What should I look for before purchasing a 2001/2002 Continental?

[Philip]

I'm looking at two 2001 Continentals in my area, want to add a four-door to the stable. I want the Continental for the 32valve InTech, being used to some kick in the Mark VIII, and I always liked the styling of the last models. One has 52,000 miles, mint condition, asking price $9900, the other has 40,000 miles, at a Lincoln dealer, again mint condition, $12,000 asking price. I can pick a Mark with my eyes blindfolded, but know very little about the eccentricities of the Continental. Any and all who can enlighten me on these two years, I'd love your input. I did test drive an '01 when it was new, and it was most pleasant to me, it was also $40 grand, lol. Much like my Mark, things are considerably more affordable now, lol.

[nailfoot]

What should I look for before purchasing a 2001/2002 Continental?

A Town Car. :rofl:

But, seriously, I have no advice:D

[DustyLBottoms]

What should I look for before purchasing a 2001/2002 Continental?

A Town Car. :rofl:

But, seriously, I have no advice:D

I'll see your Town Car and up you an LS

[v8_dave]

I dunno, just trans issues. With that low miles theres not a whole lot to look out for. They fxed the trans up nice in '00 or there abouts so you should be good in any case. They are great cars.

[Howard]

I've had my 98 conti for a year-and-a-half. Don't know if any trans probs were addressed before I bought it, but Carfax said it had had no major repair probs. Anything I should be looking out for at 85K?

[pro-five-oh]

There's a lot of Newbie info here in the forum (and the archives) and most of the problem is the tranny. Rear air springs are a possible issue, but not on a 2001 model just yet.

Electrical glitches can happen, and mechanics are Conti-clueless to them. A Ford shop manual is a must.

[Silver Cobra]

Air suspension is only in the rear on 98-02 Contis. You definitely want most if not all the options available especially the Driver Select System which gives you the power to adjust your suspension (plush, medium, firm) as well as your steering (soft, medium, firm). The stock system is nothing special. Ford kept the JBL in 98 and then switched to Alpine in 99. IMO the JBL sounds better.

Other than that, the car drives and rides fine (assuming everything works). It's smooth, powerful and you get a nice growl at WOT. It's louder than a Mark VIII! The overall suspension is ok but bodyroll is inevitable when cornering. The stock brakes are pretty weak. They just don't have the power to stop this 3800lb car effectively. The trans is the worst thing of all on this car. Ford detuned the Intech Cobra motor because the stock Taurus tranny wouldn't be able to take it under extreme conditions.

The car is FWD so that makes the full enjoyment of this car limited. You get torque steer which is bad but on the plus side, you can impress your FWD loving friends when you do your backwards burnout;) . And the number one question to ask yourself when buying a Conti is...

WTF am I going to do with an analog car phone?

Actually that's not it. The real number one question is are you a competent do it yourselfer? If you are, then you should be able to do a lot of the work on this car on your own. It'll just take a lot of time to perform certain tasks because of the cramped engine bay. When dealing with garages, the parts themselves aren't overly expensive. It's the labour involved that kills many owner's wallets.

Overall, I'd recommend the car. Mine is a 98 and people think it's new. When you wash it up and dress it up, you will be turning heads I gurantee. Hell mine does :D

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/335000-335999/335625_90_full.jpg

Good luck :)

[Howard]

When I got my 98 Conti in Jan '05, people wouldn't believe it wasn't new. Can't count how many passing "nice car" comments and head turns I've gotten since then. It's a pretty car!

[Philip]

hey thanks guys!!! Now I know what year the suspension changed, etc. Was the Alpine system standard or optional? And does anybody know what the horsepower/torque rating on the detuned InTech is?

[Silver Cobra]

IIRC, the Alpine was optional. The subwoofer was actually 2 6x9s ghetto rigged together :rolleyes:

Power/Torque

95-98 - 260hp/270lb ft

99-02 - 275hp/275lb ft (Resulting increase due to engine internal material changed) Can't remember which parts though

It's close to the Mark VIII but not quite there. It makes up in rev noise anyway ;)

[pro-five-oh]

SC's right on all of it. There's a big shocker. ;)

The Conti has a way nicer growl than the Mark. By a wide margin.

[Nick]

Do make sure you get a car loaded with options. The base cars are kinda bare.

Must haves: Driver Select System and optional Alpine sound system. The optional sound system still sucks for imaging, but it does sound richer with its "subs". Nice options: Luxury Appearance Package and 6 CD changer

The 6 passenger isn't really worth it. I'd go for the full console.

