Dear Town Car owners…

S

SeanE

Joined
Dec 6, 2021
Messages
58
Location
Virginia, USA
To all “newer” Lincoln Town car owners (1998-2011) how happy are you with your cars? I’m possibly thinking of getting one in the future because I want an old skool style sedan built with comfort as #1 priority.

How reliable has it been for you? Common problems? Are they expensive to maintain being a V8? (I’ve only owned 4 cylinder cars) all feedback welcome!
 
Air suspension bags can be a pricey failure point. Some convert the air suspension to springs. Vehicle is pretty solid.
 
The 4.6L engine is known to have problems with coolant leakage from the plastic intake manifold. The repair isn't difficult (I wouldn't pay someone to do it). If it's a newer (2002+ I think) Town Car, the manifold is available as Ford Racing Performance Part M-9424-P46 which is currently $302 at Summit Racing and is cheaper than one from a Ford dealer. It is the same part. I think this replacement intake manifold is an improved design over the original and is not likely to fail.

That and a water pump (very easy to replace) have been the major engine issues on my 2004 Crown Vic, which was a police car before it was a taxi before I got it. I did have to replace the throttle position sensor and I also replaced the fuel injectors. I figured with 230K and who knows how many idle hours, the injectors were probably in need of replacement.
 
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The best one's IMO are 2003+, with better suspension and Rack & Pinion steering (over previous recirculating ball)
03-07 had some A/C issues, there's TSBs to assist
Signature L, LS Ultimate, and LX Sport are the best trim levels to be found
Barring you really being adventurous and seeking a Marauder
The rear air suspension parts can be a little expensive
 
SeanE said:
To all “newer” Lincoln Town car owners (1998-2011) how happy are you with your cars? I’m possibly thinking of getting one in the future because I want an old skool style sedan built with comfort as #1 priority.

How reliable has it been for you? Common problems? Are they expensive to maintain being a V8? (I’ve only owned 4 cylinder cars) all feedback welcome!
Click to expand...
1998-2011 are considered old. Their reliability at this point is going to be determined on how well they were maintained.
 
350Rocket said:
Don't listen to this. LOL. Unless you're okay with Jaguar repair prices.
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To each their own. I believe ownership experiences lie firmly in past ownership accountability.

The '03 I had was an amazing car. I'm a fastidious ****, to a fault no question.
I bought mine from a senior when I worked in property management. The car was dealer serviced it's entire life and I took really good care of it thereafter.

I owned it for seven years and sold it to another enthusiast I met through Cars and Coffee events.

Any car will be expensive to own if you start with a hooptie to begin with. Finding a good specimen to start with is key.
 
The Panther cars (Crown Vic, Grand Marquis, Town Car) are probably the longest lasting and most reliable cars ever made. I've seen a limo example with 1.2 million km on it and they were the staple of police, taxi and livery fleets with many still in service.

My dad has an '03 that's been unsurprisingly pretty boring to own.

The 2V Modular does have a reputation for launching spark plugs, but this is less common with the 4.6L in car applications than it is in SUV's and trucks with the 5.4L and 6.8L V10. 2003+ should have the updated plug holes with more threads to eliminate this issue.

They are decent on gas.

Don't expect it to be a rocket ship, they aren't. The Marauder has the 32V 4.6L out of the Mustang Cobra, it gets up and moves a lot better but still isn't "fast".
 
AmBeRnEcTaR said:
To each their own. I believe ownership experiences lie firmly in past ownership accountability.

The '03 I had was an amazing car. I'm a fastidious ****, to a fault no question.
I bought mine from a senior when I worked in property management. The car was dealer serviced it's entire life and I took really good care of it thereafter.

I owned it for seven years and sold it to another enthusiast I met through Cars and Coffee events.

Any car will be expensive to own if you start with a hooptie to begin with. Finding a good specimen to start with is key.
Click to expand...
Yes but yours starting with a car that costs a lot for jaguar repairs. It's not in the same class as the town car as far as reliability and repairs. It's funny, the car wizard on YouTube just did a video on this exact car because of people not realizing that it's a Jaguar and it's going to cost them more to fix. And are you talking about the first 7 years of its life? Either way, don't go recommending people that were considering a mostly basic car buy one of these. At least give them a disclaimer that it is a Jaguar and will be expensive to repair.
 
350Rocket said:
Yes but yours starting with a car that costs a lot for jaguar repairs. It's not in the same class as the town car as far as reliability and repairs. It's funny, the car wizard on YouTube just did a video on this exact car because of people not realizing that it's a Jaguar and it's going to cost them more to fix. And are you talking about the first 7 years of its life? Either way, don't go recommending people that were considering a mostly basic car buy one of these. At least give them a disclaimer that it is a Jaguar and will be expensive to repair.
Click to expand...
the original s-type is a ford not the other way around

anyways about the town car. it’s not corolla money to run but easily replaceable. rusted out? needs a chain? needs anything? who cares throw it away go buy another one.
 
Last edited:
2EHA said:
the original s-type is a ford not the other way around
Click to expand...
Okay it's nether. It's definitely not a ford.
Yes there are ford parts on it, we were able to get someone going faster in their Jaguar with a ford ambient temp sensor, but please don't go telling people who are considering it for daily transportation that it's "just a ford". Consider other people's situation.
 
350Rocket said:
Okay it's nether. It's definitely not a ford.
Yes there are ford parts on it, we were able to get someone going faster in their Jaguar with a ford ambient temp sensor, but please don't go telling people who are considering it for daily transportation that it's "just a ford". Consider other people's situation.
Click to expand...
you’re the guy who called the LS a jaguar because some replacement parts are stamped with a cat now 😂.
 
350Rocket said:
Yes but yours starting with a car that costs a lot for jaguar repairs. It's not in the same class as the town car as far as reliability and repairs. It's funny, the car wizard on YouTube just did a video on this exact car because of people not realizing that it's a Jaguar and it's going to cost them more to fix. And are you talking about the first 7 years of its life? Either way, don't go recommending people that were considering a mostly basic car buy one of these. At least give them a disclaimer that it is a Jaguar and will be expensive to repair.
Click to expand...
The car was seven years old when I aquired it and I had it for seven years.
Quick, nimble, comfortable, and very fun to drive for what it is.
My experience was a positive one but then again I take very good care of my stuff as did the original owner.
 
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