2003 Lincoln Town Car Road Test - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our road test for the 2003 Lincoln Town Car includes a full evaluation of the 2003 Lincoln Town Car from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2003 Lincoln Town Car, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2003 Lincoln Town Car help you decide if a 2003 Lincoln Town Car is right for you.

2003 Lincoln Town Car Road Test

Pros	Cons

Passenger and cargo room	Fuel economy

Quietness	Rear visibility

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

Cartier L	Class Average
4	6.5

Despite slight power gain, feels no livelier than '02 Town Car: Both took 9.5 sec 0-60 mph in tests of Cartier L versions. All models some 250 lb heavier for '03, so still trail Cadillac DeVilles for overall acceleration, though they're quick enough. Transmission hesitates to kick down for passing, but is otherwise responsive and smooth, though most rivals get 5-speed automatics.

Fuel Economy

Cartier L	Class Average
4	4.1

Test Cartier L averaged 16.0 mpg, hurt slightly by gas-eating performance tests. Lincoln recommends regular-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

Cartier L	Class Average
8	8.2

American-luxury traditional. Absorbent and hushed, though chassis revisions bring markedly better body control over humps. Patter nicely checked on washboard surfaces.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Cartier L	Class Average
4	6.6

Fast cornering less "nautical" now, but Town Car still leans more than import-brand rivals. Steering slightly overboosted, but precision and feedback vastly better with new rack-and-pinion system vs. prior recirculating-ball setup. Traction control a must for snowy climates, though this system tends to kill power at just the wrong moment for maintaining speed on slippery surfaces. Braking short and stable for a heavyweight, with fair but not-alarming nosedive in sudden stops.

Quietness

Cartier L	Class Average
8	7.8

Fine, but not best in class. Engine muted even at full throttle, and tire thrum noticed only on very coarse pavement. Wind rush rises above 60 mph, but doesn't intrude.

Controls

Cartier L	Class Average
7	5.7

Tradition-bound, with no-surprises layout. Power-adjustable pedals help shorter drivers sit further from steering-wheel airbag. Over-shoulder visibility hampered by thick roof pillars. Switchgear too generic, but interior materials richer and more upscale for '03, approaching those of some costlier import-brand rivals. We've not yet tested a Town Car with navigation system.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Cartier L	Class Average
7	8.1

Three can squeeze in on standard bench seat, but middle rider will straddle transmission hump. Abundant head room and outboard leg room.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Cartier L	Class Average
8	7.6

Cartier L's bountiful 47.1 inches of rear leg room tops in class among regular factory models. Other Town Cars have good leg room. All have generous head clearance. But three adults is a squeeze here too, and the rear bench isn't as sofa-comfortable as it looks.

Cargo Room

Cartier L	Class Average
6	4.8

Most trunk space concentrated in a deep center well, so shifting heavy objects is a strain. But trunk more sensibly laid out now, with spare tire mounted vertically inside right rear fender instead of horizontally over the axle. Trunk opening 7.8 inches wider, liftover slightly lower for '03. Useful removable bin, with lid and partitions, occupies trunk well in Cartiers; available as an accessory on Signature.

Value within Class

Cartier L	Class Average
4	5.3

Town Car shines for American-style luxury, space, and isolation, and for '03 adds a welcome measure of dynamic confidence and ride control. Cadillac's DeVille still has an edge with its more-modern engineering, but the latest Town Car represents a thoughtful update of a time-honored formula.

Total Score