[v8_dave]

Dont get a 97 or earlier if you were ven considering it. They dont look as good IMO and have trans issues, but money talks! My 97 was the first year to only have rear air springs BTW if that matters for anything.

[Silver Cobra]

It would be real sweet if you found a 2002 Collector's Edition Conti with the leather and suede seating, embroidered floormats (IIRC) and some other nifty things. You'd be the envy of all us Intech Conti guys (a minority) :)

[Philip]

again, thanks for all the great info. I'm curious to test drive one of those I saw and get intimate with the throttle so I can compare the growl to my Mark now that everyone has touched on that. lol! Buckets/console are definitely worth waiting for, also remember an option that gave you a de-chromed lower grille and different wheels, don't know what they called that, though. Driver Select sounds interesting.

[pro-five-oh]

also remember an option that gave you a de-chromed lower grille and different wheels, don't know what they called that, though.
That's the Luxury Appearance package Nick mentioned. From 1998-2002 only. Its worth it, wait for one. You get a wood wheel and tu-tone leather too.

I still like 1995-1996s better, the interior has more high quality stuff and the four corner air suspension handled more like a Mark, not a Town Car.

[93towncarexec]

Mine is pearl white and it has a green cloth top added to it. WOW does it turn heads!! The dealership kept taking pics of me with it before they'd let me leave! Seriously!

I've got the Alpine stereo and it works and sounds great.

These came basically as is, with no base model or loaded model, the only options were the RESCU phone and CD. I got the CD but no phone.

Heated seats, memory settings, instant/avg MPG, but the coolest thing is that dashboard!!! From what I can tell, it's PROJECTED from above in the dash! I can see the needle and the white numbers at the same time (on most cars the needle covers some of the numbers as it moves...not here!)

You can program two driver's settings, and it remembers each of your seat/mirror settings when you click the key fob.

I find that bodyroll is limited due to the suspension, especially on Normal and Firm settings.

This car ROCKS. And it FLIES down the road (not that I'd ever abuse it).

76400 miles. I love it. I keep finding excuses to drive somewhere.

[v8_dave]

Nice 93tc! How does it ride compred to your old 93 or 96 Town Car?

[Silver Cobra]

From what I can tell, it's PROJECTED from above in the dash! I can see the needle and the white numbers at the same time (on most cars the needle covers some of the numbers as it moves...not here!)

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00089_3.jpg

Yeah those guages were like nothing else from their time. Gotta love Lincoln back when they had innovation :rolleyes:

Not to brag but that pic if from my car :D

Another reason to get a Conti Phillip! :)

[Sysanalyst]

What should I look for before purchasing a 2001/2002 Continental?

A Town Car. :rofl:

But, seriously, I have no advice:D

I agree, skip the Conti and grab a Townie.

[Silver Cobra]

I agree, skip the Conti and grab a Townie.

Post in another forum where you belong. Don't be trying to kidnap a potential new member to OUR forum :p :)

[pro-five-oh]

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00089_3.jpg

Gotta love Lincoln back when they had innovation

It's not innovative when its ripped off from a 1990 Lexus LS400. The LS was one of the benchmarks for the 1995 Conti, ya know. :)

[Silver Cobra]

It's not innovative when its ripped off from a 1990 Lexus LS400. The LS was one of the benchmarks for the 1995 Conti, ya know. :)

Ya know. It wouldn't be the first time I posted something and then realized a couple of hours later it was incorrect. Hell I remember telling a lot of my friends that the Conti was not a breakthrough car contrary to their belief. It was a decent step up from the Essex but it merely lived in a Japanese shadow.

[pro-five-oh]

Correct, the Intech Conti is no Essex Machine. :p

[93towncarexec]

Lexus can jump in a lake and drown while its entrails are eaten by Pirrhanas, for all I care.

The Conti gauges are amazing.

Continentals have always been technologically advanced vehicles, on the cutting edge... 1988 was a breakthrough year for electronics that the Japs couldn't dare dream of touching.

I also remember the Lincoln voice activated cell phones...wayy before there ever was a Leshxus on the market.

As for the other question... I think I like the Continental's ride better than the Town Car I had, since I can control the Conti's ride and most times there's little or no body roll in curves. On the Town Car, it's straight airbag suspension and you take what it gives you.

Just took my Conti on a 2,000 mile trip from Va to Indiana, then Chicago, and back again. The car drove and handled like a DREAM!! Not a single solitary problem. I'm ready for my next big road trip!!

[v8_dave]

I drool over those guages. Never a better set in any car. EVER! Glad you like your 01. They still look like they could be a first run car for 07 if you ask me.

[lincolnlarry]

My 93 Conti Signature has 120K. No oil consumption problems, runs smooth as silk. It's been known to squeal tires on takeoff...my Dad's 283ci Chevy Impala ('67) would'nt do that, and used a quart of oil every 2k miles. The Essex was a decent engine once Ford got the head gasket problems under control.

[cason1]

My 93 Conti Signature has 120K. No oil consumption problems, runs smooth as silk. It's been known to squeal tires on takeoff...my Dad's 283ci Chevy Impala ('67) would'nt do that, and used a quart of oil every 2k miles. The Essex was a decent engine once Ford got the head gasket problems under control.

I didn't think Ford ever got the head gasket problems under control. Comparing a 1967 engine to a 1993 engine is apples to oranges. The Essex motors had bad head gaskets, Mitsu's 3.0L which dodge used had valve stem seal problems similar to the 4.6L but the heads had to be removed on the Mitsu's. I can't think of any real issues like this with Chevy engines of the same period but I'm sure there were some. Point is, there weren't too many "great" V-6 engines in the late 80's-early 90's.

[Silver Cobra]

Lexus can jump in a lake and drown while its entrails are eaten by Pirrhanas, for all I care.

The Conti gauges are amazing.

Continentals have always been technologically advanced vehicles, on the cutting edge... 1988 was a breakthrough year for electronics that the Japs couldn't dare dream of touching.

I also remember the Lincoln voice activated cell phones...wayy before there ever was a Leshxus on the market.

As for the other question... I think I like the Continental's ride better than the Town Car I had, since I can control the Conti's ride and most times there's little or no body roll in curves. On the Town Car, it's straight airbag suspension and you take what it gives you.

Just took my Conti on a 2,000 mile trip from Va to Indiana, then Chicago, and back again. The car drove and handled like a DREAM!! Not a single solitary problem. I'm ready for my next big road trip!!

The 95-02 wasn't anything overly technologically advanced. Everything the Conti had, the Lexus had a few years prior. Lincoln was just trying to catch up to the rising import Luxury takeover. It would explain the poor Conti sales resulting in depreciation like a cinder block. The car does sit on a Taurus chassis with a cross mated Taurus tranny and Mustang Cobra motor (originally a Lincoln engine) which resulted in poor tranny reliability. Other than that, the drivetrain is stout and delivers firm shifts everytime. But towards the end of the Conti's lifecycle, it was too little too late and the demise was inevitable. FWD and V8 is a lame application if you want a true touring car which the Conti had the potential to be if built on the Panther chassis. It would have been the Mercury Marauder in 1995 :(

[Philip]

Going to look at one here locally this afternoon. Retired couple selling it, 2001 model with 26,450 miles on it, claimed like new. ($10,500) Way below book, and they bought it new and serviced it at one of our local Lincoln Mercury dealers in SoFla, so I should be able to obtain the maintenance history quite easily. This thing has just come out of warranty, so I imagine it's had absolutely anything and everything it needed over it's 26K miles. I know it has no roof treatment (thank God!) but am hoping it has buckets and console vs. 6-passenger. But as with the Mark, I'll take condition, mileage and history over options anyday! (I would have like heated seats and LSC).

Much thanks for all the input here. You folks are great!!

[Mark_0101]

Continental is not a bad car but it does require alittle more attention then other Cars. The problems with the Conti are tranny and air suspension(which you don't have to worry about since the 97+ have it only in the Back)
And yea, make sure you get a nicely equipped Conti but surely condition is over the options the car has.

[Philip]

drove it today, it's sweet! Always garaged, the guy even had old rugs over the floormats, so they were as new. Hell, the whole car might as well be new from what I saw and felt. Ivory pearl over ivory interior. Has the 50/50 split front seat (too bad but not a dealbreaker by any means) driver select system, homelink. The radio is tape, but if they were like the Marks, it's prewired for a trunk changer with the cassette radios. Will probably get it, need to see if I feel the same way about the car come Monday before I act. He confessed that there had not been much interest generated by his ad. Gas is high, etc, etc... Nobody's breaking down doors to buy cars at all right now much less high maintenance V8 equipped ones...lol. No rash decisions, but I'm biting my lip, I think it's a keeper, and the asking price is more than fair.

