1995-2002 Lincoln Continental: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
2002 Lincoln Continental
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1995-2002 Lincoln Continental ▼
- Price Range: $1,500 - $6,100
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Passenger and cargo room
- Antilock brakes
- Acceleration
- Instruments/controls
Cons
- Noise
- Climate controls
- Fuel economy
- Electronic steering and suspension
Vehicle Highlights
Still front-wheel drive, a redesigned Continental 4-door sedan debuted late in 1994, featuring a new V8 engine with dual-overhead camshafts. Less-conservative, contemporary styling now resembled the Mark VIII coupe. Developing 260 horsepower, the 4.6-liter V8 drove a new electronic 4-speed automatic transmission. Standard equipment included dual airbags, antilock braking, automatic climate control, and an air-filtration system to trap dust and pollen. A redesigned instrument panel displayed virtual-image graphics. The driver could adjust ride quality and steering assist from dashboard buttons.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Lincoln Continental Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 5 | |
| Fuel Economy | 3 | |
| Ride Quality | 6 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 4 | |
| Quietness | 6 | |
| Controls/Materials | 6 | |
| Interior Room | 6 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 5 | |
| Total Score: | 49 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental.
Year to Year Changes
1996 Lincoln Continental:
Continental's formerly optional antitheft alarm became standard for 1996, and a Remote Emergency Satellite Cellular Unit (dubbed RESCU) became optional. It consisted of a voice-activated cellular phone, two emergency buttons mounted in the overhead console, plus a global-positioning satellite receiver in the car's trunk. One button summoned roadside assistance; the other, police or medial assistance.
1997 Lincoln Continental:
Traction control (formerly optional) became standard. Lincoln abandoned the front air springs in favor of ordinary steel-coil springs.
1998 Lincoln Continental:
Continental gets a minor restyling but continues with the same mechanicals. It's almost exactly the same size as the model it replaces, but new proportions give the '98 Continental a shorter nose and longer tail. The restyled cabin has bird's-eye maple trim and one inch less rear leg room.
1999 Lincoln Continental:
Changes for '99 included standard front side airbags and a 15-horsepower boost, to 275, for the 4.6-liter engine. Additionally, a leather-and-wood steering wheel, 10-spoke alloy wheels, and a 2-tone leather interior were new options.
2000 Lincoln Continental:
Three new safety features went into 2000 models: rear child-seat anchors; a manual emergency release inside the trunk; and Belt Minder, a chime and warning light to encourage buckling up.
2001 Lincoln Continental:
All Lincoln's got free regularly scheduled maintenance for the first three years/36,000 miles starting in 2001. Discontinued was RESCU, Lincoln's satellite/cell-phone-based emergency assistance service.
2002 Lincoln Continental:
Lincoln announced that 2002 was to be Continental's final model year and did not make public any plans for a direct replacement. Added midyear was a special-trim Collector's Edition option for Driver Select models.
Our road test for the 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Helped by its new V8 engine, this Continental is a lot quicker, a bit more agile--and loaded with electronic gadgetry. In acceleration, the newly energetic Continental can match a Cadillac Seville SLS. At 16.3 mpg, gas mileage has not improved and premium fuel is recommended. Despite its multiple adjustments, Lincoln's high-tech electronic suspension/steering fails to succeed fully. High mode makes the steering stiffer, without increasing feel; Low mode leaves the steering rather light and vague. The suspension also works best in Normal, as the other two modes have little effect on absorption of bumps. Interior space is great. Occupants have plenty of leg space front and rear, while head room is adequate for 6-footers, even with the optional moonroof. Storage space is fine. The Continental's trunk is wide, deep, and long. Reflecting off a mirror above the instrument cluster, the dramatic virtual image gauges are strikingly bright at night, but hard to read in bright sunlight. Controls are plentiful, and most are handy, but climate controls and seat heaters are recessed into the dashboard and hard to reach.
