There’s a certain timelessness to the Lincoln Town Car.
Unlike small, hard-riding cars, the Town Car is large and cushy. While other cars have dashboards cluttered with buttons, the Lincoln is a model of simplicity.
This appeals to Town Car loyalists: almost 60 percent are repeat buyers; 65 percent don’t even consider another vehicle.
But the average buyer is 70 years old.
Lincoln is trying to entice new buyers by changing the feel of the Town Car without annoying longtime buyers. So, for 2003, the Town Car got a makeover.
The vehicle is available in Cartier, Signature, and Executive trim levels and a new long wheelbase Cartier L is available for the first time.
The longest production car in America, the Lincoln Town Car Cartier L, is a very easy car to drive and handle.
With a new steering rack, larger 17-inch tires, new frame, new front suspension and revised rear suspension, the Town Car no longer bounds, dips and shimmies like a drunken sailor when the road turns challenging. While not truly agile, the vehicle has new speed-sensitive rack and pinion steering that helps give the car a more refined feel, although steering effort is still light.
The improved driving dynamics are a surprise and a delight, especially since the Town Car still delivers its trademark smooth, quiet ride.
While the handling finesse is welcome, braking could be a lot better. Four wheel anti-lock disc brakes are standard, as is electronic brakeforce distribution, which helps to ensure sufficient braking control.
Under the hood, the Town Car is still lacking. The single-overhead-cam, 16-valve 4.6-liter V-8 generates just 239 horsepower.
To put that into perspective, consider that a much lighter car, the Honda Accord, for example, carries 240 horsepower from its V-6.
The Town Car V-8 has lots of power accelerating from a standstill, but load it with six people and their luggage and there’s just not enough engine to move this car quickly.
The smooth transmission hesitates before downshifting for more power. Fuel economy is quite good for a 4,300 plus pounds automobile, with mixed use returning a truly surprising 17.5 mpg.
While the Town Car is fuel-efficient, don’t challenge any Cadillac DeVille to a drag race. Its 300-horsepower Northstar V-8 has enough power to whip the Town Car every time.
Still there’s one point on which Cadillac cannot compete: space.
Kudos should go to Ford for bringing back a luxury car tradition that has never gone out of style in Europe: the long-wheelbase luxury car. Cadillac used to offer such a vehicle, but it’s been almost a decade since it was discontinued.
The long-wheelbase Town Car Cartier L adds six inches to the standard Town Car. This allows for limousine-like back s eat space, which is perfect for making out. (I will not comment on how this was tested.)
The trunk is huge, at a body-swallowing 21 cubic feet. The Cartier L came with a covered bin that could stow smaller items, a nice touch.
Up front, a beautifully redesigned dashboard has a sophisticated look, although the materials could be of better quality considering the car’s $51,000 base price.
The Town Car abounds with the luxuries that are now common in this class, including rear parking assist, leather interior, wood trim and thick carpet, an Alpine AM/FM/cassette/CD audio system with trunk-mounted 6-CD changer, rear seat ventilation controls, heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, power trunk lid, universal garage door opener, a digital compass, electronic message center, dual climate control, steering wheel-mounted speed control, climate and audio controls.
Rear seat amenities standard on the Cartier L include redundant audio and climate controls mounted in the armrest, two additional powerpoints, an ashtray and cigar lighter in each door and a redundant control to adjust the fore and aft position of the front passenger seat, as well as heated rear seats.
While the rain-sensing wipers are a nice idea, they didn’t always seem to sense rain.
The power opening/closing trunk is a terrific option, but when closing, it would pop back open for no apparent reason. Worse was the poor fit of the trunk lid.
The rear parking assist is appreciated in a car that measures more than 221 inches long, but it was extremely sensitive, with an alarm going off even when the car was at adequate distant from a wall or post.
All Town Cars receive fresh styling this year, although only Lincoln dealers and Town Car loyalists will notice the difference.
There’s a new grille, hood, fenders and quarter panels, high-intensity discharge headlamps and a stand-up hood ornament.
Out back is a redesigned trunk lid, tail lamps and other modifications that give the car a more formal, dignified look.
But the similarity to the previous car and the still-underwhelming engine won’t entice new buyers to the Town Car fold.
James G. O’Connor, Group Vice President, North America Marketing, Sales and Service, said at the 2003 New York Auto Show, “We really missed a chance to do more with the Town Car, I’ll admit that.”
Lincoln has succeeded in making the Town Car more rewarding to drive while still delivering a smooth, quiet ride.
But it will take more than that to appeal to new customers.
LINCOLN TOWN CAR CARTIER L
Engine: 4.6-liter SOHC V8
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Tires: P225/60R17
Wheelbase: 123.7 inches
Length: 221.4 inches
Width: 63.4 inches
Weight: 4,467 pounds
Cargo volume: 21.1 cubic ft.
Base price: $51,000
As tested: $51,920
EPA rating: 17 city, 25 highway
Test mileage: 17.5 mpg
Fuel type: Regular
Built in: Wixom, Mich.
