I don’t usually get car sick, but for some reason I get car sick in Lincoln going to the airport. There’s something about the ride and/or the small windows that cause it. I would much prefer the Prius over the town car.
The Panther platform is, in my opinion, one of the few times when one of the big three has been able to pull of essentially badge engineering and come out with a respectable expensive luxury car that's basically the same thing as a cop car and common taxi. And the Marquis is rather nice too.
I've owned a lot of big cars, Lincolns, Cadillacs, S Classes, 7 Series ect. and *NOTHING* beats a Towncar for going across the country in perfect comfort. These cars were not built to drag race or road course, they were built to hit the highway, set the cruise 80mph and enjoy the ride as you gobbled up highway miles.
+me3333 Nothing beats it if you like slow, wallowy bullshit cars. When I drive on the freeway I still like to have some sense of what's going on on the road below--not an available option in the Town Car. Oh, got to change lanes...CAPTAIN WE NEARLY CAPSIZED KEEP THOSE RATES DOWN
nutsackmania I'm not sure what Towncars you have driven but all 9 of mine were a pleasure to drive on the freeway. Now twisty roads is where my S600 really shines but it could never hold a candle to my Towncar(s) on an open road. I think some people watch too much top gear and don't realize what these cars were built for. They were never meant to be road course handling cars. They were for the guy that doesn't have to be anywhere on time. The type of guy that drives around with a big cigar hanging out of his mouth.
If you spend a few bucks on shocks and springs you would be surprised how well it handles. The P71 is the same chassis, different parts and it is a pursuit vehicle.
Remember seeing one of this gen for the 1st time in Chicago in 98'. Was shocked at how curvy it was and a little disappointed the chrome was so limited. But, here it is 25 yrs later and it remains a classic.
When you take an engine that can make 300HP and go 300K miles, then DETUNE it so it can go 500K miles... you get a car that lasts forever. You don't judge these true american luxury cars with 0-60 times and roadholding Lat G's. This is how you should look at this Lincoln. Your 0-60 ends in 7.5 seconds. But your 300 mile road trip will endure for the next 4 hours. Would you rather be 1 second faster to 60MPH? or spend the rest of 4 hours in unrivaled comfort?
if you detune the engine that doesn't necessarily mean that it will last longer... for example there is many 1.8L engines that produce 160hp that will make 500K miles without any fuss and that same engine with 220hp will do the same mileage
nutsackmania once you service a engine when it needs it, i'm sure that most modern engines will have no problem doing that type of mileage once you don't hammer it most of the time
nutsackmania The 3800 series V6, Ford 5.0, Toyota V6 engines from the 80's and 90's, Saturn 1.9... I've seen cars with these engines go 500k or darn near close.
Fat Max: the ford 4.6 modular v8 is also a workhorse that can go for a very long time. But anyways, most engines out there cannot hit 500k miles. Those you mention are the exception, not the norm.
I have driven a 96 for 13 years and have 320,000 miles on original engine and tranny. I recently bought another 96 (higher model) with 79,000 miles. Love it.
@@mercedesbenzs600bash I can believe it, I frequently check the classifieds in search of a 1990-1994 model year Town Car and a large number on offer have 300,000+ miles on the clock. The 4.6L was relatively unexciting, but a good, durable engine.
+corey vire Exactly! Six people could ride in air conditioned comfort, experiencing a smooth, quiet ride for hundreds of miles and never break a sweat.
+dstarks80 I got over a million plus miles in these things. The car was built for four adults or centered around four adults However one can cram people in it if you wish. After awhile the airbags will start to leak if constant full load use Thats another story
You are a legend. I've been watching your reviews since I was in elementary school in the 80s until now. I remember back in 1987 my Grade 2 teacher asked me what my favourite TV show was and I said "Motorweek!". Thankfully he was a car nut and knew what I was talking about, but he also gave me that look like...shouldn't you be watching silly cartoons at your age?
Im 18, and I got the privilege of driving a 1998 Town Car yesterday. (may 13) It was Black on Black. My first time driving a Panther Car and I must say that it is one of the nicest driving sedans ive ever driven up to this point in my life. A solid 9.99 out of 10. 👍
To be honest; the Lincoln Town Car, Cadillac DeVille, and Chrysler 300C are the only cars where you can measure the amount of cubic space in the trunk by how many dead bodies you can stuff into the trunk.
This was my dads dream car. It’s too bad we couldn’t get it for him before he stopped driving. I remember vacationing in Boca Raton, Florida and he felt like a king renting a Lincoln Town Car at the airport even though I suggested we rent the new 2005 Chrysler 300C. It’s a shame Ford didn’t redesign the Lincoln Town Car and just let it die stagnant from 1998 - 2011 with only a few cosmetic updates in 2003 and 2007. I’m sure there are a lot of livery companies and older buyers who would still buy a Town Car if it was available.
