98+ Lincoln body style

Are businesses starting to get rid of their 98 + body style lincoln stretches?

If so, is it because they are getting old and there are too many repairs? I'm trying to justify why there are 2000' limo's for sale that haven't really been used? Thanks

LMAO!!!! Try thinking "repo". Those brand new limousine payments are very high. I heard the Dade Co. Sheriff's Dept. recently helped one large corp. reposess over 120 in 2 days time.

I agree, when I saw all of the companies in the Baltimore area that were jumping on the band wagon to buy new cars, I thought just wait......and now there are a lot of cars on the re-sale market. Couple that with the new "er" body style that is coming in January and we will see even more cars on the market as more companies spend what they don't have. My motto is "Wait and buy used". Of course there are companies that buy new cars that can afford them. I just think they are in the minority.

The way I look at it is why not purchase a 98 and keep it until the body style changes or until you find that it's getting a little old mechanically. It looks the same as a 2001. When people are selling 2000's and 2001, I'm sure a lot of them are quality limo's but I wonder if they are just preparing to purchase the new style that is coming out. Is the new style significantly different than the current model of lincoln? Anyone know the pros and cons?

I've seen the "spy" pictures that the car magazines put out. If they are correct, the new Town Car trunk will have a higher lid (i.e., it won't slope down like the current ones do). Also, there are changes to the headlights and tail lights. I'd say that the changes are not as dramatic as when the 97 - 98 change occured. But they are more then the 94 - 95 change.

Lincoln has so screwed up its line that we are buying Cadillacs until Lincoln gets its act together. Why buy ANY Lincoln now when it will be two model years old in 7 months, even if it's new today? And why buy ANY Lincoln today if it will look old in 7 months? Our theory ended up being, the only thing you can count on is Cadillac, and that's where our money went and is going. We'll look at the Lincoln's again ONLY when we can see what they are doing, when they are doing it, and if we like what they're doing with the year and model changes. As one dealer put it to me - Lincoln doesn't care about the livery operator's problems, that's only one percent of their market. Typical Detroit ignorance - maybe we're only 1% of the market, but our cars set the pace because they're seen all the time, they create an image of luxury, and more high-income people ride in them. Cadillac probably doesn't care either, but I think it's healthy for the industry to move the market shares closer to 50-50 to keep these two companies competing. Lincoln got fat and happy and takes the livery industry for granted, so they need to be kicked around a bit. Besides, Cadillac is making a fine car at the moment (I'm sure they'll find a way to screw it up as usual, but for now the car is a good one).

James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com

I haven't seen the photos, but I'm told from people who have seen the prototype that the car between the A pillar and the rear quarter panels is identical (i.e., same doors, windows and roof), that, indeed, the trunk has been raised, and the rear tail lights will be narrowed to create better trunk access, and there are changes to the front end, including the return of the hood ornament - and, supposedly, the interior is changing in its entirety. But keep in mind, this is still nothing more than cosmetic changes to a 1976 platform. It looks like Lincoln is bound and determined to get 30 years out of the basic platform for the Town Car - this is why Lincoln needs kicked around a bit. They need the TC unchanged to goose up the profits to support their losses on all other automobile production and the losses to come on their trucks. Does anybody really believe that there will be a domestic automobile industry by 2010 (unless, of course, it's named Toyota, Daimler-Benz, etc)? The people who run the auto companies in Detroit are dinosaurs who think more about getting to the Grosse Point country club for their martinis than about the fate that looms over their companies. I have actually heard the highest level U.S. auto executives claim that they build cars equal to the Japanse and Germans, but they just get bad press!!!! Does this tell you how out of touch this gaggle of dinosaurs is???

James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com

Lincoln's Town Car to feature new look, bigger trunk for 2003 (05/21/2001)

A redone rear end usually isn't big news, unless the subject is the Lincoln Town Car. Among the changes for 2003 is a larger trunk. That's a key commodity considering limousine drivers have been complaining about lack of luggage capacity since the current Town Car design hit the market as a 1998 model.

Look for changes up front, as well, including a higher-profile hood to allow space for an optional 300-horsepower, 4.6-liter dohc V8. The grille is inset and smaller, and is separate from the headlight, parking light and turn-signal package.

