What kind of Mark VIII owner are you?

[sprocket]

Did you buy your Mark VIII knowing you were going to do whatever it took to fix it up, and do a bunch of mods and sink a bunch of money into it and really cherry it out, OR...

Did you buy your Mark VIII because you knew you could get a fast, powerful, luxurious, and cool looking car, and you could get it REAL CHEAP, which is good, because you are POOR, and you KNEW it would take work and money for its upkeep, but you hoped you would get lucky and it would just run good for you? And you are a backyard mechanic or have a good buddy who is and you could piecemeal the repairs and improvements over a LONG TIME whenever you managed to scrape a few bucks together?

Are you forever scouring forums and Craigslist and U-pull yards trying to find obsolete parts cheap and just hoping you might have the money to buy something you find?

Or do you just use Car-part or any other connections you have and pay whatever it takes to get what you need RIGHT NOW?

Do you only buy high end replacement parts (control arms, rotors, etc) or do you try to find bargain priced stuff?

Do you fall somewhere in-between?

 

[Lownslowlsc]

I bought mine cause I was bored of my dd and wanted a cheapish fun car to play with. Sold the dd 3 years later and started using the Mark as the dd 2 years ago.

I bought it knowing it was going to be somewhat of a money pit, but it was a 2nd car, I had money and wanted a new project. Started picking up various parts throughout the first 4 years of ownership. I struck gold when a local guy was parting a 97 this last summer identical to mine. I got first dibs on everything and got out of there with most of the parts I would ever need for the price of a used drivers side seat track. That right there is one reason why I won't be getting rid of it anytime soon.

As for repairs, I do them myself depending on what needs fixing. The more advanced repairs I let my mechanic buddy take care of, he's very reasonable which has also made this car easier ($$) to own. Only things I take it in for are tires, alignments ect.

As for parts... Suspension goodies should always be of good quality. Alternators are usually better from ford too. All depends on the year and what needs fixing.

 

[slowmkviii]

All of the above
I have bought marks from $160 to 13k.
Have dd and weekend warrior.
Normally I buy the good quality parts if i have the cash.
I do most of the work myself
Paid for alignment, frame straighting and pant job.

 

[keVIIIn]

I always liked the styling of the mark viii and knew I wanted one after totaling my old car. At first I just intended it to be a cheap temporary replacement, then I fell in love with the car. Now I'm searching for another DD to use in winter and bad weather. I treat it VERY well and it treats me well back for the most part, haven't had any major problems at all knock on wood. Im always trying to look for nice used parts to upgrade mine with or just replace old worn stuff, but when it comes to brakes, suspension, oil and maintenance items I don't cheap out..I want stuff to last and not have to be replacing it a year or two later again..the old saying of you get what you pay for seems to be very true with these cars. I'm an obsessive mark owner and ill admit it..my neighbors, friends and coworkers know how much I love my car..when I'm home and off work I'm almost always doing something with it..ill be out there in the rain washing my car if it's dirty...I don't care lol..people probably think I'm nuts..but the average person will just never understand!

 

[micahs97m8]

I bought my first one as a cheap ($2k) and fast DD.

The next 9 had different stories

My current car is a restoration/mod project that will see summer driving. Also have an identical parts car. That helps with the cost.

If I am replacing a part, it is the best part I can afford. I shop for a bargain, but not too cheap to pay for the right stuff.

I try to do a lot of my own work, but limited work space and tools keeps me from doing the complicated stuff. Luckily, I live 20 minutes from DLF and his epic garage.

 

[Spree]

I bought mine when it was 5 years old cause it was bad a$$.
Anyone else have there Mark for 14 years?

 

[Sapperfire]

Every Mark VIII owner has to fall into every one of those catagories .If you don't think so, you haven't owned a Mark viii very long

 

[chris2523]

i got it from my parents when i turned 16.

my dad got it because it was big powerful cruiser for not a ton of money. my mom drive it for quite a while, and floored it on the on ramp everyday on her way to work.

i kept it because i could leave from a stop sign with both tires smoking and still get decent mileage. i modded it and put money into it because i really enjoy driving the car. had it 5 and a half years now. longer than i thought... and it has done me well for the 50k i have driven it. driven hard too.

 

[slowmkviii]

I bought mine when it was 5 years old cause it was bad a$$.
Anyone else have there Mark for 14 years?

Coming up on 10 years

 

[SwedishMark]

I bought mine because I wanted luxury and performance.
Actually I had 3 different cars in mind.
1992-1997 Cadillac STS
Lexus LS400
Mark Viii.

First off the STS.
It looks good, it's a really good looking car both outside and inside. The performance from the 4.6 Northstar makes i move quite fast. But since I'm driving in the winter where there's only one thing more fun than RWD and it's AWD. I mean, you can't drive on a winter road without having constant fun drifting everywhere. And because of all the problems with the headgaskets on the STS I decided not to have a problem child.

