Lookin at an old Town Car, should I get my head examined ???

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Stifko

Diamond Member
Dec 8, 1999
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There is a guy selling a 1988 Lincoln Town Car w/like 75K miles. He said it is super clean and kept in a carport covered.

He wants $1500 but might take less. Should I bother with this old car or what ?

They have a pretty good rep, I think. This body style is the square one and not the rounded one.

I am gonna check it out on Sat, but what do you think ? Thats really low miles for an 88, eh ?
 
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Kevin

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2002
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If he's old, then its understandable. My grandfather has a 94 Grand Am with 30K miles. They just don't drive anywhere other than the supermarket.

You can only buy the car if you get a red leather jacket a a pimp err walking stick...
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
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First, those are some of my favourite cars ever. I love the old stately, squared-off Town Car of the 1980's. Believe it or not, when I was replacing my Accord, I almost bought an '88 Town Car instead of the '87 924S. I say go for it. If the car is in good shape it can last a long time. Those old Town Cars had a great engine and everything. They are also pertty simple cars, they won't be bad to get parts for at all, and if something does break, it'll be easier to fix. Go for it.

ZV

P.S. Those Betamax machines are still going. :)
 
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Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
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I think that year has fuel injection and the same engine as the 5.0 mustang, so the engine should be fairly reliable. There are a lot of electronic/electrical gadgets on that car though, so that's a potential trouble spot. If it's got that Lincoln air suspension, you might want to think twice about the whole car, unless the previous owner has already replaced that crap with conventional springs and shocks.

Keep in mind that it will probably get under 20 MPG, unless your driving is almost exclusively highway.
 
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Heddis

Member
Sep 15, 2001
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I used to drive a 1989 Lincoln Towncar, it was great, very smooth and confortable ride. It is a gas guzzler though, it usually got between 13 and 18 mpg. I would definetely recommend getting one, the ladies love it!

I got a great deal on mine. I bought it from my grandparents for $500 drove it for a year and half then got in an accident with it and totaled it(the car was worth about $1200 at the time). But the best part was that it was still perfectly driveable the only damage was to the right headlight. So I ended up getting a $1200 check from the other guys insurance company(it wasn't my fault) and then I donated it to the VOA.
 
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Stifko

Diamond Member
Dec 8, 1999
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cool to hear about the beta decks Zimmer, use them in good health. Both decks are working fine and the remotes ?

The car is probably bone stock w/the same suspension. You are scaring me with the air thing.
 
nakedfrog

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
61,047
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Go for it!
I've got a 77 Mercury Grand Marquis, only a bit down from the Lincolns, but it's the best used car I've ever owned, other than the gas mileage.
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
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Originally posted by: Stifko
cool to hear about the beta decks Zimmer, use them in good health. Both decks are working fine and the remotes ?

The car is probably bone stock w/the same suspension. You are scaring me with the air thing.
Click to expand...
I cannibalised one deck after a regulator in the power supply for the other failed. It's just a simple thing to solder in and get the other deck back up again, but I don't have the soldering iron here at school. :)

As far as the air suspension goes, it should be pretty easy to tell if that has failed. If one corner of the car is sagging, then it probably means that the air bladder either leaks or has burst. But the car might not even have the air suspension, that was an option and I'm not sure how common it was.

ZV
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,389
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Originally posted by: alm99
I'd give it the once over, but is it a gas guzzler?
Click to expand...

not really. V8s do not require much gas to cruise around at highway speeds.
 
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Stifko

Diamond Member
Dec 8, 1999
4,799
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Thanks for all the opinions, I gotta think about parking too. Thats a huge a$$ed car, but I want it.
 
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thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
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I really don't think the older square town cars have air suspensions. I think that came along with the newer round body style. I think they are one of the best deals you can get. What other car anywhere near as nice as that can you get for $1500. Gas milieage around town probably sucks but out on the highway its probably around the mid 20s.

 
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Infos

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2001
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Yes, quickly while there is still hope, before the brain cells completely atrophy:Q
 
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CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
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Where's Ornery? you'd have a best friend for life.
that sounds like a pretty good price considering mileage and shape... meh, if it's what you like. go for it.
 
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Quixfire

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2001
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Originally posted by: Garfang
I think that year has fuel injection and the same engine as the 5.0 mustang, so the engine should be fairly reliable. There are a lot of electronic/electrical gadgets on that car though, so that's a potential trouble spot. If it's got that Lincoln air suspension, you might want to think twice about the whole car, unless the previous owner has already replaced that crap with conventional springs and shocks.

Keep in mind that it will probably get under 20 MPG, unless your driving is almost exclusively highway.
Click to expand...
That vintage town car has rear air springs only and they are very reliable.
 
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Stifko

Diamond Member
Dec 8, 1999
4,799
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81
Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Ornery in 3, 2, 1 ... :D
Click to expand...
He he he. ;)

Here's a link to the gas mileage information on the vehicle:
1988 Lincoln Town Car Gas Mileage
More information on the '88 Town Car with a picture.

Some other details:
- 116 Cu. Ft. of Interior room - yowzaa!! :D :D
- 22 Cu. Ft. of trunk room - enough for 3 bodies!! :Q :Q

Sounds like a nice, pimpin' ride.
Click to expand...

thanks for the links, and yeah it is very pimp. The body is white and the roadster top is blue.
I think that they call that a roadster top at least. I might have to get it.

 
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KGB1

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2001
2,998
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Umm.. why the 80's Town Car?

Look into a 1990 Town Car. My uncle had it... awsome ride :D
5.0 V8... smooth as silk, steering wheel was light as a feather.

I'd recommend that you get one that is Light Blue. It looks great to me anyway. :)
Good Luck man.
 
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toph99

Diamond Member
Aug 25, 2000
5,505
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i almost got a towncar but then i found my crown vic and got it instead(same platform though). It has air suspension, and i learned a few quirks that they have just so you know everything is working ok(though keep in mind my car is a 93 so you may not have some of these features)
-compressor will run when you start the car.
-car will lower to 'curb height' when you shut the door with the car off, and will adjust itself automatically for the next hour
-when any weight is added to the car when it is running, the compressor will run to raise the rear end.

check the springs for any cracks and such, if there are none it should be fine :) they're great cars, and you'll have either a 302 or 351, both motors are easily and cheaply modified(unlike my modular 4.6 :|) i get about 16mpg in the city, and 28 on the highway, with a few full throttle runs up to 140km/h.

crownvic.net is a great place for info on panther cars(crown vic, grand marquis and town cars)
 
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Quixfire

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2001
6,892
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The only problem those cars had were intake and valve cover gasket leaks (oil), due to nobody ever changed the breather at the back of the intake manifold (it's under the PCV Valve). They are very solid cars and my 87 Lincoln Town car got 18 city, 26 highway with the a/c on.
 
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