Considering selling Mark VIII

Because I am tired of the suspension I am thinking of getting a different car. I love the Mark but I am just worn out. I am considering a Lexus SC300 or SC400, but haven't driven one yet. (Open to suggestions.)

I want to know if I should trade the Mark in, which would send it to a horrid fate at an auction, or if I can sell it to someone who will appreciate it and may be more mechanically inclined than me.

I have posted the details on the car in the "for sale" area.
I would rather not spend the money to get a newer car but a newer car would be nice. I will not get another Mark VIII. If the suspension would behave for a few months I'd love this car again, but it keeps not happening. I'm actually taking it to the dealer this week to see what they can figure it out.
Just thought I'd see what you guys thought...

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

Id like to say that the first generation Lexus SC coupe would be a great replacement for the mark. They have the reliablity of a toyota and are pretty prestigous cars i think. i work for a valet company at a local mall and ive driven the older SC 300/400. they are very nice cars and are great looking. a fellow employee there is wanting to sell me his 94 sc400. ive considered getting it but his will need a little bit of cosmetic attention. But id say go with the the SC because they are very nice cars and rare just like the mark. Or you might consider a Mercedes CLK coupe. Those are very nice as well. And if you didnt mind a lower end brand, the new honda accord coupes and even the toyota solaras are both very nice cars for the money.

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

I would have to agree, my younger brother just bought a SC400 about two weeks ago, and it reminded me so much of the Mark, the long doors and windows, dash layout. The long sculpted hood and how it extends to the front bumper. It’s a very nice car all around, and a bit more refined then the Mark. You won’t be disappointed if you go 98+ with the 5-speed tranny & VVT-i taking it to 290Hp and 300Tq with mid 14's on the 1/4mile.

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

I don't think any car will ever 'replace' my Mark VIII. But, I'll readily admit, I don't necessarily rely on it as a daily driver, so repairs to me are looked at as opportunities to upgrade.

I don't know what you guys see in a Lexus? There's nothing there for me, and honestly, with the exception of 'new car fever', probably nothing happening there for you either.

A Mercedes? Ha, you better have a BIG wallet for that one if you think a Mark VIII is pricey to repair.

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

When I was looking to get a new car, I looked at the 97 Mark VII and the 97 SC400. I am happy I got the Mark, it looks way better. After 7 years and almost a 106k miles I have had no truble with the air ride. I do expect to have to replace parts sonner or later. But after 100k I would on the SC400 as well.

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

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I don't think any car will ever 'replace' my Mark VIII. But, I'll readily admit, I don't necessarily rely on it as a daily driver, so repairs to me are looked at as opportunities to upgrade.I don't know what you guys see in a Lexus? There's nothing there for me, and honestly, with the exception of 'new car fever', probably nothing happening there for you either.A Mercedes? Ha, you better have a BIG wallet for that one if you think a Mark VIII is pricey to repair.
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You tell me why its the best selling luxury brand

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

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You tell me why its the best selling luxury brand
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I think a lot of it may be the 'band-wagon' syndrome? You know, keep up with the the Jones thing.

It's just a personal preference that I don't care for a Lexus. I'm sure you and many others love them.

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

IT'S FIXED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't have to buy a Lexus (oh darn) because my car is fixed! After three years and countless parts and hassle the car is finally fixed! I took it to a friend/mechanic at the local dealership and we were trying to scan it. In the process I was showing him how if you unplug the relay and plug it back in it sometimes works. He wiggled the plug while I was turning the key on and he could make the compressor go on and off. We unplugged the relay and the little metal contacts had relaxed and weren't making good contact. He bent them back out and now it works! WOOHOO! I don't even want to think about all the relays and parts I bought while trying to fix this car. (The brain, 3 relays, and the last compressor were probably all unnecessary.)

Other than the suspension this car has been very dependable. I don't want to spend money on another car, but the Lexus was sure looking good. I didn't test drive one because then I'd have to buy it. I don't have to get a different car now; mine should be good to go since it has a all new suspension parts. I love my car but could no longer stand the suspension problems. Maybe they are gone now.

I took the car home and washed it.

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

Stephanie....
My suggestion would have been to convert the suspension over to regular springs and shocks like Craig did. I know I'm going to convert mine the next time one of my bags goes out. I'm glad your problems are resolved!

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

Yep...I am not one of those "air ride" die-hards...I jumped off that train a looooong time ago, and never looked back(on my 94). Our 97 LSC still has the air ride, with spider extreme, but that's a completely different car now.

My 94 is BY FAR the best handling, most comfortable car I have ever driven(and the list is long and distinguished). it suits MY needs perfectly...others may differ. But knowing it has coils on it, helps the ol' "peace of mind"...I drive ALOT.(100+ miles a day) so I cant afford to have any "air ride issues". The only true way to eliminate the air ride "issues" 100% is to replace EVERYTHING to the tune of $1500+. That includes computer, ride height sensors, bags, compressor, dryer, module, lines...you get the picture.

For me, it was a one-time cost of $450....

anyway, if you run into any more problems, feel free to PM me. I can help ya.

also, back to the gen 1 Lexus SC's...As Moe will tell ya...I almost jumped onto that ship last fall.

