Overview & Reviews

Lincoln is an automaker with a long history of building upscale vehicles for the American market. A division of Ford, Lincoln differentiates its vehicles through additional luxury features, more powerful engines and unique styling. The automaker's lineup includes cars, pickups and SUVs.

The company was established in 1917 by Henry Leland, an automotive parts manufacturer who had previously founded the Cadillac brand. He named the company after his boyhood hero: the 16th U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln. Early Lincoln models include the L Series and the K Series. The company quickly hit dire straits, however, and was bought by Ford Motor Company in 1922.

Lincoln had found its niche in the luxury-car segment by the 1930s, riding high with the likes of Cadillac as a purveyor of premium status-mobiles. The 1936 model year saw Lincoln's launch of the popular Zephyr. The car's name and styling were inspired by the sleek lines of the Burlington Zephyr, a diesel-powered express train that boasted record-setting speed. The car was a big hit for Lincoln; at one point, nearly 80 percent of all Lincolns sold were Zephyrs.

The '40s also saw the rise of the glamorous Continental. The vehicle's development was shepherded by Edsel Ford, son of Ford's founder Henry Ford. After World War II, Lincoln maintained its premium status with vehicles like the Mark II and the '60s-era Continentals, which gained fame through their "suicide-style" rear doors and use as U.S. presidential limousines. The Continental Mark III luxury coupe rolled out in 1968 and by the late '60s, more than 1 million Continentals had been built.

The 1970s saw the launch of the Mark IV as well as a new Lincoln, the Versailles. The Versailles was the first midsize sedan from the marque, and right from the start, it missed the mark with the public. The Versailles was based on the Ford Granada platform, and many blamed its failure on its obvious similarity to its less exclusive -- and less expensive -- twin.

In 1981, Lincoln released its now iconic Town Car, the full-size luxury sedan that has since served as the marque's flagship. Though its moniker had been used to designate trim levels in previous years, 1981 was the year in which the Town Car came into existence as an individual model. Lincoln also distinguished itself during these years as the first American car line to offer antilock braking. The Mark series continued to evolve, and shrunk down considerably with the debut of the Mark VI. That velvet-lined cruiser was followed mid-decade by the Mark VII, which was more European in nature and could even be powered by a BMW turbodiesel engine.

The '90s saw the debut of the Mark VIII, which featured a four-cam V8 and air suspension. By this time, sport-utility vehicles had emerged as a segment to be reckoned with, and Lincoln made the most of this trend by launching its very first SUV, the Ford Expedition-based Navigator, for 1998. Bedecked in chrome and fitted with plush leather and luxury features galore, the massive truck was a breakout hit.

The new millennium marked the debut of the Euro-flavored, midsize LS sedan that shared much of its platform with Jaguar's S-Type sedan. More recently, Lincoln has dropped the long-lived Town Car and updated its lineup with the MKS and MKZ sedans as well as the MKX crossover SUV in hopes of attracting a new generation of consumers. Some of its offerings fall short of the competition in areas such as performance and refinement. Still, the marque is a favorite of car buyers seeking a generous dose of all-American luxury.

User Reviews:

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  Lincolns little known wonder - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By jerrym3 - November 8 - 11:13 am

  I have a 2003 TBird, and the LS is my wifes car. Except for the TBird being an attention getter/convertible, Id rather drive the LS. Since they share engines/trans, straight line acceleration is the same, but once you start hitting road bumps and taking sharp turns, the LS is the easy winner. Anyone looking for a Sports Sedan that doesnt give this car a shot is being foolish. With the folding seats, plenty of trunk space (got three 17" wheels/tires in the car). Seats are comfortable, fit finish are great (ash tray is out of line, but Ill get that fixed by the dealer). Because of the TBird, I wasnt shocked by the way this car accelerates, but you may be. Styling will never get old.

