove one and fell in love, 230k miles and felt like new... but the horror stories have kept me away. maybe one day lol
I loved mine, had to do the solenoid/switch for the weird hydraulic cooling fan. Typical problem on them, also the dual climate control system, coils. There were aluminum replacements for some of the plastic parts under the hood several years ago, not sure if that’s still the case.
My only real complaint was the trunk was kinda small, and it got not great gas mileage, which normally wouldn’t be a problem but the gas tank was small.
Got rid of it because of rust unfortunately.
Yea, I've heard stories about the hydraulic fan issues. I own an 02 Lincoln LS V8, 8 yrs now, currently with 281k miles on the clock. Fortunately I haven't had any issues with it (Knocks on wood).
I love these cars, I've owned two of them. I had the manual transmission versions. They were great for reliability. Half of the car was still very much Ford. At one of the Ford dealers in Toronto, Canada. I used to get parts that were stamped Jaguar made in England for very good prices.
hey, smart car shoutout! i drive one in southern ontario, and i named it "the nugget"
its a crappy little car and i absolutely love it. handling is absolutely on point, it drives like a go kart with no power. worst transmission ever though
The Lincoln LS was the basis for the 2002-05 Ford Thunderbird so it's almost a Jag too. The difference between the Jaguar 4.0 engine and the Lincoln LS/Thunderbird 3.9 version is that Ford shortened the piston stroke by a quarter-inch. I'm thinking that was to tweak the torque a little for American drivers.
While the Lincoln LS shares many components with the Jaguar S-Type the “Car Wizard” didn’t give the complete story. First of all Ford owned Jaguar at that time. The basic chassis started out as a Ford project that was intended for the introduction of Lincoln to the European market. This changed when Ford purchased Jaguar. It was decided to adapt the platform to create a new mid-sized Jaguar. The motor in the LS, although derived from the Jaguar AJ engine family, is not identical and the v8 engines used in LS were assembled in the US from parts sourced in the UK and US. Interestingly the engines used in Jaguars were actually assembled in an English Ford factory. This continued even after Ford sold Jaguar until just a couple of years ago. It should also be noted that LS’s were also available with a Ford Duratech V6. The automatic transmission used was a Ford unit that was also used in Mustangs, Rangers and Explorers. The rear differential, was not a standard Jaguar unit, but designed for the platform. In my opinion calling the LS a Jaguar is no more valid than calling a Jaguar S-Type a Ford. I do agree that most shops used to working on Ford product’s don’t like working on an LS or a 2002-2005 Thunderbird (same basic platform ). However, parts aren’t that expensive if you can find them.
My grandmother had an 04 Lincoln LS with the V8. What a sleeper it was. I was barely 16 when she got it and ohh the many street races won and hurt feelings. Though it went crazy with age and the wiring system was jaguar and electrical nightmares plagued it. Still, it was a fun car.
I love the lincoln ls. I wish I could find a 5 speed manual. Extremely hard to fine.
You better look nationwide for cars like that and be willing to travel or have it shipped.
Only on the v6 though sadly
I just did a search I found three for sale V6 manual and one is a 2005esc donk
Interesting that the influence travelled both ways across the Atlantic when Ford/Lincoln owned Jaguar. I knew the S type used the Thunderbird/Mondeo platform and engines, but didn't realise Ford also used European components on US models. Nice looking car. I'm in the UK, so it probably wouldn't be too difficult to run one here if you could find one. Plenty of shops here will work on Jaaaags and parts shouldn't be an issue.
It was the X Type that used the Mondeo platform, but even then, it was heavily modified.
The Mondeo (European Fusion)-based X-Type was so modified that it was sold Stateside ONLY with AWD installed. The RWD platform and engines of the Lincoln LS were shared with the Jaguar S-Type and the last Ford Thunderbird convertible.
@@damilolaakanni Thanks. My mistake. I meant the X type. Good car. My cousin ran one for many years.
@@syxepop Naaaahh The X-type in Europe came also with front wheel drive versions: 2.0 and 2.2 diesel 4 cylinder or the Jaguar unique 2.1 V6 , (2.5 and 3.0 V6 were only available with the 4x4).
