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2003 Lincoln LS V8 Sport (220A)

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Ratings	( Maximum score is 100 )

Overall:	( 80 )
Comfort:	( 100 )
Performance:	( 100 )
Quality:	( 80 )
Appearance:	( 80 )


Comments
Favorite feature:	Great handling, fun to drive, V8 power, value
Least favorite feature:	Some interior detail: too much metallic finish, dash vinyl not high quality
Advice to buyer:	Don't shy away from this car because its American. There are lots of rebates and discounts.
Detailed review:	Exterior styling is elegant, clean & well proportioned. Doors close solidly. Aluminum hood has a light feel opening. Interior is in good taste & well organized. Leather front seats are thick & supportive. Front seat controls allow plenty of adjustment. Steering wheel & foot pedals are power adjustable. Rear seats are raised, to help seating position. Dash is very well laid out & logical, better than BMW. Controls are easily accessible. There are many standard goodies. Interior storage is good: deep arm rest storage with coin holders, glove box , dash utility tray, door map pockets, pockets behind front seats. Radio has great sound, 6 speakers & in-dash CD. All controls are lit at night. The Lincoln LS drives great. The ride is smooth and comfortable and the interior noise level is well muted. The handling is wonderful and precise. My car came with 17-inch 235/50 VR Michelins. With both engines the acceleration is brisk, but of course the V8 has more pick up at all speeds. Making quick lane changes and sharp turns feels secure (the car has traction control). Driving on rough roads is controlled well, in that the vibrations are minimal and the noise is muffled. The turning radius is excellent. Braking is controlled electronically so that even if you slam on the brakes the progression is smooth. I haven’t measured the acceleration to five decimal places, but the LS’s acceleration is similar to that of BMW 540 or Infiniti G35, more than good enough for the drive to work. Haven’t tried to test the top speed, but I’ll leave such useless tests to car magazines. Areas of improvement: The vinyl covering the dash, door panels and center arm rest is of low quality. In this class these should be covered in leather. The trunk door hinges are the gooseneck luggage crushers. Lined trunk is good size, but maybe a bit shallow. The interior has too much metallic finish - that may be the latest rage, but it is dull and gets old fast (available real wood trim helps dress up interior). Needs more leg room for rear seats. Front seat head rests should be smaller (they are huge). The seat sitting surfaces can be softer, especially the rear seats. Ford should spend some money in advertising. The LS doesn’t get enough recognition & advertising. Overall package is very competitive & ride, power, & handling come very close to BMW 540. Beyond the handling characteristics, this is a better car than the BMW. If it weren’t for the depreciation, this car would be a bargain, given its qualities & features. Battery in the trunk has several benefits. I don’t yet know about its long term reliability, but based on all the information available on the Internet, I can conclude that reliability is no worse than European cars, better than GM cars, & maintenance costs will be less than the others. This car comes with 4 years of roadside assistance & 3 years of free routine maintenance.
Also considered:	2003 Cadillac Seville 2003 Infiniti G35 2001 BMW 540
Vehicle purchased:	2003 Lincoln LS


About This Reviewer...
Name:	AA1234AA AA1234AA
Location:	Phoenix, Arizona
Other vehicles owned:	2002 Acura 3.5RL
Review submitted:	July 12, 2003

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