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I'm also going to get a cd player, so any brand that works well and looks good would be cool to know about.
The Trooper, Rodeo and Montero will not be better MPG than the Town Car, by the way.
My 2k gets 22-25 on interstate and about 18-19 around town (if I can drive about 45). It can get down to 15 or 16 if doing heavy traffic.
I'm assuming a traveling salesman or something like that. I have not driven the car yet, but i obviously will when i go to pick it up, if there is anything i don't like then i won't buy it. The interior is in perfect condition and it looks perfectly maintained, but it makes me nervous someone driving it when they dont own it. what do you guys think?
I guess im asking if you guys think it just needs some freon since it's been sitting for so long, or if it may be a bigger problem. anyone have any opinions? or have any experience with the AC in a 1997. Thanks in advance
About four months ago, I noticed that the turn signals sometimes blink very slowly - I'm thinking low voltage.
Two months ago, the radio died. Not bad for a 17 year old, but when I took it apart, I was surprised to see parts of the bottom PC board fried. Hmmm, maybe high voltage.
For the last two weeks, the "CHARGING SYSTEM" warning beeps at me at random times (cruising, parked, stopped at a light, right turn, left turn, radio and lights on/off, etc.) but only for one to maybe ten seconds before going off. The car always cranks and runs fine. Other than the radio burning up, no history of electrical problems.
I know there are upwards of a zillion scenarios for elecrical oddities, but could it be a tempermental voltage regulator?
Before I start the needle-in-the-haystack process, have any of you had a similar issue, and what was your remedy?
1. Increase the wheelbase to around 120" on the standard models, and drop the "L" version.
2. What ever happened to the thick carpeting that used to be in these cars?? In the old days, the higher up the price bracket you went, you received little extra touches like better carpeting, more elegant seat designs, etc.
3. Redesign those awful FOMOCO headrests!! Am I the only one that thinks these things are way out of proportion?? They make the interior very claustrophobic.
4. How about some assist handles on the backs of the front seats
5. The door panels and the upholstery design needs to be special - I love the looks of the Lincoln dashboards (with the satin nickel trim), but they need to make it with a little more heft - so when you touch it, it really feels like metal and not plastic!!
6. I know this may sound strange (especially for a 37 year old!), but I never found whitewall tires to be gaudy - and i dont mean those pseudo-style whitewalls with a 1/4" stripe, but a 1" stripe - with elegant, real chrome plated wheel discs.
7. The return of the "twin comfort lounge seats" - I know that most cars now have buckets, but the Lincoln should be a six passenger car. The current seat design is trying to look like large bucket seats, with a ridiculously small area for someone to sit in the middle section. And bring back the fold down twin armrests!!!
8. Vent windows - always one of those special Lincoln touches
9. A return of a cloth-seat option - this would be a real novelty today. Not the mouse fur upholstery, but high quality. A no-cost option.
10. Put the 300 hp 4.6 Liter V8 and 6-speed tranny in the TC, with standard dual exhaust. Most traditional TC buyers remember the days when a company's top of the line car had the most powerful engine - now, the TC has the same horsepower as a V-6 Accord.
These are a few things I think could make the Town Car great. I wish Ford and GM would stop telling everyone that these cars are designed to compete head-on with Lexus and other high-end foreign makes - and instead, make them the best American-style luxury cars they can be!
In my humble opinion.............
When you pay for luxury, there should be a lot more than what's in a Grand Marquis.
Its good that you know who you are what you want. Did you also know that there are hundreds of other cars to choose from and hundreds of other message boards that embrace those other choices?
I agree - no more "large mouth bass" front ends, that share turn signal lamps with the Grand Marquis. Some suggestions:
1. Keep the small rear window (sorry marsha7!) - this has been an American luxury car touch for decades (to mimic a limousine)
2. Again - return to the chrome (not matte-finish aluminum) wheel discs
3. Return to the 2 styles of hood ornament - the more square version for the base Lincoln, and how about a return of the famed Continental name for a upscale version (with the slender, more upright hood ornament)
4. Square off the back end - not only will it result in more trunk room, it looks more formal
5. What ever happened to the chrome lower rocker panel trim? Looked much better than the thermoplastic!!
6. Is it still possible to have bumpers that are chrome plated in front (but still flush mounted?) The bottom line - high quality chrome looks great!!!
7. Body side moldings that actually work - with a rubber strip in the middle.
8. Hidden headlamps?? I would use exposed lamps for the "base" Lincoln, covered ones for the Continental
9. And how about a color selection????????? I collect brochures for old American cars, and was amazed at the color selections (both exterior and interior) available. Now, you can have any color interior as long as it's tan, gray, or black. How boring!!! Many of us can remember the beautiful red or burgundy leather that the old Lincolns had (looked great with a black exterior). The old brochures listed about 20 colors for exterior and 8 for interior. I know it costs more to offer all these choices, but if they had to boost the price of the Town Car by $5000, I really dont think it would deter many buyers. Wouldnt it be nice to have a pale yellow, a dark maroon, and an aqua color on the list??