As I write this in February 2018, I cannot believe this road test was more than 20 years ago. Makes me feel very very old. The fact that these big Lincolns didn't change much in almost their entire 15 year run contributes to that.
Another thing that aged these vehicles is they were never outfitted with stability control in their later years before they were discontinued in 2011. The 08 Taraus was available with this feature.
MY 02 Executive with 160k on it runs like a new one. It of course is one of the smoothest driving cars around. I recently had a chance to spend a couple of days driving around in a 2001 Cadillac although Cad's are very nice cars and it had more luxury items then my exec. it did not handle or drive as well , even in the turns, The 32 valve northstar was more powerful and faster accelerating then my little 4.6 modular v8 but power is adequate in the Lincoln, nether one are muscle cars. The breaks atr of course the dual caliber large rotor and stopping this rolling mass is well controlled. My dealer friend offered to swap me the Caddy for my Lincoln but I stayed with the Lincoln.
@@johnh8705 The US Government: We must push for economy cars because they pollute less and "save the environment"! Also the US Government: * Continues letting nuclear plants run even if Chernobyl could be reborn uncontrollably *
@@johnh8705 It's truly disappointing. Now auto brands are pushing turbocharged 3 cylinder compact SUVs with more stress on the motor than a high school parent finding out their teenager got expelled. And people want to call this upgrading.
My grandma gave me her 98 Town Car for Christmas and it's in near perfect condition. Less than 100K and it's been kept in her garage so it still looks new save for a small dent on the front left side. Can't wait to drive it from PA to my Army duty station in Fort Hood Texas
One of my favorite cars. It took a whole for this generation to grow on me. So in love with the 95-97 I was disappointed with the boring analog speedometer in comparison to the digital dash that's still cool to this day. This particular model, Signature Touring, is the one I'm keeping my eyes out for. They even have a different wood grain (oak, gray), standard dual exhaust, posi rear 3.27, these chrome wheels, etc. I drove a 01' back when I was 15 when my grandma and big sister from NYC came to visit us in DC. Budget car rental ran out of bullshit Cavaliers and Sentras and we ended up with a brand new (1,200ish miles) white Executive, no extra charge upgrade. I was the designated chauffeur (yes @ 15 Learners permit). Ja Rule & J Lo "I'm Real" was hot on the radio. The best part about the summer of 2001 just before everything went to hell a couple months later.
Its not necessarily the Horsepower everyone has mentioned but rather the Torque. At nearly 300 these cars were heavy and the Torque at a low RPM made them great effortless cruisers.
MrPorsche91730 I daily drove a Grand Marquis with the same 4.6 and panther chassis. Nothing but low end torque with these boats. Effortlessly get up to redicous speeds thanks to the extremely long 2:73 gearing.
I worked on these during and after trade school. Intake manifolds and rear suspension air bags were their only faults. Ford built them with couches for seats.
I think one of the main reasons that Ford discontinued all of the full size rear wheel drive cars is it's hard to get return buyers (sales) when you make a car that will easily go 300 thousand miles with very little effort! It's a shame though even in 2020 there would still be a huge market for this car and it's cousins
The main reason for discontinuation was because of price. The Panther platform was getting old (unchanged since 1998) and Ford had to modify the platform to meet upcoming safety standards. They mentioned that the cost is too expensive and since they invested in bringing their other models to modern standards, Ford believed it was more economical to have potential customers look at their other models and put the Panther platform to rest.
I find the 1998-2002 to have a better interior then the 03+ years. I'm not sure why but I guess they did away with the premium chrome window/door lock controls and handles.
I don't know why, but I always thought this redesign was ugly for the Town Car, the Grand Marquis and Crown Victoria look better to me, I guess I always liked the square bodystyle Town Car's.
The first '98 Town Car I saw on the road was black. My immediate reaction was "It looks like a giant cockroach." That being said, these were cushy basic American luxury cars. Dependable (air suspension and coolant problems aside), comfortable, and great cruising cars. Pretty good on gas for the time too.
My daily driver is a 1996 Town Car Signature Lincoln .In my whole life this is the best car I have ever owned. I wish Lincoln would build a new Town car and make it look like the Bentley Mulsanne . I own 8 Lincolns going back to 1941 . But the best ever is the mid 90's Town car wish it was turbo charged
I used to drive these cars as Limousines. I can tell you that the '98 car was a disappointment because of the smaller trunk. It did not have as soft a ride as the older car. Strangely, this car is much better when made into a 120 inch stretch. The ride is much smoother and the extra weight made it much more stable than the sedan. The sedan hopped around over bumps while the limo was smooth as silk.
***** Oh don't get me wrong, I absolutely love a Town Car! I was a porter at a Lincoln dealer for 4 years, one of my favorite cars to drive, so comfy and big, boasts enough power to put a smile on your face. But ask me how many customers I've seen roll in with one of these that were under the age of 60?
