LS V6 5MT worth seeking out?

[Recluse]

Hi everybody-

I'm in the market for a second car, and want something unusual. I totally forgot until recently that a 5MT was available in the LS, and I think a Lincoln with a manual transmission definitely qualifies as "unusual."

That said, I have a few questions about this model:

-Are they actually fun and/or engaging to drive?

-Are the clutch and shifter performance up to par (I've never heard of Getrag making a bad product, but I thought I'd ask)

-I'd want a 2001-2002 model with AdvanceTrac...anyone know how many of those were made? Does that requirement in and of itself make for an impossible quest? And how would I tell if a given vehicle even had that option?

-Do dealerships look at you in shock when you roll up in one, or can they service the vehicle competently?

Here's why I ask many of these questions: I just got out of a 2007 Lexus IS250 6MT, and the transmission and clutch in that car were absolute garbage. The clutch was noisy and engaged abruptly, the shifter was vague, and the throws were long and occasionally notchy. I found out later on that those parts were actually sourced from the Tacoma, which makes a lot of sense in a luxury car.

It's also pretty rare (Lexus imports about 1000/year), so the dealership service departments I visited had no clue how to address my issues when I brought the car in.

Thanks in advance.

 

[brentalan]

From what I've heard from other (not personal experience) the manual LS is fun to drive. Just not sure your expectations if are coming from an '07 model car to a 7 year old car.

 

[Recluse]

Just not sure your expectations if are coming from an '07 model car to a 7 year old car.

Good comment....I'm definitely comfortable with the age of the vehicle, and potential wear, etc. I already have a main car, and I just looking for something interesting for a second car.

 

[sport5speedls]

Hi everybody-

I'm in the market for a second car, and want something unusual. I totally forgot until recently that a 5MT was available in the LS, and I think a Lincoln with a manual transmission definitely qualifies as "unusual."

That said, I have a few questions about this model:

-Are they actually fun and/or engaging to drive?

-Are the clutch and shifter performance up to par (I've never heard of Getrag making a bad product, but I thought I'd ask)

-I'd want a 2001-2002 model with AdvanceTrac...anyone know how many of those were made? Does that requirement in and of itself make for an impossible quest? And how would I tell if a given vehicle even had that option?

-Do dealerships look at you in shock when you roll up in one, or can they service the vehicle competently?

Here's why I ask many of these questions: I just got out of a 2007 Lexus IS250 6MT, and the transmission and clutch in that car were absolute garbage. The clutch was noisy and engaged abruptly, the shifter was vague, and the throws were long and occasionally notchy. I found out later on that those parts were actually sourced from the Tacoma, which makes a lot of sense in a luxury car.

It's also pretty rare (Lexus imports about 1000/year), so the dealership service departments I visited had no clue how to address my issues when I brought the car in.

Thanks in advance.

I have had my 2002 LS Sport 5 speed for 3 years now and just love it for my daily driver .
It is Stock just got a drop in K&N a really good set of Bridgestones all seasons on it and Euro Shocks. I am planning on doing the sway bar bushing in the next week or two.
All said and done I really love driving my 5speed
The shifter on the ls 5speed is short and crisp no issue there.
I have 115,000km with a stock clutch no problems with the clutch as well.
When I get to my ford dealer they know their stuff.
I may have to sell it in a few months depending if I get a Company car or not, so anyone in the marker for a 02 5speed let me know!

 

[Recluse]

I have had my 2002 LS Sport 5 speed for 3 years now and just love it for my daily driver .
It is Stock just got a drop in K&N a really good set of Bridgestones all seasons on it and Euro Shocks. I am planning on doing the sway bar bushing in the next week or two.
All said and done I really love driving my 5speed
The shifter on the ls 5speed is short and crisp no issue there.
I have 115,000km with a stock clutch no problems with the clutch as well.
When I get to my ford dealer they know their stuff.
I may have to sell it in a few months depending if I get a Company car or not, so anyone in the marker for a 02 5speed let me know!

