With a mended Advance Trac system, we were finally able to see if Lincoln's stability control was worth the money we paid for it. On the streets, especially in the wet, the stability works seamlessly and in a non-intrusive fashion. For the most part, it comes on when it should, and stays motionless like a little guardian angel on our shoulder when we're not exceeding the limits of adhesion. We'll get a more critical analysis of the system when we run the car through the slalom at a later date.

Stability control or not, the Lincoln, despite its heft, feels quite light on its feet. The sport package we opted for really does pay dividends here. Stiffer suspension and bigger wheels and tires make this Lincoln feel unlike anything the marque has ever offered. Add precise, fairly tight steering, and this car really does have the makings of a sport sedan.

A strange thing began to happen intermittently when we would gas up our car this month. Upon restarting the Lincoln, the fuel gauge would not go all the way to full. The distance-to-empty number would not reset as well. Driving for over a half an hour did not alleviate the problem. Finally, after about an hour, everything would read as it should. We'll get this looked at during the Lincoln's first oil change, which is approaching quickly.

We got a chance to test out the SportShift transmission, to see how much control it really afforded us. Initially, we were impressed that it allowed us to maintain true control of shift points by allowing us to reach redline and bust into the rev limiter. For comparison's sake, neither the Audi A8 or the BMW 750il we tested recently allowed us to reach redline. Both of the German cars shifted whether we liked it or not! On the downside, the Lincoln's transmission still does not downshift fast enough. When the transmission finally decides to shift, it's abrupt. So abrupt, in fact, that on more than one occasion, while downshifting and braking simultaneously, the ABS was invoked. Not a pleasant side effect of the troublesome transmission, to say the least.

The seats proved comfortable for all drivers this month. We were pleased with the automatic exit positioning of the seat once you remove the key from the ignition. The steering wheel tilts up out of the way and the seat slides far back. As a result, entry and exit is a breeze. Controls were all well within reach and clearly marked. The glove box-mounted CD changer was convenient, as we weren't required to get out of the car to change selections. It does, however, hog the space left for storage. Another storage hog is the cell phone and cradle, which takes up the entire center console.

On a drizzly day our driver forgot about the rain-sensing wipers, which came on unexpectedly. It was somewhat bizarre to watch the wipers do their work only when needed, and stay put when no moisture is present. When there's a little bit of moisture, the car reacts with a, "SWIPE!" When there's a bit more, it responds with a, "SWIPE, SWIPE!" It's quite intelligent in that sense, but the amount of rainfall was relatively light. We'll just have to see how well it deals with more copious amounts of precipitation.

Total Odometer Reading: 1,813
Best Fuel Economy: 17.6 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 17.1 mpg
Running Average Over Life of Vehicle: 14.5 mpg
Body Damage Repair: $0
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: Fuel gauge and distance-to-empty gauge is reading incorrectly.