Lincoln is one of those luxury automakers with a broad appeal, despite being overall more expensive than many other options. However, not all of its rides are excellent choices for gearheads. One prime example is the Lincoln LS. The Lincoln LS is a four-door, five-passenger luxury sedan that hit the auto market in 2000 and ended production just six years later. Though the Lincoln LS experienced success early on, sales dwindled shortly after, which is why the automaker no longer produces it.

The Lincoln LS isn’t a bad car, but it’s also not the best example of Lincoln’s ingenuity, especially when it comes to producing cars gearheads want to drive. Perhaps the most significant issues with the car came from its engine and performance, which already alienates this group in question. In addition, the vehicle is not fast enough for gearheads and doesn’t look sporty enough for people who want an exciting car that steals the show. As a result, the Lincoln LS is more about having a mature look than it is about looking like a sports sedan.

The Lincoln LS is a car that didn’t last very long on the market, which means while not a vehicle designed for gearheads, it seems the general luxury car-buying public also didn’t connect with it. Though it has a V8 under its hood, the LS simply doesn’t have what it takes to be a car people want to drive. There are many awesome used cars on the market from Lincoln, but the LS is one we’d avoid.

The Lincoln LS Engine Delivers Slow Acceleration

1988 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
Via Mecum

Lincoln has delivered swift rides, despite this not being what people know the automaker for. Furthermore, to be fair, the LS isn’t a slow car. It just takes longer than gearheads would like to get up to speed. The 2000 Lincoln LS has a 3.9-liter V8 engine with a maximum output of 252 horsepower and a torque of 267 lb-ft. The Lincoln LS is a rear-wheel drive vehicle with a five-speed automatic transmission. Unfortunately, despite this reasonably impressive V8 engine, the LS takes about 7.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour. Sure, many notable rides take as long to get up to speed, but this is certainly unexpected from a car with this much power under its hood.

By the end of its time on the market, the Lincoln LS still featured a 3.9-liter V8. However, the maximum output had increased to 280 horsepower. The car was also a tad bit faster, with a 0 to 60 miles per hour acceleration time of 6.3 seconds. While an improvement, these are worthy speeds for gearheads, especially when the car in question is a luxury vehicle with this much power. There are far superior options from this era of cars that deliver much more regarding performance.

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The Lincoln LS Has Mechanical Issues

Mecum Auctions

While the Lincoln LS has great reliability scores, the car has some problems that could cause concern for gearheads. One of the biggest is that besides generally having a slow acceleration time, the Lincoln LS often feels sluggish and acts like the engine is experiencing issues. According to some, this is due to the engine not running as efficiently as it should. This is perhaps the biggest concern that could cause gearheads not to buy the Lincoln LS.

In addition, the LS reportedly has problems with overheating due to water pump damage. Of course, this means drivers have to look for possible signs of their car overheating, which is the last thing anyone wants to do. Finally, though not as common, there is a notable amount of timing chain issues with the Lincoln LS. While many cars experience this, a timing chain becoming too loose and coming off is never a fun experience. It could also be dangerous if it happens while the engine is in use.

The Lincoln LS isn’t an overall unreliable car, but it does have a few issues that could be significant deterrents to a positive experience with the vehicle.

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The Lincoln LS Exterior Isn’t Sporty Enough For Gearheads

2001 Lincoln LS
Via: Lincoln

Though not as significant an issue as the slow acceleration, another reason gearheads tend to avoid the Lincoln LS is its exterior. The Lincoln LS is a great-looking car. However, the automaker made it into a traditional sedan. While we love sedans and their many conveniences, they aren’t usually the sportiest-looking cars. In fact, many would say that the Lincoln LS exterior looks more like a car designed for a more mature crowd. It has a relatively long body and, in many ways, looks more like a regular old Ford from the '90s than it does a luxury sedan. Mostly, we think the Lincoln LS is a perfectly fine but bland-looking car, which is not what gearheads typically look for in a vehicle.

The Lincoln LS is a great car with fairly decent ratings in various areas. However, despite its hefty V8 engine, the car struggles to accelerate as quickly as most gearheads would like. In addition to being slow to accelerate, the vehicle has some problems that can make it inconvenient for gearheads and general car buyers alike. Overall, this short-lived Lincoln isn’t the worst car in the history of luxury sedans, but it’s not one the sportier car crowd will appreciate.

Sources: RepairPal, Lincoln