Need serious input here from someone that knows what theyre talking about...Help!

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tical3604

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Ok, well I'm thinking about buying my first car. I'm 19, have a decent paying job, and have had my eye on the LS for years. Well, I'm ready to buy one but have read about ALOT of problems with these cars. I don't necessarily have the money to constantly repair this(and if I did, it would be me and my buddies trying to fix it...I don't have the kind of $$ to take it to a shop everytime).

If you wanna see it, go here- http://marketplace.nwsource.com/auto/detail.cfm?id=9244130

It's beautiful. Wanted all black, but this would do just fine. Here's the description the guy gave-

"This is a very clean 2001 Lincoln LS that has been driven primarily on the freeways between Sammamish and Pierce County by a grandpa. Although the mileage is about 119,000, the engine, drivetrain, transmission, tires, paint and interior are in excellent condition. The oil has been changed every 3,000 miles, i.e., maintenance records are available. You will not be disappointed in this Lincoln LS."

He put on about 100 or so miles everyday driving between the airport and his home, almost all freeway miles.

So my question for those of you on here that are mechanically inclined, should I beware? He took it the same day I called him about it to have some of the coils replaced(I'm sure you all know about those), and the brakes fixed. He said there hadn't been any problems with it since he got it, and I trust him. But would now be the time when most things would start going wrong with this vehicle? And how long can I expect it to last before something major does happen to it?

Basically, this is my dream car and can't see myself buying anything else. But I also don't want to make my life a living hell if I buy a vehicle that is going to break down all the time. What do you fellas think?
 
i can feel ya on that situation, wanting to only get the LS. thats how i was when my mind was made up. but you really should think twice about buying ANY car that has 100k+ on it. obviously you'll want to get the VCG and COPs checked, also see when was the last time he flushed the tranny fluiid, remaining tire tread, current MPG, basically just get a mechanic to give it the once over. any seller should not have a problem with you bringing a mechanic over, or even better, bringing it down to a shop where the mechanic will have more at his disposal. on craigslist i see mechanics offering their services for these "mobile" check ups for fairly cheap, anywhere between $50 and $150. it's worth it, if you have any second thoughts and want to have more security about the purchase.

good luck
 
run, run fast, run fast and hard.

unless he can show that the cam cover gaskets, ball joints, front sway bar, window regulators, clock spring, brake booster, master cylinder, wheel bearings, cooling fan, thermostat, dual coolant control valve, valve body, solenoid pack have been done....

seriously, you dont want that car, cost of repairs on these things at high mileage is not something for a 19 year old.

only cars i trust with over 100k, are subaru, toyota, honda.
Jay
 
LincolnTech38 said:
only cars i trust with over 100k, are subaru, toyota, honda.
Jay
Click to expand...

I wouldn't even trust them over the last 5 model years.



At 19, you need a base model with a base engine. Your insurance is going to kill you if you get anything that has a Lincoln star on the front. Also, with the current price of gas, you might as well forget it. Maybe you already know this but LS's require 91 octane fuel or higher. I didn't know this when I bought mine, so be aware.

My suggestion for you would would be a Taurus SES or SEL (only look for a 24V DOHC motor). They have good features, like 210HP from the factory and they are rated well for insurance. Also, they run on 87. You should be able to find an 03-05 with between 35-60K miles for about the same price as that LS you are looking at.
 
that is alot of miles .. and the final choice would be up to you if you take it to a mechanic and everything is well.. personally , i would not tell you that you cant get it because u`r 19, because if you want it bad enough, there is always a legal way to get it. i bought my 00 v8 when i had just turned 21. one major thing i would recommend trying to get is an aftermarket waranty. if you cant get that then i would think twice because i would have had to pay about 2000 in repairs within the last year and a couple months,in the case that i didn`t have an aftermarket waranty. my left and right front window regulator went out , my alternator , and also my power window switch on the driver side started breaking off.

all in all its a great car. i love it, but its cheaply built in some ways. just make sure you check for the obvious. and you can probably find one with alot less miles for aroung the same price due to the fact that they depreciate quite rapidly. good luck man.. and definitely look around .

jace
 
$10k is too much for the mileage, maybe at $7,500. I would keep looking and probably for a better color combination.
 
LincolnTech38 said:
run, run fast, run fast and hard.
only cars i trust with over 100k, are subaru, toyota, honda.
Jay
Click to expand...


I trust my 1998 SHO, Had it since 65K now have 177,000 (Just turned)

I would look for lower mileage, and make sure you insurance will not skyrocket. These car are expensive to maintain. Good luck on your quest.
 
Being single, under 25, and male, you're going to be screwed, blued, and tattooed, regardless of what you drive, so if you can swing the insurance, drive what you like. If you take out a loan to buy the car, the lender will almost certainly require that you carry full coverage, with no greater than a $500 deductible, whereas buying for cash would allow you to go with liability-only insurance (which is much less expensive). Check with your insurance agent to see what sort of screwing you're going to take on this deal.

