1996 Lincoln Town Car Cartier review from North America

Ebay auction, just picked up used from a dealer in New Jersey. Drove home to Texas in 24 hours, arrived last night. This car makes three 1996 Lincoln Town Cars currently owned, two of them Cartier editions.

- Small whine from alternator front bearing, went away after 150 miles. Will replace bearings.

- Air suspension currently not working. Troubleshooting as we speak.

Rest of the vehicle is fine. Many compliments received at rest areas.

As one could guess, these mid-90's Panther-framed Town Cars are the most luxurious and currently, the most economical road cars ever made. The 4.6 litre engine gave 26.2 MPG over the 1400-mile trip, burning 1/2 quart of oil. Fuel stops are so few that one needs to limit one's coffee intake.

My kids use the other two at college, to haul their dorm furnishings back and forth. They are basically a 1/2-ton pickup truck that rides and feels like a dream. Acceleration very adequate. Throttle and steering response will surprise you.

Counting our old 1988 Signature Series, this is our fourth LTC purchase. Local dealers stock ample replacement parts, or special order them within 24 hours.

Lincoln's Wixom plant did a great job with quality control when building these 1996's up. The Cartier Editions are clearly superior (other one's an Executive, very basic trim). I've had no major problems - do my own oil and tranny service. I plan to stay away from 1998 and later model years - that's a different vehicle entirely.

From a safety standpoint one could do no better on the road. Full steel frame, bumper to bumper crash protection. Embedded steel beams everywhere. Solid body parts which decimate most modern cars in a collision, all give great comfort to a parent whose kids take these out where Texas gravel trucks are running 80 mph.