Questions about 2001 Continental

[OldRelayer]

We are looking at a 2001 Continental. We have two cars now, a 98 Lincoln Mark VIII that is used in the good months here in Maine and a 87 Olds 88 which is our winter car. There are a lot of ways for us to go, keep the Mark and upgrade the winter car or with the Continental we could replace both cars. We love the Mark and it would be hard to replace it both practically and emotionally but it is getting old and it just might be the thing to do, not that we are having problems yet but at 110k they can't be far off. We are looking at a this 2001 with 63kmiles for about $9k. I guess that is an ok price and I think we could get better than $5k for both cars so the net would be to terrible.

Ok my questions. I worked at a Ford dealership and had my Lincoln serviced there. Their top Mechanic wasn't keen on Lincolns but didn't mind working on the Mark but told me never get a Continetal, he hated them for some reason. As I look at the information available about the reliability of the Mark, Towncar and Continental, the Mark and Continetal are about the same and the one with the lower score is actually the Towncar which surprised me. We have had 5 Marks and I always read how poor they were for repairs and we have never found that to be so, we hardly put anything into them, except for ball joints and that is more a problem with Maine roads than the car. What should I expect with the Continental from your experience?

When the Mark was new it got almost 24 mpg average and now almost 22 which isn't so bad for a big car. I read that the Continetal with basically the same engine with a tad less HP gets 16, that can't be right. I am thinking it would be closer to 25 or 26, what is your experience. My 88 Mark VII with Moly Black Gold would get a tad under 30, which was great and even normally about 25. That was a 302 rated at 225 hp, really nice engine, it didn't work nearly as hard as the 4.6, which sounds more like a rubber band airplane to me, wound up tight.

We are also looking at a 2001 Towncar touring edition, which is closer I think to the Mark in some ways, but that seems like s stupid move, would still need a winter car. On the other hand nothing like a rear drive in the summer.

Thanks
Barry

 

[pokeeto2]

Had many Continentals mainly 98's, some where problematic and some as tough as a tank. They are great cars. Mechanics doesn't like Continentals because they are difficult to work on and that they probably dont have much expirience since this isnt a common car to work on every day. What I mean is that it is tight to do any engine work like a belt change, PS, Compressor, waterpump, tranny, Radiators, etc. If it takes me under 10 Minutes to do the belt on Mark 8, it would take me about and 1 1/2 hours to do it on a cont . It's not that parts are expensive they're about the same $$$ like most fords, what makes repair pricey in em is that they are time consuming to work on because of space. See where I'm getting at.

Though I find them reliable cars, just as long as they are taken care of and that previos owners did too. I'd say that if you want a Continental to give ya many years of service, id say 99 and up with very low milage.

I have a mint 98 that a bought for $2900 with 118K on it last April. Now is has 141K and still going stong. Never left me on foot and it seems ready to give me another 23K with no problem.

If the tranny ever were to go out on my car, Definitly it while be $1700+ to repair. I wont invest that money, it would be $4600 invested then. With that i would just sell and get anouther nice Conti with that money. Easy Come Easy go.

 

[OldRelayer]

I have been holding off a little from buying anything because we are selling our big house and already bought and living in the house we bought. Meaning it is a little scare, if the house doesn't sell, we are screwed. But I think we are close to a deal and if I get the $10,000 non refundable deposit that I am trying to get, I would have the money to but this.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Linc...mZ4628861917QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#mainImage

It is still available and I suspect one could buy it for 8500 or it just might be worth the 8900, I am not an expert, and I guess it is worth what you can get.

It has much of the things we like about our Mark, I do and not like that it is front wheel drive, but I guess we will sell our winter car and this would be primarily a winter car, but also a decent car for any event. I like the miles, seems reasonable for a 2001, I really like the color(although that would be a stupid reason to buy a car). I don't like that if it needs repairs they will be expensive because it is hard to work on, but one would hope that constant care would keep it from needing major repairs.


Does anyone see anything suspect in this car. Or lend any advice as to what to beware of. Any help that will save me heartache down the road would be appreciated.

Thanks
Barry

 

[pokeeto2]

97 and up Continentals, well taken care of should give years of trouble free service. I've put alot of miles on mine, over 23K in only a year. I just do regular maintenece ( Oils, Fluids, brakes, etc, and It never let me down. I'm in Connecticut and their great for the winter.

 

[mark0101]

Your mark VIII is not gonna die on 110K, it will get at least about 170k easily. Like I told you before I think the town Car would not be worth buying since it doesn't fit your needs for a winter car.
The Continental on the other is a FWD(which is good for Winter). The only real problem continentals have is the air bags which wouldn't be a problem since 97+ have the bags only in the rear. just like pokooto2 said the mechs don't like working on the car is because the engine is so tightly put in that it takes alot of time to work with it.Gas mileage I get on the highway is 25-27 mpg.( on the Continental)

I would say go for a continental, and don't worry about the FWD, you will get used to it. the continental has alot of power at high speeds just like the Mark.

 

[CobraConti]

how do you get your mileage so high?? I get 21-22 ALWAYS even if I have alot of in town driving or highway. I used to drive 60-90 miles a day highway and I have never seen 23 mpg flash up on my dash. I would stop and the car and jump up and down if I saw 23 one day.