Just some more thoughts..............
As for colors, I agree. I have toured the Wixom plant and learned about their computer sequential production system. At the time they were producing the Town Car, Continental, and Mark VIII on two different lines. The factory does have the capacity and ability to offer more of what you describe.
Another poster was concerned about the squishiness of the seats. IMO that is not a problem if you change your Depends more frequently!
The 2005 Lincoln Town Car is the most beautiful vehicle I have ever seen with the best ride I have ever experienced.
I came very close to leasing the Signature L but had to go with the caddy because of the lower lease price. Either the caddy holds its value much better than a Lincoln or else caddy is inflating the residuals. When you look at the purchase price, Lincoln looked a little better with $9500 in incentives vrs $8k for the caddy.
But, on a 2 yr lease, caddy beat Lincoln by $6600! Now that includes $2k more for the 300c trade-in, but I consider that part of the deal.
I tried REAL HARD to justify $6,600 more the Lincoln, but I just couldn't. It has so many fewer luxury features than the caddy. And the caddy dealer was great and easy to work with.
I think the Lincoln makes sense if you are going to buy it and drive it $100K+ miles and are willing to add aftermarket must-haves like mp3 and bluetooth and whatever else comes along in the next 7 yrs!
You guys are correct that she is really a limo vehicle--which is one of the things I like about it--reliable, elegant, easy to service....But they gotta give SOMETHING to the luxury buyer who wants a lease. Throw me a bone here Lincoln. I plan to lease one in two years if they don't destroy her good looks and ride.
I'm waiting to see the 06 to find out if I buy my 4th new Town Car while keeping an eye on low mileage preowned XJ8's. Portland dealer still has a new 04 for $15000 off MSRP, but not for me.
Meanwhile our 94 Signature keeps rolling along at 26.4 mpg with 117,000 plus.
dealer claimed some new color combos and that's it. of course, he is probably not above lying to keep me from waiting for 06.
OK, OK! So that's over the edge! It just sounded so funny when it came out that I had to share it with you guys. Nothing personal, dawg.
As you can tell, I don't like the C, but I know many people who love it. I haven't found anybody in the middle. For looks and lux, the TC and DV clearly win, but I don't think that's what the German owners of the Big American Car Company had in mind anyway. Their target is a different bunch of folks than those you find on the TC board.
BTW, I think the Magnum is really cool.
Eight years running the original '98 means it's time for a major change.
'06 Zephyr styling offers hope of a change in the Town Car also in '06.
Mustang GT contains a 300 HP engine and that could be in the '06 TC.
I'm a conservative optimist ready to pounce on a low mileage '04 XJ8 if disappointed.
Beernut, I want to express my gratitude to you for making me aware that there are other cars out there...all this time I actually thought there were only two models out there, a Town Car and a Model T...
Apparenly you guys want "limo" features, while I want a practical luxury car that can perform...if Caddy can make a DTS and an STS, Lincoln can improve its lumbering carcass to be more than a soft sweet potato on wheels...
I challenge you to put the TC and STS next to on another. Look at them, touch them, feel them, drive them, ride in them - front seat and back.... and then judge them by 1) Luxury. OK, now that the TC has won that, judge them for 2)Practicality. Now that the TC has won that, I yield to the Caddy having a stronger engine, more plastic chrome, better cornering and more cup holders. If that's what you value in a car - ignoring the time the Caddy will spend in the shop - go get one.
thinking about trading it in for a newer model.
My fenders are too wide to be considered stylish.
They were once as sleek as a little MG; now they
look more like my mother's old Buick!
My seat cushions have split open at the seams.
My seats are sagging.
Seat belts?.. I gave up all belts when Ben and
Jerry's opened!
I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my
finish, and my paint job is gettin' a little dull...
and that's not the worst of it!
Air bags? Forget It! The only bags are under my eyes!
Not counting the "saddlebags", of course!
I have sooo many miles on my odometer! Sure,
I've been many places, and seen a lot of things,
but when's the last time an appraiser factored
"life experiences" against depreciation?!
My headlights are out of focus, and it's especially
hard to see things up close.
My traction is definitely not as good as it once was.
I slip and slide and skid and bump into things, even
in the best of weather!
My whitewalls are all stained with varicose veins,
it takes me hours to reach my maximum speed,
and I'm burning fuel at an inefficient rate.
But, here's the worst of it....
almost every time my engine coughs....
my radiator leaks!
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sweet potato! really! everyone knows the towncar features that famous "mashed potato" ride--a comfort food if ever there was.
Although I agree that after 7/8 years its time for a major redo, but haven't seen or heard anything on a change or even if the Towncar will continue.