The Fog is Clearing (a little anyway)

For the last three years (give or take), there has been talk in the limousine industry about the demise of the Lincoln Town Car and what make and model (if any) would be anointed its successor. After all, the Town Car has been the standard bearer for the industry since the 80's.  But at the start of 2013, a front runner still has not been identified, as some of the early "favorites" haven't been able to capitalize on the confusion.

Over the next few years, there will be plenty of opportunities to experience the selection process with us.  O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service has already tested Lincoln and Cadillac SUV's, S Series Mercedes Sedans, Cadillac XTS Sedans, Mercedes R350 Crossovers, and coming soon...E Series Mercedes Sedans.  There are pros and cons to each of these vehicles, but the single most frustrating issue we're running into is the difficulty in putting the legacy of the Town Car behind us.

Customers loved the "old" Town Car because of the size and comfort.  It certainly lacked the amenities of today's generation of luxury sedan, but amenities are secondary to the overall feeling of comfort that the cavernous Town Car afforded.  However, the giant sedan is a thing of the past.  Today's sedans are feature-loaded, but meant for three passengers at the most.  The comfort is still there, trunk space is adequate, but the idea of putting more than three passengers in a Cadillac XTS, Toyota Avalon, or Lincoln MKS is out of the question.  The Chrysler 300, which "feels" like the largest of the industry-friendly sedans, lacks the elegance associated with the Town car.  Seemingly made to be an economy grade full-size sedan, the 300 doesn't offer the extended warranty that other manufacturers do.  It also has a reputation for being less durable as some of its counterparts.  The Hyundai Equus was the surprise hit of industry shows a few years ago, but it seems to have dropped off the list of potential replacement options.  Other cars; the E Series and S Series Mercedes sedans, Audi A8, and Lincoln MKT Crossover have all sparked some interest, but none has a clear advantage over the others.

Slowly over the next several years, the old version of the Town Car will disappear from the landscape, and will probably be replaced with a combination of different vehicles.  It is possible there will never be another car that becomes as identifiable to the limousine industry as the Lincoln Town Car, but in the worst case we will see fleets comprised of various vehicles that fit the individual needs or wants of a limousine operator's client base.

As for O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service, we will continue testing the vehicles we've chosen in order to determine which perform the most efficiently, while affording our clientele with the most safe and comfortable ride available.