Faults:
Unfortunately the fuel pump (s) failed before the vehicle even reached 5,000 miles.
The electronic seat adjustment is in-consistent and requires routine re-adjustment!
CD player hates CDR's and sometimes it will play one, sometimes it won't. This is a problem for the type of work I am in. What kind of CD player these days rejects CDR's?!
Engine pings uphill and on rapid accelleration.
General Comments:
The Lincoln LSE will make do for now.
I get lots of comments on the design (the LSE is a bit pretentious looking, but that's fun, it looks like a hot rod)
The LSE, in particular, appears to have been lowered. I must use caution at almost every driveway because it will scrape on the ground!
I love the fact that the car rides HEAVY and feels safe.
I appreciate the placement of the easy to reach controls and I am extremely comfortable in the cabin.
I am dismayed about the engine pinging. The only time I have ever had an engine ping was driving a 4 cylinder using low octane gas. This is outrageous!
The PRIMARY reason I got this vehicle was to get out of my Ford EXPLODER. I felt that this would be a more reliable vehicle for my work related driving. So far it has proven otherwise. I would seriously consider returning the car if I could, especially after the fuel pumps failed and when the tow truck driver came, rolled his eyes, and said (before I even described the problem) "oh, I bet it's the fuel pump, you're not the ONLY LS I've picked up this week." Then, it was my understanding that the warranty for the car would cover all of this AND a rental vehicle. The customer service department at FORD was not properly trained on this product and it's warranty. The rep was not helpful. I had to spend nearly two hours on the phone. Finally, the FORD customer service rep said "oh, yeah, we were mistaken, we are supposed to pay for the rental car" We'll, they only paid for part of the rental, I probably need to spend another 2 hours on the phone to convince them that my car was REALLY in the shop for nearly a week.
I certainly hope that nothing else goes wrong, I just don't have the time.
The dealerships servicing the car have been great and want to make sure that I am taken care of.
I recommend the LS or LSE as a corporate "perk" car that my get turned in at lease expiration. I would not necessarily recommend investing personal hard earned money in this vehicle at this time. It's got a ways to go. I do not consider it a long term type of car. I feel that I'm driving a "beta" version.
5th Aug 2003, 11:48
I'm with you on the Japanese crusade although I am looking at the LS, but Ford and Mazda are somewhat one in the same.