Solid points, I was focusing too much on the aesthetic.

 

The LX450 still has its issues here and there. We spent a considerable amount of money to get it pass emissions, we were actually planning to donate it to charity at one point. The maintenance on the LX450 is considerable. The miles are at 300K now. Our 4Runner maintenance is not as much although it still has less than 100K on it, but when it does need servicing it is still quite a bit I look at trying to keep things long lasting. Adding KMs worries me. If I had to choose between our LX450 or a new Chevy Tahoe to cross the US from NY to LA, I would pick the Tahoe in ever single possible circumstance. I do get what you are saying about enjoying a vehicle etc etc. But I purchase my cars new for the most part, I own them, I get the warranty from the start, I just feel that it is a total waste to take a car on such a long trip. All the wear and tear is significantly increased in a NY to LA trip which is a total of 1/2 a years drive for the average person in one round trip. Do you see what I mean? Now given the choice, a Toyota/Lexus product with 100K or a Lincoln with 100K, I would probably take the Toyota/Lexus as long as the age of each vehicle line up.

 

Very true. The 1LS interiors I have seen have held up, whereas the interiors of late 90s Bimmers and Mercs are generally falling apart. You'd be hard pressed to even find a W140 or E32 on the road today. I definitely haven't even seen the latter one in years.

 

I once cheaped out and leased a beater car (2013 Mazda 3) for daily use, running errands etc. I quickly realized that life is too short to waste any of it driving a crappy car. I couldn't stand driving it cross town, never mind taking it on a cross country trip.

 

We try to get cars that fit in our budget. Main thing is to own them from the beginning and keeping them long term. Carrying a car and an SUV for two adults each with insurance and everything is not easy to do. Add in the maintenance. You are right. Life is too short. We have a I4, I4 2.4, 6 cylinder, and V8. No payments at all....I think we did all right ❤

 

That thing looks hideous.

 

Wonder when we will see Continentals with a few tasteful mods. Maybe new wheels, a slight drop, dark tint, etc. My fear is the only mods will be 24" rims and neon, at least around my area.

 

Typical Continental buyers are usually not into that kind of stuff.

 

Yeah they usually have to filter on down the line to the 3rd or 4th owner and get some age on them before jacking the car up with 24" rims becomes popular.

 

Then you need to make more visits to Dallas. Around here if it can be customized it is, sometimes for the good, many times for the bad as money and taste do not always align. And I would think Lincoln would be interested in showing some lightly massaged cars, and I don't mean with added carriage tops. If Lincoln only pulls in their "typical" Continental buyers this thing will be a complete flop as most typical Continental/Towncar buyers (non fleet) I knew are now dead.

 

Or South Florida. Nothing like watching a Mustang trying to make a turn with 26" wheels.

 

I never said people in Dallas don't customize their cars. I said that typical Continental buyers usually don't. They tend to be older and more conservative (from an auto standpoint) than many other buyers.

Now.....for Chrysler 300 buyers, that's another matter. Oversize wheels and Bentley-style grille-inserts have been the rage on 300s for years.

 

What about Cadillac buyers? Plenty of new CT6 and others rolling around on custom wheels here inf DFW. Hell, many of the dealerships here offer custom wheel and tire packages as options on their cars. I see no reason Lincoln should not try to match Benz, BMW, Cadillac, etc on inviting customization of their cars. There are times at the gym I go to that cars with aftermarket wheels rival the number with stock wheels. And we are talking tasteful, highend cars with tasteful mods. Dallas is definitely as "look at me" as LA or South Florida, and people here love their cars, age demographic has little to do with it. If I was a Lincoln dealer (in Dallas) I would have a Black Label Continental, Black Exterior with a set of tasteful aftermarket wheels and other previously mentioned work sitting on my showroom floor. Make the car look slick like the show car, because the actual one for sale is frankly boring. Think Kindigit Design type mods, not West Coast Customs. I do not want to put words in your mouth but based on your typical posts you do not strike me as someone who customizes their cars, you like them how they come from the dealer, and that is fine. I am merely expressing what I would like to see. If I owned a new Continental I would want it black, slick and low.

 

That's true to some extent, Jill. But it is also true that long-distance Interstate and freeway driving (assuming you aren't in a stop-and-go traffic jam) actually keeps the car in better condition than typical stop-and-go urban or suburban driving. The engine heats up to its full operating temperature for long periods, which helps cleans impurities out the oil and coolant. Brake wear is usually minimal, even on long mountain grades, because the new advanced multi-speed transmissions help out with compression-braking. The transmission and final-drive fluids also heat up and keep those components cleaned and in top-condition. And, of course, the battery stays fully-charged, assuming the alternator is working correctly. You also typically get your best gas mileage that way.

 

Interesting to note that for January '16 the Continental outsold the CT6 1,167 vs. 634. Only one month, but still a wide spread.