J Gutierrez. sorry but that is false, the Panther cars actually have a pretty poor crash performance history. particularly in side impacts, tell me how exactly that steel frame helps you at all when the bumper of the car T boning you passes right over it and shoves your drivers door straight into the center of your car?
+DtewLSsix -Actually..Lincoln Town Cars have the highest safety crash results for cars in their division according to Consumer Reports. And no car can guarantee your safety in a crash..no matter what their advertising says. I drive a MB S Class and used to think it was the safest car on the road..which in many ways it is..but then tell that to Princess Diana -she was riding in the BACK of one and STILL didn't survive her crash. Still..it's better than a KIA in terms of safety.
I own a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis (a sister of the Town Car) with the Montigua vinyl top and leather seats and I love it. > I love how nobody but the owners give a crap about it therefor I got a good price for a good car that was babied it's whole life. > I love how people just assume I'm a grandma in traffic so they leave me alone and just pass. > I love everything the Panther Body was known for. I truly think the Panther Body is a future classic.
Like many Lincolns from years past, the design holds up and remains 'neat'. Lincoln was normally a distant 2nd to Cadillac in the luxo-market, but this example was a fine car which even now looks great and still would be considered luxurious and contemporary today (except for some missing hi-tech items.)
The Ford Panther models all had something in common they hauled around the share of drunks!The police interceptor did the DUIs and the Lincoln hauled around the drunk party/wedding goers crashed out on the floors in the back of the limos!
+alb12345672 I love that!Yea if all Panthers could talk they would definitely remember about when all the drunks vomited in them! Police cars and limos alike!Panthers (older women) can probably tell similar stories too!LMAO
Those cars are extremely reliable, even today with lots of miles on them. The intake manifold is the only issue ( a few hours to replace). I have one as a daily driver (I did replace the front suspension and a few other bits) and except for oil changes it is as reliable as any new car, and it has 160K.
A guy who I loved as a family member had one. It was beige with tan interior think one time he had a problem with it saw tow truck towing not sure what was wrong with it. My mother who was a teacher at time principal bought one it was a '02 in silver she had a Expedition traded on Town car due of her husband who was superintendent in the area around time start having health problems until year later he passed away from illness. I used to love Town cars when was little at that time was 9 years old when this car was out was crazy about this and Grand Marquis this 98 design was unique think liked better than previous boxy gen which loved those as well. I miss these Panthers, sad they have been discontinued for almost a decade ago have fast does time fly by still see some at times. Around that time Ford was making their cars more upscale like a Jaguar.
@Take the red pill I'm 20 and just bought one after owning a Grand Marquis for a year. I lost the Grand Marquis in a wreck. The Town Car blows any modern hunk of trash away for a daily.
Nice car. I bet the highway acceleration feels a lot better then the 8.5 sixty time suggest. Ford's SOHC 4.6 is tame power wise, but they are smooth and quite.
I want a powerful V8 sedan car capable of traveling at a comfortable 160mph speed and able to take corners at high speeds and stability and be safe like Lexus ls, Mercedes S and E, Audi a8, Cadillac and BMW 7 Series What is the point of a 4.6L V8 that can produce only 220 horsepower and cannot exceed 100mph, and worse than that, it is light, wobbly, and unstable at a speed of 90mph-100mph, with poor flow. If the Lincoln Town Car can travel at a wobbly 80mph speed and very poor stability on turns, then the Mercedes E500 can travel at 169mph with amazing stability on corners, high speeds, high safety, hydraulic system and luxury, in addition to the BWM 7 Series, Lexus LS and Audi A8. All of these cars have the ability to exceed 155mph and they have Rossah and high safety, so what prevented Ford from improving the Lincoln Town Car like the rest of the luxury cars?
Nice car, but bad at turns, light and wobbly at high speeds +90MPH, unstable, and the 4.6L V8 engine cannot exceed 110mph, man. Even the Hyundai Accent with a 1.4L engine did this!!!
The Town Car did 0-60 in 8.5 seconds and that was "very respectable". The 2016 Hyundai Tucson did 0-60 in 8.4 seconds and that was "mundane". That's how times change.
Interesting fact - These cars shared the exact same steering box as the F150. The parts could interchange, maybe some sport models had a different ratio. Much of the suspension is similar too, but different sizes obviously. Live rear axle. Panthers are a car on a truck chassis.
alb12345672. wrong, the panther is a car chassis through and through, trucks have ladder frames while this car and nearly all body on frame cars have a perimeter frame. would you suppose that the G35/skyline is a truck because it shares parts with one?
DrewLSsix I would put it more in the middle. It's not a truck by design, but compared to any modern macpherson strut/independent rear sedan today, it's more similar to a truck. Just compare the panther ride height to any car today.
I swear watching these car reviews are therapeutic
“Attracting younger buyers”... rofl - so like 75 instead of 85.
Like breathing instead of not.
