Almost Famous

"JR1" (type35bugatti)
09/14/2015 at 09:58 • Filed to: Lincoln LS

Some cars were great but flawed others were great but didn’t get a second chance.

Unbelievable...It felt unexpectedly taut, predictable, and controllable as it tackled the ins and outs of the track with the same finesse and fine-tuned control as a world-class European sport sedan. Yet, most amazing of all, I was driving a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

The Lincoln LS was a great example of a car that could have been. Just as stunning at the E46 3 Series the Lincoln LS was a great car. So great it even won !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in 2000. The LS had two engines a V6 with a manual transmission and a V8 with a 3.9 liter DOHC engine producing 252 horsepower and later on it the cars short but exciting history 280hp. But alas Lincoln did not have the guts to continue the cars history. Instead of creating a successor in 2006 Lincoln gave us the MKZ. Nor did Lincoln try to hot rod the car by offering the 4.6 V8 from the Mustang.

The Lincoln LS showed us all what could have been if Lincoln had put forth the effort. If the interior would have been better, if they would have continued the cars lineage, if they would have created a Hot Rod Lincoln. Today it might be Lincoln not Cadillac leading the fight against the Germans.

Can you think of others cars that were almost famous?

Photo Credit ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )

DISCUSSION (46)

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > JR1
09/14/2015 at 10:05

One of these things with a coyote swap and a 6 speed would be epic

EL_ULY > JR1
09/14/2015 at 10:06

Volvo S80 V8. Fault: Engine placed the wrong way

Cadillac Catera. Fault: RWD yes :], Malibu styling...nope!

and a bunch more but i’m still half asleep behind my desk lol :]

JR1 > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
09/14/2015 at 10:06

That would be a very fun car.

Mattbob > JR1
09/14/2015 at 10:07

“ Just as stunning at the E46 3 Series the Lincoln LS was a great car.” No.

JR1 > Mattbob
09/14/2015 at 10:09

Sorry styling is subjective but I have always thought the LS was a better looking 3 Series. Even when I was little and didn’t know the difference between Lincoln and BMW

Mattbob > JR1
09/14/2015 at 10:11

Really? I thought it looked like a tarted up Taurus. Also auto only.

Your boy, BJR > JR1
09/14/2015 at 10:13

These are literally E39s without kidney grilles.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > JR1
09/14/2015 at 10:14

I swear I will own a great condition V8 at some point in my life. Sooner rather than later because more and more of them are getting into the hands of abusers and killers. It’s such an understatedly elegant looking car. Better looking than the E46 IMO.

JR1 > Mattbob
09/14/2015 at 10:16

Nope they had a manual. And besides auto does not decide a cars greatness

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Mattbob
09/14/2015 at 10:16

Had a manual with the v6, also looks nothing like the Taurus from that era. The Taurus was all bulbous. The LS has straight lines

This was the Taurus for the era

Kinja'd!!!

The LS was basically Lincoln’s X-Type iirc

JR1 > Your boy, BJR
09/14/2015 at 10:17

No. The E39 has way to many edges and funky 90’s styling. The LS is a lot more clean.

JR1 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/14/2015 at 10:18

I could not agree more. The interior leaves me wanting but that is it. Otherwise it is a great great looking car.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JR1
09/14/2015 at 10:18

Mid to late 90s Buick Rivera. It’s like an auroroa, only it’s a coupe and it has a much more reliable powertrain. They’re monsters for their size too.

Kinja'd!!!

jariten1781 > Mattbob
09/14/2015 at 10:18

I don't think you're thinking of the LS which both had a manual and looked nothing like the Taurus unless you consider all sedans to look the same

JR1 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/14/2015 at 10:18

Are these FWD?

Mattbob > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
09/14/2015 at 10:19

wiki led me wrong on the transmission thing.

Mattbob > JR1
09/14/2015 at 10:19

Wiki led me to believe auto only.

JR1 > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
09/14/2015 at 10:22

S-type not X

JR1 > Mattbob
09/14/2015 at 10:22

Gotta love wikipedia!

William Byrd > JR1
09/14/2015 at 10:43

From the thumbnail, I thought this WAS an E46. So I agree.

MultiplaOrgasms > JR1
09/14/2015 at 12:02

E39

Edges

Kinja'd!!!

Literally an LS with a kidney grille.

JR1 > MultiplaOrgasms
09/14/2015 at 12:03

I feel dump I thought the E39 was a the 3 series before the E46....

MultiplaOrgasms > JR1
09/14/2015 at 12:03

90s GM that wasn’t BOF, a Camaro or Corvette.

JR1 > MultiplaOrgasms
09/14/2015 at 12:06

If that was RWD I would jump all over it. I think they look spectacular.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Mattbob
09/14/2015 at 13:06

V8 was auto only. V6 could have a manual.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JR1
09/14/2015 at 13:15

Yep. Same chassis as the aurora and uses a suspension setup that cadillac would drop into the STS later.

