diffrences in 1st and 2nd gen?

transam396

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Hi everyone I've searched but may not have used the right terms. but what are the main differences between the 2? I've read somewhere that the 96's were kind of a bastard child.

I'm pretty sure that I have my 95 t-bird sold and if it goes then i'm gonna get me a mark but kind of hope that someone can help with things to look for and questions to ask, gonna have about 2g's to spend

This will be a daily driver of about 65 miles round trip

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/eat/cto/1432079408.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/1426246117.html

this is 2 of them that i'm thinking about calling about
 
Main differences...
The interior, the headlights, and the grill.
 
Gen II are girly looking. Much softer lines, more modern looking. I still think a showroom ready Mark VIII could be passed of as a 2009 to the unknowing buyer.

The Gen 1 is more masculine but dated. It looks its age but will slightly outperform a Gen II stock for stock. Mainly due to intake changes.

Before all I wanted is a Gen 1, which I have, but now I want a Gen II. Each has its problems so go with what you like best about looks.
 
Gen II's also have a neon rear light and have more standard features and options such as heated seats. Gen II's are also quite a bit rarer by about a 4-1 margin than Gen I's. I personally like the look of a good Gen I, but I like the features of a Gen II better such as actually being able to see at night.
 
Seeing at night is SO over-rated.... /sarcasim Actually that is probably the number one reason to get a Gen II over a Gen I, if you do a lot of night driving. Even with perfect housings on each the Gen II will be far better.
 
here are some pics to show the differences:

az8gnt.jpg


2a9saab.jpg
 
250,000 miles dammmmm!!!!! but it is a true lsc, wonder how bad the headlight bulbs are hacked to fit the housings unless he used adapter rings and did it clean. the 97 isnt bad priced but you'll want to look the car over very well and drive it, if you look at both drive both, and not a 5 minute ride, take them for a decent ride so they both get hot and see how the tranny's are after they are hot. both have high miles so you'll want to get a feel for how they both drive and shift. i'd buy either one, but i'd prefer the 96 lsc over the 97 base model.
 
Ok this is getting old (to me)gen 1 does not out perform gen 2
both gens have had people running in the mid to high 14s that makes them equal

having both cars I think my gen one is better off the line and he gen 2 is better when its in the higher rpms
 
I think the only reason the Gen 2 guy is wanting to sell is because he drives 80 miles or w/e it was to work everyday and now he has converted over to coils because his front air bags were most likely bad. Now he has went from air to coils and don't like the ride anymore but don't wanna pay the price for new air struts for the front. That's just me guessing. Maybe he bought a cheap coil over and it rides rough.

The Gen 1 guy is probably getting tired of throwing money into that one and at 250,000 miles, it's had some money thrown at it. It's going to need more, he even says that but if I had to pick, I would be all over that 96 LSC with 250K. If it has been taken care of, that 250K means nothing to these cars. Like Jamie said, drive them both and DO make sure they get driven for at least 15 minutes. HWY speeds and give it some stop and go's. Let the TC lock in, which I think is right at 39 mph but keep the pedal steady and slowly start to press and see if you have any shudder from the transmission. If the Gen 2 has a rebuilt tranny, most likely they put in the new updated piston and springs but that does not mean it won't have shudder. I myself prefer the Gen 1 look over the Gen 2 but there are options from the Gen 2 I would like to have but if you have never had them, you're not missing anything. True black 96 LSC's are just as rare as any Gen 2 out there. If I was close enough, I would be over there tomorrow getting that 96 just like it is for that price. Only because I have another engine here with 112K that is ready for it if something was wrong with that one and still have plenty of parts for it. Even if I didn't have 2 black ones now, I would still buy it anyway. Again, that's just me.
 
There are tons of thread about the differences on here ... spend some time and learn about the Marks .. Each has there + and - but I'd prefer the Gen 1 ... unless you are like KK ... he's a bit gay ... like the more plus feel ..
 
Ok this is getting old (to me)gen 1 does not out perform gen 2
both gens have had people running in the mid to high 14s that makes them equal

having both cars I think my gen one is better off the line and he gen 2 is better when its in the higher rpms

The irony being that your user name is SLOW Mark VIII and you have a Gen II. :) hehe
 
I like the 2nd gen, but i'm a bit biased. It doesn't show it's age and the drivtrain is 100,000 miles younger. Swapping back to air struts is not that hard at all. They both have worn out rubber in the suspension by this point that causes noise over bumps.
 
buy the second gen and convert it into an lsc, some exhaust, gears, and color match the exterior and you're good to go. Also....does it have a sun roof???
 
I own both also and for a night on the town the 98 is a nice ride but, for a day at the drags or a fun run through the mountains my 93 seems to be more fun to drive. Here is another option for a first gen. If I was in a position to buy right now I would be all over it. It is the twin to my 93 and I am guessing I will be putting more into mine next year than they are asking for this one (they are kind of high but the value is in the eye of the buyer).
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/1425316838.html

Hi everyone I've searched but may not have used the right terms. but what are the main differences between the 2? I've read somewhere that the 96's were kind of a bastard child.

I'm pretty sure that I have my 95 t-bird sold and if it goes then i'm gonna get me a mark but kind of hope that someone can help with things to look for and questions to ask, gonna have about 2g's to spend

This will be a daily driver of about 65 miles round trip

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/eat/cto/1432079408.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/1426246117.html

this is 2 of them that i'm thinking about calling about
 
Ok this is getting old (to me)gen 1 does not out perform gen 2
both gens have had people running in the mid to high 14s that makes them equal

having both cars I think my gen one is better off the line and he gen 2 is better when its in the higher rpms


you are partially right,

the real story is this:

there are more "faster" gen 1's than gen 2's
there are some 2's that can match a 1, but on average,by far a stock gen 1 will beat a stock gen 2.

i have been around 4 mark's since 94,i know its only 4,but from new, 2 of each, gen 1's always consistently beat gen 2's ,abd the 1's where non lsc,10 hp less, and less gear,both gen 2's were/are lsc and still slower.

many 1's on here are quicker,with a few 2's that are as fast/maybe faster?

i bet if you sampled 1000 of each, 80% of gen 1's would be faster.

just my opinion,but ithink it makes sense why most everyone feels a gen 1 stock is faster,even with less gear and non true dual exhaust.
 
I know my '96 GEN1 is quick. My aunt had a 98 GEN2 LSC and I got to drive it a couple of times and it was definitely slower than mine. And it had fewer miles on it than mine. Maybe it's because of the extra weight? How much more does a GEN2 weigh than a GEN1? More std features means more weight. Just a thought.
 
I also own both now. The over all looks are different, which is obvious. But as far as one being faster than the other, I've found that the one I'm driving is faster than the one thats parked.:D no matter which one I'm driving, when I floor it, I get the same feeling in the pit of my stomach...IT'S ALL GOOD!!:D
 

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