[v8_dave]

sounds like a sweet ride!

[Mark_0101]

I would say go for it.
You sure it didn't have a CD player?(changer)It should have been on the passenger said.

[Philip]

I would say go for it.
You sure it didn't have a CD player?(changer)It should have been on the passenger said.
nope, trunk was empty save for the uphlolstery and the spare tire and jack, lol.

[Nick]

If you're looking in FL, there should be plenty available. The must have option for me is the Driver Select System. It hides some of the troller handling characteristics. If I ever get to tinker with my parents' car, I'm going to try converting the front suspension back to air struts. The conventional struts aren't tuned worth a damn for handling OR ride.

[Mark_0101]

nope, trunk was empty save for the uphlolstery and the spare tire and jack, lol.
IT should be inside the cabin on the passenger side, or it could be like mine which is in the glove box

[Nick]

Stock locations for the CD changer were the center console for the 5 passenger car and behind the pop out cupholder in the 6 passenger car, facing the passenger's feet. As a $600 option, not too many early 60 year olds (avg. buyer age) got it. We sure as heck didn't when an aftermarket one was half the price.

[Howard]

My 98 has the split bench and I like it just fine. When the inlaws come to visit we go out for ice cream in my Conti with me driving instead of being squinched into the back of a mini-van. I have the Six CD changer behind a sliding door on the passenger side. Once you know where it is it's easy to work it from the driver's seat.

Sounds like a sweet ride. What do you need seat warmers for in SoFla anyway? My model's pretty much base and I still love it. Less gizmos means less to go wrong, and you still get a great, powerful highway cruiser...that's where it really shines. BTW the FWD under that big motor makes it go gangbusters in the snows of central PA too.

[93towncarexec]

That is certainly a SWEET DEAL... definitely buy that car!

Mine is the 5 passenger model, with the CD changer in the console. I bought it in April 06 for $13,000....so depreciation isn't bad in my book.

Suspension is air all the way around. I'd never convert to struts, it will Kill the ride. Why buy a super-nice car and make it ride like a Pinto??

[Philip]

Many thanks to all you folks who offered up great advice! I finally found the one!

Purchased today, 2000 Continental, 44K miles, Ivory pearl over ivory leather, no top treatment :) , brand new Michelin MXV4 Energy's all around, absolutely amazing condition, drives like a dream, $9812 plus tax & tag, at a local Lincoln/Mercury dealer in SoFla.

Would have liked console & buckets, but the split seats are just fine, has homelink, driver select and Alpine with CD in trunk, was tinted professionally, garage kept, just serviced. She has no name yet, but looked nice when we pulled it up beside my black Mark after the test drive They look good together. Salesman was disappointed that there was no trade in, they want those Marks back to sell....sorry, that's my baby.

Everybody knows what they look like in Ivory, but will post a few pics when she comes home. They sent it over to detail, will be ready tomorrow.
(thumbnail is a shot I took over at detail before I left it)

[v8_dave]

Sweet! Seems like a great price, car is like new, expect many more great years of service out of her.

[cvpi71]

I agree, skip the Conti and grab a Townie.

Why not have the best of both.

[Philip]

or a Mark VIII and the Continental........heh! 32valves rock! Of course they also swill 93 octane. Could just as easily have been a TownCar, just didn't see what I wanted and was just about tired of looking all the time. It IS weird to see the 32V INtech sitting sideways, however... :) Not much torque steer at all considering the power that's pulling it, really surprised me. But drives much like the Mark, really. At least in a straight line :)

[cvpi71]

I let my dad borrow the Conti to go to Ohio from Mass last week, he loved driving it, since I replaced the whole front end, All new Air struts, ball joints, new sway bar , bushings, endlinks, inner and outer tie rod, new rotors,pads, tires, alignment,etc..... He said it got him 25 mpg with 4 people comfortable and smooth ride and a trunk full of luggage. I can't believe my conti have been to Dallas, to Chicago 2x, Ohio 3x, Jersey 2x, Quebec 2x, Ontario 2x.

[pro-five-oh]

Nice car Philip! You're gonna love it.

[Philip]

Thanks to everybody :)

Have family coming down here in Nov/Dec, will sure be nice not fighting with the back seat in the 2-door this time. I love my Mark, buy everybody knows that back seat is there for decoration only...lol!

I enjoy every day of life as it comes, regardless, but will sure enjoy the second car very much, nice to get to enjoy these things while they're still fresh but without the price that went with them when they were new.