Full-size car fans only

monstrocity · 11-08-2009, 12:07 AM

Hi guys,

I'm 39 and have had full-size RWD sedans since I was 18... and currently have a 96 Roadmaster and 68 Deville. So please spare me the airport limo/land yacht/can't pass a gas station cracks. What can I do I like what I like!

Seriously, what do you full-size car fans think of the 2003+ Lincoln Town Cars? Anybody have one? I'm thinking of retiring my Roadmaster to hobby status and picking up one of these.

I dig this kind of car and the General has been ignoring us for a long time now. I think the used-car pricing for well-loved, old-guy owned Town Cars is great. Also reliability and comfort seems very good. Power is a concern... though everyone says you can "easily" mod a 4.6L but I haven't heard anything interesting short of a $5K supercharger.

Anyone have some direct experiences?

Stingray23 · 11-08-2009, 02:12 AM

If you like full sized cars with power, get a Mercury Marauder. They put a cobra motor in it and has a nice duel exhaust. Sounds great and can be modified.

63vette_dreamin · 11-08-2009, 09:20 AM

I seen a 02 maybe crown vic with a cobra engine and cowl hood lowerd with black wheels with super charger work.They said it was pretty fast till the guy let his 17yo take it out....Sideways into and over a curb.I will try to get some pics of it.I do know you got another car to switch over too.Im not a ford guy but....was a cool ride .Did you see the Dick Harrell wagon on ebay??? Item number: 200396612229 THATS COOL!!!!!

monstrocity · 11-09-2009, 02:38 PM

Thanks guys. Marauder just doesn't do it for me. Call me crazy I prefer the glitzy-chrome-tacky look and the Maurader's flat black isn't me.

The TC's 4.6L has 239HP. What can be done (cheaply... couple grand) to get more horsepower? Approaching 300HP would be nice. All my cars are stock so I'm new to this.

Where's a good web site to look for mods?

pappy.72 · 11-09-2009, 03:53 PM

Cadillac DTS. You can get them cheap.

Mikeceli · 11-10-2009, 04:10 AM

I've been driving Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptors, full time for 15 years. thier comfort and reliability is FANTASTIC.

I had a 9C1 Caprice cop car, for a few months(16 years ago) and I just bought a 96 Impala SS, last week. No opinion on them , yet.

I know what you mean, as I REALLY ENJOY driving my Cordoba! I used to scoff at soft seats, low effort power steering and plush ride. I'm likeing those more, lately.

monstrocity · 11-10-2009, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeceli

I've been driving Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptors, full time for 15 years. thier comfort and reliability is FANTASTIC.

I had a 9C1 Caprice cop car, for a few months(16 years ago) and I just bought a 96 Impala SS, last week. No opinion on them , yet.

I know what you mean, as I REALLY ENJOY driving my Cordoba! I used to scoff at soft seats, low effort power steering and plush ride. I'm likeing those more, lately.

Wow Mike nice collection. Got any pics of them all together?

Always liked Cordobas and Lincoln Mark VIIs. When I was a teen I wanted an 81-83 Chrysler Imperial for my first car but never found one. Good thing though apparently they were serious junk.

BSMM · 11-14-2009, 10:19 AM

Sounds like you need a Lincoln Town Car!

SScottie · 11-21-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeceli

I had a 9C1 Caprice cop car, for a few months(16 years ago) and I just bought a 96 Impala SS, last week. No opinion on them , yet.

They are great!!

Mudvayne387 · 11-22-2009, 01:56 AM

I have the perfect car for you. It is a mark viii, the back seats are very large , the trunk is huge , and it is like a cock pit inside. 400+ horsepower , low mile , and 16-18 mpg. Surprise the hell out of Mustangs and Civics everywhere !

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/othe...ercharged.html

DaveMcC · 11-22-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monstrocity

Hi guys,

I'm 39 and have had full-size RWD sedans since I was 18

Seriously, what do you full-size car fans think of the 2003+ Lincoln Town Cars? Anybody have one? I'm thinking of retiring my Roadmaster to hobby status and picking up one of these.

Anyone have some direct experiences?

I'm with you on the big car love. My DD is a 94 Town Car. It's a great ride. That style of Town Car is actually quite efficient. I've recorded as high as 30 MPG on the highway. Around town mileage seems to be in the high teens. Even though it's a big car, it drives smaller than it is if that makes any sense. The visibility is good and the straight lines make backing up and tight space maneuvering visibility pretty easy.

Power is a bit of an issue but it has enough torque to move it along nicely when you need to go. There's really no simple and cheap way to improve the power much on non-PI 4.6L 2v. The most common weak spot on this vintage full size Ford is the torque converter. This Town Car, my 99 Crown Vic and my 94 Mark VIII all had the dreaded railroad track-like rumble from the torque converter. Budget for a full audio system replacement as well. The radio is pretty bad.

I'm always on the look-out for another Lincoln Mark V but for now, this Town Car is definitely a keeper.

leadfoot4 · 11-22-2009, 09:34 AM

My wife and I had a 2000 Lincoln LS for roughly 9 years, it was a great sport sedan. If Lincoln continued to make them, I would have bought another. I digress.....

Being that our LS was a "first year" car, it was subject to a few recalls, which our dealer always handled promptly and courteously. While the LS was in the shop, the dealer gave me a TC as a loaner, as they had 3-4 of them as a "loaner fleet".

No question, the TC IS a big car, but it rode well, and handled reasonably well for a car tuned more toward comfort. I'm sure that a set of slightly wider rims, with performance rubber, would make a big difference. The only shortcoming I could see was a lack of real horsepower.