Thanks for the feedback, and that's good news so far.

Been doing some more reading, and found a discussion (I think it was on Edmunds) about issues with getting parts for the clutch. Has anyone had problems in that area?

 

[milehighmikey]

I've had a manual LS since july 2001. I have put around 120K miles on this car and feel that for the money, I could not have done any better for a car that suits my needs. The car is never a drag to drive, it is always fun. You don't need to worry about driving in snow, but the car is fine for handling without the high tech traction and stability system, even in the snow. It just makes a more observant driver out of you, since you have to pay attention to what your car is doing when it is slippery. Finding a manual-equipped car that has that advance-trac system might prove to be very tough, and that is why I provided the above info.

My car, being so fun to drive and being a V6 powered, fairly heavy car, tends to get 20-22 mpg. I think it is getting more than that now, since I have stayed out of the throttle a lot with the price of gas -- it can only do better when you're not doing a WOT run (wide open throttle). It sure is fun to do a WOT though, when going through the gears.

The manual-equipped LS had the best front to rear weight bias, at around 51/49%. The car is quite nimble on the twisties, or highway ramps in the case of "no twisties to be found" parts of the world.

As for the clutch, I will be buying a disc this year, since that is the part that was in short supply. (according to that user-supplied Edmunds article on the townhall forums)

Bottom line: The LS is fun to drive in any trim level, manual or automatic. Having to row your own gears is not an unpleasant experience in my opinion.

Feel free to request more info if you need to.

 

[owlman]

You might also consider a Jaguar S-type, as you may know they share a platform with the LS and there are a few manuals out there. I think Jaguar eeked a couple more hp out of the v6 too.

 

[Recluse]

I've had a manual LS since july 2001. I have put around 120K miles on this car and feel that for the money, I could not have done any better for a car that suits my needs. The car is never a drag to drive, it is always fun.

My last car WAS a drag to drive, so thanks for the input, especially from a long-term owner such as yourself.

You don't need to worry about driving in snow, but the car is fine for handling without the high tech traction and stability system, even in the snow. It just makes a more observant driver out of you, since you have to pay attention to what your car is doing when it is slippery. Finding a manual-equipped car that has that advance-trac system might prove to be very tough, and that is why I provided the above info.

Yeah, I kinda figured it'd be impossible to find one so-equipped.

The manual-equipped LS had the best front to rear weight bias, at around 51/49%. The car is quite nimble on the twisties, or highway ramps in the case of "no twisties to be found" parts of the world.

That's pretty cool, and I did not previously note that weight distribution. Seems like it'd be pretty cool to hit some twisties in a Lincoln.

As for the clutch, I will be buying a disc this year, since that is the part that was in short supply. (according to that user-supplied Edmunds article on the townhall forums)

So they are now readily available?

Feel free to request more info if you need to.

Thanks!

 

[HyeLifeLS]

I have a V6 auto sport, but I have driven one of our member's car. He has a 2000 with manual. He also has intake, exhaust and 20" wheels.

The whole idea is pretty cool of LS with a manual. The tranny feels solid and cluch feels nice too. I could tell that it's a little faster than my auto car. The most I liked about it is the properly spaced gear ratios compared to automatic car where the first is too long and the second is as short as it could possibly be.

The V6 LS does handle easier in the corners due to less weight and more ever distribution and the manual version is even better.

Overall the tranny and cluch are pretty good to use but I do have to say that my 90 325i manual feels better in that category.

If I were to buy a manual LS it would be something very fresh and clean and preferably 02 since it has extra 10 hp total of 220hp.

 

[00ls5spd]

Mine is for sale....

My Ls is the one Hyelifels is referring to.
I had my clutch replaced @ 86k....it is a dealer only part as far as my research went.

I just had my car in at the dealer last week, and they said they only see about 3 a yr with the Manual tranny....

