What's up with this?

BadSax

BadSax

enjoys 3 martini lunches
Ok, so I've been spending a lot of time in several 03' T/C's...

First... so love them, love them oh so very much. But when the love ends, the "what's up with this?" begins...

So first... what's up with the car being electronically limited to 102 MPH? I for one, often need to drive as fast as possible and 102 isn't quite fast enough when everyone else is doing 90 or better anyway.

Second... why is the only freakin' switch in the car that isn't illuminated the dimmer/interior light switch? Who thought it would be a good idea to save five cents there? PITA... at night, it's a PITA...

Third... No front air bags? Only the back has air? I'm pretty sure the 02' had air bags all around... makes the car squat under braking when it's packed to the gills with heavy stuff. Plus when it's full of crap, the back end sits at a nice height and the front looks like it's lowriding...

Ok, those are my three biggest issues so far... Other wise the cars rule! Awesome for auto crossing through traffic... lol

Oh, and which models get the fog lights?

http://www.markviii.org/~badsax/smileys/USflagsmall.gif -J http://www.markviii.org/~badsax/smileys/MusicNote.gif

LOD - New England Member http://www.markviii.org/~badsax/smileys/usa.gif
94' Black on Black Lincoln Mark VIII http://www.markviii.org/~badsax/smileys/burnout.gif

- A superior driver is one who uses their superior knowledge
and superior experience to avoid using their superior skill.
 
RE: What's up with this?

Owning mine, I can answer all three !

#2. The interior dimmer light switch also adjusts and sets the "Auto-Lamp" (Auto "off" at Dawn & Auto "on" at dusk, and from 15 seconds to 180 seconds delay "off" after exiting the car. THEREFORE it was necessary to not illuminate the switch due to in/out connector plugs.
#1. They consulted me on top end speed, & I told them 125 was too fast & the limit should be 75. So....we comprimised :)
#3. Town Cars, Crown Vics & Gr. Marquis witrh the Ride & Handling Pkg (Std. on Town Car / Opt. on the others) have only Rear Air Bag Suspension.
If yours is riding like a low rider in front, the springs are bad or the tires are low on air or something is wrong in the rear blowing the bags up too high. Mine rides 100% level at all times. I've never had anybody in the back seat, so I can't tell about sinking & then blowing back up.

BTW, don't they handle great for a big car? And, smoooooth!

Where are you getting these, Limos??? Livery Sedans??? Black-Cars ????
FOG LIGHTS....
They were Optional on the Cartier, Standard on the Cartier LIMITED, and otheerwise Not Available on either Signature nor Executive. For 2004 they have been discontinued, along with the Rainsence wipers! (Fools)!
I love those rainsence wipers, but the 1st few times they scare the "C" outta you !!!
 
RE: What's up with this?

I run a Limo company. We have 4 '03 t-cars. Two of which are lemons! The Cartier has the fog lights. Plus we have a cartier "L" model. Thats the 'bad mo-fo". They haven't had air susp on the front since 1990. rear only. The 17" rims help the handling. the cartier also has auto-wipers. No driver input needed. Personally... worse T-CAR produced to date. Bigger trunk=plus, too many "new" gadgets= junk. Lighting issues, electrical problems, two tranny's in two models at 50k. A new windshield in another(leaks, wind noise). The 01 Cartier "L" is the best Tcar we have owned. I havent run into any one who was 03's that have had any problems, except(check this out) the Black ones! Sounds wierd, but it;s like a curse. Like Lincoln knew the black ones would be for fleet use primarily, so they put crappy parts on them only! j/k, but it's almost too coincidental. Anyway... hope you got "one of the good ones"... we got two good ones, and two bad ones. Enjoy.
BlackIceLSC
GGM8 founding member
94 Black/Black M8
95 Champagne/Saddle M8
 
RE: What's up with this?