Value for the Money
Lincoln evidently attempted to make the Continental both a sports sedan and a traditional luxury car. It's not quite either, but worth a look anyway. Because sales have been tepid, used-car prices may be appealing.
Lincoln evidently attempted to make the Continental both a sports sedan and a traditional luxury car. It's not quite either, but worth a look anyway. Because sales have been tepid, used-car prices may be appealing.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Lincoln Continental Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 5 | |
| Fuel Economy | 3 | |
| Ride Quality | 6 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 4 | |
| Quietness | 6 | |
| Controls/Materials | 6 | |
| Interior Room | 6 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 5 | |
| Total Score: | 49 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Lincoln Continental includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Lincoln Continental .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Air conditioner:
Air conditioner output may be low or nonexistent because of a problem with the compressor clutch. (1995)
Hard starting:
The engine may be hard to start or may stall after hot soak due to the idle-air control valve sticking (1995-96), or a poor connection at the crank position sensor. (1995-97)
Heater core:
Installing a restrictor in the heater inlet hose may repair heater cores leaks. (1995-2002)
Steering noise:
The steering grunts or groans after making right hand turns, requiring replacement of the steering gear. (1995-97)
Suspension noise:
Clunking from the front end may be due to premature wear of the sway-bar links. (1995-97)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $435 |
| Alternator | $510 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $870 |
| Brakes | $320 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $470 |
| Exhaust System | $540 |
| Radiator | $290 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $1,165 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $795 |
Our price chart for this generation Lincoln Continental details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 2002 | |||
| Continental | $6,000-7,000 | $5,200-6,100 | $2,500-2,900 |
| 2001 | |||
| Continental | $5,200-6,000 | $4,400-5,100 | $2,100-2,400 |
| 2000 | |||
| Continental | $4,500-5,200 | $3,700-4,300 | $1,600-1,900 |
| 1999 | |||
| Continental | $3,900-4,600 | $3,200-3,800 | $1,200-1,400 |
| 1998 | |||
| Continental | $3,300-3,900 | $2,600-3,100 | $800-1,000 |
| 1997 | |||
| Continental | $2,800-3,400 | $2,100-2,600 | $600-700 |
| 1996 | |||
| Continental | $2,400-3,000 | $1,700-2,200 | $500-600 |
| 1995 | |||
| Continental | $2,100-2,600 | $1,500-1,800 | $400-500 |
|
|
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This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Lincoln Continental include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 4-door sedan | |
| Wheelbase, in. | 109.0 | |
| Overall Length, in. | 206.3 | |
| Overall Width, in. | 73.3 | |
| Overall Height, in. | 55.9 | |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3911 | |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 18.1 | |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 18.0 | |
| Seating Capacity | 6 | |
| Front Head Room, in. | 39.1 | |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 41.8 | |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 39.0 | |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 39.2 | |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
All Continentals had the same powertrain: a 260-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 engine with dual-overhead camshafts, driving a 4-speed automatic transmission. In 1999, engine revisions netted an addition 15 horsepower and 10 pound-feet of torque.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| dohc V8 | 4.6 / 281 | 260-275 | 265-275 | 4-speed automatic: 17/25 | 4-speed automatic: 16.3 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: USA
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Lincoln Continental include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
Vehicle crash test information not available at this time.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.
NHTSA Recall History
1995-96:
"Autolamp" control module may fail.
1996:
Vehicle can move even though indicator shows Park.
1998:
Text and/or graphics for headlamp aiming instructions, provided in owner guides, are not sufficiently clear.
1999:
Fuel-rail crossover hose was damaged during assembly, allowing fuel leakage.
1999-2000:
Due to defective airbag sensors, the driver and/or passenger airbag might deploy as a result of minor bumps in the road and such. Dealer will inspect and recalibrate all defective sensors.
2000:
Due to incorrectly formed pin shaft in seatbelt retractor, switching mechanism could become nonfunctional in some circumstances, preventing seatbelt webbing from being extracted.
2000-01:
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.
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