I am thinking about buying one, one of the newer body styles 98 or newer with the least amount of miles I can find. My buddy bought an 09 black on black and man I like that car! Really never owned anything like it, big luxury etc.

What should I watch out for?

Anyone know what those air ride units cost to replace? do they fail often?

My understanding is the car is built on the same platform as the Marquis and the Crown Victoria, is this true? I am kinda considering A Marquis just because it seems a little less assuming.

What do you all think?

That is correct. The Town Car is built on the Panther platform. That's about all it shares visually though with the Marquis and Crown Vic.

I haven't personally dealt with a lot of third gens like you're talking about. I've messed with TONS of second gens though - like about a dozen or so. My parents had one and a good friend of theirs also did and and few others I've known have them too. My experience with the second gens is they're your typical Ford-based car. Reliability seemed rather average for me. Most of the issues I came across were electrical gremlins of sorts - power windows that wouldn't roll up or down, interior gauge and lighting issues. Other than that nothing super major.

I have owned about as many Town cars as I have camaros (7)

Currently I do have a Cartier (L) which is the lengthened one

Hopping up one for more power? Use the Mustang parts book.

The air suspension is really a non-issue. If you wish, they make coil spring replacements about 300 in costs.

Things to watch for: the climate control has a motor that moves the blend door back and forth as needed. sometimes they break and it "slaps" the door and its annoying.

The 4.6 engine has some "smog" passages that clog up with carbon (located under the intake plenum at the manifold... they fill up with carbon and will trip the check engine light--many dealers cant find this cause that trips the light... It says its a smog part but it isnt.

ABS-- non issue

exhaust-- non issue

brakes -- non issue

interior -- non issue

body-- Some cars have rust ahead of the rear wheels, a plastic part ford put on them collects mud/debris resulting in rust on some. (not all cars have this problem)

Get a full size tire and use it for the spare... youll thank me later. The suspension in the back will go haywire if you install that donut back there... even when you push the switch to turn it off.

Otherwise, youll be very pleased with the Town car. Being a "panther" its easy to fix, parts are plenty and performance mods can be done with little fuss.

The best model of Town Car to own: The 2003 or newer they have the better suspension, 06 and newer have a better dash (has a tach)

I have one town car that has 475,000 miles on it... looks like it has 60,000 on it.

(it has had rebuilt engine/trans)

http://www.crownvic.net
Good forum. Tons of info. It's a very popular platform.

One of the common problems is the window motors crap out. It's a PITA, but there's detailed instructions on CrownVic.net on how to fix it.
Oh, and Rodney Dickman sells rebuild kits for them. (it's 3 small bushings, very similar to the Fiero headlight motors)

[This message has been edited by Formula88 (edited 10-01-2011).]

quote Originally posted by Formula88: http://www.crownvic.net Good forum. Tons of info. It's a very popular platform. One of the common problems is the window motors crap out. It's a PITA, but there's detailed instructions on CrownVic.net on how to fix it. Oh, and Rodney Dickman sells rebuild kits for them. (it's 3 small bushings, very similar to the Fiero headlight motors)

Thanks Formula!! I had forgot about the Vic forum.

and lincolnowners.com is one I just found. I havent any more info on it yet

My Aunt had one, had some problems with the power windows.Not an easy fix (totalley diffrent from pontiac).Had ocasional fuel smell in the interor....fumes comeing from the engine.I cant remember if she got that fixed.I like the Crown Vic better.

I had a 2001 Town Car presidential edition. It was fun to drive and pretty quick.

My Grandfather and Uncle both have 2002 Lincoln Town cars: Uncle's is a higher mileage 120,000ish miles used car, and Grandpa's was bought brand new, still only has around 46,000 miles on it. They both regret buying the cars. Like my father's Navigator, LOTS of air suspension problems, typically costing $1000 to fix at the dealer. Lots of other little problems, and poor customer service at the deaerships in Port Huron, MI and Toledo, OH.

I have owned two Lincolns (both Signature models) and was quite pleased with both of them. I put 157,000 miles on one prior to selling it and more than 100,000 on the other one. If I had not moved overseas, I would still have one of them. My father in law also has one with more than 100,000 miles on it and only has an occasional A/C leak and the typical window regulator issues.

