What's New for 1998

Lincoln redesigns its Town Car this year, making it lower, stiffer and faster. The interior is nicely improved as well, with softer seats and better positioned controls.

Review

Lincolns have always been big, comfortable cruisers designed to coddle drivers and passengers in silent, swift comfort. The 1998 Town Car is no exception. While not exactly swift, the Town Car is motivated by a creamy smooth 4.6-liter V8 that gets a few more horsepower than last year's model, making it easy to get underway with aplomb.

In addition to the increased horsepower, Lincoln shaves some height and length off of this land yacht in an attempt to make it more palatable to younger buyers. Interior changes include better seats, a driver-oriented instrument panel and more efficient rear passenger ventilation ducts. Despite these much-appreciated improvements, we doubt that Lincoln will find many sub-retirement takers for its biggest car.

The Town Car traditionally competed with the Cadillac Fleetwood, but since the Fleetwood, Buick Roadmaster and Chevy Impala were canceled in 1996, 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 a driver-adjustable suspension. 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, potholes or the occasional Honda Accord.

Apparently, there are still quite a few of you who 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.