Also, be aware that when you're buying an LS for under $10K, you're not buying a sub-$10K car when it comes to maintenance and repairs, you're buying a car that stickered closer to $50K, with repair bills to match. It has precious little parts commonality with anything else Ford made in the US (the '02-'05 T-Bird and Jag S-Type are it's only platform-mates), so it doesn't have the economics of scale behind its parts like, say, a Taurus. Damn near everything on this car will cost you more than the comparable parts on a Mustang or Taurus or Town Car (though probably not nearly as much as the same part on an S-Type ;) ).
 
a car with less mileage = a car with less repairs..


simple as that.. if u dont want to be fixing the car constantly than dont go with this car..
 
The price is waaaaay too high with that many miles. If you can scale the aforementioned hurdles (i.e. ins, fuel bill, etc.), I would keep looking. There are LSes out there with way fewer miles in that price range.
 
Dont listen about insurance prices i traded my wifes Ford Focus for my Lincoln LS8 Sport AND THE LINCOLN IS CHEAPEER THEN A FOCUS.
 
oh and i am 21 and my wife is 20 insurance is cheaper than a 140hp focus just to clearify that i am not 30 or so
 
LincolnTech38 said:
run, run fast, run fast and hard.

only cars i trust with over 100k, are subaru, toyota, honda.
Jay
Click to expand...

realy makes you wonder about the "made in USA" stamp

a 35k top of the line American luxury car is a piece of junk at 100k where most Jap cars are just out of the break in period!!!
 
In my opinion, I would stay away. Too many miles for that price and I think that it would be too much for a 19 year old to handle unless you and your family are well off. I know that I couldn't have been able to handle my car when I was 19. I agree with Wicked_LS on the insurance prices as well. Unless you have a terrible driving record insurance will be reasonable. Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide to do.
 
Give your zip code. We will find you a better deal for an LS. As stated above thats way too many miles. Im 22 and bout mine for 14k and have put aqround 5k into it in repairs. and thats with an aftermarket warranty. Also dont pass up a v6 the gas these days is killer and trust me it will make a diff. Id sell you my LS for 10,500. right now with 70k on it.
 
Wicked_LS said:
oh and i am 21 and my wife is 20 insurance is cheaper than a 140hp focus just to clearify that i am not 30 or so
Click to expand...
Being married makes all the difference in the world. At 19, I'm guessing that he's not hitched, which means he's in the "getting screwed by the insurance industry" bracket. When I turned 25 (single, never married), my insurance bill literally dropped 50%; carrying four cars, two with full coverage, now costs me less than either my T-Bird SC or SHO did back then...
 
wow,thanks for all the great responses guys, I really appreciate it.

well,I guess a little more info about me.I make 13 an hour+a lot of ot,will soon be moving up to 15 an hour.live at home,dont really have any obligations BUT i'm trying to start school in the next 6 months or so.

i WAS going to get a 00' town car, but really I want something a little faster and sportier i guess.ive been driving an 88 chevy celebrity for way too long(hoopty).

I want to have this car for the next 4 years or so, at least till im done with college. I want to learn how to work on it, do some upgrades, really make this MY car, you know?

I just dont want to buy something everyone else has,I only buy american(brought up that way),and this car is the epitome of what I am looking for.But now, I'm kinda stuck. I just don't know what other car I would like, the LS is in a class of its own to me...
 
and if you were serious about helping me find a better one, my zip is 98115.

really I wanted the all black V6.but that white one is nice too....black or white,dont really want any other color.
 
I bought my LS for 10. It had 80k, very well kept.


Not one issue to this day.
insurance is too much.
 
SoonerLS said:
Being married makes all the difference in the world. At 19, I'm guessing that he's not hitched, which means he's in the "getting screwed by the insurance industry" bracket. When I turned 25 (single, never married), my insurance bill literally dropped 50%; carrying four cars, two with full coverage, now costs me less than either my T-Bird SC or SHO did back then...
Click to expand...


+1


Just as an example. I own 3 vehicles and I owned a Taurus SES Sport 24V DOHC before my LS. My insurance jumped 25/month with the LS over the Taurus.
My agent who is also a family member put it to me this way, all models have a rating with the insurance industry. Mine were as follows;

Mountaineer, 10
Taurus, 12
LS, 18
Mustang, 21

And I am over 25 and married.
 
bought mine in feb with 41k on it for 17500. 02 fully loaded sport. alpine package. all the goodies. v8. Insurance is not too awful bad. I'll have to ask my mom, but i think its around 450-500 quartrly.
 
At your age...I would consider a used V6 Mustang to get you through school. They're cheap...don't require a bunch of maintenance...and sporty. The LS is really nice...but they do require maintenance and that isn't cheap. School should be the most important thing in your life right now...and far and away the best investment you can make in your life. Don't jeapordize that.
 
2001LS8Sport said:
At your age...I would consider a used V6 Mustang to get you through school. They're cheap...don't require a bunch of maintenance...and sporty. The LS is really nice...but they do require maintenance and that isn't cheap. School should be the most important thing in your life right now...and far and away the best investment you can make in your life. Don't jeapordize that.
Click to expand...
I agree. Get your school done first. I graduated in December and bought my LS then. I drove an old truck through school (which I was glad). College parking lots can be hell on cars and you don't want to mess up a nice car. However, if you find a good deal, don't pass it up. All the problems I have had have been covered by my extended warranty. Insurance is about 1200 a year full coverage (I'm 22 and single as long as the g/f lets me be :D ) I don't know why insurance is so high on these cars. They are supposed to be very safe, and really the horsepower isn't that much compared to other V8 vehicles today.
 
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