Passion of the Essex?

[pro-five-oh]

Ok, because of the new wave of interest in the Zephyr forum, I just wanted to check in with the other FWD V6 Lincoln crowd.

The way I see it, the V6 Conti commmunity was nothing a coupla years back, but now its thriving. If someone had a problem, people usually said "sell it, its not worth fixing" but that's all changed!!!

We have a lot of interest in taking care of them, hot rodding them, and helping out other members. I like seeing that.

Am I right, what do you think?

[Steve Moran]

Ya I guess.....:D

[Conti94]

OH YEAH! Where would we be without the essex nebula Conti's.:D

[DustyLBottoms]

Heck yeah! Not too long ago, even I wavered in my love for my gold Conti, but everytime I walk out into the parking lot and see it sitting there I think to myself "damn! that's a nice car"

Just no getting away from it. Even when I get the LS I stil have the Essex around to tool around with.

[lunchbox0029]

I love my conti best 300.00 bucks I ever spent

[Matt]

too much invested.. can't sell it..

[MichiganTeddyBear]

I love my conti... even its faults are lovable.... :)

[v8_dave]

Last week I was told I was going to be able to steal a 94 conti with 60K on it. Then I heard $5,000 and almost fell over. No way jose! Within the next few days it was sold for $4,800! WOW. There is one on someone's lawn on my way to work, if I wasnt exclusivly v8_dave I might look into it. Keep it up!

[MichiganTeddyBear]

damn, what did it have, solid gold trim??

If I was selling mmine, I probably would be lucky to get 1500 for it. probably more around 1k.

hell my 44k mile car was only 200, with about 300 in gas/eats to go get it!

[v8_dave]

damn, what did it have, solid gold trim??

If I was selling mmine, I probably would be lucky to get 1500 for it. probably more around 1k.

hell my 44k mile car was only 200, with about 300 in gas/eats to go get it!

I know I know! The guy who was selling it (Uncle at a subaru dealer) was ranting about it and called me and I said it was a huge POS and 60K was TOO MANY miles for it. But the guy who bought it was just sooo happy to find such a deal! It is sorta a ritzy town though. I am in the market for a second car cheap though, but unless I got a deal like your 44K car, I am not going essex, sorry guys!

[pro-five-oh]

I got a deal like your 44K car, I am not going essex, sorry guys!

Doesn't matter as long as you wait for the right Ford/Lincoln/Merc. ;) :p

[MichiganTeddyBear]

well, the reason my 44k essex was so cheap, and cost so much in gas to get it, it was 'totalled' by the insurance co. I had to pull a trailer down and haul it back to NW mich. it was near Huntsville Ala. the rest of the car was in such good shape, I had serious thoughts of trying to get the front end repaired and drive it instead of my 135k '91. but sanity ruled, and I am using parts from the 90 (parts car, 44k miles) to fix the 91.

[DustyLBottoms]

FWIW, I paid $2,000 for my 92' Conti back in 2002. (it had only 82,000 miles on it - now
it's at 156,555)

[msteckhan]

By far the worst car I have ever owned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Problem after problem..... It only has 130000 miles on it. I will never buy one of these cars again.. Uncompfortable, Junk, Expensive parts,:mad:
I have nothing nice to say at all about the lemons,,NOTHING:mad:
Just my $.02
I feel beter now....

[Sysanalyst]

I think the price point has put this vehicle (at least well cared for low mileage specimens) back into the spotlight as an affordable luxo cruiser.

[MichiganTeddyBear]

Sorry to hear that you feel that way.

one thing about a 15 or so year old car, is that in many (if not most) cases these things have been ridden HARD and put away wet. They are gonna have problems. they required more maintainance than most people realized when they were new to keep them in tip top shape, (a lot of it to do with the cast iron block/alum head fiasco of the early 3.8's), also, they are a big heavy version of the Taurus (which when equipped with the same engine/tranny combo had the same problems), and the 4 wheel air suspension, well, all I can say is that I believe FoMoCo was the only one to do it in mass production them years. Those 2 items sums up MOST of the problems the Essex conti has(had).

I bet you the 44k mile conti I had to use for parts for my 140k conti would have had exactly the same problems mine does, had the previous owner neglected it and not fixed the issues. the parts car ran like a top, but the valve seals where dried out (44k miles in 15 years aint a lot of driving, do the math). the reason I didnt drive the parts car was the front was crunched to the extent that the uni-body was wacked beyond repair.

[megaforcer]

It only has 130000 miles on it.

I like how you put it. Only 130 THOUSAND miles. :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

You should be a car salesman!!!

[SouthernLincoln]

The car i took my drivers exam in was an Essex Conti. I think it was a 93. Beautiful car, rode nice. I think thats what got me hooked on Lincolns in general.

