3
0
Premium large car; Built in USA
  • 4-door sedan
  • 4-door sedan
  • longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $2,500 – $6,900*


1998 Lincoln Town Car


1998 Lincoln Town Car


1998 Lincoln Town Car interior


2000 Lincoln Town Car


2000 Lincoln Town Car

Pros:
  • Cargo room
  • Standard side airbags (1999-2002)
  • Passenger room
  • Quietness
Cons:
  • Fuel economy
  • Rear visibility

Lincoln’s Town Car is the last remaining American-brand, rear-drive, full-size luxury sedan. So, potential buyers aren’t overloaded with alternatives. Fortunately, the refined Town Car continues to offer the traditional luxury-car values of spaciousness and splendid riding isolation, as well as a load of comforts and conveniences. Although we give higher marks to the latest front-drive Cadillac DeVille as a domestically built luxury automobile, the Town Car is worth considering–and priced far below imported competitors.

Overview

Redesigning of the only American-brand rear-wheel-drive, full-size luxury sedan slashed nearly 200 pounds from the Town Car’s weight. Overall length of Lincoln’s “flagship” model was trimmed by three inches, though the car remained quite large. Appearance also changed markedly from the prior generation, which had been on the market since 1990. Three models went on sale, in escalating levels of opulence. The 4.6-liter V8 engine made 200 horsepower when installed in the base Executive or midlevel Signature model. In the top-line Cartier edition, the V8 added dual exhausts, which helped boost output to 220 horsepower. A Signature Touring option included the 220-horsepower V8 and a firmer suspension. A 4-speed automatic transmission was installed in all models. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes were standard. All Town Cars had traction control, leather upholstery, and a 40/20/40 front bench seat, for 6-passenger capacity. Side-impact airbags were not available. Rivals included the Cadillac DeVille, Jaguar XJ sedan, and Lexus LS 400.

Yearly Updates

1999 Town Car
Front side airbags went into the 1999 Town Car, as standard equipment. Front-seat power controls moved from the seat side to the door panels.
2000 Town Car
Safety enhancements arrived for the 2000 models, including an emergency escape release inside the trunk, rear child-seat anchors, and Belt Minder (a chime and warning light to encourage buckling-up). Those changes also went into other Ford products.
2001 Town Car
All Lincolns got free regularly scheduled maintenance for the first three years/36,000 miles starting in 2001. Town Car also gained 25 horsepower and power-adjustable pedals.
2002 Town Car
The biggest ’02 change was to treat option packages as separate models. Versions included the base Executive, regular Signature, Signature Touring, Premium, Premium Touring, Cartier, Cartier Premium, and Cartier L. An in-dash CD changer was newly standard.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive

All Town Cars got the same basic powertrain: a 4.6-liter overhead-cam V8, coupled to a 4-speed automatic transmission. Instead of the usual 200 horsepower, however, the V8 in the Cartier edition made 220 horsepower, helped by dual exhausts. That engine also was included with the Signature Touring option. All models gained 25 horsepower and 10 pound-feet of torque in 2001.

ohc V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 4.6/281
Engine HP 200-225
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 265-275
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

 17/25

 17.3
ohc V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 4.6/281
Engine HP 220-240
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 275-285
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

 17/25

 17.3

Road Test

With a tad more horsepower and a little less weight than before, the latest Town Car moves off the line in a fairly spirited manner. Even so, acceleration cannot match that of a Northstar-equipped Cadillac DeVille. A Cartier edition with the stronger engine took a somewhat leisurely 9.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. The reworked automatic transmission still upshifts seamlessly, but now it also downshifts more promptly for passing–though the latter task sometimes demands a hefty shove on the gas pedal.

Ride quality remains smooth–velvety and absorbent, in fact–but the Town Car is now less floaty over pavement irregularities and more controlled than in the past, thanks to a revised suspension. Minor wheel pattering at speed can be expected, however, on some freeway surfaces. Handling also has improved, so the big sedan is no longer as wallowy and boatlike as Town Cars of the past. Less body roll in turns and sharper steering response help it tolerate spirited driving–if not exactly encourage such exuberant behavior.

Accommodations always were spacious. Even though the latest Town Car is a bit trimmer, interior room has not suffered. Large doors make it easy to get in and out of both the front and rear seats. Head room is generous all around. Leg room is good but not great, and the car isn’t really wide enough to fit six adults without real squeezing. Quietness is another long-standing Town Car tradition. If anything, the new model is even more serene inside than its predecessors, with almost no road or wind noise intruding, and no more than a muted roar from the engine.

Gauges now are analog (needle-type) rather than digital, and very legible. User-friendly climate and audio controls are easy to see, reach, and use. Outward visibility is compromised by thick side and rear roof pillars and a tall rear deck. Trunk room is down about 10 percent. That still leaves a lot of luggage space, though much of the volume is again within a deep center well–which can be a strain when you need to load and remove heavy objects. Workmanship on our test Cartier sedan was flawless, though materials felt less-expensive than in some rivals.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2001 Lincoln Town Car Executive

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 4
40%
Fuel Economy - 4
40%
Ride Quality - 6
60%
Steering/Handling - 5
50%
Quietness - 7
70%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Front - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Rear - 6
60%
Cargo Room - 6
60%

Other

Value - 4
40%

Total: 56

Specifications

4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
117.7 215.3 78.2 58.0
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
20.6 19.0 6
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.2 37.5 42.6 41.1
4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
123.7 221.3 78.2 58.0
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
20.6 — 19.0 6
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.3 37.6 42.6 47.1
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1999 Town Car 4-door sedan

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 4
80%
Front Passenger Injury - 4
80%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 4
80%
Rear Passenger Injury - 4
80%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision 95
Injury 63
Theft 131

Trouble Spots

Coolant leak
Description: The intake manifold on 4.6L V8 engines is prone to breakage resulting in coolant loss and possible overheating. The manufacturer is reimbursing owners who paid for fixes up to $735 and extending the warranty for others (1998-2001)
Exhaust system
Description: The engine idles rough due to the exhaust system vibrating. Installing a damper on the right side of the Y-pipe corrects it. (1998-99)
Heater core
Description: Installing a restrictor in the heater inlet hose may repair heater cores leaks. (1998-2002)
Steering problems
Description: The steering wheel may vibrate and/or buzz. Power-steering hose must be replaced. (1998)
Vehicle noise
Description: The heat shields come loose on the catalytic converter and muffler causing a rattling and buzzing noise. (1998-99)
Windshield
Description: Water may leak from the windshield area because of a gap in the sealer. (1998-99)
Accessory belt
Description: The serpentine accessory drive belt on 4.6L engine comes off in wet weather requiring a redesigned water pump, tensioner pulley or both. (2001-02)

Recall History

1992-98 Town Car w/speed control system
Description: The speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn. This could result in an underhood fire. Dealers will install a fused wiring harness.
1998
Description: Text and/or graphics for headlamp-aiming instructions, provided in owner guides, are not sufficiently clear.
1998-2000
Description: Jacking instructions are incorrect and, if followed, could result in vehicle dropping suddenly.
1998-99 limousine w/ball joint containing one-piece bearing
Description: Bearing within lower control-arm ball joint can weaken slowly during use; eventually, crack could result in separation, allowing control arm to drop to ground.
2000-01
Description: A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper-motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of wiper function or fire.
2001
Description: A restraint-control module (RCM) or a side- or front-crash sensor may have been assembled with one or more of the screws that mount the circuit board in the housing missing.
2001
Description: Driver- and/or front passenger-outboard seatbelt buckle may not fully latch. In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on July 20, 2014.
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