Ford's corporate product planners undoubtedly rationalize the Town Car's
engine in terms of fuel economy, and the car does escape the gas-guzzler
penalty. But even so, it could use more muscle.
Engine quibbles aside, the Town Car covers ground quietly, almost serenely,
when it is in its element, tooling about town or cruising the highway.
A new intake manifold takes induction noise down to the lowest level yet,
and the four-speed automatic is quiet and efficient. Steering effort can
be adjusted by a sliding-bar switch on the left side of the dashboard,
although effort does not equate with road feel.
The Michelin XW4 tires, coil spring/air suspension and gas-filled shock
absorbers do an outstanding job of separating a Town Car's occupants from
the lumpy realties of the outside world, coping admirably with potholes
and broken pavement. The P215/75R-15 tires are quiet, though we would prefer
more rubber on the ground, such as the optional P225/60R-16 all-weather
tires, even if there were a slight noise penalty to pay.
There is lots of lean and wallow in the Town Car's luxurious ride, and
the speed-sensitive power steering is numb on-center, these factors combine
to make this car unhandy on winding two-lane roads, but quite stable and
comfortable on interstates and boulevards.
The ABS brakes were authoritative in their power and especially quiet
when the antilock circuits were active, emitting only a mild, high-pitched
buzz when we encountered icy pavement. Next Page