I have had zero problems with mine. It's Light Platinum-Jade Metallic. Figuring out how to set the Autolamp for like 75 seconds was a regal pain, and NO dealer had a clue. Otherwise I have no complaints. The radio is weak compared to the Chrysler stereo, which are the best. But, I can live with it, usually play CDs or cassettes anyhow. I like the seats alot! It's a Cartier Limited.
 
RE: What's up with this?

Sandy.. I like the Cartier L models too. It has the chrome 17's the killer sound system, all the bells and whistles. We are now discovering tuner problems with one of the "GOOD" '03's. This makes 3 out of 4 of our 03's that have a "problem". Now we know it isnt the drivers, because they have all driven the cartier, and it is flawless still (w/ 100k on it it 10 months). We are discovering tuner problems on 3 of the models. Poor reception. They all surpassed the factory warranty very quickly since we drive tham alot. I hear they may recall the tuners on the '03's so DONT spend a dime on your sound system yet... they will issue a TSB in january '04, according to Ford/Lincoln fleet in Mich.
BlackIceLSC-VP LODNCA
http://mark8.org/lodnca
94 Black/Black M8
95 Champagne/Saddle M8
 
RE: What's up with this?

I have to say, all in all I am really very dissappointed in lincoln. I can honestly say they ahvent really made a decent car since the Mark VIII. The LS isnt bad, but for what is suppose to be one of the top american cars there seems to be little in the way of innovation or design excellence in the last 5 years.

I remember the first time I saw the mark at the Chicago Auto Show in 1994. I truly got excited. I sat in that car and told myself that one day I would own one. At the time it was totally unaffordable for me.......But today I own one.

Why buy a lincoln today? Honestly, what does it have to make it special? I cant find anything when I go to the dealership. Oh oh oh. The are getting that fantastic brushed alum interior. wow...Oh boy. SO much for class and excellence.

Just my rant. Thanks for listening. :)
 
RE: What's up with this?

The sound system works well, as designed. It has a prestigous name: ALPINE but just like there are $35,000 Mercedes and $140,000 Mercedes, likewise there are "premium" Alpine and run-of-the-mill Alpine. I suspect that this is the entry-level model. The stereo sytem in my son's '01 Cherokee is an Infinity, and is far superior. More power, more clarity, crisper and clearer. The sound system in my 1986 ascMcLaren Capri is also an Alpine, and it's 17 years old, and it's better than the '03 Town Cars!
The sad part is that they did not even offer any kind of upgrade. Had they, of course Sandy would have bought it ~ but this is/was the stereo system they all got, period.
The in dash single slot CD is great. The Cassette player is great and the trunk mounted 6-disc C.D. Changer is great, but when you switch to the radio, you have to adjust the volume and turn it up quiet a bit, and suddenly it sounds like the radio has a cold, when compared to the other systems mentioned.
I have driven all kinds of cars, and the Chrysler systems are the best. Incredable clarity, terrific graphic equalizers and gobs of power. My question is: How come the best & most expensive model Town Car has a 150 watt output stereo and a (Ford Owned) Volvo S80 (Same price arena) gets a Dynaudio System from Holland with 300 Watts?
Why don't they just buy Dynaudio units & put them in the Lincolns.
(and it's a much simplier system.....My T.C. has so many buttons to fiddle with - they told me it's because Americans LIKE buttons - yet with 1/2 the # of buttons, the S80 system blows the Lincolns away.
The rest of the car, I must say, however is great and I've had no problems with anything on the car. I had alot of problem with my Mark 8 for the first 3 years. It took 3 years to get it all fixed. Nobody but me woulda bought another Lincoln after that car.
 
RE: What's up with this?

You should check out the THX system’s Lincoln Offers.

George Locus would not put his name on anything other then superior quality, I have the ALTEC LANSING THX Certified computer speakers, and let me tell you, they are a few years old, and still on top.
 
RE: What's up with this?