Mondeo of this generation (Mk3) was never available with the 4x4 -- but many suspension parts are almost the same (with the wagon version). The transferbox used some Mondeo Mk1/ Escort Mk5-6 4x4 ideas :)
@@MikeB4pl - in North America the X-Type came only with the AJ petrol / gas 2.5L and 3.0L V6's (no TD's here) and only as a 4-door (no estates / station wagons).
And, since no North American customer would take seriously a FWD Jag, all of the US-spec ones had AWD standard.
Most Minis are made in England in the UK, some are made by Magna Steyer in Austria and some convertibles where made in the Netherlands.
They had Chrysler engines though. The 1,6L in the 2001 - 2006 Minis was the same as in the Chrysler PT Cruiser.
The USA never had a 1.6L PT Cruiser, only other markets. (PT in USA only had Mitsubishi 2.4L). The first gen Mini motor was made in Brazil for Chrysler/Mini.
i've watched your channel for a long time. i've always hoped you would show a lincoln ls. the lincoln ls is one of my favorite cars. i've owned four and a half of them. one of the most common problems with them is the ignition coils. i've replaced them in the past with cheap replacements. the lincoln ls's i've purchased have been on the "cheap", because of the ignition coils. the engine is missing, and that tends to make people think the engine is going to fail. the last lincoln ls i owned had more than 200 thousand miles on it. i sold it because i needed money, and it had cooling issues. it was the last model they made- i think 2007. they're amazing vehicles, and if i can find another one, i would definitely buy it.
Actually, Renault owns Nissan, and Mitsubishi and Samsung Cars. However, recently, they have been...drifting apart a bit. HR 1.6 petrol with and without turbo were "co-developed" by Nissan and Renault and installed in many cars outside North American market. Some rumors said it was pure Nissan product ( like other engines from HR series) as Renault was in charge of (mostly quite good) diesel engines.
The Renault K9 1,5 diesel is one of the - if not the - most famously reliable modern diesel engines of all; proven by the fact that it has been produced in mostly unaltered base configuration for more than 20 years, but has still been able to be updated to modern emissions regulations all around the world. The previous generation Mégane had FIVE different versions of that engine marketed at the same time, and still one type is used in the recent model, this reduction being due to the downfall of diesel in general.
@@TarmenAmzarian The French are good at making diesel engines!
I had a second gen 2003 Pearl White on an attractive grey leather interior, and while it did have a couple chronic problem areas like the heater control valves, injector coils etc, it was a hell of a lot more fun to drive than your grandpas Lincoln. Set of Pilot Sport PS2s on that thing and it did stuff it had no business doing. Sold at 110,000 miles reluctantly, I wish I hadn't. Also one of the first cars to have air conditioned seats!
Ford co-developed this platform along with Jaguar, the DEW98 platform was intended to underpin the Mustang as a replacement for the SN95 but that plan was nixed.
Always liked these when they came out. I remember they were originally called LS6 and LS8, but that created some issues with I think Lexus and Ford left it as "LS". I think some very early cars had the LS6 and LS8 emblems.
Everyone seems to forget that Ford OWNED Jaguar during this time period. Ford also owned Volvo, which is how the 500 and last Gen Taurus came to be.
It’s still 100% Ford, just crossing the pond a little bit.
Ford sold Jaguar/Volvo/Mazda in the late 2000s.
Thanks for being so chill and explaining everything so well💪🏾 keep goin
The V6 on these was a Ford Duratec 3.0 ... but with variable valve timing to give it a smidge more power than your neighbors Taurus SEL had.
I had one of those new. The V-8 was a rocketship and cornered without any lean or sway! I thought it was a great car. Front fenders were aluminum and battery in the trunk for better front to rear balance.
The LS was a major step forward for Lincoln; instead of their truck base designs previously. and still
I've always loved the look of this car but was scared away due to reliability issues
I love your channel man.. you don't hype up the reality. Much appreciated!
The jaguar v6 engine in stype and xtype is ford duratec in 3.0 and 2.5 guise
This car is on my bucket list of cars but the facelift with the sport package. I knew about the timing chain issues but truly I just love the way these cars look. I'm a sucker for late 90s/mid 00s cars
Super clean looking design. Looks somewhat like my Ford Fusion. I had a buddy with one of these back in the early 2000s. If i remember right these things had horrible resale value.
