What's New for 1997

The Town Car's power steering has been improved.

Review

Lincolns have always been big, comfortable cruisers designed to coddle drivers and passengers in silent, swift comfort. The 1997 Town Car is no exception. While not exactly swift, the Town Car is motivated by a creamy smooth 4.6-liter V8 that gets it underway with reasonable aplomb, and the interior easily accommodates six in comfort.

Modest improvements are the rule for the 1997 Town Car. Power steering effort has been reduced, and on-center feel has been improved. Tiny interior and exterior changes have been made, but unless you look closely, you won't see them.

The Town Car traditionally competed with the Cadillac Fleetwood, but now that the Fleetwood, Buick Roadmaster, and Chevy Impalla have been canceled, the Town Car is the only remaining choice for those who want big, American, rear-drive comfort. The Lincoln does not have a sport-tuned chassis, nor does it have variable effort steering. There will never be an auto-manual transmission on the Town Car, and we really doubt that many kids dream of getting to ride in their grandparents Town Car. Nonetheless, this car is unequaled at moving people across the great open spaces that are still left in our country. That floaty suspension won't be disturbed a bit by expansion joints, pot holes or the occasional Honda Accord.

Apparently, there are still quite a few of you that find that sort of thing appealing; Lincoln sells more than 100,000 Town Cars per year. We are partial to it as well, clinging to it in desperation as the cars from our youth are killed off one by one. If you're in the market for a rear-wheel drive, American, luxury car, this is your only real choice.