I've been a car enthusiast for about as long as I can remember. Not a ford enthusiast, or a Lincoln, or a Jeep, or a BMW. A Car. If you're seriously into this cars you know that each one is different and to be appreciated for their own unique traits.
With that being said what usually attracts me most to a certain car is rarity, and I don't mean like a Ferrari P4/5. I am a modest man, with a modest budget, but excellent and rare cars exist in almost any automotive facet that you are looking for. The LS is a prime example of this. Did it set any records? No. Did it cost a billion dollars. No. Most importantly, is any Joe off the street going to know what unholy example of excellent automotive work they just saw when they see Bullschmidt's LS? Most likely not. I see LS's weekly that you can tell, the owner has no idea what they are driving. A car that won motortrends 2000 car of the year is now beater duty for some smoking trashy mother in my neighborhood.
If you wanted a sporty, not quite full size 4 door car in the early 2000's their were a plethora of choices. Almost none of them were as non typical as the LS. Never before had Lincoln seriously chose to participate in that market, and most BMW 3 series potential buyers never even glanced at the Lincoln dealership. Hell, they honestly probably thought no cars that fit their needs were even produced by Lincoln.
As BlackLS06 put it earlier, some rouge car guy was actually making decisions at Lincoln that were good for a car, and not necessarily a car company. Park Assist, Xenons. Clearly this car was ahead of it's game. Most companies were falling in love with the FWD and afterthought suspension in order to save money. The LS was bucking the trend. Yet a few years later and the sportier handling and better dynamics begin to make a comeback with cars like the 300C, GTO, G8, CTS-V.
Even more so, when friends of mine talk to me about my car the whole damn thing is interesting. A 3.9 I tell them which usually gets returned with "What the hell....since when does Ford make a 3.9". Rarity. Some other car enthusaists don't even know what I am driving. My neighbor drives a 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8. He constantly is asking me questions about my car. He sill is in disbelief that the panels are aluminum.
It's a stout little engine, but it's limited. Plenty decent for 2000-2006 but as time has went on the available horsepower in typical family cars has really been similar to the Cold War arms race. It's not setting any records, and you shouldn't try to break any with it. However, rarely am I left wanting more on spirited day to day driving.
With all that being said, I don't know a lot about the Marks. What I do know is that I rarely ever see one but when I do, someone is usually taken care of it. It has distinct styling, not the best but it is all it's own and much much better than most typical cars. Air suspension? Right on I suppose, but I hear maintenance can be a PITA. Point being, it is a car. It is its own thing, it is different. It has it's own sets of strengths and weaknesses that form a unique car that was passed up by many, yet remembered, and maintained well after the fact by a few that really appreciate the car for what it is.
At the end of the day, we both drive excellent examples of truly unique cars, that like I mentioned before, the general non caring populace would not even give a second glance at. However, when I see a Mark or an LS, that you can tell somebody loves and takes care of, it's pleasant, and I utilize that time to appreciate it, for what it is.
Point being, we're all car guys here. We all are passionate about cars, and were all smart enough to not conform to the sub 20k econobox, FWD appliances as of late. My girl drives a newer civic, and I refer to it as a toaster. It is completely unexciting and only exists to serve one purpose. To move me and others and some stuff with as little gas consumption as possible. If it died I wouldn't be upset about it, I would be upset about the impact not having a second car would do to me and my girl, but replacing it would be an emotionless affair.
If my LS died, I would be sad. It exists to transport me and others and stuff but it does use a lot of gas, it's not the fastest, it has flaws but that's okay. Why? Because it's a car that gets you excited, that you enjoy, that makes your life a little better vs than if you simply drove something else. It's yours, it's non typical, and it's special. This all applies to the Mark and it's owners as well.
We'd all rather drive a discontinued car, with limited part availability, horrible gas mileage, and outdated performance, because that car is unique, its different, it's cool. It won't be long before our vehicles are strictly relics, only to be googled by the most stern of automotive enthusiasts and we will have all moved on.
But we choose too, because the car is worth it.
And big deal if the new 5.0s run 12s. They also have more rwhp than I do and I can guarantee I am not far from 12s now if not there already. April 20th I'll show you on here with videos what a real Lincoln is. You live in a fantasy world if you think the LS is better than the Mark8. Yup, I said it. I would never in a million years even consider one. I might take the corners a little slower, but that doesn't matter because I'll kill you on the straights.
Your car has an air ride? Ain't that Fun. It drives really soft, great for Grandma's wrinkled Buns. 