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  Daughters car - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By unhappy father - November 3 - 1:13 am

  My early-twenties daughter bought a 2000 LS8 with 121K last fall (2007). I was about to deploy with the reserves, so did not pay as much attention to her purchase as I normally would. CEL went on during her drive home from dealership, they replaced O2 sensor at their cost, CEL still came on, they did some repairs costing us $1400, car has same problems, surging and CEL on; now it has a coolant leak so she is driving my car until I come back this fall. I am not happy with the car or the dealerships treatment of a first-time car buyer...they should have known that this car is expensive to maintain. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone, especially if it has higher mileage.

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  Twelve Lincolns and Counting - 2005 Lincoln Town Car
  By stgcret - November 2 - 12:43 pm

  This is my 12th Lincoln. I traded a 2005 Signature with 30,000 miles for a 2005 Signature Limited with 5800 miles. What a difference just kicking it up to the next trim level! More comfort in the seat, heated & memory seats, chrome wheels and the trunk goes all the way up instead of just cracking open in the base Signature and a much quieter ride. Much better stereo. Definitely worth the extra bucks.

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  Great Vehicle! - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By Megan - November 1 - 5:33 am

  I have enjoyed my Aviator. It has taken my family on many trips and I havnt had any problems. My only complaint is a rattling window that the dealership wont fix because it has been over a year. Overall though, it has been a great vehicle and I love the all wheel drive!

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  Cooled Seats? - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By joe - October 31 - 9:40 pm

  I live in the great state of Texas where its hot. I bought the car mainly because of the comfortable seats. The cooled seats were a great option to me and worked great at the time of purchase. Now the bottom part of the seat gets really cold and the back of the seat doesnt cool at all. Its been to the dealer 3 times. The first time they said nothing was wrong with it; they must not have looked very far. The second time I made sure to show them the problem; they repaired it. The seats worked great for 1 day. I brought the car back to them and now they say there is nothing wrong with them. They must be blind or dont know how to make the repair. Im very dissatisfied with the dealer and the seats.

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  LS#2 - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By bob metler - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Very good ride & handling.Great heated&cooled seats.Should have MXV4+ 235/55/17 tires and LED tail lites.Drive by wire could be a problem.Window up and down buttons are a pain and should be the same as the 2000 model.Excellent paint job.

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  The top of the line in SUVS. - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By Shriner214 - October 31 - 10:00 am

  We tried the BMW, Denali, Yukon and Volvo before settling with our Aviator. The BMW and Volvo were just too small for traveling plus rear seat room for persons my size (62" 240lbs) was really uncomfortable. The ride wasnt acceptable. The Yukon & Denali were a close 2nd. The mileage was very acceptable for this vehicle. On a trip to Maine from Florida (5100 miles) average mileage of 22.8 per gallon. Air was increased in the tires however to 34 Lbs. to achieve as a dealer Friend had advised. City driving averages 17.5- 19.0 depending on how much is stop & go.

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  WELL WORTH PRICE - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By hobbyhead - October 31 - 10:00 am

  A real pleasure to drive.Handles well not to bad on gas and as yet not one problem.The dealer I use has a great service dept. free oil changes and very little wait.I love the style nobody else comes close to the classic good looks.

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  Equals a Mercedes Benz - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By lewis k berne - October 31 - 7:50 am

  My last car was a 2006 Mercedes Benz E350. It was a wonderful car and well it should be for $55,000.00. The standard equipment of the MKZ far exceeds the E. (leather seats, A/C and heated seats, a super sounding standard audio system, back up sensors) On a day to day basis, handling is more than comperable. This did surprise me. No charge for maint. and $200 to $400 less per month on a lease than the C or E respectively, makes this car as my choice, a no brainer.

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  not perfect but very good !!!! - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By mperkin - October 29 - 8:23 pm

  Only complaints are- car needs an auto trunk close to keep from scratching trunk lid and the seat cushion should be a few inches longer. Other than these two observations. I really like this auto- some super looking interior.