Call it Ivory soap because the Town Car floats.
This is one of the last of the big boats, a massive six-passenger luxurycar whose suspension system is designed to cushion all occupants from theslightest imperfection in the roadway.
As a result, however, when entering the interstate, you swing wide and leansharply and feel as if you are riding on the sidewalls.
This is not a car to be driven aggressively, unless your definition ofaggressive is 75 m.p.h. in a straight line between Chicago and Detroit onInterstate Highway 94.
The Town Car is meant for lap-of-luxury motoring, the traditional soft,cushy approach to travel. You’ll arrive as fresh as when you left. Just beprepared for a rather sterile, uneventful trip.
You want to leave I-94 and take some twisting, bending roads with a seriesof hills for a taste of adventure? You’ll wish you had taken a CadillacDeVille.
This is a car of choice for the folks who have labored long and hard intheir careers and now want to be pampered.
The Town Car is powered by a 4.6-liter, 210-h.p. V-8 that’s sufficientlypowerful and quiet. No traveling at the back of the pack.
Some noteworthy features include fuel-filler door and deck-lid releasebuttons (with deck-lid lock) in the driver’s door alongside the heated seatcontrol. The fuel gauge has an arrow pointing to the side of the fuel-fillerdoor, and the trunk will handle a week’s supply of luggage or several sets ofgolf clubs.
One major gripe: If you lower the windows and open the sunroof, be preparedto dial the radio volume as high as it goes.
We tested the 1996 Signature Series Town Car, which starts at $39,350. Inaddition to those items noted, standard equipment includes dual air bags,16-inch all-season tires, color-keyed bumpers and bodyside moldings, dualpower mirrors, dual fold up/down center armrests with pre-wiring for acellular phone, digital clock, dual cupholders, AM/FM stereo with cassette,power seats with memory settings, automatic temperature control, power brakeswith four-wheel ABS, power steering, rear-window defroster, delayed accessorypower so you can power up/down the windows after the ignition is off, tintedglass, remote keyless entry, power door locks, speed control, tilt steeringand power windows.
Our test car added a $2,925 touring suspension package that includestraction assist, power moonroof, JBL sound system and automatic dimmingrearview mirror. Other options included heated seats at $290, a full-sizespare tire at $220, leather seats at $570 and a trunk-mounted compact discchanger at $815. With a $640 freight charge and a $1,100 discount on thetouring package, the Town Car stickered at $43,710.