If i could find a low miles example, i'd have to snap it up. I once had a 85 Merc Marquis (think LTD-II) that had the 3.8l, so those issues would just be water under the bridge.

[j1torcik]

I agree with the idea of having a huge investment in my Conti. Love it? When it runs right yeah...wow. When it needs wrenching...well, I warm up to it eventually... after I figure out that it's true... it will run again.
I've had three Lincolns and they all lasted so long I can't rember what it was like to own something else. Yeah they take some work but...like i said they last a loooong time.

[Fordace]

I never owned one, but I worked on them for many years.
Basically an overglorified Taurus, sorry to say I'll take a nice Mark VII over a Conti anyday, probably because I had to do so many trannies, headgaskets, fuel senders, digital dashes, heater cores, motor mounts etc etc etc......:eek:

[MichiganTeddyBear]

yea, I would love a mark vii or viii myself (not to big on the TC's). but my essex barge does ok by me when I have it on the road.

[msteckhan]

I like how you put it. Only 130 THOUSAND miles. :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

You should be a car salesman!!!
I didnt mean to offend anyone......But I meant what I said.
1992 chevy z71 4x4 fully loaded, 180000 miles- runs, drives, looks like brand new.Havent stuck a penny in it in 1 year....
1992 Ford Ranger stripped model, 160000 miles+ Ibroke the hood relase cable 1.5 yeads ago, 0 maintiance, Still going strong!
1991 ford Aerostar, 135000, drove for 1 yead so far with out opening the hood!
1992 CONTI 130000 miles,cant go 15 days with out a major repair....
By far the worst car I ever owned!!!!!!!!!!
I only buy "cheap used good deals, as daily drivers"
The 92 Lincoln Conti is a LEMON!!!!!

[pro-five-oh]

I didnt mean to offend anyone......But I meant what I said.
1992 chevy z71 4x4 fully loaded, 180000 miles- runs, drives, looks like brand new.Havent stuck a penny in it in 1 year....
1992 Ford Ranger stripped model, 160000 miles+ Ibroke the hood relase cable 1.5 yeads ago, 0 maintiance, Still going strong!
1991 ford Aerostar, 135000, drove for 1 yead so far with out opening the hood!
1992 CONTI 130000 miles,cant go 15 days with out a major repair....
By far the worst car I ever owned!!!!!!!!!!
I only buy "cheap used good deals, as daily drivers"
The 92 Lincoln Conti is a LEMON!!!!!

You're comparing a buncha stripped down trucks to a luxury car with air suspension, electronic everything and ABS brakes at a time when nobody knew what ABS even was. I hope you see how wrong that is.

You think the Conti is expensive? Try fixing up a Caddy, BMW, Lexus or any other luxury car in the same price range.

[tdub]

i paid $500 for my 93. 2 years ago and the only problem i have had so far was the heat and a battery after i put the strut masters on it (front air ride gone when i baught it) rides great starts everytime best $500 i ever spent!!

[DustyLBottoms]

1992 CONTI 130000 miles,cant go 15 days with out a major repair....
By far the worst car I ever owned!!!!!!!!!!
I only buy "cheap used good deals, as daily drivers"
The 92 Lincoln Conti is a LEMON!!!!!

:bs:


You're comparing a buncha stripped down trucks to a luxury car with air suspension, electronic everything and ABS brakes at a time when nobody knew what ABS even was. I hope you see how wrong that is.

You think the Conti is expensive? Try fixing up a Caddy, BMW, Lexus or any other luxury car in the same price range.

Yup, on the new Mercedes s600 the Radio head unit (otherwise known as the Command Module) is $18,000.

Yes - Eighteen Thousand.

Better hope you're not out of warranty b!tch. ;)

[MichiganTeddyBear]

and I will promise you, 80% or more of the people with them Mercedes will gladly PAY 18K to replace that unit if needed out of warranty. its a high end car, and its parts and repairs demand a high end price.

I also have the trusty rusty Jimmy (somewhere over 200k I suppose, father in law is using it right now), very minimal maintainance needed, and my cougar (180k now), again, not much maintainance needed. But the only thing electronic/hi tech/etc on them is the Jimmy's digital dash, and its loosing some of its segments in the tach. the ABS is out on the Jimmy (bad wheel sensor), and the body is about to fall off the frame its sooooo rusty.

Yea, compare apples to apples when you compare auto repair pricing. Like pro said, it was (and still is really) a VERY high tech/advanced car for its day. its so high tech that I can tell you there is at least 6 (yes SIX) computers in the car. if you have an 88-90, you have 2 in the instrument cluster ALONE.

[v8_dave]

Buy a Town Car! :cool: