1998-2002 Lincoln Town Car: 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.

Value for the Money
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.