1996 Lincoln Continental Review
1996 Lincoln Continental Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What’s new
The big news for Continental is an optional gee-whiz rescue unit that uses a Global Positioning Satellite to pinpoint your location for roadside assistance, medical and law enforcement personnel in the event of an emergency -- likely the greatest safety advance since airbags and antilock brakes. Also new are run-flat Michelin tires, a 75th Diamond Anniversary Edition and a standard anti-theft system. It's getting there.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1996 Lincoln Continental 4dr Sedan and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.73 per gallon for regular unleaded in New York.
Monthly estimates based on costs in New York
$251/mo for Continental Base
Continental Base
vs
$233/mo
Avg. Large Car
Vehicle overview
Luxury means different things to different people. For some, unparalleled comfort is the definition of the term. Others look for excellence in engineering. Some prefer distinct styling or confident performance. The new Continental blends certain of these elements into one convincing package, but the result is a rather bland sedan that doesn't stand out from the crowd the way a BMW 530i or Cadillac Seville does. In our opinion, even the $30,000 Chrysler LHS is a more visually enticing vehicle.
A V8 engine and multi-adjustable suspension are two of the highlights of the Continental. The engine is the familiar 4.6-liter "In-Tech" motor from the Town Car and Mark VIII, producing 260 horsepower in this application. The suspension setup offers three settings; firm, normal and soft. Soft gives passengers a floaty, well-isolated ride while firm stiffens the suspension for spirited driving.
Electroluminescent gauges, just like those on a Lexus, keep the driver informed, and the quality of the interior materials and textures is first rate, though we noticed that the power window and lock switchgear is identical to that offered on the 1995 Ford Taurus. The cabin seems somewhat small, but the rear seat still offers limo-like room, just like the previous Continental boasted. Outside, the influence of the Mark VIII is quite evident in the sloping hood, front styling and bulging side sheetmetal. We find the new shape to be somewhat homely, though from the rear quarter view the car is stunning.
Lincoln concentrated on safety for the 1996 Continental. An optional Personal Security Package includes run-flat Michelin tires mounted on special chrome alloy wheels, a garage door opener and a sophisticated global satellite rescue system. The tires are designed to travel up to 20 miles at 50 mph with no loss of steering or control if they go flat. Slowing down will increase the distance you can travel. A new transmitter system can learn up to three garage and security system codes. But the big news is the Remote Emergency Satellite Cellular Unit (RESCU). Mounted in the overhead console are two buttons. One of them links the driver to roadside assistance. The other links the driver to medical or law enforcement personnel. The system transmits the Vehicle Identification Number of the car, as well as its location to within 100 feet via a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS). The driver, or passengers, can use the telephone in the console to talk with operators who respondto the signal put out by the RESCU system. This is probably the most important safety innovation since airbags and antilock brakes.
Also new this year is a Touring Package and a midyear 75th Diamond Anniversary Edition. Lincoln's Total Anti-theft System is moved from the options list to the standard equipment roster.
Is the Continental worthy of inclusion in the over $40,000 luxury-car class? Yes, particularly when equipped with the RESCU system. However, more distinctive styling would go a long way towards making the Continental more palatable.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1996 Lincoln Continental.
5 star(45%)
4 star(39%)
3 star(13%)
2 star(3%)
1 star(0%)
38 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.38 out of 5 stars
Loyal Ford owner
James Osment, 09/04/2008
1995 Lincoln Continental 4dr Sedan
I bought this car from my father who owned it for 10 years. He bought it from the original owner! It has been a fun car to drive and it is an excellent car for the open road when going on a trip!
4 out of 5 stars
Old car still running.... now dead
Jeff, 12/20/2015
1996 Lincoln Continental 4dr Sedan
The air ride will fail ,,, replaced mine with coils which I found for $350 on ebay from the manufacturer...open box and put in myself ... Engine hard to work on as the compartment is cramped... Replaced the stereo as the display failed... was not too complicated although the subwoofer had to be bi-passed... The worst thing to happen was the AC is leaking oil and it is buried under the … engine and lodged between the cross member frame ....can't even see where the oil is leaking from.... this is a winter ride now and is starting to rust ... I love to drive it as it is like sitting in a comfy living room couch... must have been a heck of a car in '96 although it cost $40.000 which I just don't see how ..... Just drive it till it drops ... bought used for cheap ...it owes me nothing at this point as I have had it 7 years or so.... Update: The timing chain has jumped a tooth needs repaired but costs more than it is worth...
3 out of 5 stars
Air Bag Suspension expensive to replace.
missybee, 08/10/2010
1996 Lincoln Continental 4dr Sedan
I purchased the vehicle used and had put about 12,000 miles per year on it. At the 130,000 mark everything fell apart. Pieces of the interior are falling apart such as the wood like lining on the front doors. Parts are expensive and difficult to get. The air bag suspension is terrible, tiny tears in the bags put pressure on battery to refill, alternator, and generator. These things … need continually replaced. New suspension is upwards of $4500 at dealership. Or get proper suspension for closer to $3000.
4 out of 5 stars
OLD SUPERCAR - ALMOST GREAT!
carnut67, 05/09/2016
1995 Lincoln Continental 4dr Sedan
This Continental was designed as a BMW/Mercedes/Cadillac killer and ALMOST does the job....
VERY rare transverse-mounted V8 front-drive.
Wicked-fast 4.6L DOHC motor, had selectable air-suspension before standard spring conversion...
Had great paint with pearl, large, roomy and safe sedan.
Nice premium leather interior.
Bought car with 15k miles, now disabled with 210k miles.
Sort-of … difficult to repair, and parts are getting hard-to-find.
Lincoln had a WINNER here, but attempted-to hybridize this car (in later years from a 7-year run 1995-2002) to a "fogey-mobile", and failure was the end result.
Heavy ride, quiet, and reasonably economical.
Had to have transmission rebuilt at 190K, had hard 1-2 shifts from factory.....
This car lives in hallowed company, with the likes of "forever" lasting Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis, only it's a front-driver.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1996 Lincoln Continental, so we've included reviews for other years of the Continental since its last redesign.
1996 Continental Highlights
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $251/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 18.1 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalAcceptable
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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