It wasn't lost on used car dealers that it was a Jag underneath, and thus carried the requisite bills for maintenance and repair. Coupled with Lincoln just not doing great compared to other luxury brands, you get some heavy depreciation. That said, it was a great way to get what was ostensibly a Jag for cheap as hell. My gramps had one for years and absolutely loved it. TBH if I could find one in this shape with similar miles, I'd strongly consider it.
Yep, that look was very popular that they carried it over to Fusion/Milan/MKZ when it went front wheel drive platform. My old 2003 LS was awesome but it couldn’t keep a rebuilt transmission under it and I live where it snows so a sporty rear wheel car is pretty scary in the winter. Traded it for a low milage 2009 MKZ. There are quite a few compromises in the front wheel drive model but the look is real similar.
The front end light cluster reminds me of that of the BMW E39.
@@dm5374
Yep.
THIS CAR IS THE FORD MONDEO IN EUROPE AND THE FUSION HERE IN THE USA.
Always loved the Lincoln LS, had a great shape.
I have an 06. It's a great car, except for all the plastic cooling parts.
These were underrated. Definitely performers
Lincoln was going to call these LS models the "LS6" and "LS8", depending on the engine size option. Toyota threatened a lawsuit, due to how close this was to the Lexus LS name. While this was occurring, Ford threatened Toyota with a lawsuit regarding the Toyota T150 name. They said the name was too close to the F150. In the end, Lincoln called the cars the "LS V6" or "LS V8" and Toyota called their pickup the Tundra.
My favorite car service uses this model. Smooth, no fuss ride to airport
My stepbrother is a truck driver and can pretty much afford whatever he likes. He bought an LS a couple years back and liked it. But felt it was a bit cramped inside(he's a really big boy). He ended up buying a Town Car and gave the LS to his mother. Got to drive it a few times and absolutely loved it, as did my dad and stepmother. Sadly, it developed a crack in the passenger side exhaust manifold and the repair cost was going to be astronomical, so down the road it went. 😢
The big selling point for this car was that it could outhandle the E39 5 series BMW. They had a commercial just for that and these things had heated and cooled seats. Even my S type's when you pull the speakers they are stamped with Ford logos. The 3.9 could move. My friend had like a 2017 Charger V6. He found out the hard way.
I was looking a couple of years ago (at the beginning of the pandemic) and when I researched the LS they did mention a Jaguar based engine. Just checked and they still do. Of course that doesn't mean that most people will research or realize it means Jag repair prices. So thanks for the head's up.
Amazing, I thought it was the other way around as I own a 2005 XJ and knew that the entire subframe is interchangeable. Also those back seats look just like mine
I can't get my wife to get rid of hers, bought 2 vehicles to replace it and she still drives the LS as much as she can. There's a lot of things Ford did for the first time with this car as far as electronics and there were some issues but they're fun to drive, even the V6 has a decent amount of power
I always thought these were some of the cooler Lincolns of all time because their styling and (for the time) powerful engines - this explains it. It's not a Lincoln at all lol
I still have a soft spot for them though, just wish they had managed better on the interior. One of the few cars I prefer without wood paneling inside.
"It's not a Lincoln at all lol" It's no Town Car, that's for sure!
Great video Wizard! I've had my eye on these cars for a few years now and you gave me lots of good info I didn't know. I'd still buy one.
The fun LS to drive is the B6 5SPD. I was a Lincoln tech when these came out and loved driving the LS. Such a pleasure to drive
Wow the information on all these cars today blows my mind the trickery by these manufacturers is almost reprehensible. Take care and God bless
It's called "badge engineering". Not really trickery, just sharing the cost of developing a new product. It's been going on for years in all walks of life. There are very few tire manufactures but many tire brands. TV's (Funia), stereos (Sherwood), power tools (AllTrade). Lots of products with many brand names on them, all made by the same manufactures and sharing the cost of development. I drive a General Motors bobtail at work...with a "Manufactured By Isuzu" sticker on the door jam! Anyway have a great day!
@@genecase9464 Thanks for the message, and take care.
Ayyyy! Love these things, owned 2, a 2002 LSE, which was a special edition they only made 500 examples of.
And my current one that is a 2004 V8. And MAN is that 2004 quick, 280hp gives it quite the pep.
