How do you like the Conti's???

N

Noddy

Registered
Hi!

We are currently looking for a new (used) car for my wife.
As someone who came to love Lincoln for the Mark VIII, I sure would like to see her in a '96 to '98 Continental.
Any opinions from anyone? Any weak spots to check when looking at one?

Thanks for all answers already in advance and have a great day,
Marcus...;-)
 
RE: How do you like the Conti's???

They are front wheel drive. While I have no specific knowlege of the Conti, things to be concerned with might be the transmission, half shafts and motor mounts. They are also air bag suspension, so make sure it works and the compressor is ok.

I thought about one for a while, but decided if I wanted bigger and ill handling as compared to the mark, I would go to a RWD Towncar..

Scott
 
RE: How do you like the Conti's???

Hmm same 4.6 liter intech V8 but turned around and detuned to 260hp in 1996 and 1998. Power of course comes to the front wheels :p. Later i believe they changed the hp # to 275. Overall i think the car somewhat resembles a 4 door mark 8 :). But i would check out the air suspention on the car because it was displaying similar problems as the mark. What i like about the continental is the 3 settings for the suspention firm soft etc and 3 setting for the steering wheel resistance. Not sure if they used the fancy dash lighting system on the continental in 98.
 
RE: How do you like the Conti's???

I slapped some Firestone Firehawk SZ50s on the Continental I had a few years ago, set the suspension to firm always, and the damn thing handled GREAT. Sad isn't it?

Really though, the conti with those aggressive tires was alot more stable and handled alot better than the 93 Mark 8 I have right now with 235/45ZR17 Nittos, lowered sensors, and a rear addco bar with poly links.

I actually really loved my Conti, except for that pesky 125mph fuel cutoff.
 
RE: How do you like the Conti's???

They have some neat features. I Love that dash, I think thats what the mark has been missing. Oh well, I just miss the Lexus Dash when driving the Mark. 2nd gens should of had them atleast.
 
RE: How do you like the Conti's???

LOL, how come? Whats so special on the Conti dash???

Marcus.
 
RE: How do you like the Conti's???

It has a cool "3d" look to the instruments. The image you see is a reflection of the actual image at the top of the cluster.. Gives it the 3d look :) It's cool.

I might buy another Conti someday, they are very worthless.. so why not..
 
RE: How do you like the Conti's???

Yep, every Continental from 1995 on had the projection dash.

We have had one for five years now, a '98 that we got brand new. I have no complaints, the car is beautiful, still running smooth as silk and has no rattles, the handling is fine and not as boaty as you would think, it has good traction in snow and has very good pickup. The stereo sounds good and the paint quality is great, we have no complaints. She runs smoother on the highway than my uncles '97 S600 and '02 LS430. The wind noise, is the same as the S600, very low, but the LS430 is silent in this regard. The reliability has been perfect so far, but its recently developed a small freon leak, after 5 years of perfect reliabiltiy, i give it a stellar 4 outta 5. 5 if it was RWD. And also, the stock dual exhaust sounds very good, very powerful, she sounds and looks good pulling away.

Excuse me if i sound like a true "fanboy" but we reallly love the car, it has never let us down once and has everything my dad could ever want in a car.
 
RE: How do you like the Conti's???

In "firm" suspension setting, my dad thought it rode like a truck, feeling every bump. Then switched it to "plush" and all troubles went away. The car was bought for my Mom but he drives it everyday. The floating dials on the dash are very easy to read during the day and look really great at night with the red indicators.

Great car overall and they are very cheap. Don't hesitate at all if you need 4 doors. Faster from a roll 10-40 than the Mark due to gearing. At 60 and up, it is all Mark.

'93 MonsterMark Project Car
Bryan
 
RE: How do you like the Conti's???

I just bought my '98 Conti, but I am already in love with it. Handles good, the motor has plenty of oomph for me. Also, the gearing is lower (3.56) that the Mark VIII and it launches real hard from a stop and pulls strong throughout the gears. If you turn off the traction control, you can really spin the front tires. I am not in the habit of "stoplighting" my cars anymore, but it's kinda fun to suprise the "rice boys" with the fart mufflers. :) Especially when all they see is the rear end of the black Conti as it pulls away from them like they stoppped still. As for the FWD, I have no problems with it. No torque steer like some of the older FWD cars had and it tracks very good on wet pavement and around corners. Mine does not have the "active suspension" option, so it has the standard shocks and rear air suspension like my TC had. I think I am going to be glad in the long run, less to go wrong and cheaper to repair if it does.
http://mylincoln.smokeys.org/smokey2.jpg
http://mylincoln.smokeys.org/index.html
 
RE: How do you like the Conti's???

Hi. I own a 98 Conti. The car is great. No problems so far. It has everything you need in a luxury car. The incentive to buying used are the great prices. I picked mine up $3000 below market value. If I sell now, I could still make $2000 profit but I have no intentions of doing so. The car's been great to me. Less problematic and expensive to repair than older gen Contis and TC's. Good luck!
 
RE: How do you like the Conti's???

I've had my '98 about a month and I love it. The car has about 56,000 miles on it but runs like a new car. Mine has the active suspension but I like it set on "plush". On that suspension setting it handles very well yet gives a real luxury ride.
When I bought the car it had OEM-style Michelins on the rear and some off-brand on the front. All four were in very good condition but several days ago I bought a set of 4 Michelin HydroEdge tires. These tires significantly improved the handling and tire noise is minimal.
Bottom line is I really enjoy the Continental. In both power and handling it is close to my '97 SHO (that I stupidly traded on a '90 Corvette) and is the most comfortable car I have owned in 40 years. I have no reason to believe that will not be reliable if maintained properly. And, the price was right.
 
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