The Lexus LS400.
Good looking car, not quite the performance as the Mark Viii and STS but it's enough.
Luxurious, meets every demand. Until I noticed it has a timing belt and not a chain. I absolutley hate timing belts, I cannot for the sake of my life understand WHY you would EVER put something that rubbish on a car and call it a reliable car. I hate it with all my guts.

So the Mark Viii it was.
I've driven it 13k miles since April. A few issues where it's leaking oil on startup, a bit of transmission issues and cosmetic. It aint a brand new car, but it aint a heap of junk either
I don't regret buying this car, I never will.

But we'll see what the future says. I've grown a love for the Jaguar (Shaguar) XJR. And also for Cadillac STS-V and Pontiac G8. It will get replaced, question is by what and when. One thing for sure, the replacement car has to be faster and have 4 doors

 

[98lincmk7lsc]

I bought mine because I wanted luxury and performance.
Actually I had 3 different cars in mind.
1992-1997 Cadillac STS
Lexus LS400
Mark Viii.

First off the STS.
It looks good, it's a really good looking car both outside and inside. The performance from the 4.6 Northstar makes i move quite fast. But since I'm driving in the winter where there's only one thing more fun than RWD and it's AWD. I mean, you can't drive on a winter road without having constant fun drifting everywhere. And because of all the problems with the headgaskets on the STS I decided not to have a problem child.

The Lexus LS400.
Good looking car, not quite the performance as the Mark Viii and STS but it's enough.
Luxurious, meets every demand. Until I noticed it has a timing belt and not a chain. I absolutley hate timing belts, I cannot for the sake of my life understand WHY you would EVER put something that rubbish on a car and call it a reliable car. I hate it with all my guts.

So the Mark Viii it was.
I've driven it 13k miles since April. A few issues where it's leaking oil on startup, a bit of transmission issues and cosmetic. It aint a brand new car, but it aint a heap of junk either
I don't regret buying this car, I never will.

But we'll see what the future says. I've grown a love for the Jaguar (Shaguar) XJR. And also for Cadillac STS-V and Pontiac G8. It will get replaced, question is by what and when. One thing for sure, the replacement car has to be faster and have 4 doors

I vote for the G8! Lol

 

[Lownslowlsc]

I bought mine because I wanted luxury and performance.
Actually I had 3 different cars in mind.
1992-1997 Cadillac STS
Lexus LS400
Mark Viii.

First off the STS.
It looks good, it's a really good looking car both outside and inside. The performance from the 4.6 Northstar makes i move quite fast. But since I'm driving in the winter where there's only one thing more fun than RWD and it's AWD. I mean, you can't drive on a winter road without having constant fun drifting everywhere. And because of all the problems with the headgaskets on the STS I decided not to have a problem child.

The Lexus LS400.
Good looking car, not quite the performance as the Mark Viii and STS but it's enough.
Luxurious, meets every demand. Until I noticed it has a timing belt and not a chain. I absolutley hate timing belts, I cannot for the sake of my life understand WHY you would EVER put something that rubbish on a car and call it a reliable car. I hate it with all my guts.

So the Mark Viii it was.
I've driven it 13k miles since April. A few issues where it's leaking oil on startup, a bit of transmission issues and cosmetic. It aint a brand new car, but it aint a heap of junk either
I don't regret buying this car, I never will.

But we'll see what the future says. I've grown a love for the Jaguar (Shaguar) XJR. And also for Cadillac STS-V and Pontiac G8. It will get replaced, question is by what and when. One thing for sure, the replacement car has to be faster and have 4 doors

Both are beautiful, but you listed a reason for each as to why I didn't buy one.

 

[chris2523]

First off the STS. But since I'm driving in the winter where there's only one thing more fun than RWD and it's AWD.

awd sts? was that a thing here?
we had the seville back then, probably the same car. but i couldn't find anything on it about being awd.

or what?

 

[lobird91]

I bought mine as a toy to build up as a fun interstate cruiser. I have always loved MN12 cars and to me the Mark is the perfect evolution. I always buy what I feel to be the best parts for the money or make my own if necessary. It mainly sits in the shop until I decide to mod something then I will drive it for 2 days and put it back up. I worry too much about door dings and what not to use as a daily.

-Alan

 

[Lownslowlsc]

awd sts? was that a thing here?
we had the seville back then, probably the same car. but i couldn't find anything on it about being awd.

or what?

Pretty sure a awd sts is in the same category as the loch ness monster.

 

[Spree]

Had mine 14 years this year and only managed to put on 70K, 9K since last summer

 

[slowmkviii]

I think he was saying he needed rwd for winter cause fwd sucks and that awd is also fun.

