In 2026, Lincoln does not produce a single sedan or coupe. It's all SUVs. And it's a darn shame because the brand used to produce some of the swankiest cruisers on the road. They were elegant four-doors that carried a certain aura of prestige and style.The brand hasn't produced a sedan since the 2020 Lincoln Continental, which was a solid full-size luxury car, but it was only available with a V6 engine. If you ask us, a real classic American cruiser demands a V8, and that takes us back to 2011, the final model year for the third-gen Lincoln Town Car. The Last Of A Dying Breed Lincoln When the third-gen Town Car first hit the market in 1997, for the 1998 model year, the auto industry was already deep into its transition away from sedans and towards SUVs as the de facto body style. Here are the top sellers in 1998, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics:While SUVs didn't dominate year-end sales charts in 1998, you could already see some healthy representation for the segment. Plus, 1998 wasn't the first year the Ford Explorer outsold the Toyota Camry. The third-gen Town Car arrived during this changing landscape, as roomy sedans began to take a backseat to trucks, crossovers, and three-row SUVs. The Third-Gen Lincoln Town Car Is Everything You Want In An American Cruiser LincolnWhile the Lincoln Town Car's third generation launched for the 1998 model year, what you're really after is a 2003-2011 model. The car was given a full redesign for 2003, with a more rigid chassis, speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering, and a whole new suspension system.Why Lincoln doesn't consider the 2003 model year to be the start of a new generation, we can't say, but a 1998 Town Car has more in common with a 1989 Town Car than it does with a 2003 Town Car.LincolnThe Town Car's trim lineup underwent several shakeups over the years. The 2003 model saw Lincoln streamline its trims and make the long-wheelbase Executive L model fleet-only, for instance. The 2006 model introduced the Designer series, adding Provence leather interior and 18-spoke chrome-aluminum wheels.By 2011, there were only two options left, being the Signature Limited, and the long-wheelbase Signature L, which was not exactly the same trim as the Signature Limited, though the two cars had more in common than not.Standard features in both models included the following. Steering wheel audio controls Power mirrors Cruise control Heated front seats Keyless entry Multi-zone air conditioning Remote trunk release Seat memory Leather seats Leather steering wheel Aside from the extra legroom, the Signature L adds heated rear seats and rear air conditioning to the package. These additions should make it clear that the long-wheelbase version was intended as more of a passenger car than a driver's car. In fact, it's even called out by name as an ideal private taxi in the crime classic Collateral, when Tom Cruise asks Jamie Foxx why he hasn't put "a down payment on a Lincoln Town Car" if he's so serious about starting his own limo company.If you're planning on driving this car for your own enjoyment, the Signature L might be a little more car than you really need. Any rear passengers would be a bit more comfortable, but you're not getting an upgraded sound system or ambient interior lighting out of the deal, so there's little reason to hold out for a long wheelbase model. What Will A Lincoln Town Car Cost You In 2026? Lincoln A third-gen Lincoln Town Car is very affordable in 2026. Entry-level 2011 models are selling for around a fifth of their initial MSRP of $47,000. Checking out the CarBuzz Marketplace, here's what we turn up: A 136,895-mile 2003 Signature model is selling for $7,999 in Florida. A 177,473-mile 2005 Signature model is selling for $5,383 in Alabama. An 86,390-mile 2006 Signature model is selling for $7,995 in Georgia. A 119,648-mile 2011 Signature Limited model is selling for $4,990 in Texas. A 99,476-mile 2005 Limited model is selling for $4,877 in New York. With a budget of just $9,000, you can pretty much have your pick of low-ish mileage Town Cars. Our advice would be to hold out for an example with under 100,000 miles on the odometer. The Town Car is a reliable vehicle, but why buy a luxury cruiser with more miles behind it than ahead of it? A Used Lincoln Town Car Is Cheap To Buy, And Cheap To Own Lincoln Even if we're talking about 15-year-old future classics, the problem with buying a used luxury car is that, even if the purchase price is nice and low, the cost of maintenance probably won't be. Thankfully, that's not the case with the Lincoln Town Car, which shares a lot of its parts with the mid-market, fleet-oriented Ford Crown Victoria.RepairPal estimates an annual maintenance cost of just $704 for a 2011 model, with the following accounting for the most expensive common fixes. HVAC air door actuator replacement $938 - $1,266 Power steering hose replacement $610 - $706 Suspension shock or strut replacement $589 - $782 Radiator hose replacement $513 - $562 Brake master cylinder reservoir replacement $294 - $562 According to CarComplaints, problems decrease with almost every passing model year, from 2003 onward. The 2009-2011 models show zero complaints, while the 2008 model's only concerning report is a cracked intake manifold at 84,700 miles, requiring replacement at a cost of $1,100. The 2003 model is the most troubled of the 2003-2011 years, experiencing rough running, failure to start, and two reports of a "spark plug blew out of engine." Fuel Economy Could Be Better, But You Knew That Going In Lincoln According to the EPA, the 2011 Lincoln Town Car averages 19 miles per gallon combined, plus 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. On E85, the average drops to 14 mpg, but you're saving a few hundred dollars a year, with the EPA estimating an annual fuel expense of $2,800 on E85, or $3,150 on gasoline. This assumes 15,000 miles driven in a year, split 45/55 between highway and city driving.A third-gen Lincoln Town Car is certainly less fuel efficient than today's hybrid and turbo-six luxury SUVs, but you buy a used V8 expecting to spend a little more at the pump. If you're looking to take some of the sting off the cost of refueling, fill up on E85 whenever you get the chance.
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