Winter driving the MKVIII????

LSC CE 82

LSC CE 82

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I bought my Mark VIII at the end of May. It was intended on being a summer beater. I never figured I'd like the car well enough to keep it into fall. I had heard these were problem ridden heaps, and I got a basket of grief from my car buddy's for buying one. I know I got lucky with my car.... Same owner for several years prior to me, a folder full of maintence receipts, well kept in and out. Even has newer air ride bags.... I have to say, I love driving my CE. In 7k miles the only problems I've had with the car are a heigh sensor that fell off the right front wheel, the alternator went, and one day after buying it, the CD changer gave up. Not bad for a car that is 15 years old. Ive driven it on a few long (over 1000 mile) trips with 25+ mpg. It looks cool, a blast to drive and I get all kinds of complements where ever we go. I've kept up the body too, waxing once a month. The car is clean and has been stored winters. Bottom line, I have no room for another beater, so I'm thinking about driving it in the snow. I'm afraid the mark will be useless in the snow, even with snow tires... What's your thoughts? Can I use this car in winter????? Will it rust to pi-- if salt gets on it.? It's almost a shame to winter drive my nice looking car......

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I wouldn't dare drive that car in salt. Move to Alabama lol. I saw snow, maybe 2 inches a couple years ago but they don't put salt down. They just shut the whole city down and tell you that your insurance is void if you get out that day. Seriously though, I wouldn't drive it in the snow. Don't think it will do too well in it.
 
This will be the 3rd winter (7 year ownership) that I've had to drive mine. If you can put snow tires on it will help, I just throw a 60lb steel car ramp in the trunk (Subs stay in, 70ish lbs) before a big snowstorn and drive very carefully. The old hag can keep up with traffic for the most part. I also leave a car length gap at stoplights so that I can get a little head start before the light turns.

It seems like you've kept up with the waxing and whatnot so that's good. There might be a place around you that does the oil undercoating service or whatever it's called, that'll help prevent corrosion. Mine has 155k so I don't really worry about all that. Luckily it's still in pretty darn good shape.
 
I say no cause that car doesn't deserve to get salt on it.
IMO marks do great in the winter especially with blizacks I've driven marks in winter going on 8 years now only have ever got stuck in my driveway once and I was pushing snow with the plate.

But again sell is she doesn't deserve to be put in the salt.

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It's one thing if it has been previously driven in winter and there's a little corrosion here and there, but if the thing is totally rust free DON'T drive it in the salt..why ruin a clean car?? Those chrome 10 spokes hate salt BTW..ever see what happens when you drive in the winter with them? I don't know what your vehicle situation is but if you have another car, use that when the roads are slushy and wet, and only take the mark out if you have to when the streets have dried off. That's what I've done for the past two years..whenever it snowed and the streets got all screwed up I would borrow my dad's car, I only had to drive mine in snow a hand full of times and for me that's plenty, these cars rust too easily.
 
slowmkviii said:
I say no cause that car doesn't deserve to get salt on it.
IMO marks do great in the winter especially with blizacks I've driven marks in winter going on 8 years now only have ever got stuck in my driveway once and I was pushing snow with the plate.

But again sell is she doesn't deserve to be put in the salt.
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Wheels are on backwards... :lol:
 
I have to agree with everyone else. Your car is beautiful and has been well maintained all its life. Avoid salt at all costs!! I moved from New Jersey to Florida 9 years ago because I love my cars too much to drive them in winter. Now I can drive them all year round spotless clean.
 
I do have an extra set of chromes that the PO gave me for winter tires. The rims are rough and pitted, so if I do winter drive it, I'll be installing those. I have some light rust on the lower rockers and some starting on the roof by the windsheild. Both areas are the size of a quarter at most. I do have use of a company car, so I was thinking I'd drive that on the stromy days, I'll bring the Mark out when the roads are dry. I'll probably install the crappy wheels during the winter months, as the ones on the car currently were replaced by the PO and are in wonderful shape. I guess all I can do is try it. I'll do my best to keep it clean. And really, it's not like these cars are worth much (no offense.) I thought mine being a CE give it a little better worth, but who knows? I'm glad the blend door has been changed. At least I'll have hot heat.
 
aside from don't drive a car that nice in bad weather, mn12s and fn10s just suck in the snow.
3 cougars, and 3 marks, and all of them where terrible snow cars.

would avoid.
if snow is on the ground, i either stay home or walk.
 