 

[SwedishMark]

I vote for the G8! Lol

It's so... BRUTAL! I mean, just look at it! A monster! Love it!
But it lacks the luxury that an STS-V has (and also the performance :shifty but the image of a Shaguar XJR is amazing. Just look at it, art on wheels.

Both are beautiful, but you listed a reason for each as to why I didn't buy one.

Haha yeah. But the STS is a gorgeous vehicle, I'll never say otherwise. Just doesn't fit me if we say it like that.

awd sts? was that a thing here?
we had the seville back then, probably the same car. but i couldn't find anything on it about being awd.

or what?

No, I'm saying I want RWD (or AWD) and not FWD

 

[druggles85]

I bought mine T-boned from my wifes uncle. I was moving from Canada, and it was just easier than importing my 95 Cougar. I was hoping it would be a lateral move... and I suppose it was. I search the junkyards and try to do some repairs on the cheap, I ride around on coil springs because my front shocks were bad...lol

I Always buy quality suspension, steering and brake parts... things that could kill me if they fail at 80mph and keep my car well maintained since I do occasionally drive my family to my parents house. 7-14 hours each way depending on if the ferry schedule works.

I bought my Mark knowing what it was and how much it would take to maintain I still have my Cougar shop manual to help me thought basic repairs. And I spend countless hours searching internet forums/craigslist.

 

[2002WRXSTi]

I got mine when my ($400)S10 Blazer spun a bearing and the Engineer that was giving me rides to the machine shop said buy my 96 Mark off me to get around.

Only thought it would be a temp car as it had a tone of codes keeping the cell light on. I learned to fix it and to hate IMRC controllers.

It lasted me almost 100k after I got it in 04. Trans finally wet the bed racing a R6 but a 98 LSC with 89k on it became available so I jumped on it

Took that one to 139k and a friends friend had another '98 LSC but with 57k on the clock for 3's so I snapped it up.

I was kinda shocked when I found using TRW parts in the front end SUCKED They only lated me 40,000 or so miles before the LCA's and UCA's were absolutely shot! Crap TRW Parts

So if you can't tell I use my Mark VIII's as daily drivers and am getting to see what parts last by experience :shifty:

 

[Markviiiedrea]

I got my first one (Black on Black 94(Edrea)) back in 03, used it for a daily driver (75K miles) for a few years, crashed it. Bought a few more, and then got my LSC in 2009. It needs work but it was what I was looking for.

I have my Town car as a DD now and just drive the mark for fun. I spend only what I have to top keep the panther going and try to get all the goodie parts for the Mark VIII.

I keep buying them because it’s what I know how to work, I have any spare part I could ever need and there not mustangs but are still in the same blue oval family.

I’m sure I’ve hit all those categories at one point or another. If I have to explain to someone why I like the Mark VIII’s it’s usually not worth the wasted breath to tell them.

 

[94m5]

I'm the bat**** crazy VIII owner.

I spend entirely too much money, and invest WAY too much time in an obsolete chassis.

 

[ONLYTONY]

Wifes DD

It's all the wifes fault. Back in 1999 I was looking to up-grade my wifes DD a 1974 T-BIRD we had for 21 years. I found a 94 T-Brd that was a virgin not a mark on it, even underneath was like new. Took it in for an alignment and oil drain plug gasket,(bought the extrs guarntee). The dealer screwed it all up. They had the car more in 30 days than I did. In a local pub I met the used car mgr from the Lincoln dealer. The next morning he showed me a MK VIII that was coming in on trade. Really bad. The had about 10 MK's ready so I looked at all of them. Bought the best one and took it home. 14 years ago and still have it. Time for a face lift Found a continental for wife to drive but deal fell through. Found my 98 CE and bought it about a year ago. Wife's never had a problem driving in our 31 years (except heavy foot) so I'm ok letting her drive it, when needed. Love my MK VIII's(and the wife) so why do I look every day for more MK's?, 2 should be enough. What do these MK's do to our brain to make us want more of them? Wife turned down a new MKZ Says she wants her MK. I guess it got her too

 

[thaywood]

"Did you buy your Mark VIII because you knew you could get a fast, powerful, luxurious, and cool looking car, and you could get it REAL CHEAP, which is good, because you are POOR, and you KNEW it would take work and money for its upkeep, but you hoped you would get lucky and it would just run good for you? And you are a backyard mechanic or have a good buddy who is and you could piecemeal the repairs and improvements over a LONG TIME whenever you managed to scrape a few bucks together?"

ME!!!

 

[Lownslowlsc]

Yup, a lot of car for little money. It's a win win as long as you don't have to take it to the repair shop every time something breaks.