🤣🤣🤣
Arresting younger buyers
Lol
Stop it 😆
These were awesome and affordable airport limo cars. Really like a smaller limo. Now thanks to Uber you only get a stoopid Prius.
Definitely. A Lincoln Town Car is the only way to travel to or from the airport in style.
Yeah that only a dog that looks like snoopy can drive
My first UBER ride was in a Lincoln. I felt bad for the guy because there was black ice but we made it.
I don’t usually get car sick, but for some reason I get car sick in Lincoln going to the airport. There’s something about the ride and/or the small windows that cause it. I would much prefer the Prius over the town car.
The Panther platform is, in my opinion, one of the few times when one of the big three has been able to pull of essentially badge engineering and come out with a respectable expensive luxury car that's basically the same thing as a cop car and common taxi. And the Marquis is rather nice too.
I've owned a lot of big cars, Lincolns, Cadillacs, S Classes, 7 Series ect. and *NOTHING* beats a Towncar for going across the country in perfect comfort. These cars were not built to drag race or road course, they were built to hit the highway, set the cruise 80mph and enjoy the ride as you gobbled up highway miles.
Exactly right.
+me3333 Nothing beats it if you like slow, wallowy bullshit cars. When I drive on the freeway I still like to have some sense of what's going on on the road below--not an available option in the Town Car. Oh, got to change lanes...CAPTAIN WE NEARLY CAPSIZED KEEP THOSE RATES DOWN
nutsackmania I'm not sure what Towncars you have driven but all 9 of mine were a pleasure to drive on the freeway. Now twisty roads is where my S600 really shines but it could never hold a candle to my Towncar(s) on an open road. I think some people watch too much top gear and don't realize what these cars were built for. They were never meant to be road course handling cars. They were for the guy that doesn't have to be anywhere on time. The type of guy that drives around with a big cigar hanging out of his mouth.
+me3333 I just like driving. The Town Car was made mostly for people who don't.
If you spend a few bucks on shocks and springs you would be surprised how well it handles. The P71 is the same chassis, different parts and it is a pursuit vehicle.
Remember seeing one of this gen for the 1st time in Chicago in 98'. Was shocked at how curvy it was and a little disappointed the chrome was so limited. But, here it is 25 yrs later and it remains a classic.
When you take an engine that can make 300HP and go 300K miles, then DETUNE it so it can go 500K miles... you get a car that lasts forever.
You don't judge these true american luxury cars with 0-60 times and roadholding Lat G's.
This is how you should look at this Lincoln.
Your 0-60 ends in 7.5 seconds.
But your 300 mile road trip will endure for the next 4 hours.
Would you rather be 1 second faster to 60MPH? or spend the rest of 4 hours in unrivaled comfort?
if you detune the engine that doesn't necessarily mean that it will last longer... for example there is many 1.8L engines that produce 160hp that will make 500K miles without any fuss and that same engine with 220hp will do the same mileage
+dunhillsupramk3 There are not many automotive internal combustion engines that "make 500k without any fuss"
nutsackmania
once you service a engine when it needs it, i'm sure that most modern engines will have no problem doing that type of mileage once you don't hammer it most of the time
nutsackmania The 3800 series V6, Ford 5.0, Toyota V6 engines from the 80's and 90's, Saturn 1.9... I've seen cars with these engines go 500k or darn near close.
Fat Max: the ford 4.6 modular v8 is also a workhorse that can go for a very long time. But anyways, most engines out there cannot hit 500k miles. Those you mention are the exception, not the norm.
I just recently purchased a 98 Town Car...with 140k and she handles like a dream...I am glad that I purchased this vehicle.
just be sure she has the metal intake crossover behind the alternator. Cheap fix, but required!
Yes, definitely. I revved mine up in the driveway and blew a three inch crack in that infamous coolant runner.
It rides as soft as a cloud, has nothing to do with handling ,.
alb12345672 and MetalGear
liars
@@Mdudeman13 what year is your car sir
I have driven a 96 for 13 years and have 320,000 miles on original engine and tranny.
I recently bought another 96 (higher model) with 79,000 miles.
Love it.
Very beautifull this Lincoln Town Car
My 1995 Town Car daily driver just turned 300K miles.. runs amazing..
Tough reliable comfortable car our 2006 executive l with dvd is at 490 k still running strong
490,000 miles are you serious,????? Do you still have it????
@@mercedesbenzs600bash that's amazing. That motor is bulletproof though
We need an update!
I bought an '06 with just under 300K on it and it looks and drives like a brand new car!
@@mercedesbenzs600bash I can believe it, I frequently check the classifieds in search of a 1990-1994 model year Town Car and a large number on offer have 300,000+ miles on the clock. The 4.6L was relatively unexciting, but a good, durable engine.
Grandmother had one of these new. I loved that car so much.
I love bench seats.
Great for BJ's, whoever invented the console never gave head in a car😈
@@seanmcgivney7631 your complimenting the dude who invented the console
What a majestic car........... I love it......
