Sold the Lincoln!

[Robert Crain]

Well gents, this week I sold my 2003 LS. I want to thank all on this forum for your input, guidance, opinion and encouragement. Without the resource of this forum, ownership of this car would have been far more difficult, costly and much less enjoyable.

I owned my LS for a very long time and used it daily as my number one vehicle. For the most part, it was a very reliable car and required virtually no extraordinary service for the first 100k miles except for the usual replacement of wear items like brakes, tires, etc.

But when the car hit about 150k or so miles, like a light switch, this car turned into a real money pit and I couldn't seem to turn off the spigot. I had to stop the bleeding. I think the tipping point for me was the need to remove the intake manifold just to get to that plastic coolant elbow that resides just behind the thermostat. A much bigger project than I expected. I ended up replacing the entire cooling system just like you guys all said I'd have to. That sucked!

But I did love that low rpm power of the V8 and the gas mileage was very respectable too. I never did have any engine problems as it turned out to be the most reliable part of the car. The car's solid feel and comfortable ride was like no other.

I was looking at the Lincoln MKS as a possible replacement but then learned that with this V6 engine, the water pump is driven by the timing chain. When the water pump's bearings or seals go bad (and they will), antifreeze leaks into the oil and oil leaks into the coolant system. Repair is extensive and costly. I chose not to buy a Lincoln with the V6 engine. Burying the water pump inside the engine makes no sense to me and reminded me of my coolant elbow difficulties with the LS. Nothing but trouble down the road.

Thanks again to all and happy motoring. Rob

 

[joegr]

Understandable decision. I was forced to the same one. Best of luck with whatever the replacement is. There are still a few (very few) rear wheel drive options available, and even fewer V8s.

 

[clubairth]

I replaced my 2003 Lincoln LS V-8 Sport with a Eco-Boost 2013 MKS with absolutely every factory option available. Yes the water pump is chain driven and inside the engine. Water pumps are NOT a known problem but of course can and do fail occasionally. But they are very reliable and even though my LS was also very reliable the MKS has been 100% perfect! Which is kind of weird.

Now at 70K miles and other than 2 broken interior parts which were human error nothing has gone wrong. Driver side PW switch and the plastic on the side of the drivers seat broke. MKS Eco-Boost is much faster than the LS and with AWD it just launches. No spinning tires or anything it just flat gits it! Of course the MKS has 365 HP/350TQ stock so a good bit more power than the 280 HP LS.

It's my wife's car and for the money it's not that far off my MUCH more expensive Jaguar XJR which came stock with 550HP. But it does not drive as nice as the Jag or the LS being mainly a FWD car with an AWD option added on. As you know RWD with a V-8 is a great combination!

Problem with the MKS is the same as the LS. They have no value and nobody wants them. The MKS is bland and just blends in with no distinctive features. I think the LS looks way better too! So little to no trade in value. Don't know how long we will keep it but so far I have zero complaints.
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[SultanGris]

I replaced my 2003 Lincoln LS V-8 Sport with a Eco-Boost 2013 MKS with absolutely every factory option available. Yes the water pump is chain driven and inside the engine. Water pumps are NOT a known problem but of course can and do fail occasionally. But they are very reliable and even though my LS was also very reliable the MKS has been 100% perfect! Which is kind of weird.

Now at 70K miles and other than 2 broken interior parts which were human error nothing has gone wrong. Driver side PW switch and the plastic on the side of the drivers seat broke. MKS Eco-Boost is much faster than the LS and with AWD it just launches. No spinning tires or anything it just flat gits it! Of course the MKS has 365 HP/350TQ stock so a good bit more power than the 280 HP LS.

It's my wife's car and for the money it's not that far off my MUCH more expensive Jaguar XJR which came stock with 550HP. But it does not drive as nice as the Jag or the LS being mainly a FWD car with an AWD option added on. As you know RWD with a V-8 is a great combination!

Problem with the MKS is the same as the LS. They have no value and no body wants them. The MKS is bland and just blends in with no distinctive features. I think the LS looks way better too! So little to no trade in value. Don't know how long we will keep it but so far I have zero complaints.
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Good to know! I've always wanted an mkz for a second car but they've always been a little pricey for me, haven't looked in a few years though maybe I'll check the prices again.it's not something I plan on driving everyday so it's hard to justify spending thousands and thousands of dollars on it you know what I'm saying, I want to wait for it to get a little older and a little cheaper then I'll get one, like the LS i got for 1000$, I'll be a lot more interested in there in the $4,000-5,000 range, ha

 

[clubairth]

Well I am sure you won't have to wait long! The MKS is still dropping at a good rate.
As with the LS I view the MKS as a long term purchase because you will get a good deal buying one but when selling it won't bring much at all.
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[SultanGris]

Well I am sure you won't have to wait long! The MKS is still dropping at a good rate.
As with the LS I view the MKS as a long term purchase because you will get a good deal buying one but when selling it won't bring much at all.
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Yes I agree, plan on keeping it till it's no longer fixable or I have an mkz and don't care anymore, have too much invested to quit now with no resale value. Ha

 

[clubairth]

I have a MKS which is different from the lower level MKZ.
I liked the new Continental a lot too but they must not have sold at all because I have been looking and outside the Lincoln showroom I have never seen a single continental on the road?
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[SultanGris]

Oh, didn't even know there was an MKS, I'll have to do more research I guess! I've never seen or even heard of a continental until I got on this forum either, but I've always been more of a truck guy.

 

[joegr]

...I liked the new Continental a lot too but they must not have sold at all because I have been looking and outside the Lincoln showroom I have never seen a single continental on the road?
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I see a few around here. One or two of my neighbors even have one. They look very nice on the outside. I have no idea how well they drive. I think the very top trim cost around $100K? Looks like used black label are around $34K with 50K miles.
Googling, looks like new was $75K to $125K MSRP.

 

[04_Sport_LS]

There are a number of them cruising around my area. No longer made anymore. 2020 was the last year.

Personally... I never cared for the electronic door handles.