Overview & Reviews

When the Lincoln LS was first introduced, it was heralded as the domestic answer to the premium midsize sedans from Europe's luxury brands. At the time, the rear-drive LS had the look and the technology to compete with Europe's best in a way few American cars could. Early reviews pegged it as a 10 in terms of fun to drive, and some described it as a car that offered the roominess of a BMW 5 Series at the price of a 3 Series.

The LS had the option of a V6 or V8 and, thanks to its rear-wheel-drive configuration and well-tuned suspension, was reasonably entertaining on a back road. But as good as the LS seemed initially, the car became less appealing over the years as the ranks of newer, more competent and more luxurious entry-luxury sedans grew. With sales slowing, Lincoln discontinued the LS after the 2006 model year.

Though lacking a little in terms of prestige and refinement, the Lincoln LS is still a respectable choice for a used luxury sedan with sporting tendencies. Its pricing is lower than many competing models, and maintenance costs should also be slightly lower than those of some European cars, but don't expect the LS to be as trouble-free as its competitors from Japan.

Most Recent Lincoln LS

A midsize entry-luxury sedan, the Lincoln LS was produced for the 2000-'06 model years. Originally, the LS was available in just two trim levels differentiated by the engine equipped. The Lincoln LS V8 came with a 252-horsepower, 3.9-liter engine that moved the sedan from zero to 60 in 7.5 seconds. A five-speed automatic transmission was standard.

The less expensive choice was the LS V6. Its 3.0-liter engine provided just 210 hp but slightly better fuel economy. For this engine, Lincoln initially offered either a five-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic.

Standard features for both cars included dual-zone automatic climate control, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, alloy wheels, foglights and ABS. However, a few upscale items, such as a navigation system, weren't initially offered.

At the time, we found that V8 versions of the Lincoln LS delivered smooth and acceptable acceleration. The ride was comfortable and compliant, and the LS was at its best when being used as a touring sedan rather than an all-out sport sedan. Notably, it was roomy enough to provide comfortable quarters for four adults. The interior materials were lacking in terms of quality, though, and storage space was minimal in the cabin.

Early models had automatic transmission problems, so it might be wise to avoid them on the used market. Even when that issue was addressed by Lincoln, shifts from the automatic were not exactly smooth and many customers still complained. For this reason, we'd advise any prospective LS buyer to do a thorough test-drive before making a purchase.

For 2003, Lincoln did its first major update on its midsize luxury sedan. Output for the V8 was raised to 280 hp, and the V6 added 12 hp for a total of 222. The five-speed manual that was available with the V6 was dropped due to lack of consumer interest.

Other changes that year included retuned steering (resulting in better feel), a retuned suspension (resulting in a slightly softer ride) and improved interior materials and storage. New features were also added, such as a navigation system, side curtain airbags and a THX sound system. To make the most of your used-car dollar, we suggest looking at 2003 or newer LS models.

A few other changes occurred before the Lincoln LS was discontinued. Satellite radio was added as a dealer-installed option for 2004, and Lincoln made additional improvements to the automatic transmission to improve shift quality. For the final year, the V6 version was dropped from the LS lineup.

User Reviews:

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  Wasted Dollars! - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By CT - April 22 - 9:40 pm

  My first 2000 LS was horrible! The car went in the shop 13 times in less than nine months. I got a 2001 LS and it has been one problem after the other also. I have always been afraid to take a long trip in it for fear of being stranded beside the road- which has happened several times. As of now, there is no air conditioning and it doesnt want to go in reverse. The repairs are numerous and very expensive! Wish I had never bought the first one and despise the fact that I got rid of the first one for a second headache! I have paid dearly to put all the miles that I have on this car.

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  This car blows. - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By norminator - August 31 - 2:00 am

  It sucks. Its the B-team vehicle at the A-team price. Theres no interior storage room, its completely unreliable. It gets bad gas mileage. Its run out of gas on me twice indicating more than a third of a tank left. Shifting gears requires a 3 second wait time.

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  Mildly Disappointed - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By Mildly Disappointed - August 11 - 9:06 am

  Ive owned my LS for nearly two years, having "stepped up" from a Grand Marquis. For a car prices in the upper 30s, Im not impressed. The front tires (Continentals) began severly cupping at 30,000 miles. Lincoln would only stand by a 50% replacement with Michelens. Gas mileage is signficantly less than advertised. There is no backseat room when the drivers seat is fully back. Trunk space is very"shallow, will accomodate only one large suitcase. On the plus side, the V6 does give plenty of power when passing, but sometimes lurches when backing up or starting forward. The front seat AC/Heat is a nice feature and overall the AC system cools well. I expected more from a Lincoln.

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  Never Ford again - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By Poo - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This was the biggest waste of money I have ever spent on a auto. I have a 2000 with 60K miles and it is a piece of you know what. Paid $30K for it and I cant even get $9K for trade in. Please, please, dont make the same mistake as I did. No resale value at all. Brakes have been replaced at least 4 times and now it feels like the transmission is going out. Power window motors replaced twice. Windshield replaced three times due to cracks. NEVER AGAIN!!

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  I hate my Lincoln - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By I hate my car!! - June 27 - 9:30 am

  I bought my car 3 years ago and it has been nothing but a problem. I will never, ever buy another Ford/Lincoln again. Everything is very costly. My car needs repairs that cost well over 2000 dollars and the stupid car is only worth 1800! I do not recommend anyone purchasing this car.

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  Worse than my 74 Fiat - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Mike Bauer - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Overall this car was a good idea by Ford, but a bad try, flawed in execution and design. Two transmissions replaced, several recalls, stranded us several times. Spent months at a time in the dealership garage. A real lemon. If you buy one of these used (I recommend you dont!) have them run your VIN Number and get a reapir history and make them throw in an extended warranty. Car looked good, handled well, decent performance, poor fuel economy.

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  Nothing but trouble... - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By Igo - November 13 - 2:00 am

  I leased my LS V-8 in June 2001. Ive experienced constant problems for the first two years ranging from interior material quality to wind noise,constant steering vibration, brake problems etc. Trips to Service Department were multiple and constant due to the very low quality of work performed. Misdiagnosting the problems and ordering wrong parts were of frequent nature. Vehicle was constantly returned to me in a messy and dirty conditions.Make sure that you know if you get this Vehicle you will pay premium price but you will not get a Lexus-type service.

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  My Lincoln LS - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By 4 door v6 sedan lx - November 10 - 1:40 am

  I do not like the way the front seat safety belts fasten. They are too hard since they are so close to the console.The transmission seems to jerk sometime while changing. I have advised the dealersip of this twice and they cannot find any reason it would do this and while test driving , it does not do it. The time and temp. are hard to read in the daytime.

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  Nice to look at, but VERY poor quality - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By BAR - November 5 - 2:00 am

  Very simply, constantly in the shop from the second day of ownership. Heated seat never worked, power window stopped working, lights went out, wipers went out, trim falls off, thermostat went out, seatbelt incorrectly installed, power locks went out, and on and on. I tried to be a patriot and got really badly burned. This is NOT a luxury automobile.

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  My Lincoln The Lemon - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Craig2o - October 30 - 2:00 am

  Please be careful buying this car, there are several Electrical Problems and Ford does not care. REPEATED PROBLEMS: Car does not start sometimes, locks fail and work off and on, windows stop working, headlights fill with water, interior lights stop working.