Renting a 2007 Lincoln Town Car Signature Limited-- Review

[96Fleetwood]

I flew into Norfolk last night and rented a 2007 Lincoln Town Car Signature Limited from Enterprise. I will have it for 6 days till I leave, wanted something nice to drive while I show my girlfriend around the area. The car has 1900 miles, still has temporary plates on it.

The car is a not a looker, from the side it looks like a Grand Marquis.

The keyless remote is the same remote that I had on my 1998 Lincoln Continental...

The seats are comfortable, but nothing to brag about, leather feels cheap. My Fleetwood seats are so plush and relaxing, even the seats in my Roadmaster are far more inviting.

I do like the steering wheel and the wood, however the steering wheel radio and HVAC controls required more than one push to get the desired function.

The lack of a floor shifter after all these years really amazes me...

The ride was smooth, but too floaty, it rode like my 1995 Roadmaster (nauseating) and had a similar "lack" of steering feel. The interior in my Dad's 2005 STS blows the Town Car away and the handling, suspension, and steering give you more of a european feel.

The stereo was bland, probably because this car didnt have premium sound.

As far as power goes... there is not much. I went to change lanes on the highway and pushed the pedal 1/2 way and there was a very little performance response. I decided to WOT and there was a hesitation in the tranny deciding which gear to drop down to and then it took off almost as fast as the parent's company E-350 Ford cargo van with the 5.4 liter triton.

Just the overall feel of the car is 1997, not 2007. Driving it was almost just like driving my 1995 Roadmaster with 92,000 miles.

I got in my Dad's 2005 STS to compare and there is just no comparison. I wish my brother still had his DTS to compare, but alas.

These are just my initial thoughs, I have only put 53 miles on the car and will put more after I return it in 5 days.

I have some pictures I took of it, but I need to download them from the camera. Will post soon.

Regards,
Elias

[thebigjimsho]

Totally disagree on the look. It looks very little like the Grand Marquis and is a much better evolution of the 90's Town Car than the '98-'02 Batmobile model did.

As for the overall car, the power is adequate and that motor will not die. I've got 203,000+ miles on my '04 and in my parent company's fleet, I've seen 1 engine failure and 2 transmission failures. That's at least 75 sedans and limos. Each run well over 150,000 miles.

The seats feel great to me. Maybe not as plush as you can get, but sometimes I think people aren't happy until they get the La-Z-Boy feel. Me, I want a comfortable seat that will also let me drive for 12+ hours straight. The Town Car seats let me do that.

The dashboard isn't totally inspiring but ergonomically it is decent. But yeah, the stereo is weak.

As for the lack of a floor shifter, the market does not dictate that as a need. It's not out of lack of technology. At least the center armrest is a nice, wide design that closes off the center seating area. As a cheuffeur, I find this setup best, as someone who pratically lives in the car.

As for ride and steering, I think it is a perfect balance of comfort and response. Keep in mind, I want total comfort for my passengers. The damping and rebound were HUGELY improved in '98 and even moreso in '03. I suggest you drive a '97 then drive the '07 to make that statement. Also, the steering was changed from recirculating ball to rack and pinion in '03. Also a huge difference.

So if you think your '07 is like a '97, then drive a '97. You must think that would feel like an '87.

Personally, the downfall of the DTS for me is the FWD platform. If they switch to RWD, I would consider it. But I would also be walking away from a drivetrain that has proven to be very reliable. And I know in the past, Northstars haven't been.

I don't love my Town Car. But I like a lot of things about it. And as a livery vehicle, it is the supreme choice right now. Maybe that doesn't translate to the general public, but the general public certainly love riding in it.

[caddycruiser]

A bit of an odd review to even mention an STS in the same passage (not at ALL even remotely similar cars), but the TC is still a very nice workhorse. No, it's never had things like the factory power the big GM BOF cars got in their last 3 years, and they're still not meant for euro touring or sport in any way, but they're very well built, smooth, quiet tanks.

I've never actually even driven one, but have always been impressed at the general materials and quality they've had in the past few years, and how they still keep the ancient BOF tough as nails build, but are still getting refinements along the way.

The power level probably wouldn't bother me much, though it is still odd that they've never once even seemingly cared to improve much of anything in that regard over the years, and I'm not at all a general fan of the seats--or at least the last '05 I sat in, which suffered from the EXACT same "foam as weak as an old sponge" and seat frame up my arse feeling as an old Aerostar van--but still like them in general. And if you run a fleet of livery cars, there's simply NOTHING else at all on the road you can buy and drive that offers anywhere near the package a TC does, new.