Even the British royal family use those.
Still one of the best limos ever made.
TRUE! WE HAVE A 2010 EXECUTIVE L. WE LOVE IT! THE BEST LIMO
4:40 whoa!
This car us a fantastic cruiser and road trip car. Who cares about its 0-60. Who the hell drag races a Towncar?
+corey vire Exactly! Six people could ride in air conditioned comfort, experiencing a smooth, quiet ride for hundreds of miles and never break a sweat.
+itsmegp46 Its only built for four people
The driver plus two other people.
The other two is marketing
+orbits2 Built for 6 people. 3 normal sized persons in back, 2 normal sized in front, 1 small grandchild in center front. I'm a witness.
+dstarks80 I got over a million plus miles in these things.
The car was built for four adults or centered around four adults
However one can cram people in it if you wish.
After awhile the airbags will start to leak if constant full load use
Thats another story
+corey vire You never know when you need to get away from the cops, after they spotted you throwing two bodies in the trunk...
Buying a 2000 in 2019. Theyre so damn comfortable.
That should be interesting considering that they stopped making these cars after the 2011 model year.
@@houseofno Yea it's a real shame.
@The Real VR we own the 2010 Executive L. Amazing limo😍😍
Awesome seeing a Lincoln Town Car go around a track! I love car testing :-)
I have a 1998 Town Car signature.112,000 miles.Still runs like it's new.
I didn't care for this Tow Car generation until the 2003 refresh. Made a huge difference. And the hood ornament was back!
You are a legend. I've been watching your reviews since I was in elementary school in the 80s until now. I remember back in 1987 my Grade 2 teacher asked me what my favourite TV show was and I said "Motorweek!". Thankfully he was a car nut and knew what I was talking about, but he also gave me that look like...shouldn't you be watching silly cartoons at your age?
Agreed I have been watching John Davis since 1998. He is a legend for sure, and still a great narrator for these road tests old and new.
Im 18, and I got the privilege of driving a 1998 Town Car yesterday. (may 13) It was Black on Black. My first time driving a Panther Car and I must say that it is one of the nicest driving sedans ive ever driven up to this point in my life. A solid 9.99 out of 10. 👍
the towncar is great for when you have "business" to take care of. the self locking power trunk is perfect.
Lol 😝
@Rollo Lawson how do you know that is true???
To be honest; the Lincoln Town Car, Cadillac DeVille, and Chrysler 300C are the only cars where you can measure the amount of cubic space in the trunk by how many dead bodies you can stuff into the trunk.
Celebrity car, Mafia car.
That boat can mooooveee, lol
This is my favorite design of the Town Car, it looks smooth and sophisticated. I love it!
The last good looking one no doubt, the facelift after this looks gross
@@exxusdrugstore300 I like both. But this gen was just unique and gave the car such a personality. And the interior was downgraded in 2003...
@@RodknockRhett A very distinct personality that I love, but I'm biased because I own one lol
@Deer Lord - if your "Deer Lord" handle/pic is as sarcastic as "loving" the 98 TownCar design ... I totally understand !!
The body style is much nicer!
That modular v8 is one of the best motors ever made. I have a 2006 and it is a brilliant road car.
A V8 can't reach 120mph, not even a Toyota Corolla 1.6 can do that 😂😂😂
I’m 41 and I still think the Town Car’s are some of the best ever made
This was my dads dream car. It’s too bad we couldn’t get it for him before he stopped driving. I remember vacationing in Boca Raton, Florida and he felt like a king renting a Lincoln Town Car at the airport even though I suggested we rent the new 2005 Chrysler 300C. It’s a shame Ford didn’t redesign the Lincoln Town Car and just let it die stagnant from 1998 - 2011 with only a few cosmetic updates in 2003 and 2007. I’m sure there are a lot of livery companies and older buyers who would still buy a Town Car if it was available.
As I write this in February 2018, I cannot believe this road test was more than 20 years ago. Makes me feel very very old. The fact that these big Lincolns didn't change much in almost their entire 15 year run contributes to that.
Another thing that aged these vehicles is they were never outfitted with stability control in their later years before they were discontinued in 2011. The 08 Taraus was available with this feature.
MY 02 Executive with 160k on it runs like a new one. It of course is one of the smoothest driving cars around. I recently had a chance to spend a couple of days driving around in a 2001 Cadillac although Cad's are very nice cars and it had more luxury items then my exec. it did not handle or drive as well , even in the turns, The 32 valve northstar was more powerful and faster accelerating then my little 4.6 modular v8 but power is adequate in the Lincoln, nether one are muscle cars. The breaks atr of course the dual caliber large rotor and stopping this rolling mass is well controlled. My dealer friend offered to swap me the Caddy for my Lincoln but I stayed with the Lincoln.
