Lincoln Kills Continental, Cadillac Kills XTS/CT6

American luxury sedans continue to disappear. Is it an opportunity for NYC for-hire drivers and fleets to get great deals?

In early July, Ford-owned Lincoln confirmed it would be discontinuing the production of the Continental at the end of 2020 (Note: the Chinese market will have a 2021 model), leaving its current vehicle lineup with only SUVs. This follows a similar decision by Cadillac to stop making the XTS sedan and the luxury flagship CT6. Consumer preference for SUVs are driving these decisions and it could ultimately spell the end of the American luxury sedan.

So why do we think this is relevant to NYC for-hire drivers and fleets?

Great Deal or Trap?

Buying discontinued cars (especially ones that were only in production for a few years) has its downsides, including difficulty getting parts, finding a mechanic that knows how to effectively maintain the car and accelerated depreciation. All that being said, I believe the XTS, CT6 and Continental (as well as the discontinued MKT), may provide an affordable way for NYC TLC drivers to break into the premium for-hire segment (i.e. UberBlack, luxury bases, private client work).

While Uber is notorious for changing the vehicle and model year requirements for its premium UberBlack service, Lincoln and Cadillac sedans continue to remain on the list and seem to have made the latest cut. In addition, the current discounts available on late year models (i.e. 2018, 2019) make these vehicles even more interesting (i.e. qualify for UberBlack over a longer period). The Cadillac XTS also appears to have been a popular car with rental company Hertz, which is currently offloading vehicles as it works through Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Below I highlight some great deals listed on TLCMKT. Having a background in owning and managing an all-luxury fleet of BMWs, Mercedes’ and Escalades, TLCMKT also offers drivers and fleets services including sourcing the best deals in the market and creating and managing preventive maintenance programs to reduce the risk of costly repairs. One of our goals at TLCMKT is to help drivers and fleets rent, buy and/or service their TLC cars to keep costs down and cars on the road.

Let us know in the comment section below if you are a current or previous owner of an XTS, CT6, Continental or MKT or what you may have heard from others that drive these cars in the NYC for-hire market.

TLCMKT Listings

• 2019 Cadillac XTS. $24,575. Link to listing.

• 2019 Cadillac XTS. $29,590. Link to listing.

• 2018 Cadillac XTS. $26,995. Link to listing.

• 2018 Cadillac CT6. $32,500. Link to listing.

• 2018 Cadillac CT6. $35,993. Link to listing.

• 2019 Lincoln Continental. $32,900. Link to listing.

• 2019 Lincoln Continental. $21,900. Link to listing.

• 2018 Lincoln MKT. $26,340. Link to listing.

• 2018 Lincoln MKT. $24,117. Link to listing.

The TLCMKT Newsletter is written by Dawood Mian, Founder & CEO of TLCMKT. I cover the NYC ridehailing industry and related news. Search TLCMKT for TLC cars, parts, service, accessories, reviews & more. Find great deals at TLCMKT.COM.