They're getting pretty long in the tooth lately, and haven't really been touched since 2003, so it's still a big watch to see what all will be done to keep the dinosaur line even a bit more modern. I vote for an updated powerplant finally, to at least give it a little more juice but the same refinement and economy, further suspension updates, and the next step in interior and exterior changes to match modern Lincoln but not go too far blah or extreme.

[96Fleetwood]

The STS is all I had in the stable to compare it to at the moment. The price is similar and they are both RWD... so they do share some things.

As for a livery car, they are the perfect vehicles! There is nothing on the market that fills that gap besides the TC. My uncle uses three Escalades as his livery vehicles, but that is because he usually carries groups. I still remember when I lived in Miami and I picked up my friend from the MIA airport and a driver in a new Lincoln TC livery car came up to me and said he missed his old '96 Fleetwood that the TC replaced.

Anyways, I just wished the TC was a bit more modern. I sat in the MKZ and new Navigator at the Chicago Auto show and was amazed at how wonderfully appointed those interiors were.

From a daily driver standpoint, the TC is a disappointment.... but then again maybe that is what the buyers are used to? Some people fret from change and the Crown Vic, Grand Marquis, and TC keeps in tune with their taste.

The new DTS blows the TC away as far as options and styling... but the new body style seems to have lost some rear leg room.

The computer on the TC is showing an average of 15.2 mpg in the city...

[Caddy Man]

http://detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...TO01/705170364

FYI...the Wixom Michigan plant which makes the Towncar is closing at the end of this month. Looks like the end of the road for the Towncar.

[thebigjimsho]

Originally Posted by Caddy Man

http://detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...TO01/705170364

FYI...the Wixom Michigan plant which makes the Towncar is closing at the end of this month. Looks like the end of the road for the Towncar.

Negatory! They are moving ops to a Canadian plant.

As for the DTS, you can get that in an L version like the Town Car, but it's harder to get than the TC...

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Elias, did the trip computer in the TC impress you at all or did it not really matter either way?

[Rolex]

Last year a hotel took me and my family to the airport in a TC when we were in San Diego. I thought it was roomy, comfortable, and had a decent interior. But I only spent 15 minutes in the thing so I'm no expert.

[Caddy Man]

Originally Posted by thebigjimsho

Negatory! They are moving ops to a Canadian plant.

As for the DTS, you can get that in an L version like the Town Car, but it's harder to get than the TC...

oops nevermind ...

I thought I had heard they were ending the towncar, so I assumed this was it. Thanks for clearing that up.


My buddies dad bought a 2004 Towncar recently, so I drove it. I swear that thing drives, and sounds EXACTLY like our 1991 Towncar. I thought the quality was pretty good though.

[96Fleetwood]

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

Elias, did the trip computer in the TC impress you at all or did it not really matter either way?

It is nice to have, but I still think the computer in the '99 Concours I had was superior.

Going to take the TC on a 1 hour drive to Williamsburg tomorrow, I am sure it will shine cruising on the highway.

[96Fleetwood]

Originally Posted by Caddy Man

I swear that thing drives, and sounds EXACTLY like our 1991 Towncar. I thought the quality was pretty good though.

I totally understand!! I had a 1993 Town Car Cartier and even the engine sound is the same! I have to say the seats in my Cartier were better than in this Signature Limited.

[AlBundy]

Ahhh. Another Lincoln discussion.

[omarg]

I like TC's i really do but My mother and I rented one to take on a trip to the biltmore. It was smooth and decent on gas but high speed stability was poor. There was so much wind noise and the car didn't feel planted, even though it weighs 4k+ lbs. Much nicer in town. Slow to medium speeds the TC shines. interstate cruiser though? No thanks. Its also a bit slow. They need a put a newer v8. The mustangs 4.6 would be good. Maybe even the 5.4.

Also the interior needs a major update. It has looked the same for 10 years. At least they finally added a tach in 06. about time.
I LOVE the trunk. ITS MASSIVE. Like super huge.

[Jonas McFeely]

Originally Posted by ALBUNDY

Ahhh. Another Lincoln discussion.

[thebigjimsho]

Originally Posted by omarg

The mustangs 4.6 would be good...At least they finally added a tach in 06. about time...I LOVE the trunk. ITS MASSIVE. Like super huge.

It already has a 4.6. The tach doesn't really matter with an auto. The trunk is tiny compared to what it used to be in the 90s.