Dan 101 I can only dream of owning one👍🏻🇬🇧
A V8 can't reach 115mph, not even a Toyota Corolla 1.6 can do that 😂😂😂
I wish Lincoln or other companies still made full size v8 body on frame cars....
Thank the US government
@@johnh8705 The US Government: We must push for economy cars because they pollute less and "save the environment"!
Also the US Government: * Continues letting nuclear plants run even if Chernobyl could be reborn uncontrollably *
@@maddoxoliver2418 exactly. Now SUVs are the best selling vehicles. Americans like big vehicles.
@@johnh8705 It's truly disappointing. Now auto brands are pushing turbocharged 3 cylinder compact SUVs with more stress on the motor than a high school parent finding out their teenager got expelled. And people want to call this upgrading.
My grandma gave me her 98 Town Car for Christmas and it's in near perfect condition. Less than 100K and it's been kept in her garage so it still looks new save for a small dent on the front left side. Can't wait to drive it from PA to my Army duty station in Fort Hood Texas
They still have a floaty/boaty feel lol, and handle like a pontoon boat in a hurricane.
Yeah that's about the truth. The Touring Package might have helped a little bit but they're still a cruise liner of a car.
Why am I so addicted to Retro Reviews?
Likely addiction is due to the excellent written reviews, without "you know's" "uhhh's" "awkward pauses.
Don't feel bad, I'm addicted too.
No need to wonder "why" ... better Retro Reviews than ... being addicted to anything causing negative health issues.
Thank you for posting this video. I hope to see more classic Lincoln and Mercury and GM Motorweek segments.
One of my favorite cars. It took a whole for this generation to grow on me. So in love with the 95-97 I was disappointed with the boring analog speedometer in comparison to the digital dash that's still cool to this day. This particular model, Signature Touring, is the one I'm keeping my eyes out for. They even have a different wood grain (oak, gray), standard dual exhaust, posi rear 3.27, these chrome wheels, etc. I drove a 01' back when I was 15 when my grandma and big sister from NYC came to visit us in DC. Budget car rental ran out of bullshit Cavaliers and Sentras and we ended up with a brand new (1,200ish miles) white Executive, no extra charge upgrade. I was the designated chauffeur (yes @ 15 Learners permit). Ja Rule & J Lo "I'm Real" was hot on the radio. The best part about the summer of 2001 just before everything went to hell a couple months later.
Might be lame, but this is probably my favorite car, ever.. 😆 I just love how they look and how comfy and reliable they are.
@John L - What is so "lame" about declaring what your favorite car is?!?
Its not necessarily the Horsepower everyone has mentioned but rather the Torque. At nearly 300 these cars were heavy and the Torque at a low RPM made them great effortless cruisers.
These cars don't have any low end torque. I read in makes peak at 4600rpm and they aren't screamers to begin with. That's some late torque
MrPorsche91730 I daily drove a Grand Marquis with the same 4.6 and panther chassis. Nothing but low end torque with these boats. Effortlessly get up to redicous speeds thanks to the extremely long 2:73 gearing.
@@MrPorsche91730 they have a pretty broad torque curve, at 2,500 rpm they make good torque
@Biggest Richard Cranium What? Mine shot up to 115 MPH and hit the governor in seconds from 80 MPH. What kind of unmaintained shitbox is your's?
i had one of these but green. i got many compliments on this car and it was 15 years old. i lovrd this car very much.
The beginning of the end
Yes. Godawful ugly from here on out.
my 99 Towncar has been a great dependable vehicle, but you have to replace ball joints around 100K. thank you for the upload
I worked on these during and after trade school. Intake manifolds and rear suspension air bags were their only faults. Ford built them with couches for seats.
Ford should build these cars again
Please please please bring back the Lincoln Town Car
They last forever
Ford destroyed the tooling, so even if you lead an armed rebellion they couldn’t be built anymore.
Nothing like a SMOOTH TOWNCAR!!!
Some people hate the 98 but it's ok by me
This things were all over nyc as livery cars, they last forever
Best Generation of Town Cars to Date.
I think one of the main reasons that Ford discontinued all of the full size rear wheel drive cars is it's hard to get return buyers (sales) when you make a car that will easily go 300 thousand miles with very little effort! It's a shame though even in 2020 there would still be a huge market for this car and it's cousins
@Michael H. Lauro - Do you KNOW, or do you "think" what the reasons are Ford stopped making LincolnTownCars!!
The main reason for discontinuation was because of price. The Panther platform was getting old (unchanged since 1998) and Ford had to modify the platform to meet upcoming safety standards. They mentioned that the cost is too expensive and since they invested in bringing their other models to modern standards, Ford believed it was more economical to have potential customers look at their other models and put the Panther platform to rest.
I drive my dad's 2005 Town Car and we're planning on getting the '98 Town Car pretty soon. Thanks for the review.
I find the 1998-2002 to have a better interior then the 03+ years. I'm not sure why but I guess they did away with the premium chrome window/door lock controls and handles.
