Late 1990's Lincoln Continental

[xraytech]

I was perusing my local Craigslist and found a car I'm considering as a new daily driver.

It is a burgandy 1997 Lincoln Continental with about 29,000 miles.

I dont know much about the Continental and was curious about other peoples experiences and thoughts.

One thing I like is it has the 4.6 v-8 like my Town Car

 

[jmm63]

Those were great cars. Built on the Taurus/Sable platform, heavier and front wheel drive. Traction is incredible, almost like AWD. Lots of electronics for the time and if those all still work, it should be a great car. I had a 95 Connie for awhile and really loved it. Someone crashed into it when it was parked on the street and I never felt it was the same after that.

 

[retropia]

Those have air bag suspension on each corner, which provide a great ride when they are working. Once they develop leaks, they are expensive to repair. I checked once into what it cost to repair, and if I remember correctly, I was told $500 per wheel.

I'd have a mechanic familiar with these cars check it out carefully before you purchase. They do have lots of gadgets and gizmos.

Other than possible high repair costs, they are nice cars. Reasonable fuel economy for its size and V8, and lots of power.

 

[xraytech]

Well, this car was owned since new by a 93 year old doctor and after his passing the wife is selling his car.

Everything functions still, and the air ride suspension was just replaced a year ago at the Lincoln dealer.

I think that as long as it is roomy enough I will get it. I do really like th elook of the car

 

[rp2813]

I don't think you'll find too many drive train differences between the Continental and your Town Car.  At 29K, that's practically like getting a new car, I presume at a great price.

 

Personally, I think you'll love the Continental if you've been happy with your Town Car.

 

[strongenough78]

The Continental is a great alternative to the Town Car. It is a bit smaller but still very roomy with a good sized trunk. The 4.6 V-8 in the Connie is the 4 cam 32 valve. And in 1997 I think was putting out around 260 to 275 horsepower. So acceleration is much swifter than in the already peppy Town Car. I too think you'll be happy with it.

 

[macboy91si]

Ford FWD Transmission

Nice car and they are are a nice drive. Please service the transmission regularly as these have a less than trustworthy unit in them. A client of a friend (older woman) has had her transmission in her 97 replaced at 58k. These cars have the AX4N, which is a revision of the AXOD unit, and while they are better than the original, they are still hot running units with inadequate cooling. It uses the same transmission as the Taurus. Personally, I'd add a transmission cooler to it, but that's me. I always loathed Ford for their transmission issues as well as some Chrysler products, everyone has their likes. I just think something like a transmission should be more reliable than they were 20 years ago, but seems to be the opposite.

We drove the Taurus in my previous job, we actually were stranded on the interstate in an 05 model with 45k on it with a dead tranny. Guy at the garage said they literally have a shelf of replacements on hand for them. With the way their driven (gov't motor pool), they say 50-60k and their toast, which is sad, they are a VERY nice highway cruiser.

Ralph, the Connie is FWD and the Townie is RWD, they are completely different.

-Tim

 

[strongenough78]

Sam, here's a link to a website that will give a detailed history and information about the 1995-2002 Continental. I frequent this site often. I hope it helps.

HowStuffWorks - Learn How Everything Works!

HowStuffWorks has been explaining how things work to curious minds since 1998. Providing factual, unbiased content that's fun to read and makes difficult topics easy to understand.

consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com

 

[norgeway]

Transmission Problems..

It seems to me that Ford who made the bulletproof C-6 in the 60s and 70s as well as Chrysler who had the darn near indestructable Torqueflite for many many years, could both do better, I had a 68 Galaxie with a 390 and C-6 and you could not tear it up, I was a kid , believe me I tried, same thing with several Plymouths and Dodges,Also, both of these shifted smoother,and operated quieter than anything today, absolutely no slippage either...another example of progress...As for the Lincoln, we have one at work that I have driven , and it will FLY!!

 

[polkanut]

Sam,

I found the car on Pittsburgh CL, and I say go for it!  Like Ralph previously stated, you'll be getting a practically new car.  But do try and get them to come down pricewise a little.  Overall, very very nice.

 

[xraytech]

Oh, I do plan on trying to get a few hundred bucks knocked off

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Tim.  Shows how much I know about Lincolns any newer than 1969!

 

[macboy91si]

Newer than 1969

Do you really need to know anything past that?

I'd take a 64 suicide drop-top any day of the week. God these cars used to be gorgeous. I just can't swallow FWD and Continental...

-Tim

 

[qualin]

Wow.. Low Mileage.. And old man owned.. Yeah, definitely buy.

I'd buy it myself if I lived in that area!

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

There's a nice green one w/ a green interior a few houses down on my street...

I like the way these cars used to be built & how they were colored, inside & out and were finished & furnished...

It is a good, sensible, alternative to the Town Car, but, yeh, FWD & Lincoln still is hardly what seems to be a reasonable combination, compared to the proud Heritage FoMoCo has long given these cars!

It's the Continental Mark IV 1972-1976, for me, really, then!

-- Dave

 

[polkanut]

Dave,

Those Continental's remind me of the TV show "Cannon", that's pretty much all he drove throughout the series. 

 

[moparwash]

Great Highway Cruiser

I used to have a 1999....though with the 4.6 V8 it didn't seem very peppy, though it got good mileage 17 city/27 hwy...the room, quiet were unbeatable for trips..and the selectable steering and ride firmness was great for finding the perfect ride..