LSC CE 82 said:
I do have an extra set of chromes that the PO gave me for winter tires. The rims are rough and pitted, so if I do winter drive it, I'll be installing those. I have some light rust on the lower rockers and some starting on the roof by the windsheild. Both areas are the size of a quarter at most. I do have use of a company car, so I was thinking I'd drive that on the stromy days, I'll bring the Mark out when the roads are dry. I'll probably install the crappy wheels during the winter months, as the ones on the car currently were replaced by the PO and are in wonderful shape. I guess all I can do is try it. I'll do my best to keep it clean. And really, it's not like these cars are worth much (no offense.) I thought mine being a CE give it a little better worth, but who knows? I'm glad the blend door has been changed. At least I'll have hot heat.
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It has rust, it will get worse. Quarter size will grow to dollar size, it will happen anyway your just going to hurry the process.
Your right, they are not worth much but your asking on a forum full of people who love these cars.
Good snows, trac lock some weight in the trunk it is doable.
Its no fun but if you have to....you have to.
I have done it and hated every minute of it.
 
ford nut said:
It has rust, it will get worse. Quarter size will grow to dollar size, it will happen anyway your just going to hurry the process.
Your right, they are not worth much but your asking on a forum full of people who love these cars.
Good snows, trac lock some weight in the trunk it is doable.
Its no fun but if you have to....you have to.
I have done it and hated every minute of it.
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That sums it up. Completely dreadful if you're lowered, but can still be done. I'm not in a rural area (Chi suburb) so they take pretty good care of the roads, the traffic typically crawls during a storm anyhow so it helps.
 
CE NICE.jpgCE coat.jpgRear Bkt.jpgrker pnl rust.jpgLINSNO 2.jpgIt would be a sin to drive that car in the snow. It looks like a twin to mine. Check for rust and junk in the front wheel well. Also the brackets that hold the rear end on. pics Your car looks great. We drive my 95 with winter tires and never had a problem, it stopped better than a 4X4 I used to have, thanks to the ABS. The brackets were off my 95. The sun roof drains at the rear of the rocker panel

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I drive mine year round and all I can suggest is some tube sand in your trunk or some sort of weight. I put two tube sand bags in my trunk one on each side of the trunk running with the wheels length wise, I believe they re 50-60 pounds each?
 
Every car posted on here looks great.

ONLYTONY- Nice CE. Looks a lot better than mine. What is that rusted out bracket you took a pic of? The ones that hold the rear end on?

I'm the 3rd owner of my car, or so I'm told. (Autocheck) The PO got it in 2002 and it's been a northern car its entire life. My underside isn't horrible, but there is some box looking thing between the exhaust pipes that is aweful rusted. My car lived in Minnesota from 1998 to 2002, then WI ever since. The PO stored it in winter until last year when he let his 16 y/o daughter drive it as her first car. Glad I rescued it from her.

I guess time will tell.... I really don't want to make my car look worse, as I feel it's an above average example of the last LSC on the market. The PO requested I give it love. He got emotional when he handed over the title. Thats when I knew I was probably getting a good car. It will get washed if it ever gets salty. I will promise y'all that.
 
If you must drive it and can afford it, good winter tires do make a huge difference. The last winter I drove mine, I put a set of Blizzaks on it and it was like night and day. The following summer I bought a DD (Subaru Impreza) and while it's not much to look at, it's like driving a tank in the snow. The Mark now sits in a warm garage all winter.
 
SNO TRK 13.jpgTRK 06-26-11-3.jpgLook just in front of rear tire and you should see the brackets. My 95 is pretty much rust free and one day I found the rotted out part. Rt side was in good shape. We don't drive in the snow much, so I got me this,(pic)

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ONLYTONY..did you have to cut access holes in the inner fender to get the bolt out? Did the head snap off or something?
 
keVIIIn said:
ONLYTONY..did you have to cut access holes in the inner fender to get the bolt out? Did the head snap off or something?
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Usually the nut that the bolt attaches to breaks free and spins.
 
Rear Bkts hole.jpgHere's a pic of the double holes I made to get at the spinning nut. With a long punch I wacked the nut twice (see marks ) and then the bolt came out and the nut didn't spin. Blue Loctite on the new bolt. The nut that spins has 2 like flags on it ,one longer that catches on the metal retainer that spreads open a bit. Hitting it where I did, moves the metal retainer back so the nut won't spin. The earlier pics were of the patch I made to cover holes. This was on the rt side. The rusted lft side bolt came out easily.

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NO. She should be stashed inside somehow. Good Lord, they are terrible in the snow. Mine stays in it's shelter when the snow is on the ground. It's disrespectful as well. ;)

Now my Suzuki Swift is a little bear in the snow and I sometimes pass 4x4s just for fun.
 
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