Love this model of town car
Never cared much for this body style, although it was improved some in '03. Much prefer my '95 and '91s I had. Loved them.
I still love these cars, it doesn't matter if they were land yachts.
My 2nd one and my 98 Cartier model is absolutely gorgeous!
I don't know why, but I always thought this redesign was ugly for the Town Car, the Grand Marquis and Crown Victoria look better to me, I guess I always liked the square bodystyle Town Car's.
Best car ever made!
beautyful proprtions, best comfort, solid v8 and rwd-and, no turbo crap-thats how a luxury sedan should look like.
The first Lincoln he was standing by looks much much much more beautiful that that egg.
Cool video! Would you guys mind uploading a video of a Crown Vic or Grand Marquis as well?
They recently did the Grand Marquee
The first '98 Town Car I saw on the road was black. My immediate reaction was "It looks like a giant cockroach." That being said, these were cushy basic American luxury cars. Dependable (air suspension and coolant problems aside), comfortable, and great cruising cars. Pretty good on gas for the time too.
My daily driver is a 1996 Town Car Signature Lincoln .In my whole life this is the best car I have ever owned. I wish Lincoln would build a new Town car and make it look like the Bentley Mulsanne . I own 8 Lincolns going back to 1941 . But the best ever is the mid 90's Town car wish it was turbo charged
Joe McCarthy nice👍🏻🇬🇧
I agree!!
I love these cars
I love the floaty boatyard feel I have a 96 Town car. I love it it's my baby
This world still needs body on frame sedans
A affordable luxury vehicle of yesterday that is a reliable hooptie today.
98-02 are my FAVORITE shapes.
The caddy was always better known for hearses!That's the car that always comes to mind if you ever thought of hearse!
Sweet ride!
I like the background music, "I am watching you exhale" by The Constables featuring Stung
I used to drive these cars as Limousines. I can tell you that the '98 car was a disappointment because of the smaller trunk. It did not have as soft a ride as the older car. Strangely, this car is much better when made into a 120 inch stretch. The ride is much smoother and the extra weight made it much more stable than the sedan. The sedan hopped around over bumps while the limo was smooth as silk.
"This is definitely not your granddaddies Lincoln" yes it was... still
Without a doubt, I agree. I bought a 2000 Cartier as my first car and I'm only 19! It has the handling and power of an suv in a car body.
***** Oh don't get me wrong, I absolutely love a Town Car! I was a porter at a Lincoln dealer for 4 years, one of my favorite cars to drive, so comfy and big, boasts enough power to put a smile on your face. But ask me how many customers I've seen roll in with one of these that were under the age of 60?
J Gutierrez. sorry but that is false, the Panther cars actually have a pretty poor crash performance history. particularly in side impacts, tell me how exactly that steel frame helps you at all when the bumper of the car T boning you passes right over it and shoves your drivers door straight into the center of your car?
+DtewLSsix -Actually..Lincoln Town Cars have the highest safety crash results for cars in their division according to Consumer Reports. And no car can guarantee your safety in a crash..no matter what their advertising says. I drive a MB S Class and used to think it was the safest car on the road..which in many ways it is..but then tell that to Princess Diana -she was riding in the BACK of one and STILL didn't survive her crash. Still..it's better than a KIA in terms of safety.
Nightbird. those scores represent the inclusion of side head airbags, in cars without that option the Panthers all test poor in side impact tests.
I much preferred my 91 and 95 older bodystyles, as far as appearance goes.
I have one in black with windows tints,good car to use during executive search on gta as it blends in 👍🏻🇬🇧
These lincolns where 500 times better than the cadillacs with the junk northstar engine!
It's true...they styling does look right at home in the 90's.
attracts younger buyers with an eye for sophisticate looks lol.
I own a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis (a sister of the Town Car) with the Montigua vinyl top and leather seats and I love it.
> I love how nobody but the owners give a crap about it therefor I got a good price for a good car that was babied it's whole life.
> I love how people just assume I'm a grandma in traffic so they leave me alone and just pass.
> I love everything the Panther Body was known for.
I truly think the Panther Body is a future classic.
Like many Lincolns from years past, the design holds up and remains 'neat'. Lincoln was normally a distant 2nd to Cadillac in the luxo-market, but this example was a fine car which even now looks great and still would be considered luxurious and contemporary today (except for some missing hi-tech items.)
Beautiful car
Big trunk to all the bodies in! ;)
Grandpas love them!
Big back seat to help take care of grandmas
The Ford Panther models all had something in common they hauled around the share of drunks!The police interceptor did the DUIs and the Lincoln hauled around the drunk party/wedding goers crashed out on the floors in the back of the limos!
Vomit comets
+alb12345672 I love that!Yea if all Panthers could talk they would definitely remember about when all the drunks vomited in them! Police cars and limos alike!Panthers (older women) can probably tell similar stories too!LMAO
+alb12345672 Peace!
