1998 Lincoln Continental Review and Information

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - Dec. 8, 2014 - PRLog -- National Auto Source is selling a 1998 Lincoln Continental sedan. It is white with tan leather interior and comes with the matching tan floor mats.

Lincoln-Mercury Division's management made a quantum leap forward awhile back when it installed Lincoln's 4.6-liter (281-cubic-inch) double overhead cam V-8 as a replacement for its V-6. Adding computerized wizardry that makes the sedan virtually a computer on wheels has enhanced every aspect of the automobile.

It all came on line with the new Continental that Ford Motor's Jim Trainor provided for a test car, a four-door that fell to hand as easily as a favorite old coat.

While the array of controls might intimidate a first-time driver, not to worry. A few minutes with the car produced a situation where operation of switches and controls became almost automatic. However, it takes awhile to pick up on the stereo panel.

The instrument panel gives you everything you ever wanted to know about the automobile's operating conditions.

A total of 21 different bits of information or warnings are displayed.

The same with the controls. Don't like the steering effort? Change it. You have a choice of low, normal, or high steering effort, with the high setting giving drivers who want to run with pedal to the metal a decidedly firm feel to the wheel.

The car has some new styling that retains the Continental's size - 207 inches of overall length/109 inches of wheelbase - but changes proportions. The '98 is shorter at the front center line by 2 inches, and at the corners by 4 inches. To balance the sedan out and improve its overall design, the rear is 2 inches longer.

Up front, the new composite hood and fenders have been given a bolder appearance. The cowl-forward treatment of the windshield yields a more aerodynamic look. And while the bumpers feature a new shape, the same bumper system is employed that was judged best performer among six 1997 luxury cars in an independent bumper crash test.

Under that new hood shape is a 32-valve V-8 that is rated as high tech by virtue of its four overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. It's as smooth at anything you could encounter and, with the exception of full throttle acceleration, is whisper quiet.

Zero to 60 miles an hour comes in at 8 seconds: not muscle car time but then a Continental is a luxury car, not a barn-burning sports car.

Flat out, it will get your attention, with control courtesy of the front drive being almost as stable through fast, sweeping turns as a muscular two-seater.

If there was a question about the V-8 , it would be the 260-horsepower rating versus the 280 horses from the same type of 4.6-liter engine in the Lincoln Mark VIII. I fail to understand why they want to give away 20-horsepower when all it takes is a little tweaking in the cams and air flow to get 280.

You can't fault the fuel mileage of the 4.6. That's l7 miles per gallon city cycle, 24 mpg highway. Not bad for a four-valve V-8, propelling a little more than 3,900 pounds of motor car.

The luxury factor receives a "high five" with its complete array of power accessories and leather and burled walnut wood trim. There is full instrumentation. However, when the steering wheel is in a lowered position, the top of the rim covers the top of the speedometer dial.

The Continental is a five-seater with the front seats being divided by a traditional center console. Entrance and exit get mixed reviews. There is plenty of room front and back, but the floor pan is deeply dished and it's necessary to clear a fairly hig h door sill to get in or out of the front seat.

For more information on the used 1998 Lincoln Continental sedan you can head over to our website at http://www.natautosource.com and give us a call, or fill out a contact form and we will get back to you right away.