And MAN do they handle good, like weirdly good. For a 3800 pound car, they feel like a Miata. Maybe a little more body roll, but the steering feel and everything else is about on par with a much lighter car.
Mannnnnn how was the LSE? I heard the early models 02 and under had a complete handling package vs the later years which was more cosmetic improvements. I just bought an 04 V8 that I'm DD'ing just hit 200k minus the gas prices I love this thing
@@picturemerollin6427 it Definitely handled better than my 04, But it eventually gave up the ghost. The V6s Plastic Timing chain guides gave out, and that clogged the oil pump, which killed the Rod bearings. It was just a cascade of failures, I only recently sold it as a parts car.
Thank you Wizard and Mrs. as always a learning moment. Who did Ford borrow the most from Mazda, Volvo, Jag, or Land Rover? Like the Saab 9-2X is a Subaru, Toyota Corolla Cross is a Mazda CX-50, the Mercedes 500e is a Porsche, Toyota Yaris Cross is a Mazda 2
I believe the same jag motor was placed in the 2003 ish Ford Thunderbird
It was. It also shared the same platform as the Lincoln LS.
@@damilolaakanni Well, I figured
I just bought one of these, 90000k in beautiful low miles. Gosh they're fast and they handle amazing, I had no idea about the Jaguar part until I looked it up. Tired of hearing people saying how unreliable they are and you steered me in the right direction you're completely right about the GM 3.8 too bad they retired
I had 2 Lincoln LS's very good cars can have small issues but reliable especially if the v6 all jaquar/Ford the v6 is close to a duratech V6 with jaq influence
The v6 IS a Ford Duratec engine. The v8 is mostly jag with some help from ford.
@@Powersproductions130 I believe the Intakes and heads were a bit different but yes duratech all the way that's how I meant it haha. The V8 was more problematic especially because the all Plastic cooling system
You are correct about everything you mentioned in the video, I would know as I am on my second LS V8. They’re great cars but like he said do your research and understand what you’re getting before buying one,this car runs on premium fuel and it needs premium parts as well.
My Favorite Mechanic
I'm British and your pronunciation of 'Jaguar' at 4:37 is the closest to the correct British pronunciation I've ever heard from an American. Well done! I have a Jaguar S-Type 3.0 V6 which understand is also shared with the '99 Lincold LS. Thanks for the video!
I never understood the "we don't work on European cars" mindset. They're different, sure, but most repairs are still straightforward enough. The extra labor hours are extra money, right? There are specific examples that are more difficult, like a lot of Audi repairs have you take the front bumper off for some reason or how xDrive always seems to get in the way on BMW's, but that can be said about certain American cars, like how annoying spark plugs are on an older Caravan or how you have to undo a motor mount to change the serpentine belt on a lot of GM 3.8L models.
There actually a lot that come up on Lincoln ls when you google it! I own two of these and by far my favorite! I have 2006 with roush racing exhaust and roush 2inch lowering kit and it handles like a sports car and it can get out of its own way easily!!! I will keep this thing on rd as long as I can! So much fun to drive Lincoln ls!!!
Wizard!!!! Can we see the Citroen hiding in the next to the bus? Is is a DS? Please do a video!
To be fair Renault owns about 46% of Nissan, Nissan only owns about 15% of Renault. They have an alliance, but Renault seems to pull all the strings. But believe the VQ came of that, so that worked well for them.
The VQ is from Prince motors in japan
My first car was a Lincoln ls with the V8. This car will always hold a special place in my heart.
The look of the Lincoln ls was stunning back when it came out such a beautiful car even today it looks great but I've been told they are turds and that has always kept me from buying one as a second vehicle for myself even tho they are priced cheaply ...
It's pretty non- descript .
Yeah if you want a similar car that's actually a beast look at the old school Ford Taurus sho with the V8. that thing sounds like a demon. And it has a personality to match!
Right I agree I like the era of Jaguar Ford some cool stuff.
@@Tipman2OOO The only SHO that came with a V8 was the catfish era SHO, which was automatic only and had horrible engine reliability by way of camshaft failure. A Lexus GS430 or LS430 is the way to go for a reliable RWD cruiser.