+alb12345672 Come to think of it the retired cop cars don't have it any better when they become taxi cabs!Lots of designated driving too!
Those cars are extremely reliable, even today with lots of miles on them. The intake manifold is the only issue ( a few hours to replace). I have one as a daily driver (I did replace the front suspension and a few other bits) and except for oil changes it is as reliable as any new car, and it has 160K.
160k ?? Yours just broke in! LOLOL These can last 300-400K and not break a sweat!!
FACTS!!!!!!!!
A guy who I loved as a family member had one. It was beige with tan interior think one time he had a problem with it saw tow truck towing not sure what was wrong with it. My mother who was a teacher at time principal bought one it was a '02 in silver she had a Expedition traded on Town car due of her husband who was superintendent in the area around time start having health problems until year later he passed away from illness. I used to love Town cars when was little at that time was 9 years old when this car was out was crazy about this and Grand Marquis this 98 design was unique think liked better than previous boxy gen which loved those as well. I miss these Panthers, sad they have been discontinued for almost a decade ago have fast does time fly by still see some at times. Around that time Ford was making their cars more upscale like a Jaguar.
One of the best American car’s ever made.
Had 99 and 01 Cartiers. Good ride and fairly good gas mileage for that size.
"Younger buyers" meaning 60 year olds.
@Take the red pill I'm 20 and just bought one after owning a Grand Marquis for a year. I lost the Grand Marquis in a wreck. The Town Car blows any modern hunk of trash away for a daily.
I feel that the 98-02 model was more luxury than any of the older or newer models
motorweek should do the review on the 1997 Ford expedition.
Nice car. I bet the highway acceleration feels a lot better then the 8.5 sixty time suggest. Ford's SOHC 4.6 is tame power wise, but they are smooth and quite.
I want a powerful V8 sedan car capable of traveling at a comfortable 160mph speed and able to take corners at high speeds and stability and be safe like Lexus ls, Mercedes S and E, Audi a8, Cadillac and BMW 7 Series What is the point of a 4.6L V8 that can produce only 220 horsepower and cannot exceed 100mph, and worse than that, it is light, wobbly, and unstable at a speed of 90mph-100mph, with poor flow. If the Lincoln Town Car can travel at a wobbly 80mph speed and very poor stability on turns, then the Mercedes E500 can travel at 169mph with amazing stability on corners, high speeds, high safety, hydraulic system and luxury, in addition to the BWM 7 Series, Lexus LS and Audi A8. All of these cars have the ability to exceed 155mph and they have Rossah and high safety, so what prevented Ford from improving the Lincoln Town Car like the rest of the luxury cars?
My dad had one of these. Cartier in silver. It was a nice, soft car.
Nice car, but bad at turns, light and wobbly at high speeds +90MPH, unstable, and the 4.6L V8 engine cannot exceed 110mph, man. Even the Hyundai Accent with a 1.4L engine did this!!!
Just turned 30 a few days ago and for some reason, I really want to get this car.
Do it man, you won't regret it.
Im the same age and just bught one year 2000 from saudi arabia in mint condetion, you will not regret it..
Can someone tell me what the music is that starts playing at 0:44? It's so relaxing and catchy.
‘ Roddy Rich, The Box’ ! 🥴😐
Do the 03 and up transmissions swap into this?
The 0-60 braking distance was not shown - just a general statement on improvement.
2:40 Motorweek's Executive Producer, Brian Roberts
The Town Car did 0-60 in 8.5 seconds and that was "very respectable". The 2016 Hyundai Tucson did 0-60 in 8.4 seconds and that was "mundane".
That's how times change.
woah...
+Jay Santos haha sounds about right
+lfsracer79 Wow big surprise 20 years passed. How about you compare a vehicle from 1978 against this.
+Hector Ramirez The 500 was discontinued in 1977 in favour of the 425ci.
+Hector Ramirez * *Rock n Roll Music* * _You are a missin' the point, oh yeah you're a missin the pooooinnnntttt_
These haven't been made in a dozen years, and they're still selling at larcenous prices, irrespective of mileage. Would love to have one.
Interesting fact - These cars shared the exact same steering box as the F150. The parts could interchange, maybe some sport models had a different ratio. Much of the suspension is similar too, but different sizes obviously. Live rear axle. Panthers are a car on a truck chassis.
alb12345672. wrong, the panther is a car chassis through and through, trucks have ladder frames while this car and nearly all body on frame cars have a perimeter frame.
would you suppose that the G35/skyline is a truck because it shares parts with one?
DrewLSsix I would put it more in the middle. It's not a truck by design, but compared to any modern macpherson strut/independent rear sedan today, it's more similar to a truck. Just compare the panther ride height to any car today.
I saw that on road kill I thing or something similar
is there one for the 96 or 97?????
These are nice cars.