My LS review

felo3769

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I am a current LS owner. This is my first car (second vehicle - 1st was a Jeep Grand cherokee). (I know what some people might think about me by saying this, but I am 18 years old and going to be a junior in college - so these thoughts are from a not so experienced car owner).

This car was first purchased by my parents for my mother in 1999. Last year my mom got the new CTS while trading in the Jeep and gave me the LS. My main comparisons are going to be drawn from driving both of these cars.

Performance:
The LS V6 engine is very powerful despite the manufacture 210 hp. It has very good accelration but the automatic shifting isn't the best. You could really feel it struggle getting into second and third gear. Maybe if it were the SST then you could control it better (or even the manual that came out the first year). I havent had an problems with the engine because we have kept up with the service. Oil change every 3,000-5000 miles (54,000 miles by next week). One time though, a hose broke and the engine overheated and I was left stranded but that has hopefully been my only problem.

Ride and Handling:
As far as handling, the LS is pretty fun to drive. I put Eibach springs to lower it a bit, but IMO the handling was not affected. The braking on the LS is also not to my standards. Very hard to press and a lot of noise (I would take it to the dealer because of the noise and they could never find anything wrong with it and they were also clean too). The stock Goodyear tires are horrible! The were extremely loud, no traction (going 40-50 mph on amoist off ramp off of the interstate and I ended up losing control. I put Michelin's on now, and the ride is a lot better. Less noise, very comfortable, but the traction still isn't what I am looking for. The quietness in the LS isn't great compared to the Lexus and Mercedes cars.

Interior:
The 2000 Ls came with leather bucket seats and wood grain which is very classy. The stock stereo is very clear with the factory 8 speaker Alpine stereo option. But if you are like me and like to hear your music very loud with a hint of bass, then thats something else.

Exterior:
Speaks for it self.
On mine, I installed the LSE package just recently. (LSE was a 1 year model that was a V6, manual and appearance package).

In comparison to the CTS, the LS lacks the performance and handling. The CTS V6 is alot more powerful, the accelartion is a lot quicker. The transmission is a lot smoother, and quick with "Sport Mode" engaged. Braking is also more effiecent and softer. The styling does not grab my attention as much as the LS, but eventaully I guess it grows on to you. Also, I feel less comfortable in the CTS than in the LS. Now, because the LS is mroe comfortable or just that I am use to it? W/e it is, I like my LS a lot better. If anything, if the LS was a V8 then performance might be different, or if it were a newer LS with the V6 better tuned.

What I really want, is some aftermarket engine mods to give the V6 some more power.

Well, hope everyone finds this helpful.

Thanks!
 
felo3769 said:
I am a current LS owner. This is my first car (second vehicle - 1st was a Jeep Grand cherokee). (I know what some people might think about me by saying this, but I am 18 years old and going to be a junior in college - so these thoughts are from a not so experienced car owner).

This car was first purchased by my parents for my mother in 1999. Last year my mom got the new CTS while trading in the Jeep and gave me the LS. My main comparisons are going to be drawn from driving both of these cars.

Performance:
The LS V6 engine is very powerful despite the manufacture 210 hp. It has very good accelration but the automatic shifting isn't the best. You could really feel it struggle getting into second and third gear. Maybe if it were the SST then you could control it better (or even the manual that came out the first year). I havent had an problems with the engine because we have kept up with the service. Oil change every 3,000-5000 miles (54,000 miles by next week). One time though, a hose broke and the engine overheated and I was left stranded but that has hopefully been my only problem.

Ride and Handling:
As far as handling, the LS is pretty fun to drive. I put Eibach springs to lower it a bit, but IMO the handling was not affected. The braking on the LS is also not to my standards. Very hard to press and a lot of noise (I would take it to the dealer because of the noise and they could never find anything wrong with it and they were also clean too). The stock Goodyear tires are horrible! The were extremely loud, no traction (going 40-50 mph on amoist off ramp off of the interstate and I ended up losing control. I put Michelin's on now, and the ride is a lot better. Less noise, very comfortable, but the traction still isn't what I am looking for. The quietness in the LS isn't great compared to the Lexus and Mercedes cars.

Interior:
The 2000 Ls came with leather bucket seats and wood grain which is very classy. The stock stereo is very clear with the factory 8 speaker Alpine stereo option. But if you are like me and like to hear your music very loud with a hint of bass, then thats something else.

Exterior:
Speaks for it self.
On mine, I installed the LSE package just recently. (LSE was a 1 year model that was a V6, manual and appearance package).

In comparison to the CTS, the LS lacks the performance and handling. The CTS V6 is alot more powerful, the accelartion is a lot quicker. The transmission is a lot smoother, and quick with "Sport Mode" engaged. Braking is also more effiecent and softer. The styling does not grab my attention as much as the LS, but eventaully I guess it grows on to you. Also, I feel less comfortable in the CTS than in the LS. Now, because the LS is mroe comfortable or just that I am use to it? W/e it is, I like my LS a lot better. If anything, if the LS was a V8 then performance might be different, or if it were a newer LS with the V6 better tuned.

What I really want, is some aftermarket engine mods to give the V6 some more power.

Well, hope everyone finds this helpful.

Thanks!
From your description of the handling and ride I'm guessing you don't have the sport suspension? Mine corners like it's on rails. Maybe you should look at your tire selection. The Firestone's on mine are very sticky, and aren't too expensive when you only need the two rears replaced :)
As for performance, about the only thing to do that is cost effective and non-intrusive, is to give it some air. I modified the airbox to do away with the factory snorkel and added a K&N filter. Huge difference in feel off the line and sound when you put your foot in it. I'm afraid your only gonna get so much from the stock auto tranny.
 
beboswell said:
From your description of the handling and ride I'm guessing you don't have the sport suspension? Mine corners like it's on rails. Maybe you should look at your tire selection. The Firestone's on mine are very sticky, and aren't too expensive when you only need the two rears replaced :)
As for performance, about the only thing to do that is cost effective and non-intrusive, is to give it some air. I modified the airbox to do away with the factory snorkel and added a K&N filter. Huge difference in feel off the line and sound when you put your foot in it. I'm afraid your only gonna get so much from the stock auto tranny.



well I had that K&N filter and it was a decent upgrade, but now I got a new one from Kurts Kustomz motorsports and its basically and open element air filter that replaces the air box, and it makes very nice difference on the sound and a bit on performance too. WEll, as far is the suspension, yeah I do not have the sport suspension (Just the Eibach springs which i installed) but the tires were CRAPPY Goodyears and were pretty worn out too, but even with that, I prefer the CTS driving capabilities over the LS.

intake 009.jpg
 
Your Intake looks good but that set up is definatly going to suck some hot air on humid days.IMO you should route some kind of hose or something so it helps get cool air from outside :steering

2000 ls6 5speed
 
yeah, the point of the box is to give cooler air to the engine. you have to box it or you'll jsut suck hot air in.


looks good though.
 

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