This Overlooked American Luxury Sedan Could Be The Ultimate Uber Car, As This High-Mileage Example Makes a Point

I always love stories about old cars that still run strong. Such cases are a testimony to the build quality of old, and harken back to simpler times, where stringent emissions requirements did not force engineers to build overcomplicated powertrains, and accountants did not go on a mission to save every possible penny. 

I am ashamed to admit the amount of time I sometimes spend on Facebook groups and forums related to cars, but my recent find (from Mileage Impossible on Facebook) intrigued me. Normally, I focus on the Japanese and Korean vehicles, but this one caught my attention as it talks about a very overlooked vehicle. 

A user posted a third-generation Lincoln Town Car, which, judging by the label (as seen on one of the images) was used as ground transportation at an airport. The pixelated odometer shows 612,984 miles, which is a number that humbles even Toyota’s more recent offerings. 

The third-generation Lincoln Town Car was produced between 1998 and 2011. It shares the body-on-frame Panther platform with the Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Gran Marquis (and Marauder), as well as the 4.6-liter Modular V-8. Simple and proven tech that clearly stands the test of time (with proper maintenance). 

The car looks surprisingly fresh after more than 600,000 miles on the clock, with minimal signs of wear. The only visible damage is the driver's seat, which has a few tears, but aside from that, the gloss-wood trim and dark leather interior are surprisingly well preserved.

The perfect Uber / Lyft car

The user who posted this makes a point that the Lincoln Town Car could have been a game-changer in the ride-handling business. Uber has become popular not just in the US, but around the world. The ride service already has a 71-percent share of the ride-handling business in the US, making it preferred over traditional taxi services.

What’s more, many Uber drivers use personal vehicles instead of company cars. The user who made the post said this: “10 years ago these could have been the future of Uber.

Today it's a bunch of gig operators with overworked CVTs, that are trapped in a sub-prime hurricane of wealth depletion.

But hey! 600,000+ miles on a Lincoln Town Car ain't too shabby!”

The vast majority of Uber and Lyft drivers finance affordable vehicles that have dreary CVTs. While the most popular models are Toyota Camry, Corolla, Honda Civic, Accord, Hyundai Elantra, and Sonata, especially in hybrid trims, there are others like the Nissan Sentra, Nissan Leaf, and others. These are affordable models with great fuel economy, but nowhere near luxury.

A third-generation Lincoln Town Car is mass-produced, shares most of its parts with a variety of other models, and has simple, proven tech, including an engine that worked in the Mustang for years. Fuel economy isn’t as great as the aforementioned models - 16 MPG city, 23 MPG highway - but the spacious luxurious cabin is a strong argument. 

Price-wise, the third-generation Town Car makes even more sense. Classic.com shows prices starting from under $3,000 for early models. That’s a lot of car for not a lot of money. However, ride-handling companies often have requirements about vehicle age. In the case of Uber, your vehicle should be no older than 15 years old. 

This is bad news for the Town Car, as the model ended production in 2011. This means that the latest examples are already 15 years old in 2026. If you want to work as an Uber or Lyft driver, now is your last chance to buy one of these bad boys.

Source: Mileage Impossible / Facebook

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Over 10 years of experience make him an expert in creating car content. Japanese brands like Toyota and Nissan are closest to his heart, but he is especially passionate about performance cars. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.