Fun car: 1983 Town Car

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Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
My old girl:

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Now that's a nice one... !
 
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
I know about the nadir business -- I had an '84 Escort for six long years -- but wouldn't Ford have put their best on their luxury car?


You would think. But my aunt had an 83 Lincoln and the quality of the interior was appalling.
 
Originally Posted By: G-MAN
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
I know about the nadir business -- I had an '84 Escort for six long years -- but wouldn't Ford have put their best on their luxury car?


You would think. But my aunt had an 83 Lincoln and the quality of the interior was appalling.


The quality of the interior on my '89 was excellent. Mind you, it has 348,00Km on it now, and you know it with respect to the front seats. Back seats look brand new
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Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Originally Posted By: G-MAN
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Have a look at what a local dealer has: http://www.dealndougs.com/1983-Lincoln-TOWN-CAR-SEDAN-Metairie-Louisiana-70003/4096628

He says it has 33K miles, but admits he doesn't know that for sure, so it could be 133K or even 233K. However, it looks great for its age. Any of you ever drive one of these?


This dealer is shaddy. He's saying 33K miles while Carfax shows that when the car was in the Lakeside Toyota inventory last year they (correctly) reported the mileage at 133K.

Since you love your Park Avenue so much, you are going to be sorely disappointed in this car. The early 80s were just about the nadir for Ford in terms of the quality of their interior plastics and fit and finish. The solidity you are accustomed in the Buick will make this car feel like junk.

That occurred to me -- almost every dealer in used cars these days proudly shows the Carfax, as he knows that anybody can access it. The weasel wording in which he says they can't be sure it's 33K is just that, weasel wording in case someone calls him on it.

For an old car like this, my standards are lower. It would just be a fun car to drive occasionally. If I test drive it and it's truly terrible, I'm not going to buy it just to have a conversation piece! I know about the nadir business -- I had an '84 Escort for six long years -- but wouldn't Ford have put their best on their luxury car?


I had no complaints with my Marquis...that car was screwed together pretty well.
 
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
It was storming this weekend, so I didn't have a look at the car. Maybe next week!


I hope it didn't get sold. I have had that happen a few times.
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Originally Posted By: mechanicx
There's not too many Fords I like but the Lincoln Continentals from back then were nice.


Isn't that one of the rare examples of an engine that HAS to be run on Premium gas (92 or better?) that engine.. a 460, why dos that number pop into mind?

I know nothing about these pre-80s cars. And early 80s, I only know a little bit.
 
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Have a look at what a local dealer has: http://www.dealndougs.com/1983-Lincoln-TOWN-CAR-SEDAN-Metairie-Louisiana-70003/4096628

He says it has 33K miles, but admits he doesn't know that for sure, so it could be 133K or even 233K. However, it looks great for its age. Any of you ever drive one of these?


There is nothing remotely fun about that vintage of town car. I've driven them enough to know. Unfortunately.
 
Originally Posted By: Brons2
There is nothing remotely fun about that vintage of town car. I've driven them enough to know. Unfortunately.


That part is true but they were AWESOME long distance cars.

In the 80's my roomate had a 83 Town Car and I had a 88 Town Car..He made tons of trips from NYC to Los Angeles and I made tons of trips from NYC to Miami..Both cars needed very little maintenance..Both cars were dealer maintained..We had friends who had Caddies in the 80's and the Caddies needed a ton more of maintenance then are Town Cars.

Each car had over 300K miles when we sold them to private owners for 1500 bucks each and everything worked perfectly in them..The A/C is those cars [like all Panthers] could have easily cooled a 7 room house.

Those cars had no issue pounding the nasty streets of NYC and New Orleans..My roomate had family in New Orleans and went there often.

In the 80's [even up to the last day those cars were built] those Town Cars were the best long distance cars on the road..Just IMHO.
 
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
We had friends who had Caddies in the 80's and the Caddies needed a ton more of maintenance then are Town Cars....


You don't maintain an '80s 4100HT Cadillac. You bring it in every 3000 miles for a major repair.
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I hung out with a girl in high school that had a circa 1983 Grand Marquis that had previous served as a Taxi Cab. It wasn't unusual to have 5 teenagers in the back and 3 up front all fighting over who got to play their own mix cassettes (and occasionally have them eaten). It soldiered on through with no maintenance that I can think of.

It was heavy, sturdy and dull....and pretty much unbreakable.
 
My '83 Lincoln MKiv (same car) was just junk in terms of reliability. When it ran, it rode and drove great. Interior quality and electronic accessories were very poor. My '84 was the complete opposite and I drove it all over.
IMO, The Caddies of 82-85 were mostly underpowered junk comparatively.
 
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