Faults:

The car has nothing but problems, the gaskets have failed and the ignition system has as well, along with transmission problems.

General Comments:

This is not my first Ford product, I own a Ford Lightning. It is the same thing - every 10,000 miles something breaks too. I have went through two sets of heads in 20,000 miles, plus numerous other problems. I will never buy another FORD again.

Faults:

Coils (various) tested bad twice. Took the car to my local dealership both times and they diagnosed shorted coil (s) and replaced the single culprit each time.

Each time I ran about 500-600 miles and the same problem came up again. I suspect that the dealership just cleaned out the valve cover holes where the spark plugs are. Both trips to the dealer cost me $650.00 each.

After reading up on this car, I ordered a new set of valve cover gaskets, new plugs and new coils. Maybe overkill, but DIRTY oil will conduct and short out the coils. The soot particles in oil are highly conductive. When I pulled the valve covers, every single spark plug cavity was over half full of oil.

Anyway, after fixing the problem myself, I found out there is a recall on this particular issue that is good up to 100,000 miles. I have driven Fords/Lincolns for 40 years and probably still will, but the dealership in my town will not get another of my dollars.

If you are having misfires and shorted coils/plugs, insist that your dealer replace the valve cover gaskets.

Faults:

Turn signal indicator switch failed intermittently, repaired under extended warranty.

General Comments:

An exceptional handling, powerful American car that has an identity crisis. It wants a BMW badge on its hood instead. You will not find a better handling American sports sedan that offers the combination of performance, comfort and ride/handling that the LS V8 offers.

I rented a number of LS V8 models for business before purchasing a Select Edition extended warranty car, which is covered through 2009 or 75K miles. My rental experiences taught me that this was a car I wanted to own, which I cannot say for the MKZ, the LS' replacement. I looked at brand new 06 end of the run models still on the dealer's lots, which at the time were being given away for $34,000 with a sticker of $48,000, but I could not pass up the car I chose at $19,500 with the extended factory warranty.

This car is such a pleasure to drive, I hardly ever drive my Jaguar XJ12 sedan, which used to be my absolute favorite mode of transportation. It sits idle now in the garage, while the LS gets all the attention. Most of the magazine reviews of this car you read are highly complimentary of it, and I would agree wholeheartedly with them.

The only negative on this car is that it has been discontinued, and will be replaced by the AWD MXZ, a vastly inferior automobile in many ways. I would suggest to anyone looking for an LS, snap one up, it may be the best American sedan ever built, and I may look for an 06, wrap it in cellophane for 5 years for when my 03 is worn out.