The Lincoln Town Car Air Suspension system is subject to many problems but time is its biggest enemy. The air springs are made with rubber, which tends to dry-rot in five to seven years. The Town Car air supension’s longevity is determined by how much extreme heat and cold to which the Town Car is subjected; extreme conditions degrade the components of the air suspension. Lincoln Town Car air suspensions will need replacing with time.
Revised styling and underskin mechanical changes highlighted the 2003 revamp of the lone American-brand rear-wheel-drive, full-size luxury sedan. Lincoln’s Town Car models ascend through the Executive, Signature, and Cartier trim levels, topped by a limousinelike Cartier L that adds 6 inches to the wheelbase. All retained a 4.6-liter V8, but the dual-exhaust version with 239 horsepower was now standard–14 more hp than the 2002 single-exhaust edition. A four-speed automatic was the sole transmission. Standard traction control carried over, but no antiskid system was offered. New for 2003 were a revamped frame and suspension, different steering system, and standard 17-inch tires vs. 16s.
Antilock four-wheel disc brakes were standard, now with full-power “panic assist.” In addition to reworked front and rear sheetmetal, the Town Car got a restyled dashboard with a dual-zone climate system and CD/cassette audio. Front side airbags were now standard, but no rear or curtain side airbags were available. Power-adjustable pedals, leather upholstery, and a front bench seat were standard. A rear-obstacle-detection system was optional on the Executive, and standard elsewhere. High-intensity headlamps were a Cartier option. Available on all Town Cars was Lincoln’s Vehicle Communications System, providing “one-button” emergency assistance and information services. (Sprint cell service was required.) Luxury-sedan rivals are few, led by the front-drive Cadillac DeVille and rear-drive Lexus LS 430.