- I paid 150.00 for work shop manuals for this car only to find out I
need another 120.00 manual called Powertrain Diagnosis/Emission
Manual to do what used to be elementary stuff like diagnose a fuel
or ignition problem.

These are the things I have learned, more or less, the hard way. What I want to know is how many other surprises like these are there and if I get the kind of milage I use to get out of older vehicles, what will it cost me?

I didn't see any posts from anyone with a Towncar newer than '97. I wonder if there's a reason.

Any thoughts?

No, no specific reason... there's plenty of newer TC owners in the other boards. (http://lincolnsonline.com)

I think that the Computers actually make problem easier to find.

But if you can get yourself a OBD-II code reader you could fix most problems yourself quite easily.

And for those bigger jobs when you get a "Check Engine" it could become invaluble incase the, Stealer Ahem Dealership tries to pull a fast one on you.