2003 Lincoln LS Review
2003 Lincoln LS Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Confident steering and handling, choice of either a V6 or V8 engine, comfortable and roomy interior, clean exterior design.
Cons
- No manual transmission, build quality lags behind German and Japanese competitors.
What’s new
Lincoln's sport sedan goes into 2003 with more than 500 changes. The V8 sports 28 more horsepower, while the V6 benefits from a 12-horsepower increase. Both engines are controlled by drive-by-wire throttle, and drink slightly less fuel than their 2002 counterparts. Unfortunately, Lincoln decided to kill the five-speed manual that was available with the V6. Meanwhile, the rack and pinion steering has been improved, and Lincoln says it has softened the ride without degrading the car's handling abilities. In terms of safety, Lincoln has added a BrakeAssist function, side curtain airbags (late availability) and power-adjustable pedals. As on the 2003 Jaguar S-Type, a new electronically activated parking brake improves the stowage capability of the center console. Also on the inside, you'll find vastly improved interior materials for the seat and dash, along with little touches like one-touch up and down front windows and a host of new options. Outside you'll find slightly altered fascias front and rear and a host of new wheel choices.
Edmunds says
The best domestic entry-level luxury sedan for 2003.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2003 Lincoln LS 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 5A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.31 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$267/mo for LS Base
LS Base
vs
$176/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2003 Lincoln LS.
5 star(72%)
4 star(21%)
3 star(5%)
2 star(2%)
1 star(0%)
93 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
2.88 out of 5 stars
Might have been good when new.
David E, 09/29/2010
2003 Lincoln LS Premium 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 5A)
I purchased my LS in June of 2009 for $7,000. I am going to give it to the local vo-tech because it has almost no trade in value and I can't imagine what private individual this car would be good for. Almost every month I have owned this car, I have had to repair something electronic. There are more $500 - $1000 gizmos on this thing than you can imagine. I had hoped that I was getting … them all repaired and wouldn't have any more problems but I am starting to replace some things a second time. This car is extremely complex. Some of the parts are designed by Jaguar. When luxury features fail, you don't just lose the feature, you lose basic functions.
3.13 out of 5 stars
Fun Car but TERRIBLE Build Quality
cap223, 07/18/2012
2003 Lincoln LS Sport 4dr Sedan (3.9L 8cyl 5A)
How are there not more negative reviews? I owned this car until it was 8 years old and sold it. Right around the 80-90K mark, the Transmission gave out. I parked it for several months looking into the problem and found dozens of forums out there with hundreds of people reporting the same problems as mine: loss of 2nd gear and overdrive. I talked to many mechanics and they all had seen … plenty of these cars come in because of a poor design by Ford, Lincoln, Mercury. These transmissions were used in the LS, Aviator, Mustang, and several others. The design is 2 servo pistons (steel) that go through the Transmission case which is soft Aluminum. Over time the opening gets bigger, losing 2 gears.
5 out of 5 stars
BMW and MB can't touch this car
mec57, 10/27/2014
2003 Lincoln LS Sport 4dr Sedan (3.9L 8cyl 5A)
I've driven many luxury and near luxury cars in my adult life. This includes several BMW and Mercedes Benz automobiles. The Lincoln LS V8 was, by far, the best driving and best value of any vehicles in it's class at the time. I understand people have had issues with transmissions, coils and electronics. Honestly, I've had all of the coils replaced under a service bulletin. The … transmission valve body was also changed under a service bulletin. Other than that, there have been nothing other than normal maintenance items. In over 138K miles, I have only had to put one new set of brakes on the car and 2 sets of tires (I stuck with the Michelin OE because they lasted so long).
5 out of 5 stars
Great Car
Happy LS owner, 01/25/2006
2003 Lincoln LS Sport 4dr Sedan (3.9L 8cyl 5A)
i'm on my second LS and consider it one of the best all-around cars i've owned which include BMW's and do not hesitate recommending it to others. i've had only minor defects on the two i've owned both not requiring special trips into dealership. highly recommend both as new or buying as used.
2003 LS Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $31,860 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 20 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $267/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 13.5 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the LS include:
- Alarm
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover5 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintAcceptable
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