Flashback Fridays: 2004 Lincoln LSE V-8

Originally published March, 2004 Story by John LeBlanc Way back in 1999, there was Ford, with its Lincoln division, taking on the Europeans and the Japanese — who had ruled this part of the market since wheels were round — with a genuine, made-in-America, rear-wheel-drive import fighter. Sized like a BMW 5 Series, but priced more like a 3 Series, the Lincoln LS handled well, had aggressive European styling, and came with top-notch engines. Heck, you could even order up a manual transmission — a sure sign Lincoln was serious about taking on the established players in the luxury sport sedan field. Accelerate ahead five years, and the luxury sport sedan marketplace has become more competitive than ever. Is the 2004 Lincoln LS still a value compared against today’s newer and updated Europeans and Japanese? And what about Lincoln’s domestic competitors who have joined the battle with their own rear-drive luxury sport sedans? To keep up, the Lincoln LS received more than 500 upgrades in performance, engineering, and luxury features just last year. New for 2004 is the LSE appearance package at $2,995, available with both the V-6 and V-8 engines. That added chrome wheels, distinctive front and rear fascias, fog lamps, grille, spoiler, and other LSE-specific trim pieces to our V-8 equipped test car. With additional options, its $51,170 base price ballooned to $63,770. Lincoln is certainly keeping up with the “sport” portion of the “luxury sport” equation by giving the buyers in this class what they crave: more horsepower. The 3.9-litre V-8 gained 28 h.p. last year, and now totals a very healthy 280. Torque is also up, to 286 pound-feet from 267, giving real ability to this 1,729-kilogram sedan for passing manoeuvres or finding holes in traffic. Lincoln claims a half-second reduction in the 0-100 km/h sprint, to around seven seconds flat, bettering such six-cylinder competitors as the Mercedes Benz E320 ($71,350). Forget the numbers, press the gas pedal, and the improved engine is immediately felt in a giddy appreciation of V-8s in general and the authoritative and muscular sounds coming from under the hood of our LSE. All LS V-8 cars are fitted with the SelectShift automatic-manual transmission that allows drivers to swap gears on their own using the console shifter between the front seats. Unlike the auto-manuals found in many competitors, there’s no rev limiter, which means you can spin the engine to the redline without the electronic nannies kicking in with an awkward, unwanted upshift. We highly recommend Lincoln’s stability control system, called AdvanceTrac ($1,195). It uses the brakes and the “drive by wire” throttle to help keep this powerful rear-drive car on the road when our Canadian weather conditions, or drivers, attempt otherwise. Equipped with the V-8, the Sport suspension and the SelectShift transmission, the Lincoln LS has plenty of power, and can be fun to drive. But what about the “luxury” side of this sedan? After all, it’s a Lincoln, right? Although the LS is not at Audi’s lofty standards, we were surprised at the level of fit and finish inside our car — quite an improvement from the original LS models. The interior was simple and elegant and had an easy-to-use control layout. Despite the $3,700 cost, the new touchscreen, DVD-based navigation system was very user-friendly. No mice, no dials, just touch the screen. The LS cabin, being well insulated from wind and road noise, allowed the new 10-speaker THX-certified audio system to sound its best. In the back, there’s a luxurious amount of room for three adults, more comfortable than an Infiniti M45 ($62,000), or even the Lincoln’s twin, the Jaguar S-Type V-8 ($72,950). For utility, the rear seats fold down and the large trunk has 382 cubic litres of golf-club toting capability. Compared with much more expensive V-8 engined European and Japanese rivals, such as the BMW 545i ($77,700) or Lexus GS 430 ($69,500), the LS has a distinct price advantage. Unfortunately, that edge evaporates when the five-year-old Lincoln is compared to its newer domestic rear-drive competition. If you agree with its cutting-edge styling, Cadillac’s more athletic CTS Sport ($54,035) is definitely worth considering over the Lincoln. But the one car that blows away both the CTS and the LS in price and performance is Chrysler’s new 300C sedan ($42,995). With its aggressive looks, stirring Hemi V-8 and Mercedes-inspired suspension, and built right here in Ontario, the 300C has stolen some of the Lincoln’s thunder as a North American challenger to the imports in an ever more competitive class. Still, if you can stay away from some of the pricey options that bloat the Lincoln’s base price, and the conservative stying is more your cup of tea, then the LSE V-8 could be your pick as a luxurious and sporty American-made sedan. 2004 Lincoln LSE V-8 Type: Midsize luxury sport sedan, rear-wheel-drive Seats: Five Base price: $51,710 (plus $1,085 freight) Price as tested: $63,770 Engine: 3.9-litre V-8, 32 valves, dual overhead camshafts; 280 h.p. 4,000 r.p.m., 286 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 r.p.m. Transmission: Five-speed automatic with manual shift feature Suspension: Independent, unequal-length control arms with coil springs and stabilizer bar (front and rear) Brakes: Disc/disc with antilock Wheels: 17-in aluminum Tires: 235/50VR-17 Michelin HX MXM4 Wheelbase: 2,908 mm (114.5 in.) Length: 4,925 mm (193.9 in.) Width: 2,035 mm (73.2 in.) Curb weight: 1,729 kg (3,768 lb.) Standard features: Heated/cooled front seats; sport-tuned suspension; Selectshift transmission; dual zone climate control; 17-inch 7-spoke wheels; electronic message centre Options: Advance Trac ($1,195); power moonroof ($1,595); heated rear seats ($520); DVD Nav/THX six-CD audiophile ($3,700); HID headlamps ($850); side air curtains, extended rear (radar) park assist ($1,105); LSE package ($2,995) Fuel economy, L/100 km (m.p.g.): City 14.2 (20), Hwy. 9.1 (31) Fuel type: Premium (recommended) Warranty, yrs./km: 4/80,000, includes scheduled maintenance This article was originally published at Driving.ca

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