My car is very fun to drive, pm if u have any questions.....

 

[Recluse]

You might also consider a Jaguar S-type, as you may know they share a platform with the LS and there are a few manuals out there. I think Jaguar eeked a couple more hp out of the v6 too.

Those are REALLY unusual, and I'd love to have one of those, but they seem to be a more expensive for a given year than a comparable LS.

 

[Recluse]

The whole idea is pretty cool of LS with a manual. The tranny feels solid and cluch feels nice too. I could tell that it's a little faster than my auto car. The most I liked about it is the properly spaced gear ratios compared to automatic car where the first is too long and the second is as short as it could possibly be.

Thanks for the feedback. That's something else I didn't consider: better gear ratios.

I admit I am also drawn by the "cool" factor. I think Wikipedia said it was the first manual trans at Lincoln since 1951. If that's accurate, it's amazing that they made the LS with a manual at all.

Overall the tranny and cluch are pretty good to use but I do have to say that my 90 325i manual feels better in that category.

Fair enough. I've driven some BMW manuals, so that kind of gives me a basis for comparison.

If I were to buy a manual LS it would be something very fresh and clean and preferably 02 since it has extra 10 hp total of 220hp.

Ideally, if I decide to get one, that would be my goal as well. But I think there are only a few hundred 2002 models?

 

[Recluse]

I had my clutch replaced @ 86k....it is a dealer only part as far as my research went.

I just had my car in at the dealer last week, and they said they only see about 3 a yr with the Manual tranny....

Did you have any trouble or issues getting the replacement done? Did you have to wait for the part?

 

[402777LS]

I've had the manual since '00 and still get a kick out of driving her. I've gone with the euro shocks, lowered her 1.5 in. with Eibach's, 255/45-18's ,I believe the MTX also has a heavier front sway bar than the V8 and the cornering is terrific. Gone through one clutch @ 90,000 mi and would recomend you rebuild it if you get the MTX, it's got the original clutch and more than 60.000 miles. Mine has the Magnaflow exhaust & cold air snorkle, green filter and those mods alone make the it quicker than a stock '00 V8 sport, with the SCT tune it's probably quicker than any stock V8 of any year. As to top speed, with all the mods I've had her up to 142mph and it was still pulling. I backed off because the front end started to float, I haven't tried to push it with the Mach1 splitter yet, but there's more there. There is no speed limiter on the MTX, just the rev limiter, so the top end just depends on how much more power you can make.

 

[spgoode]

I've got an '01 with the manual transmission and advancetrac. Mine is completely stock and is a lot of fun to drive. The shift from first to second is a little notchy, but it's very smooth in all other shifts.

 

[Recluse]

IAs to top speed, with all the mods I've had her up to 142mph and it was still pulling. I backed off because the front end started to float, I haven't tried to push it with the Mach1 splitter yet, but there's more there. There is no speed limiter on the MTX, just the rev limiter, so the top end just depends on how much more power you can make.

That's unreal!

Thanks for the feedback. It must be pretty impressive to have held your interest for so long, too.

 

[Recluse]

I've got an '01 with the manual transmission and advancetrac.

Cool! Could you fill me in on how I'd determine if a given vehicle had that option? That is, are there any additional buttons, lights at startup, labels, etc.?

Mine is completely stock and is a lot of fun to drive. The shift from first to second is a little notchy, but it's very smooth in all other shifts.

I definitely don't mind a little notchy, if that's the only issue you've found.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[spgoode]

Cars with ATS have a button between the seats that has the image of a car with two skids below it. There's also a light on the dash that has the same image.

 

[SoonerLS]

Cars with ATS have a button between the seats that has the image of a car with two skids below it. There's also a light on the dash that has the same image.

Yep. If it only has Traction Control, the icon is a "spinning" wheel instead of a skidding car.

 

[Recluse]

Thanks to both spgoode and SoonerLS for the info. That will make it easy to tell.