I've been curious about the new Lincoln Town Car Ultimate, so I went and took a test drive. Being that the Town Car was the only real competition for the car I've been driving (1995 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham), I figured this test-drive might give me an idea of what a brand new Fleetwood Brougham may feel like.
To beginwith, the fit and finish is, of course, very nice. The leather seats are very soft (just the way I like them) and the quality of the leather was very nice - a little better than my Fleetwood Brougham (it should be). Oddly enough, it didn't feel as roomy inside. If I'm not mistaken, the current Town Car is about a half an inch wider than the Fleetwood - but it didn't really feel that way inside. It felt a little bit smaller. I'm actually more comfortable in my car.
The Town Car feels exactly the same over bumps as my Fleetwood - though there's less of a boaty feel. On a smooth surface, the Town Car felt a little bit softer, actually - but I've got 70,000 miles... The steering was definitely tighter and it did feel a little safer around turns.. The looks of the interior are very nice.. The dash is very classy-looking. The stereo that comes with the Town Car is also very impressive..
Nonetheless, not all that different from what my car feels like. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I'm guessing that what the Fleetwood Brougham and Town Car had in 1995 is about as good as you're going to get - even today. I haven't driven in a Lexus LS, Acura RL or Infiniti Q45 yet - but one of these days I will and I'll give a review in comparison to Cadillac's best of 1995.
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Re: I test-drove a Lincoln Town Car Ultimate today
I agree with most of what you say. However, the stereo is both UNderpowered, at 150 Watts and a pain in the neck to learn to use all of its features. After 1 year & am still learning!!
I find that mine's very 'tossable' around turns and that the back end really follows the front very well, giving the feel of a much smaller car. The
H-U-G-E "B" pillar (especially on the passenger side, creates a blind spot that really bothers me. (Caddy has this too). She needs the V-8 from the Mustang Cobra, to be complete!
Re: I test-drove a Lincoln Town Car Ultimate today
Well, I didn't get to blast the stereo or anything - but it's better than what I've got in mine.. It IS mind-boggling how there's less room in this car than my Fleetwood.. It felt more like a DeVille or a Seville in the front seat.. Not small by any means - just not as big as I was expecting.. Lincoln has a really nice car here - but I hope they don't intend on going any smaller. If I'm not mistaken, Brett, your LS430 is smaller on the outside - but bigger on the inside... :drinker
Re: I test-drove a Lincoln Town Car Ultimate today
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sal Collaziano
Well, I didn't get to blast the stereo or anything - but it's better than what I've got in mine.. It IS mind-boggling how there's less room in this car than my Fleetwood.. It felt more like a DeVille or a Seville in the front seat.. Not small by any means - just not as big as I was expecting.. Lincoln has a really nice car here - but I hope they don't intend on going any smaller. If I'm not mistaken, Brett, your LS430 is smaller on the outside - but bigger on the inside... :drinker
Big Fords typically don't have as much rear seat legroom either. My Grand Marquis had a lack of legroom in the back, while my FWD Fleetwood is actually a couple inches more room in back than a Broughm! (some months ago we posted the numbers) Outside appearance is certainly deceptive.
How did the power of the engine compare to your Fleetwood?
Sal, if you buy that Lincoln, you'll have to create a NEW Lincoln Forum.
Re: I test-drove a Lincoln Town Car Ultimate today
I drove our rental 2003 Town Car Signature Series in Hawaii last summer on vacation and got it up to 60 mph on I think it was H1 in Honolulu and down a bunch of city streets. I loved it so much the car was great! It made me miss my Mark VII back at home which was suffering from air ride compressor blow out and had no suspension. I took my Mark off the road about two weeks after we got home from that trip but wow, that Town Car was zippy.
Re: I test-drove a Lincoln Town Car Ultimate today
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralph
Big Fords typically don't have as much rear seat legroom either. My Grand Marquis had a lack of legroom in the back, while my FWD Fleetwood is actually a couple inches more room in back than a Broughm! (some months ago we posted the numbers) Outside appearance is certainly deceptive.
How did the power of the engine compare to your Fleetwood?
Sal, if you buy that Lincoln, you'll have to create a NEW Lincoln Forum.
I'd rather spend a few thousand dollars getting my car looking and driving like it just rolled out of the showroom than spend $50k on the Towncar. Not that there's anything wrong with the Towncar, though...
I'd rather spend a few thousand dollars getting my car looking and driving like it just rolled out of the showroom than spend $50k on the Towncar. Not that there's anything wrong with the Towncar, though...
59.9 in. rear seat legroom!? OMG! Hail to the king of Cadillacs.
Re: I test-drove a Lincoln Town Car Ultimate today
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sal Collaziano
I've been curious about the new Lincoln Town Car Ultimate, so I went and took a test drive. Being that the Town Car was the only real competition for the car I've been driving (1995 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham), I figured this test-drive might give me an idea of what a brand new Fleetwood Brougham may feel like.
To beginwith, the fit and finish is, of course, very nice. The leather seats are very soft (just the way I like them) and the quality of the leather was very nice - a little better than my Fleetwood Brougham (it should be). Oddly enough, it didn't feel as roomy inside. If I'm not mistaken, the current Town Car is about a half an inch wider than the Fleetwood - but it didn't really feel that way inside. It felt a little bit smaller. I'm actually more comfortable in my car.
The Town Car feels exactly the same over bumps as my Fleetwood - though there's less of a boaty feel. On a smooth surface, the Town Car felt a little bit softer, actually - but I've got 70,000 miles... The steering was definitely tighter and it did feel a little safer around turns.. The looks of the interior are very nice.. The dash is very classy-looking. The stereo that comes with the Town Car is also very impressive..
Nonetheless, not all that different from what my car feels like. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I'm guessing that what the Fleetwood Brougham and Town Car had in 1995 is about as good as you're going to get - even today. I haven't driven in a Lexus LS, Acura RL or Infiniti Q45 yet - but one of these days I will and I'll give a review in comparison to Cadillac's best of 1995.
Sal, You had me worried for a minute Well there are two issues that you did not mention that i am curious about.
One is the Performance of the Town car VSs the Fleetwood, and the other is the Crash Test Results of both vehicles.
Can anyone bring us the Stats on these two issues? I would love to see them.
:drinker