JR1 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/14/2015 at 13:34

I do like that they have a supercharger. More cars should have a supercharger.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JR1
09/14/2015 at 14:27

The biggest advantage for forced I ductikn in more cars is consistent performance. Forced induction cars lose very little power due to elevation changes and even in higher temps, they can be pretty constant. When I bombed around the rockies in my FiST, I was awfully happy to not be in an FRS at the peaks of some if those roads.

The riviera is an exceptional GT car and is highly underrated both as a GT car and as a styling exercise. The aurora overshadowed it and the FWD and Buick badge turned people away. Milky will swear the opposite, but this is a much better car for a grand tour than cars like the Lexus SC.

JR1 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/14/2015 at 15:31

What turns me away is the FWD. If it was rear wheel drive I would consider it a very cool car. But to me an enthusiast car needs to be at least all wheel drive with a FWD bias (like Audi).

Party-vi > JR1
09/14/2015 at 15:53

“Just as stunning at the E46 3 Series”

The LS was a great looking car, but you’re saying a bus driver looks as good as a model here...

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JR1
09/14/2015 at 16:00

Then I think you’re missing out on an excellent ride for a reason that has very little bearing on the car 99% of the time.

Let’s say I told you it was RWD, you drove it, and liked it. Then you found out it was FWD? Would that knowledge change your opinion of it?

JR1 > Party-vi
09/14/2015 at 19:02

Looks are subjective but I think the LS is a stunning looking car. Especially the black one above.

JR1 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/14/2015 at 19:04

I am not sure. If it had a good balance and I could get the rear end to dance for me then no I would still like it.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JR1
09/14/2015 at 19:13

Too heavy to get the rear out, but it is surprisngly neutral handling. The car is long enough that it does have good balance. THe chassis is VERY stiff (it broke GM’s stiffness tester for cars. They had to use the truck tester) and the suspension is quite compliant yet providing great feedback for a GM luxobarge.......so probably not much better than average on the global scale. Still, it eats miles and has plenty of oomph on tap all the time. I took mine to woodward and was able to act as a good camera car and managed to run away form civics and most 4 cylinders with ease. I’d say get it if you want equal parts highway star, boulevard cruiser, and backroad driver. You won’t “attack” the turns, but you’ll be comfortable the whole time and you will enjoy piloting the 4000 lb behemoth the whole time. And really, most cars in its size and weight class aren’t going to monster the turns save for some BMWs. Just avoid the Lexus SC.........mostly to get under Milky’s skin a bit. Oh, and avoid the chrysler crossfire at all costs. For similar reasons.

JR1 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/14/2015 at 19:21

Milky and his crazy Lexus ideas!

I had no idea it was that good of a handler. But I can and always do respect a good grand tourer. And it sounds like that is exactly what the Rivera is.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JR1
09/14/2015 at 20:02

Definitely one of the last true GT cars made by the general. Maybe the regal GS took its place? I want to drive one.

JR1 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/14/2015 at 20:04

I would love to drive a GS they seem like a very cool car.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JR1
09/14/2015 at 20:28

I think the GT class is dying and it makes me sad. I love the old Lincoln mkVIII and it is a proper riviera rival (and RWD!) But sadly everyone wants either nurburgring lap times or marshmallow suspension.

JR1 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/14/2015 at 21:21

I hope not. Going on a grand tour in a grand touring car is one of my dreams in life.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JR1
09/14/2015 at 21:30

Pick your vehicle soon. The affordable GT is dying. I think the Buick regal, the Chrysler 300, and maybe a Lexus or Infiniti can pull it off with a straight face still for under 50k

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JR1
09/14/2015 at 21:33

On a different note, I was able to do a western US 4000 mile road trip in a fiesta ST. I loved every second of it. Maybe a GTI or other hot hatch is a good recommendation? I am still reminiscing about this time last year when I was storming through beartooth pass on a wonderful august day.....

JR1 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/14/2015 at 22:04

Your definition and my definition of GT are different. I can agree the 300 is a touring car. But a grand touring car requires two doors or a convertible layout. For example a Duesenberg Dual Cowl Phaeton is a grand tourer even with four doors. But a convertible VW Eos isn’t a grand tourer.

JR1 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/14/2015 at 22:05

I have been on beartooth pass twice when I was a kid in the family SUV. I cannot wait to go back and do it by myself. It has to be one of the best roads in the country.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JR1
09/14/2015 at 22:10

We found our difference. To me, q GT car needs to balance comfort and response in the suspension while providing an elevated level of luxury and performance. It should not necessarily be the best at either, and strive to be the perfect balance for a certain buyer.

JR1 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/15/2015 at 09:31

So would you consider a Cadillac CTS-V a grand tourer?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JR1
09/15/2015 at 10:02

Nope, to me it has too hard of a suspension and too brutal of a powertrain. It’s not just the number, it’s the delivery. A good GT motor should be smooth. The ATS coupe V6 is the perfect GT car for me. Ample power, supple ride, yet still engaging when the road gets curvy.