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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  SCORE ! - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By birdmanjones - November 22 - 10:00 am

  Lincoln did a great job in breaking the mid size sport sedan market. Bigger with comparable performance to the BMW 5 without the "biff" image. Also nice that its not produced in mass numbers where theyre on every corner.

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  nothing but engine problems - 2000 Lincoln Navigator
  By mac905 - November 21 - 5:53 pm

  i have a lincoln because i fell in love with this suv as soon as it came out.I save up enouph money to get one and at first it was everything i hoped it to be then it rained out and water had gotten in to my fuse box and gem moduler box and it was all down hill from there i ended up paying 1,400 dollars to get that fixed. So when it hit a 1,000,00 it was time to change the plugs which coursed another 500 but once the new plugs went in the coils all started to go bad one after another it went from a dream to a night mare.And to make matter worst now the sensors are starten to go one by one i never had this much trouble with a car in my life SO MUCH FOR BUYING AMERICAN a made owner

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  NAVIGATOR - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By PANTOJA310 - November 18 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE THE NAVIGATOR

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  I love my Lincoln LS - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By WJS - November 17 - 2:33 am

  I bought this car in 2004 and it had 20,000 miles on it. I have loved it since the day I bought it. It is sporty and is so pretty when it is all cleaned up. The V-8 makes for wonderful performance. Ive looked on the internet and find that some new 6 cylinders dont get the mpg that I do with this one. (19 in the city and 26 on the highway)

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  Still the Best - 2007 Lincoln Navigator
  By Rick T - November 17 - 12:50 am

  This is my 2nd Nav, and 5th Lincoln. As a BIG man (nearly 400 lbs.) this vehicle offers me unsurpassed roominess and comfort. I was thrilled with my 04 Nav, but this one rides much smoother and has some nice refinements. Although I had gotten used to the window switches being on the center console theyre in a more traditional place on the doors this year. Also the DVD player console in the back does not obstruct the rear view mirror as in the past. The only thing that Id like to see that it hasnt got is a cargo net behind the third row seating. btw, 20 minutes after I drove out in my new Nav my dealer had my 04 sold! It was still a great vehicle and served me very well.

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  Love it - 2006 Lincoln Town Car
  By Designer - November 15 - 4:33 pm

  Just love my Town Car. Flawless. Never had problem #1. Love the silky smooth ride & the improved suspension and better cornering. Great interior, huge trunk, decent gas mileage. Love the fog lights & power glass moonroof as well as the in dash cassette & in dash CD and trunk mounted CD changer. Great to have a car again with cornering lights, too. They tried to interest me in a simulated convertible top, but I like the look of the metal top. Like the white walls with the chrome wheels and I installed the aftermarket chrome tail lamp 360-degee trim. Really looks elegant. The power close trunk is ideal when taking big bulky heavey things out of the trunk. Push button on key & it shuts

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  Big - 1998 Lincoln Town Car
  By jncertain - November 9 - 2:00 am

  Nice big car. Reliable with great dealer service.

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  Nothing but problems... - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By I hate this car - November 9 - 2:00 am

  I hope that I can just save people from wasting their money of this car. It has been nothing but troubles since the beginning. By the second week that I had the car it was in the shop for almost a month. They then gave it back to us, still not working properly, and then went back in for repairs for another 3 weeks. I just cannot tell you all of the aggravation and stress that this car has caused me. It has been the WORST car that I have ever purchased. I cant wait to get rid of it - also, Lincoln has been miserable to deal with and very unhelpful!

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  Great Vehicle! - 1997 Lincoln Continental
  By Janaya - November 8 - 10:23 pm

  Purchased car used. This is Lincoln No. 5, the first were new and this Continental is the best car I have ever owned. Would love to have another. A dream come true. It has given me some wonderful times behind the wheel between NY and NC. (Hope my luck continues now that it is paid off).

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  98 Continental - 1998 Lincoln Continental
  By salesman - November 4 - 10:00 am

  After owning and maintaining four Volvos, three Nissans , a Toyota, a Chevrolet, and a Pontiac, I can say that the Silver 1998 Lincoln Continental that takes a beating seving as my mobile office has been, per operating mile, the cheapest,most reliable car Ive ever owned. After 156,000 brutal miles it runs & rides like a champ. No torn seats. No cracked dash. No burning oil. Tranny shifts the same as when I drove it off the lot. Lincoln got it right on the 1998-2003 Continental. Im going to keep on driving it. But I am seriously considering looking at an Aviator when the time comes because of my experience with the quality of the Continental.