The '03 Town Car is scheduled for major chassis changes, including rack-and-pinion steering, a completely revised front suspension, and 17-inch, 14-spoke wheels to replace the standard 16-inchers on today's models. Those chassis updates are being done to tighten its handling and give it a more controlled ride, two areas of concern on the current model.


James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com

Good point. I haven't really taken a look at anything other than the Lincoln's. I wonder with all the differences in the 2003 model, customers will start to notice these differences and start requesting them. If it's that small of a difference, I bet they won't even care. I still think the 98-2002 models look great (compared to the 97 model). Question is when are they going to stop upgrading the body styles... I agree with you..

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Vic:
Are businesses starting to get rid of their 98 + body style lincoln stretches?

If so, is it because they are getting old and there are too many repairs? I'm trying to justify why there are 2000' limo's for sale that haven't really been used? Thanks<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
http://limos.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif Limos that are 98 or newer are the most up to date body styles, Lincoln has not changed this since that time, I do not know if the 2002 are out and if any changes have been made, so go ahead and buy a 98 or newer limo, you will be competitive in the market.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JHJ:
Lincoln's Town Car to feature new look, bigger trunk for 2003 (05/21/2001)

A redone rear end usually isn't big news, unless the subject is the Lincoln Town Car. Among the changes for 2003 is a larger trunk. That's a key commodity considering limousine drivers have been complaining about lack of luggage capacity since the current Town Car design hit the market as a 1998 model.

Look for changes up front, as well, including a higher-profile hood to allow space for an optional 300-horsepower, 4.6-liter dohc V8. The grille is inset and smaller, and is separate from the headlight, parking light and turn-signal package.

The '03 Town Car is scheduled for major chassis changes, including rack-and-pinion steering, a completely revised front suspension, and 17-inch, 14-spoke wheels to replace the standard 16-inchers on today's models. Those chassis updates are being done to tighten its handling and give it a more controlled ride, two areas of concern on the current model.


James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
http://limos.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif These are all great changes and ones that I currently deal with now, I am so surprised at how bad the handling is on these cars, my back end kicks out on corners with ruff surfaces, but ultimately "Lincoln, there is no substitute!"

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JHJ:
Lincoln has so screwed up its line that we are buying Cadillacs until Lincoln gets its act together. Why buy ANY Lincoln now when it will be two model years old in 7 months, even if it's new today? And why buy ANY Lincoln today if it will look old in 7 months? Our theory ended up being, the only thing you can count on is Cadillac, and that's where our money went and is going. We'll look at the Lincoln's again ONLY when we can see what they are doing, when they are doing it, and if we like what they're doing with the year and model changes. As one dealer put it to me - Lincoln doesn't care about the livery operator's problems, that's only one percent of their market. Typical Detroit ignorance - maybe we're only 1% of the market, but our cars set the pace because they're seen all the time, they create an image of luxury, and more high-income people ride in them. Cadillac probably doesn't care either, but I think it's healthy for the industry to move the market shares closer to 50-50 to keep these two companies competing. Lincoln got fat and happy and takes the livery industry for granted, so they need to be kicked around a bit. Besides, Cadillac is making a fine car at the moment (I'm sure they'll find a way to screw it up as usual, but for now the car is a good one).

James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
http://limos.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif This article is just outright incorrect, Lincoln is and always will be the best choice for any company that provides corporate ground transportation, I think that the mercedes benz 400series could some day be a nice twist to this all, but not till their prices come down about 20K. Cadillac once had a nitch in the market, but they do not compare to Lincoln Luxury and style.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Vic:
The way I look at it is why not purchase a 98 and keep it until the body style changes or until you find that it's getting a little old mechanically. It looks the same as a 2001. When people are selling 2000's and 2001, I'm sure a lot of them are quality limo's but I wonder if they are just preparing to purchase the new style that is coming out. Is the new style significantly different than the current model of lincoln? Anyone know the pros and cons?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
http://limos.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif I dont know if i would be selling so quickly, the new body isnt supposed to change till 2003, I think that people are probably selling because they are going out of business, this is a tough and competitive market, where your only as good as your price most of the time.