Nelson

Wow! great information guys.

htexans1, what did they change in the suspension in 2003?

What is the real world mpg with these?

[This message has been edited by Red88FF (edited 10-02-2011).]

quote Originally posted by Red88FF: Wow! great information guys. htexans1, what did they change in the suspension in 2003? What is the real world mpg with these?

I got around 16 driving it like a bat out of hell. Best I could get is 22 ish with my driving style. I also owned the car for a couple weeks so I never got a real world idea. They also have a open diff so getting them to do a doughnut is a task If I had room for another car I would have kept it in a heart beat but I bought it just because it was a insane deal (300 bucks with a clean title). This is my gold towncar I got for next to nothing.

http://crownvictoriasafetyalert.com/

I have a 2002 Signature model, about 60,000 miles. Bought it with 24,000 on the clock, it was a Hertz car. Gotta tell you that I love it. It's incredibly comfortable and reliable. No real issues to date. Rear brakes made a ticking sound till I realized it was the e-brake shoes inside the rotor. I am getting the bubbly rust look over the rear wheels though. It also draws some pretty envious comments, especially from my uncles who've always wanted one. As far as desirability, all I can say is the wife loves driving it and she hates cars (Excrusion for a daily driver).

If you find one that hasn't been abused I think you'll be thankful. Incredibly comfortable and roomy.

Thanks to others who posted owner forum links. I hadn't thought there would be any.

I have an 03 Merc Grand Marquis, and I use it regularly to trek back and forth to SC from FL. Driving responsibly (set cruise at ~77mph), I can get about 25mpg. I've been planning to swap the single exhaust out for a walker dual exhaust, but I've not gotten to it yet. Its surprisingly quick for a car that size.

03-05 GM, Crown Vic, and Towncar all have a TSB for early failure of the rear axle seals. If those go, the bearings aren't far behind, which will take the axles with it. I had that happen on the way back from SC earlier this year, and it cost $1400 to fix. I wasn't pleased with that.

The torque converter "chatters" on occasion when climbing or lightly accellerating when at speed, but otherwise its been a nice ride...with the exception of the occasional ribbing for driving a "grandpa car."

------------------
--Dillon
Green 1987 GT 5spd
Black 1986 SE V6 Auto - 3800SC Swap in Progress
"And this one time, on the Fiero Forum..."

quote Originally posted by Red88FF: Wow! great information guys. htexans1, what did they change in the suspension in 2003? What is the real world mpg with these?

Front spring rates, steering is speed sensitive rack and pinion, shock valving was changed and the rims were changes to the "flat" style used on the Crown Victoria These changes helped to improve handling.

The rear air suspension and shocks were "changed" by re valving to make them more responsive.

With the " Cartier L" I have been seeing 19 mpg in the city and 28-29 highway and thats at 70 plus. Thats not to bad for the longest production car in America (non-limo) at 28.5 feet.

[This message has been edited by htexans1 (edited 10-02-2011).]

Ive had many Lincolns from 57 thru the 80s 'squared off ' bodies. I never cared much for the later bubble body. I had them in my limo rental fleet with 302s and 351s along with the older ones with 430s and 460s. They were all pretty much trouble free. All my limos got over 200K with barely a problem. On the highway the later ones got 20-24 mpg...and this was a stretched limo. The biggest expense I ever had with one was needing a valve job at like 180K. I just figured the valves suffered from lots of prolonged idling. I do see a lot of later ones with air suspension dragging the ground. Replacing with coils I always thought was a good fix, but never looked into it. All mine had conventional suspension. The 80s ones did suffer rocker panel rustout if you didnt take care of it. They were all also great winter cars. I took many long runs like to Cincy and Cleveland during heavy snowstorms without any problem. I was a die hard Lincoln guy for years before I got interested in sports cars. When I sold out the business I bought my Mercedes AMG SL. One other problem area, although I never had it, was replacing a heater core is a real PITA. Make sure yours is good by checking under passenger carpet, etc for signs of leaks.

[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 10-03-2011).]