2000-2002 Lincoln LS

Lincoln's LS was a radical step for Ford's venerable luxury brand; a bold move to win over younger buyers lusting after a BMW or Lexus. On paper it ticked all the right boxes: restrained styling, crisp handling, and Germanic ride. But Lincoln's plaid-and-polyester image didn't quite click with the MTV generation.

Built on an all-new platform shared with the Jaguar S-Type, the LS ran with an athletic crowd. A 3.0-liter, 210-horse V-6 was paired with a five-speed automatic or a five-speed Getrag, the first row-your-own Lincoln since 1951. The step up was a Jaguar-based 3.9-liter, 252-horse V-8 mated solely with the automatic. We tested the manual LS (with its standard firmer-handling Sport Package) against the BMW 528i and Lexus GS 300, and it met--and sometimes edged out--the performance and control of those benchmarks.

Lincoln matched their upscale content, too; every LS got power leather seats, power tilt/telescope wheel, dual-zone auto climate control, and dual front and front side airbags. While it didn't meet the imports' level of overall refinement, the LS gained points on the price/value meter, undercutting the others by $5K to $6K. When it was named Motor Trend's 2000 Car of the Year, we called it "the car that wholly changes the image of what an American luxury sedan can be."

Styling remained virtually unchanged for these years. In 2001, Lincoln added three- year/36,000-mile complimentary scheduled maintenance on top of the four-year/ 50,000-mile basic warranty. Standard traction control was extended to the manual-transmission cars, which also became eligible for the optional AdvanceTrac stability control. For 2002, V-6 output climbed to 220 horses, an in-dash CD player became standard, and an LSE edition (black or silver exterior only), with a modest rear spoiler and other performance visuals, expanded on the monochromatic look of the Sport Package option.

The manual gearbox disappeared after 2002, and while it came only with the smaller engine, it conceded little to the V-8 in actual performance numbers. On automatics, look for those with the optional SelectShift manual mode shifter. Most of our initial gripes about the car were addressed in a 2003-model-year freshening: more interior storage, upgraded cabin materials, nice dual exhaust finishers, and more power for the V-8. But the first-gen cars look just like the new ones and are a good value.

The LS's reliability doesn't appear to measure up to the best of the imports. But, given their generous warranty provisions, these driver's Lincolns with average mileage should be in a good state of repair. With its strong visual styling and a worthy chassis, the LS is just an aftermarket wheel/tire combo away from being a solid, bargain head-turner.