1995-2002 Lincoln Continental - Consumer Guide Automotive

Category	Lincoln Continental Rating (See All Ratings)

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

Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category

Chart: One rating chart provided for a representative model

1995-2002 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL BUYING RESOURCES

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1995-2002 Lincoln Continental Review

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.

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.

1995-2002 Lincoln Continental Road Test >

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