Bought a new (to me) Lincoln Town Car on Friday. '03 model, 61k miles, ultra clean. $10817.00 out the door. INHO, it's a lot of car for 11k.

I've been increasingly worried about the miles Bride has been racking up on her '84 300D and my inability to keep up the maintenance. So I had to put Bride into something that was reasonably new, reliable and big. We both like this car a lot...all the good stuff in it, legroom front and back, lots of toys, low miles. Handles surprisingly well too.

Will be getting rid of some of the MBZ parts fleet and the SDL. I already have thread started in the Diesel Discussion of anyone is interested in anything.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

It's my opinion that the Panther platform cars can offer a helluva lot of value for the money if purchased wisely.

If you get the same sort of service out of yours that we've gotten out of our '99 Crown Victoria, then I think you'll continue to feel good about your choice. Reliability has been excellent and repair costs very low during the ~120k miles we've owned it (22k on the odo when we purchased it).

Sad to say, it took a significant rear-end hit last week, and I fear that they may total it. I was looking forward to a few more years of cheap, reliable, comfortable service from it.

Last of the classic American iron.

You will still have that car 20 years from now.

Randy, what color did you select? Love to see a photo.

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Anders

1995 E300
2015 VW TDI Sportwagen 15K
1977 240D (197K)
2002 Subaru Legacy L Wagon (115k) (Wife's)
Gone but not forgotten:
2005 Buick LeSabre
1998 C230
1984 300D
1983 240D
1981 300SD
1974 240D
1974 Fiat 124 Spider
1968 Triumph TR250

Seeing that the end of this sort of big iron is in sight, I think the Town Car (Panther Platform) may represent the pinnacle in domestic RWD cars.

This one is a pearl white with a light beige or ecru interior.

I agree on the their being an excellent value if purchased right. I started the search last week and found several (just looked for TCs and GMs, no Crown Vics) on Craigslist, eBay and local listings. All were in advertised in the $12-14k range and had higher miles (>70k miles). KBB showed them going for about $11.5 to 13k with 50k miles and excellent condition. My purchase criteria was '03 or newer (that was the year that TC started sharing suspension components w/the police interceptor), <60k miles and a $11k - $12k price.

On an impulse, I pulled into an Austin Ford dealer on Wednesday afternoon, just to go drive one. He had an '03 Town Car that was mint and 61k on the odometer. Obvious that it hadn't been detailed, only some tire dressing and a little cleanup. Drove it for a while, asked what they needed to get and it was only $9770. Hmmm...what's wrong here?

Came back on Friday, took it to an indy that does PPIs and had him do the look over. I looked at it up on the lift and it was apparent that the car had spent most of the last 7 years in the garage of the PO. Very clean.

It was as good or better than any of the examples I'd come across on-line.

Passed the PPI flying colors. Mechanic did recommend that I have the dealer replace the air and fuel filters and replace the RR taillight lens because there was a small crack in it. Went back to the dealer, said we had a deal if they'd fix the things on my list. They agreed and I wrote them a check for $10817 and Bride drove it to the farm Friday evening.

It's a damn nice ride too. A little more harsh than the SDL but has virtually no body roll in the corners and none of the highway waddle that older Lincolns sported.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

I've been in many Town Cars's that I've hired for airport service all over the country that have had mega miles: 400,000+, and they still had that vault-like feel, without a vibration or rattle on the car.

My opinion is that they are as magnificently engineered and put-together as any W126 or W140 sedan.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Well, I was reluctant to espouse that here for fear I receive a lethal dose of infractions. I feel pretty much the same way...I never drove a pristine W126 but I cannot imagine it being all that much better than one of these TCs.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

I'm with ya brother.

I am always astounded that with hundreds of thousands of miles, they still drive and ride like new. And it's not just a few times that I've experienced that feeling.

I have been in at least a dozen, maybe twenty Town Cars that drove and rode like new with massive mileage.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Still not as safe in a side-collision or hard-rear ending as a MB diesel....that big tank of gas is a fire waiting to happen.

I do like them though, and I'd own one as a spare car/winter car.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I love those old full size tanks. Just something about a car that actually has a frame-

When Randy Leo stops wrenching, the die has now been cast............us old folks are now doomed to new Lincolns.

I sense the inevitable as well...............

There's still plenty of stuff to work on out here.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Time to break out the white shoes and belt.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Terrific..........

I don't think so.

I'm insulted! Infraction!!!

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.