@Porkoid yeah, that yamaha v8 in the bug eye taurus sounds amazing but has Northstar level design failures sadly. I've always wanted one for the novelty of owning a v8 made by yamaha. If the camshaft fix was more mainstream and easily doable I'd get one but an LS400 or town car Is a fraction of the price so I can't justify it 😭
just bought an 02 ls v8...black with tan leather....cheap interior but its a fun big comfy ride.....153k miles and doesn't use a drop of oil...well maintained from the carfax history....tune up and engine maintenance was done at around 135k miles....
I expect if you tried to sell that in the UK you couldn't give it away most USA cars are looked at with suspicion except muscle cars . strange how the world of motoring is polarised
Exactly, American cars are considered rubbish in Europe and Japan
Even British cars are viewed with suspicion in the UK, lol. The British market seems to have the misguided belief that German cars are the best, for some reason... If I'm not mistaken even in the UK, BMW, Mercedes and Audi each sell more units per annum than Jaguar Land Rover? The less said about the demise of regular Rover (& Wolseley, Triumph etc), the better. 😔
@@TassieLorenzo And I recall the Brit motoring press endlessly slagged anything Japanese. A CB7 Accord is a very rare sight there while in my city literally a day never goes by without seeing one even now, and I'm not talking about mine lol
Had an 04 and it was fun to drive but had problems with the plastic coolant inlet multiple times and the hydro bushings dried out so the suspension squeaked like crazy.
I had an ‘03 with the V6 and loved it… drove solid at least until 150K when I sold it for something newer…
I don’t think Ford was pulling any shenanigans to mislead any customers… it was just a co-developed global vehicle platform between Ford & Jaguar.
It literally says "Lincoln V8" when it's clearly all Jag under there.
At age 71 my 2001 LS was the favorite auto I ever owned new (of a bunch). Car was marketed as an "American" competitor to the 5 series BMW of the time. All the magazine reviewers loved it, and it tested well straight up vs the BMW. Ultimately it was not a great success (although a pretty good bargain vs European Iron) because Lincoln dealers never knew how to market it as a performance sedan. Also buyers looking for a sport sedan did not go to the Lincoln Dealer. It was cross marketed as the Jag Type "S", not much of a secret that it shared many parts at the time to those who cared.
Drove it 100K in 9 years, sold it to my bro-in-law who drove it another 8 years without unusual repairs. Yes it had valve cover gaskets (under warranty/recall), steering rack was recalled (again warranty) Ate the COPS one time at about 60K, replaced with Motorcraft ($1200!) and never again. Fuel pump died at about 70K and was replaced (another $1000!) once only.
Don't think it was any less reliable than any other relatively sophisticated vehicle of its era. People driving them now (it IS a 20+ year old car you know) are indeed finding that the plastic parts under the hood fail and replacements are not available from Ford/Lincoln. Also true of suspension parts, which are also wear items. A lot of this stuff is available from Jaguar and most of the replacement parts appear to be metal - as they should have been initally. Hard to maintain one now, short model run, not a lot of sales to justify continuation of parts. Look under the hood of your current generation vehicle, all that stuff is plastic.
The LS just loved to GO and had extremely good handling for its size.
I'll stick with my gutless 4.6 2V Towncar. LS is a great looking car though.
Thanks for this Major Heads Up on this, Mr. Wizard. I had no idea this was a Jag in Lincoln Clothing. I used to want one of these years ago but never bought one.
Wizard, no talk about the infamous transmissions problems the LS model had?
I am wanting to say that this car rode on the rear-wheel-drive DEW98 chassis that also underpinned the 2000-05 Ford Thunderbird and the Jaguar S-type for many years. The D2C platform that underpinned the 2005+ Ford Mustang was loosely based on this platform. IIRC this car as well as all Lincoln cars and the Ford Thunderbird was built at Ford's Wixom Assembly plant prior its closure in 2007. (Town Car production was transferred it St. Thomas Assembly where the Panther Platform cars were assembled prior to that plant closure in September, 2011.) I think Lincoln called their V-8 a 3.9 liter while Jaguar called theirs a 4.0 even though they were very similar? The car has an almost perfect 50/50 weight distribution, like BMW, and has good handling. My Marquis is 28 years old with 440,000 miles and I have installed 3 intake manifolds. Other than that, it has been a pretty tough old car. I don't really see a need to go out and pay $50-60,000 for a vehicle and have it worth less than half that 4 years later. I already have one that isn't worth anything. Great video!