I considered the 400, as well as the 300(6-cylinder). I wanted the 400 for its V8, but the 300's engine proved(amoung Lexus afficianado's) to be more reliable.

anyway, since just about every "weak spot" on my 94 Mark VIII has been corrected/modified by me, it is now my preferrable car of choice...especially dollar for dollar.

a 56k mile 96 Mark VIII LSC with HID's and all, would range in the $7500 range, where as a 96 Lexus SC400 of the same caliber would price out at approx $15k.

Like Moe said...there is a darn good reason for that "spread"...

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

I thought of replacing the air ride on the MK VIII except that I had already bought all new parts. All I lack are the height sensors and air lines. Now I realize I bought more than I need but the fact that everything is new gives me some peace of mind. I'll need a battery in the not-too-distant future, and an O2 sensor soon. I'm also going to have to get tires pretty soon, but that isn't the car's fault!
I'm just glad its fixed so I can spend that money on airplane stuff!

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

I know what you mean Bill. My point was, the ONLY way to TRUELY have 100% peace of mind(meaning, not having to think/worry/wonder if any part of the air ride system is going to act up) would be to replace EVERYTHING.

I mean, we both know...this weekend, one or more of your air ride parts could act up due to age...that's all I'm saying.

Its a luxury/novelty. Anything can go wrong at any time. But, the same can be said for just about any part of a vehicle, not just the suspension. If you have a ton of miles/years on your engine, then in the back of your mind, you'll wonder 'when is it going to break?' the only way to replace that thought, is to just replace the engine, right?

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

Craig, i've put about 110k miles on two different mark viii's and i've never been stranded by the suspension. Even if it does crap out, the car is still driveable, you just have to watch yourself.

In those 110k miles, i've lost one airbag. my '94 had 100k or so on it at the time and one of the front bags died. The front end slammed itself, but i was still able to drive it for the 2 or 3 days it took to get the $$ and fix it. I had to replace a compressor on the '94 and also on the '97. And the previous owner of the '97 said the rear springs were replaced at some point (i think he got taken for a ride). I added a spider valve and i have manual control of all the solenoids so if a failure occurs, i can compensate for it and continue my travels with minimum impact on ride comfort.

In the 80k i had my '90 thunderbird for, i had to replace both front struts. So it's not like a conventional suspension is immune to failure or wear.

I've also had a leaf spring failure on an S10 i had. And i saw an explorer/mountaineer driving down the highway with a broken front spring the other day. I had a friend who broke a torsion bar (spring) on the front of an astro van at some point (at least i think it was an astro van, might have been an S10).

All types of suspensions have failures. All suspensions have wear items. No matter what you do, you're never going to 100% eliminate the possibility of failure.

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

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... So it's not like a conventional suspension is immune to failure or wear.I've also had a leaf spring failure on an S10 i had. And i saw an explorer/mountaineer driving down the highway with a broken front spring the other day. I had a friend who broke a torsion bar (spring) on the front of an astro van at some point (at least i think it was an astro van, might have been an S10).All types of suspensions have failures. All suspensions have wear items. No matter what you do, you're never going to 100% eliminate the possibility of failure.
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RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

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Like I said(twice now, I think)... the ONLY way to TRUELY have 100% peace of mind(meaning, not having to think/worry/wonder if any part is going to act up) would be to replace EVERYTHING. This pertains to all vehicles, be it suspension, engine, whatever...

Hell, I dont think you can ever drive a car without worrying about something breaking...even a brand new car.(except a rent-a-car, in which case you TRY to break something! }(

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

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IT'S FIXED!!!!!!!!!!!!![/div]

Crud... I mean.. that's great, I mean.
Well you know what I mean.
{kicks stuff around my office and goes back to autotrader.com}

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

Hey Tommy, you always got me curious as to why you drive so much. I calculated that 340000 = 283 days going at 50mph average speed. Or or 2 1/2 (850 days) years of 8 hours a day at 50mph behind the wheel. Do you use your Mark as a Taxi? How are you doing with these new gas prices? You must drive around 100000 a year, so at 23mpg ($3 a gallon)you're spending $1100 a month on gas. That's crazy.

RE: Considering selling Mark VIII

Well the dragstrip we raced at was a solid 100 mile one way trip.
Every week Every friday for the last 4 years.

We also trek across the entire south east texas region for various racing events.

Pretty much, if there's a dragstrip within 400 miles, and the gates are open.. WE're there!

I put about 1000-1200 miles a week on the car.

Gas prices, well... they SUCK!
Luckliy my car gets good gas mileage!

Gas prices have put a huge dent in my pocket book, but I'm not going to let the "economic terrorists" {exxon, shell, chevron} cause me to change my lifestyle.

Just like the 911 terrorist, we were instructed to "not let then win by having us change our lifestyle".

I love to drive, I love the freedom driving gives me, I love the calming sounds of asphalt passing beneath my wheels.

call me a NUT, hell I'll agree with you.

But I do take some satisfaction of knowing that I've backed my car up further than most have driven their car forwards. {HAHA}

I did the same thing with my '84 SVO mustang, it made it to 275,000 miles before I put it out to pasture and bought the Mark 8.

I'm shooting for 500,000 miles and based on how things are going, I dont think I'll have too much trouble getting there.