The Lincoln Town Car has long been a choice of the livery/limo companies. Yet, it will no longer be offered. The Town Car is an aging, sedan; this full-sized offering slated for discontinuation in the year 2011. The vehicle is the only luxury, body-on-frame car remaining. The vehicle has features from earlier models that established its reputation like nice handling, a rear-drive configuration, and a V-8 motor.
Presently, the V-8 engine is clearly underpowered. It is a good motor but it lacks necessary juice. The car is spacious, especially in the longer wheelbase configurations: these cars have six inches more in the body length so plenty of legroom is supplied. The Town Car is offered with HID, but the amenities are severely limited. If the car buyer can forego high tech gadgets in the cabin, the Town Car is a nice option. The car lacks things like a navigation system, a satellite radio, or a rear backup camera. The seating is adjustable in the front, eight different settings are offered, and the vehicle does have dual zone climate controls.
The Range
Bodystyles: Sedan
Engines: 4.6L V-8
Transmissions: 4-speed automatic
Models: Signature Limited, Signature L
What's New
Like its Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis platform-mates, the Town Car hasn't received a major update in years and that trend continues into the big luxury sedan's final year on the market.
Exterior
Unchanged for years -- front and rear end treatments are now two design languages old -- the Town Car's exterior has stately, albeit aging, feel. Town Car L models are characterized by longer rear doors.
Interior
The Town Car's interior seats six thanks to a front bench seat. Long-wheelbase versions come with extra amenities for rear-seat passengers and 5.8-inches more rear legroom. Trunk space is a cavernous 21.0 cubic-feet.
Performance & Handling
The Town Car's version of Ford's 4.6-liter V-8 makes 239 horsepower and 287 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, the engine isn't going to move the big sedan with any urgency, but it returns acceptable fuel economy. Gearing is optimized for freeway cruising, as is the suspension setup.
Safety
The Town Car has received five-star crash safety ratings from the NHTSA since 2003 and comes standard with seatbelt pretensioners and the requisite dual front plus dual front side-impact airbags.
EPA Fuel Economy
16 mpg city/24 mpg highway
You'll Like
- Huge trunk
- Plentiful rear seat room
You Won't Like
Sum Up
So long, old friend
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