15th Sep 2011, 19:18
Production ends this week and 1100 workers will be losing their jobs. Way to go Ford...
10th Oct 2011, 01:20
Ford just lost another customer. The Town Car was built too well. We all know they make their money in parts; more gizmo's to break down. The Town Car was too good, so they killed it.
11th Oct 2011, 14:07
I find it ironic that some people mourn the loss of this car. Basically because it represents the last of "Old" Detroit - which is to say the last of an era where ancient drivetrains were kept for way too long, styling took a back seat, and the cars themselves in many cases lost relevance when compared to the competition. In other words, it was cars like these that drove down the Big 3's market share, as the foreign competition made products more people wanted to buy. Luckily for us, Ford and GM have gotten their act together, flushed their lineups of almost all of the granny-mobile boats, and replaced them with competent, modern vehicles. Had they continued making such cars like they did for decades, I doubt they would be in that great a shape today.
12th Oct 2011, 18:42
I really like the Town Car, and what it represented. However, I think the styling of the last generation 1998-2011 was a little too bulbous and rounded looking. I think the updates in 2003 helped, but I still think the Cadillac DTS and Buick Park Avenue were better looking, although a bit smaller.
The Town Car was really over priced and not very competitive. In the last few years, Lincoln discontinued must have options like a sunroof and navigation system, which are common place on luxury cars nowadays. Even though the Town Car was not that much different than the Grand Marquis, it was close to $20,000 more. Ford killed this car by neglecting it and pricing it out of the market. Considering the steep depreciation on these, it would be crazy to pay $50,000 for one when you could get a used one with under 10,000 miles for under $35000.
12th Oct 2011, 18:58
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and it just so happens that I like many people completely disagree with you.
To say that styling once took a back seat in Detroit, are you kidding?? Look at some of the classic cars from Detroit from the 50's to 70's. I can't imagine anyone finding a Ford Fusion or Toyota Camry attractive or classic in 30 or 40 years.
Cars today are completely void of style, and for the most part, even shape. They aren't even proportional, they all have over stretched wheelbases with big wheels and zero overhangs. Some may like this look, but I find it makes the car look stubby and awkward. I feel that we are in one of the worst periods for the automobile, except for maybe the late 70's to the mid 80's (I think now is worse). The cars are so mild and bland today; there was a time when the automobile was something that could stir emotions; now cars are just another disposable convenience appliance, and they are about as exciting as other home appliances.
13th Oct 2011, 10:22
"To say that styling once took a back seat in Detroit, are you kidding??"
Took a back seat in the late 70's-early 2000's, yes. There is nothing remarkable about the vast majority of the cars coming out of Detroit from that era. The large Lincolns and their Ford counterparts were discontinued in part because they had become irrelevant. GM was wayyyy ahead of Ford with their luxury cars. Cadillac was "reborn" in the early 2000's. The new CTS and CTS coupe are beautiful. Can't say that about a big bulbous, floaty, outdated Grand Marquis.
13th Oct 2011, 11:36
You're right cars today are hideous. They have no overhangs, giant wheels, and look fat and stubby. I'm 22 by the way, so no I'm not a "geezer" saying these things either.
13th Oct 2011, 11:46
I agree also that modern cars are going downhill big time as regards styling. Ford's Panther platform is the last of the line of what a car should be. Yes, all that today's designers concentrate on is daft looking head lights and tail lights, the biggest possible tires they can fit, and a large driver's information centre, sat nav and audio, with of course a USB connector.
What would we do if it were not for the brilliant piece of crap in the middle of the dash?
The way people have gone as regards technological gizmos is completely pathetic.
What would the kids do now if they hadn't got the life saving DVD screens in the front headrests?
WAKE UP CAR DESIGNERS AND WIPE THE CRAP OUT OF YOUR EYES, AND START PUTTING SOMETHING NICE OUT ON THE ROADS, NOT THE FANCIEST, STUPIDEST MEDIA CENTRE YOU CAN THINK OF.
14th Oct 2011, 17:05
All I can say is that if you look at the sales for the big 3 these days, they are doing VERY well. Why? Because they aren't building UGLY looking, plasticy, uninspiring crap anymore - the kind they spewed out for decades. So cry and complain all you want about the disappearance of all those old boats. Obviously most people like the designs of today. That said, I'm sure there will always be a few people who think cars like the 90's Caprice and late Ford Grand Marquis were works of art. Luckily they are in the extreme minority.
14th Oct 2011, 19:22
Detroit has gotten one segment right in the last five years. The muscle car has definitely been reborn in a big way. I don't understand why we can't see some of these bold American designs in some of the "bread and butter" and larger luxury cars. Cars like the Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, and the Chevy Camaro all have a lot of very strong resemblances to their great namesakes of the past. Why does Detroit feel that this concept wouldn't work in other segments?? Anybody heard of the Chrysler 300? That car sold very well, and brought a lot of attention to the large American rear drive sedan; a segment that was all but forgotten by 2005. I would absolutely love to see Buick or Cadillac execute a large flagship that was very influenced by the cars of the 60's and 70's, and bring back the name of that great car. If Honda and Toyota do one thing right; they aren't changing the names of their cars every few body changes.
15th Oct 2011, 00:34
Discontinued or not, the Town Car has definitely left its impact on what a true rear-drive domestic luxury car should be, and sadly no longer is. Cars like this do generate a good size fanfare of people like myself. As much as I like rear-drive Cadillacs better, I do own a 96 Town Car, and for the past 5 years I've owned it, it still remains on the road where it belongs... Long may you run.
13th Sep 2011, 14:56
I agree with your reasoning. But I already have low blood pressure, and I am afraid to fall asleep at the wheel.
I am not kidding. I used to have a VW beetle Type 1 and drove it on the Autobahn. That thing couldn't go in a straight line!
I always had to correct it. But it kept me awake. I almost lost it with the minivan I am driving now.