Lincoln Town Car Review

2010 Lincoln Town Car Signature Limited Sedan

The Lincoln Town Car is one of the most established automotive nameplates in America, and although it has taken many different forms since it debuted as a trim level for the 1969-'71 Continental, its purpose remains the same: to spoil up to six occupants with spacious and luxurious accommodations no matter where in the car they are sitting.

Since then, the big, V8-powered rear-wheel-drive Town Car has been Lincoln's flagship sedan. However, while the Town Car's old-school brand of luxury used to be all the rage, times have changed, and most drivers even among the elder set expect more responsiveness than the Town Car delivers. Today, the Lincoln Town Car is heavily supported by the livery business thanks to its palatial dimensions, massive trunk and silky ride, thereby making it an ideal shuttle for aristocrats in need of a lift.

Next to other premium luxury cars, especially from the import brands, the big Town Car remains a relative bargain, delivering a lot of metal for the money. But that can't change its status as one of the last body-on-frame luxury car relics still in production. Indeed, many of its competitors provide the Town Car's isolationist approach to motoring without the cumbersome handling.

Current Lincoln Town Car

Equipped with wide front and rear bench seats, the current Lincoln Town Car is one of the few six-passenger cars around. Both standard- and long-wheelbase models are offered, each powered by a V8 engine.

The Town Car is offered in two trim levels. The Signature serves as the base model, while the Signature Limited adds some minor extras such as an upgraded sound system, power-operated trunk and a memory system linking the seats, pedals and mirrors to preset preferences. The long-wheelbase Town Car Signature L is about as close to a limousine as a sedan can get. Six inches longer than the other styles, the Signature L features a much roomier, heated rear bench seat with separate audio and climate controls.

With so much weight to pull around, the Lincoln Town Car's 4.6-liter V8 engine is incapable of providing quick acceleration in spite of its 239 horsepower and 287 pound-feet of torque. Not helping matters is a four-speed automatic that lacks the choice of gear ratios and fuel-economy benefits of the five- and six-speed automatics found on competitive sedans.

In editorial reviews, we appreciated this generation's stronger frame, sharpened steering and upgraded brakes. This model also earned favorable commentary for its abundant storage areas, magic-carpet ride quality, interior spaciousness and ability to swallow four sets of golf clubs in the huge trunk. Negative comments focused on the weak motor, soft handling and old-school interior and exterior design.

Used Lincoln Town Car Models

When the current-generation Lincoln Town Car was introduced in 2003, improvements included a strengthened frame, updated mechanicals, more formal styling and a new interior. Standard-wheelbase models were initially offered in three trim levels, all well equipped in terms of luxury amenities, but the Designer Series with its exterior enhancements was discontinued in 2008.

The 1998-2002 model, despite lacking the current model's updates, offered the same brand of quiet, roomy comfort. It was offered in Executive, Signature and Cartier editions, and beginning in 2002, the latter two trim levels were available in long-wheelbase form.

Between 1998 and 2000, the Town Car was powered by a 4.6-liter V8 that produced 205 hp. In 2001, hp was bumped up to 220 for Executive and Signature editions, while Cartier versions produced 235 hp.

Between 1990 and 1997, the Town Car was boxy, slab-sided and formal. However, its radiused edges, flush-mounted windows and lighting elements made it appear infinitely more modern and aerodynamic than the carriage-like pre-1990 models. In 1991, an overhead-cam 4.6-liter V8 was installed that, with 190 hp, was significantly more powerful than the 5.0-liter V8 in previous Town Cars. In 1994, hp rose once again to 210. Other notable developments for mid-1990s Town Car models included an optional Handling Package with firmer suspension and matched tires introduced for 1993, and a subtle but tasteful interior and exterior restyle for 1995.

Most editorial reviewers of the time noted the Town Car's strength as a serene reading room on wheels while lamenting its ponderous driving dynamics. However, there was universal acknowledgement that the Lincoln Town Car never has been for spirited drivers, but rather for those who grew up believing that big, comfortable, rear-wheel-drive American luxury cars were the ultimate reward for a job well done. And for them, this Town Car was a perfect fit.

SELECT A SPECIFIC LINCOLN TOWN CAR MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.