Sandy, I mean you no disrespect, but in reference to your comment about "$50k MBZ, and $120k MBZ", well the new T-car IS the $120k MBZ of Lincolns line up. When a consumer decides to purchase a LIncoln Town Car, it is not usually because the T-car has "beat out" other vehicles in its class, it is usually because of a "loyalty" to the name. The sound system is usually not the key selling point, nor the reason NOT to buy the car. Sound systems are easily up-gradeable. That is why aftermarket stereo business is a multi-million dollar industry. Most customers arent happy enough with a factory sound system. I for one would buy a car NOT based on its sound system. I would simply be happy if the car I decided to throw $50k down on just happened to come with a decent system. Enough about stereos.
When you say the name Lincoln, one should automatically think "America's Premiere Luxury Car Builder", and there should be a certain amount of "quality and craftsmanship" that goes with it. The new breed of T-cars lacks everything Lincoln stands for. They are glorified taxi-cabs. A Mercury Grand Marquis LS model has exactly the same amount of luxury that a T-car has, for thousands less. I am sorry Sandy, but the Town car has gone from "the best of the best" to "personal taste". Back in the old days, there was a commercial that featured a diamond cutter in the back seat of a town car, and they advertised the smoothness of the ride was so precise, that he could make a quality cut from the back seat over a cobblestone road... and they were right.. not anymore! My boss has been in the Limo business since 1978, and he drives our nicest Town car daily, the '03 Cartier "L" model, with EVERY SINGLE OPTION Lincoln could stuff in it. He and I both agree that the new cup holders, and power ports in the rear arm rest, the 17" wheels, and the sound system aren't enough to make this new breed Stand out above other T-cars from yester-year. We do however like the new trunk assembly.
Did you know?:
The '03 Cartier has a "new" convenience feature? If you either click the trunk switch on your hand held remote, OR press the door mounted trunk release, that not only does the trunk unlatch, but it "opens" itself fully? And, get this... if you press either button again, it fully closes the trunk, and latches it.... That is great for kicking out your co-pilot on a rainy day without ever getting up from the driver's seat. That, we both agree.... is cool, but the car just isnt worth the price.... we'll see if the rumor mill stands true for the '05 models.
BlackIceLSC-VP LODNCA
http://mark8.org/lodnca
94 Black/Black M8
95 Champagne/Saddle M8
 
RE: What's up with this?

I don't see any argument here. I have that trunk on mine. Remember, the LIMITED was above the Cartier.
Executive, Signature, Cartier, Limited.

I really like mine, and cn find no fault with it, except for reception and power output (150 watts) on the radio. I have just a sneeze under 2,000 miles on it, and have not had even the slightest problem. By the time I had 2,000 on my MK 8 I was on my 8th problem.
Maybe I just got a good one. I considered a Park Ave Ultra & a deVille DHS. The other two were impressive, as well, but I like my dealer's service & the convenience of location, so I bought another Lincoln.
Remember, I got a $4,000 rebate & a 1,000 Owner Loyality coupon and $3,500 off of list price, so the $ 47,645 was actually $ 39,145.00 ~
 
RE: What's up with this?

Understood. I'll look you up when the car has 70k miles on it, and you can tell me how many problems you have seen by then(if you keep it that long). I would pray any new car can go at least 2k before any problems. The Mark VIII is not an exception. They have had their share of "early mileage issues". However, I will agree on one thing; you got a good one.
BlackIceLSC-VP LODNCA
http://mark8.org/lodnca
94 Black/Black M8
95 Champagne/Saddle M8
 
RE: What's up with this?

Understood. I'll look you up when the car has 70k miles on it, and you can tell me how many problems you have seen by then(if you keep it that long).
Click to expand...

LMAO, 70,000 miles, Sandy, haa!
BlackIce, Sandy puts like maybe 3,000 miles a year on his daily driver's!
 
RE: What's up with this?

Not to split hairs, or nuttin' ~ ~ actually 4,000 to 4,300 @ yr. (The Lincoln)

6,000 @ yr. on the Jeep Cherokee, as my wife, son & I all drive it. Son = 70% Wife = 10% Me = 20%
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top