1998 - 2002 Lincoln Town Car Pre-Owned

Underneath the skin, the 1998 Town Car received a boost in power, allowing it to sprint to 100 km/h in less than 8 seconds - quite

The 1998 Town Car received a boost in power, allowing it to sprint to 100 km/h in less than 8 seconds. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

impressive for a car in of its size and weight. The powertrain was also smoother, making all the work Lincoln's engineers did to refine the suspension worthwhile. The suspension not only rode smoother, but turn-in was crisper and steering feel was improved for better road feel.

Most of versions of the Town Car I've driven or been driven in are top-end Cartier models or at the very least Signature Touring sedans, the latter of which added dual exhausts, which by the way added horsepower to the high-output V8, tuned in this application to produce 265 to 275, depending on model year, instead of the stock car's 200 to 220. The Signature also featured a slightly different algorithm to the transmission allowing a smoother shift from gear to gear, stiffer front springs and shock absorbers, thicker diameter anti-roll bars

Road noise is nominal and wind noise, while discernable is not invasive in the slightest. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

front and rear, a wider, larger diameter wheel and tire package, and a modified rear axle ratio for quicker takeoff.

Of course, most Town Car drivers don't make a habit of tearing off from stoplights, tires squealing and rubber smoke filling the air. Rather, smooth power is what matters, enough to pull away from a standstill without holding up traffic and reach highway speeds quicker than most attempt to do so.

One thing I appreciated when behind the wheel or riding in the passenger seat was a distinct lack of noise. Sure it's possible to hear the engine roar at full throttle, but that's about it. Road noise is nominal and wind noise, while discernable is not invasive in the slightest.