What year ls should I stay away from

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albertkralicek

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I had a 2000 ls that I loved had to get rid of due to needing a truck plan on getting another one can someone help me and tell me what years should I stay away from
 
If you're looking for maintenance free, stay away from all of them. If you're looking for the best of the fleet, get an '06.
 
Well my 2000 was really good I have found a few I like... I have thought about getting another 2000 just trying to get some advice
 
Most on here that ask a question like that don't like the responses and go and do whatever it was they wanted to do anyway. You were advised that all LSes are expensive to keep up, and that the 2006 would be the best bet, but you then mention wanting another 2000.
 
I didn't mean that I wanted another 2000... If that is year I end up getting then that is the one I end up getting I know they are expensive cars to take care of I'm just trying to get an opinion from other people and then I will go from there
 
2000 - First year of the LS (and DEW98) - had the most bugs to work out
2000, 2001, many 2002 - V8s have timing tensioners that will fail if not already failed.
late 2002 - V8 timing tensioners changed.
2003 - first year of gen II, more than 500 improvements, but still some bugs
2004 - most gen II bugs resolved, auto wipers dropped
2005 - 2006 last two years of production, no more bug fixes.
2006 - newest that you can get, has all the improvements/fixes that you'll ever get. Only available with V8

At this point, to get a used LS -
1. There are some very overpriced (at least it will seem that way) that may be up to date on maintenance (cooling system replaced, suspension, AC, transmission, coils, ...) You won't buy one of these because you could get something newer and better with the same money.
2. There are some reasonable to low priced that will likely need thousands$ in maintenance. You'll get cars than have been through several owners that did the least they could, or ones with just one or two owners that know a bunch stuff is due and felt the car wasn't worth keeping any longer. My two are in good shape, but when I do sell them, you won't want them...
 
Ok thank you for this valuable information and I apologize if I came off rude I didn't mean to I am just curious on to what info people have about these cars that I can use in my search
 
albertkralicek said:
Ok thank you for this valuable information and I apologize if I came off rude I didn't mean to I am just curious on to what info people have about these cars that I can use in my search
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I don't think any of the year models are worst than any other if they have been properly maintained. If you find one with a good service history, you've beaten the odds already. As for G2 cars 'having 500 improvements', I'm always a little bothered by this statement as changing something does not necessarily mean it was improved. Moving the Windscreen Washer Nozzles off the hood is a change but not really an improvement. Changing the Door Panels is a change but not really an improvement. Only an engineer can label a change as an improvement. That being said, the first year of any new car model is always a risk. I would never own a 1997 Corvette that I wasn't buying from the original owner or that didn't come with a complete service history but I would gladly own a 1998 that didn't have a service history.

If you aren't car savvy and you can't change a Spark Plug, the LS may not be for you, unless you have a lot of disposable income and a 2nd car to drive while your LS is being serviced.
 
I don't know what it is ever since I owned the first after I got rid of it I want to get another
 
All2kool said:
... As for G2 cars 'having 500 improvements', I'm always a little bothered by this statement as changing something does not necessarily mean it was improved. Moving the Windscreen Washer Nozzles off the hood is a change but not really an improvement. Changing the Door Panels is a change but not really an improvement. Only an engineer can label a change as an improvement. ...
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You can reasonably argue that not all the changes are improvements. Some were neutral, and some may have even gone in the wrong direction. However, several clearly were major improvements. I test drove a new gen I (2001 or 2002 I think), and I really didn't like it. A couple of years later, I test drove a 2004 and had to have it. I bought a 2006 when I knew it was my last chance to get another new one.

If you buy a gen II without trying a gen II, you are cheating yourself...
 
Feel free to use any of the following , . ( ) " " ! ? on your next post!

+1 on the 06!!!!

+1000 on needing double what your budget is for repairs at 3k mark !!!
 
albertkralicek said:
It's hard to find a 06 on a budget of only 3000 for the car and any improvements
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Albert, I've owned many Fords, and the one you could obtain for 3000 and be the best as far as gas mileage and low maintenance would be to go with a 2002 or newer Mercury Sable.You just have to shop like was said above and try to get one with less than 120K miles and one or two owners with a clean title and carfax.
These cars are getting cheaper,yet they were very good cars. That's my recommendation Albert. don-ohio :)^)
 
All2kool said:
As for G2 cars 'having 500 improvements', I'm always a little bothered by this statement as changing something does not necessarily mean it was improved. Moving the Windscreen Washer Nozzles off the hood is a change but not really an improvement. Changing the Door Panels is a change but not really an improvement. Only an engineer can label a change as an improvement.
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actually the change in door panels were a huge improvement, not more elastic stretchy pocket that wears out and sags all over the place...

as for moving the washer nozzles, when driving through my normal car wash, the drier at the end hangs down and has little rollers that roll over the top car, these little rollers would catch on the hood nozzels and bouce and and come down kinda hard on the hood right behind them, this doesn't happen with the smoother 2nd gen hood...


so I do see improvements with both of those changes...
 
1LoudLS said:
actually the change in door panels were a huge improvement, not more elastic stretchy pocket that wears out and sags all over the place...

as for moving the washer nozzles, when driving through my normal car wash, the drier at the end hangs down and has little rollers that roll over the top car, these little rollers would catch on the hood nozzels and bouce and and come down kinda hard on the hood right behind them, this doesn't happen with the smoother 2nd gen hood...


so I do see improvements with both of those changes...
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Well stop going through the car wash and cramming the door panels full of Big Mac wrappers.
 
+1 on the Mercury Sable or Ford Taurus

The 2nd Gen overall looks more attractive, has faster engines, and gets rid of the timing chain problem. However, I do recall reading about someone having an issue with that on their 2nd Gen.

As for having a budget of $3,000, good luck finding one that has religiously been serviced and cared for. without it becoming hungry for parts so soon.
 
albertkralicek said:
Moosewhip just wondering why stay away from them
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The 3.8L was susceptible to head gasket issues, though we put 175K mostly trouble-free miles (other than a seized water pump just regular maintenance) on a '91 Sable with that engine. Our '96 Sable with the Duratech had, IIRC, 125K when we traded it for the '00 LS. Other than a strangely shifting trans (the 2-3 shift always had a bit of a delay. Felt like slippage though the trans got a clean bill of health) on our '96, the 4 Sables ('86, '88, '91, '960 that we had served us well. Other than the '86 the other 3 had over 100K miles when we traded them.
 
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