I bought a Ford.

[LAKE ERIE Z32]

cool ride man i like those alot, only problem is they have lots of problems. my dad has had 2 of them. first one was a 01 with the v8 problems it had before we got rid of it at 82k were, valve cover gaskets and getting oil in were the spark plugs were,over heating problems, and timing chain went bad.

we traded it in got a 03 with the v8 still have it, problems we have had since we got it same valve gasket problem with getting oil in the spark plugs, the throttle body had to be rebuilt, same over heating problems, trans took a dump got it rebuilt, took another dump got it rebuilt, took another dump got a new transmission (that was all under warranty), and its at 73k right now. good luck man hope you dont have any problems

[93coupe]

Actually, some of the aluminum trim (just on the dash) has a sort of cross-pattern black texture over it that gives it a kind of fishscale look.

Wait... You have fishscale on your dash?

Nice car man. I love the headlights.. I want some interior pics.

[numbnuts240]

very nice acquisition mod. congrats.

[MinisterofDOOM]

cool ride man i like those alot, only problem is they have lots of problems.

The issues you had on the '01 aren't relevant to the '03+ since the entire top end of the engine was revised.

Trans issues were supposed to have been solved in '03 as well, so hopefully you just got unlucky.

[DrifterXRPS13]

nice mod...i too was once looking at this vehicle a few years ago...make sure you wright up a review in a couple months to let us know how the old girl is doing.

[Bubba1]

Yeah. Only not really a Ford. It's a Lincoln LS, which is essentially a Jaguar S-type except every Korean carmaker hasn't copied it.

I don't have any pics yet because it's dark outside now. I'll get some. It looks exactly like this, though:

280hp 3.9 liter Jaguar V8 (rear drive, of course)Ford "AdvanceTrac" Stability control which actually turns all the way offElectronic park brake freeing up console/footwell space12 speaker audio systemMoonroof with one-touch open/closeHeated/cooled seats and two-zone climate controlAuto-dimming interior and exterior mirrorsRear-mounted battery (in the spare tire well) because the engine bay is FULLA lot more frickin' stuff

There are some things that aren't as nice or as much to my taste as the Q, but overall I really like it. It offers a nice combination of torque and super-low cruising rpm (below 2000 at 65 in 5th). It's also fairly light for its size, at about 3700lb.

It has nice lines and a nice long wheelbase. I dig it.

I always hated Ford for replacing the LS with the front drive MKS (fail). Now I can look down my nose at MKS owners and laugh at the front-drive V6ness with glee.

Enjoy. My mechanic bought an LS8 for his wife a few years ago. she still drives it.

[HashiriyaS14]

I lke these. Too bad the V8 wasn't available with a 6MT like the V6

[MinisterofDOOM]

I lke these. Too bad the V8 wasn't available with a 6MT like the V6

Yep. The V6 even went auto-only after 2002. The manual sold very, very poorly (something like 2000 manual LSs produced across all 3 years it was available). Sucks. It's unfortunate Lincoln wasn't able to snag more of the CTS crowd (I actually like this car better than the first gen CTS).

[biggie]

MOD, you do realize you just became 45 years old for buying a Lincoln right?

[MinisterofDOOM]

Oh, I established my geezerness a long time ago. I've previously owned a Cadillac and Infiniti. My old guy car belt has merely gained another notch.

[PoorManQ45]

FFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUU!!!

That is the exact car I have been wanting to get for the last 2 years.

What color did you get? I love the look of the Black, but don't want to deal with swirls... So I'd go with Silver.

I too wish it came with a 6MT option like the 6. In the reviews, IIRC, the 6 cylinder with the 6MT accelerated close to the V8 auto, and got better mileage... Horrible!

Either way, GREAT car!

[biggie]

Oh, I established my geezerness a long time ago. I've previously owned a Cadillac and Infiniti. My old guy car belt has merely gained another notch.

Next up would be FWD V8 to complete it.

[Jesda]

Next up would be FWD V8 to complete it.

sup

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Looks good MOD... can't wait to see pics of the actual car.

What are the plans for the Q? Fix the transmission and sell her?

[elwesso]

hmmm, i still have a level 10 sitting in my basement.... might need to send that car over to indiana...

[dasoupdude]

I learn something new everyday,

Congrats on the car!

[szh]

Some years back, I had an LS V8 rental ... and was pleasantly surprised by it.

Here is that older post about my impressions: zerothread/87589

Z

[MinisterofDOOM]

So after a couple days of driving (including snow driving as it friggin' snowed today), my initial impressions:

--The gauge cluster/steering wheel layout are poor. The steering wheel blocks the top of the tach/speedo and the AdvanceTrac activation indicator unless you have it at trucker height. The Q's wheel leaves the cluster fully visible even at its lowest position (but the Q also has a HUGE wheel).

--3 windshield washer nozzles with excellent spray pattern. Covers the whole windshield. Combined with decent wipers, it's awesome.

--The tall headrests look weird but are comfortable.

--I can press a "Status" button and the car will run through a systems check, reporting status on all exterior lamps, charging system, engine temp, oil life remaining, cabin filter life remaining, AdvanceTrac system, and will tell me if any door or the trunk is not closed.

