The Lincoln Town Car Was the Last True American Luxury Sedan
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,436
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From: Illinois
My last company car before retirement was a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis which was mechanically identical to the Town Car. Instead of leather, I had velour seats. The car was intended to provide comfortable transport for customers and for VIP's picked up at the airport. It was, indeed, smooth and quiet. The quality was much better than many expected. The doors closed solidly, the interior fit was excellent, and the paint job was very good. In a little over a year, I had exactly zero mechanical issues. For its mission at the time, the big Ford, Mercury, Lincolns were unmatched. My personal car at the time was a Lincoln LS which was a much better driving car even though it was much smaller.
The Town Car was good at its job for the time, but times have changed.
By the way, on my last trip through the airport, there was a Genesis G90 in the limo pick-up area. Times are really a changin'.
The Town Car was good at its job for the time, but times have changed.
By the way, on my last trip through the airport, there was a Genesis G90 in the limo pick-up area. Times are really a changin'.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,251
Likes: 290
From: ON/NY
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,251
Likes: 290
From: ON/NY
My last company car before retirement was a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis which was mechanically identical to the Town Car. Instead of leather, I had velour seats. The car was intended to provide comfortable transport for customers and for VIP's picked up at the airport. It was, indeed, smooth and quiet. The quality was much better than many expected. The doors closed solidly, the interior fit was excellent, and the paint job was very good. In a little over a year, I had exactly zero mechanical issues. For its mission at the time, the big Ford, Mercury, Lincolns were unmatched.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,159
Likes: 214
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Originally Posted by LexsCTJill
Those older town cars were renowned for their soft floaty ride. I have no issue with that
Many people agree with you, and don't have an issue, ether.....more than what the auto industry thinks.
Originally Posted by [color=#222222
Dmaxdmax
You are correct.....there isn't. But we don't see those kinds of suspensions/rides/tires any more, though, on newer vehicles, because of the sport-oriented auto press, which (today) has enormous influence on how manufacturers design vehicles. They have talked the industry into trying to make much of what they build today ride and handle like sports cars. Sadly, there are only a few real holdouts left...and some them will soon be gone.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Southeastern PA
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,159
Likes: 214
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Well, I think it's a reasonable assumption that most Town Car Drivers, most of the time, are not going to be trying to drive like they are behind the wheel of a Miata. That's the name of the game with cars like this....isolate one from the road surface and wind noise, and let one relax and ride in comfort.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 16,573
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From: Knoxville, TN
my friend after going in my crown vic for the first time was like did the car really need to make that much noise to only take us up the block? yes it does lmao... such a pos but in an awesome way, the police models also had a high stall torque converter so they basically always rev to like 2500 just to get going, and the high revs also somewhat compensate for having too few gears for the power
This was back when I drove an Infiniti I35 which was quick but not a truly fast car.
He got left in the dust. Keep in mind my said 255hp Infiniti did 0-60 in about 7 seconds flat, and also was saddled with a 4spd automatic with mediocre gearing at best.
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,347
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From: fl
Am I the only one that feels the Cadillac DeVille (or DTS in later years) was superior to the Town Car? I'd say that was the last true American Luxury Sedan. I remember getting a DTS as a rental car many years ago and taking it on a pretty substantial road trip and was very impressed with the level of luxury, ride quality, etc. I certainly preferred that ride experience over the Lincoln.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,159
Likes: 214
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Back years ago I raced a Police Interceptor, my buddy was off duty and we used a closed, isolated road (that's all I'm gonna say lol) to do a few 0-80 runs.
This was back when I drove an Infiniti I35 which was quick but not a truly fast car.
He got left in the dust. Keep in mind my said 255hp Infiniti did 0-60 in about 7 seconds flat, and also was saddled with a 4spd automatic with mediocre gearing at best.
This was back when I drove an Infiniti I35 which was quick but not a truly fast car.
He got left in the dust. Keep in mind my said 255hp Infiniti did 0-60 in about 7 seconds flat, and also was saddled with a 4spd automatic with mediocre gearing at best.
CL Community Team
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,255
Likes: 550
From: IL
Am I the only one that feels the Cadillac DeVille (or DTS in later years) was superior to the Town Car? I'd say that was the last true American Luxury Sedan. I remember getting a DTS as a rental car many years ago and taking it on a pretty substantial road trip and was very impressed with the level of luxury, ride quality, etc. I certainly preferred that ride experience over the Lincoln.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,159
Likes: 214
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
No I'll definitely agree with you. I also had a DTS as a rental years ago as well, and found it FAR superior to the Town Car in every conceivable way. It was roomier, more comfortable, higher-quality materials, faster and quieter, drove like a smaller car, and had way more features (first car I ever drove with air conditioned seats!).
Still wouldn't have purchased one because it was too "old fogey" for me, but we were quite satisfied with it as a rental.
Last edited by mmarshall; Jun 4, 2019 at 09:47 AM.
The Lincoln Town Car Was the Last True American Luxury Sedan