--If the car can tell me DTE (distance to empty) and calculate fuel economy, why can't it just tell me how many gallons are left in the tank? It HAS TO KNOW that to calculate DTE. A display of gallons remaining would be far more useful to me than some nebulous DTE that's going to change with driving behavior. Worthy of note is the fact that my '84 Caddy showed DTE as well, and it was about as reliable as a 1980s Hyundai that someone found at the bottom of the ocean.

--The sliding arm rest (slides forward) should be in every single car made. No excuses.

--I prefer the Japanese format of wiper/headlight controls (two column stalks) over the American format (one column stalk and a dash knob).

--AdvanceTrac is actually useful, but would be a lot more useful if I had winter tires.

--Why do newer cars only have a keyhole in the driver's door?

--Automatic headlights rock.

--Like my dad's Trailblazer, the LS keeps the radio and other accessories (minus climate control) active after the car is shut off and until the driver's door is opened. Why doesn't Nissan do this?

Some years back, I had an LS V8 rental ... and was pleasantly surprised by it.

Here is that older post about my impressions: zerothread/87589

Z

Cool. Yeah, the rear seats do fold down.

hmmm, i still have a level 10 sitting in my basement.... might need to send that car over to indiana...

The car needs to go to a Q enthusiast and needs to stay on the road...that's half the point of me replacing it. So yeah, if you want her, I can't think of a better place to send her.

Next up would be FWD V8 to complete it.

I honestly think I prefer RWD too much to really enjoy a front drive Seville. I'd spend most of my time wishing I could make proper use of the available torque. I really like both 90s Seville generations on paper and looks-wise, but highway cruising alone isn't enough for a car I want to actually own. I need something I can fling around corners, too. The Q is AMAZINGLY tossable for a 4000lb monster. That's what makes it such a joy to drive. I can enjoy DRIVING a highway-only monster. I don't think I could be happy owning one.

[Jesda]

I honestly think I prefer RWD too much to really enjoy a front drive Seville. I'd spend most of my time wishing I could make proper use of the available torque. I really like both 90s Seville generations on paper and looks-wise, but highway cruising alone isn't enough for a car I want to actually own. I need something I can fling around corners, too. The Q is AMAZINGLY tossable for a 4000lb monster. That's what makes it such a joy to drive. I can enjoy DRIVING a highway-only monster. I don't think I could be happy owning one.

I'm always torn between the 98-04 Seville and the LS.

I have a lot of affection for the 5th-gen Seville, especially having owned a '98, but the LS is much more practical and reliable. I recently drove a 2003 STS with magneride, and it was surprisingly sharp.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I looked at current-gen STSs before settling on the LS...people still want a lot for those things. An '05 V8 STS would probably cost me $20k around here. That's almost twice what I paid for the LS.

[Mr1der]

looks wise on those...man...I'd probably give it to the Seville. It might be my vote for best looking 4 door ever.

the LS however is a sweet car and man..MKZ...wtf Ford?

[Jesda]

I loved the early ads with music by Rob Dougan:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vknwHj2VXoQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RKLHX8sbuY

And vs BMWhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=538857MPzzY

[MinisterofDOOM]

That's Clubbed to Death 2. How did I never notice those ads? I love Rob Dougan's music. I have that track on a CD in my LS, in fact.

[Jesda]

I used to play that in the Navigator. Also played Dougan's Clubbed To Death Kurayamino Variation and Will You Follow Me.

[numbnuts240]

--Automatic headlights rock.

AAAAAHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! not you, too. i hate those things, they make people lazy and retarded. my father's old gmc pickup had them and his replacement f-150 doesn't. not i have to constantly remind him to turn his lights on. even in my mom's lancer they're always on, but a tad dimmer and without the tail lights. i'm so annoyed by reminding them that their lights aren't on. it's dangerous. at least the only habit that i have when driving a different car is attempting to stomp on a clutch pedal that isn't there.

[MinisterofDOOM]

The LS doesn't have the other "parts" of the problem: no daytime running lights and no "always lit" dash that makes it so you can't tell when the headlights are on or off from inside the car. I know at a glance, inside or out of the car, whether my headlights are on or not.

Plus, I'd never forget my headlights anyway. I already find halogen headlight illumination inadequate. Driving in the dark without headlights on drives me nuts. It is a compulsion to turn on my headlights before I even put the car in gear if it's dark. I don't know how people can "forget" to turn them on. You can't SEE. Of course, that is the answer: they're not looking for anything to notice they can't see.

That's one of the things that bugs me most about my dad's Maxima. The dash is always illuminated, so in dusk/poor light but not total darkness it can be hard to tell if the headlights have come on or not.

[numbnuts240]

i'll be watching you

so what becomes of the q?

[MinisterofDOOM]

One of the Q guys will end up with it and get it back on the road. I'm really, REALLY going to miss it. The LS is nice, but it's not the monster the Q is. I'm going to have to get Magnaflows on the LS soon. It feels weird driving such a quiet car.

[numbnuts240]

[DrifterXRPS13]

the MOD era is over...i can no longer be part of your world conquest of doom because you no longer have the car of doom!!

now i'm gonna sing the doom song. DOOMdoom doom doom da doom doom doom!