My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

T

Tommykwikstep

Registered
Hi all. Some of you may recognize my name from my posts BEFORE I bought. Again, I thank you for your much needed input. I picked her up last night!

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h95/tommykwikstep/Car Pix/MarknGhiaSmalllabled.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h95/tommykwikstep/Car Pix/MarkPassengerSmall.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h95/tommykwikstep/Car Pix/MarkFrontSmall.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h95/tommykwikstep/Car Pix/MarkRearSmall.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h95/tommykwikstep/Car Pix/MarkDriversIntSmall.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h95/tommykwikstep/Car Pix/MarkPassIntBackSmall.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h95/tommykwikstep/Car Pix/MarkEngBaySmall.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h95/tommykwikstep/Car Pix/MarkSerpBelt.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h95/tommykwikstep/Car Pix/Messdriversconsole.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h95/tommykwikstep/Car Pix/MarkRTailLightSmall.jpg
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

Nice! But I'm biased. Get the drainage holes drilled in you back neon light before the ballast fails. Look through the electric forum for the info. I just replaced my ballast on my '97 last week. Not a hard job, but if yours hasn't failed, not a job you want to rush.

Here's the link...
http://www.markviii.org/~glitch/inverter.html

Bud Pytko
'97 LSC Silver Frost
'05 F250 SD CC PSD 4 X 4 AZ Beige
'94 Prowler 5th Wheel
http://squarebirds.org/images/BudPytko97LSC.jpg
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII



Heh. You read my mind. I noticed the debis inside the tail light for the first time taking pictures this morning. The first thing that popped into my mind was flood damage. But then again, my brain has been on conspiracy theory mode for the last 10 days as I shop for used cars.

You can't tell by the front shot - but the front lamp covers are completely hazed over too. It's not condensation...it seems more permanent. Is this something that's common? Can I replace the lamp covers for not too much $$$? Is there something I can rub down the insides with to make it more pretty to look at?

I'm a little disappointed - I do have a pretty solid vibration on one of the front brakes. I read that this car is prone to it's discs warping. The thing that pisses me off is it had NO vibration when I test drove it (both times). yea, I suppose it could be a imbalance in the tire - but it's very prominent while braking.

I FRIGGIN LOVE how the radio stays on until you open the door to get out. The wheel and the seat maneuver out of the way too.

My question is though, say I get out of the car and walk away without locking the doors. Will they eventually auto lock if the key is NOT in the ignition?

The car manual had me laughing when I read about setting up the compass. I could easily see myself getting pulled over by a cop or wackenhut for doing 5 mph circles in an empty parking lot.

"Sorry sir, I'm trying to get this sumbitch to point north!"

Time to drive it home from work....WEEEEE!
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

The headlights can be wet sanded to a clear finish. Do a search on the forum.

Be thankful you don't have Gen1 (93-96) headlamps... ::uh::
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

"The headlights can be wet sanded to a clear finish. Do a search on the forum"

It's even easir than that. Go to auto store. Pick up small bottle of Meguiar's Mirror Glaze # 17. Put a rotory pad on your electric drill and put glaze on a lint free pad. (Use one of Leo's polosh cloths) Use a drill with varible speed motot. At a SLOW speed, apply the glaze. Keep reappling the glaze until lens is clear. Let graze dry and polish(with another one of Leo's polishing cloths). It's amazing how clear they will come out!! Mine were really hazy and now they are crystal! There are pictures somewhere in the site of before/after. But don't even bother to look for 'em. Take my word for it...you'll love the outcome.

Please do NOT sand your plastic headlights...You don't need to. Doing the way I noted above, you don't even need to remove the lights from the car!

Bud Pytko
'97 LSC Silver Frost
'05 F250 SD CC PSD 4 X 4 AZ Beige
'94 Prowler 5th Wheel
http://squarebirds.org/images/BudPytko97LSC.jpg
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

I think I've seen this car on craiglist. Is that where you got it from ? If you don't mind, what did you end up paying for it and what's the mileage ?
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

I guess I never looked on craigslist. I doubt it was on there since it was a Hyundai dealer who picked up at an auction 4 days before I came along and bought it.

Here in South FL, Lincolns, Cadillacs are in high demand. Especially something like this - where a snow bird can pick it up and use it as cheap transportation while they are here for 6 months. Also, as I'm sure all of you are familiar, it's getting more and more popular for the urban crowd to pick up crown vics, caprices, cadillacs, town cars, ect ect and jack them up and put 18-26'' rims on them. They have very little value and engines that can seemingly go forever.

Anyways, it has 43.4K and I paid 4949.00 + tax and tag transfer. They had it listed for 5449.00.

I just finished off a 48mo lease on a 2003 Mazda 6 S (sport). I was one of the first people to take delivery on that particular car when it came out in south florida. I wanted to slit my throat for signing a lease because A: it didn't help my credit @ 22 years of age (four years ago) B: 1000 miles a month were just not enough. Instead of going over my milliage, I just didn't go places I probably would have gone otherwise.

So after paying out my ass on a lease and insurance for a car that's over priced and looked at by insurance companies as a sports sedan ($$$$).

On the flipside - I drove that Mazda like it was leased - as in RENT-A-RACER. I liked the fact that it was warrantied for all four years and I could just drive it to the dealership whenever something was acting funny (nothing really ever went wrong it though).

I love this Mark even more because it was paid off before I walked out the door of the dealership - and it's going to cost me about 900/yr for insurance.

I'm going to feel friggin rich with all the money i'm going to have in my pockets after that retarded lease. I have a few things in mind for this car, but I want to drive it about 8-12k before I start putting money into it - just so I can feel comfortable with it.

Here's the short term list so far:

Tint windows - I can't stand not having the privacy - once you go smoke you can't go back to clear glass. Plus the leather gets HOT. Today was 82 degrees and cloudy and it was still hot as hell.

Floormats - I'm not all that rough on my floormats - so I think I'm going to try to get a high quality carpet that matches the color closely. Can originals be found?

Stereo Deck upgrade - The changer in the trunk is kind of a joke by today's standards. With the double din slot, I'm going to look into a Touchscreen DVD/MP3 player with a removable hard drive. Or I may just get a simple deck that has a audio input for a regular MP3 player.
The speakers seem pretty average - I'm a bit spoiled from my BOSE system in my past tense MAZDA. It needs a little more thump so perhaps a small amp and some full range upgrades in the existing speaker locations will be enough.

I have not seen any rims that I particularly like so far. Would the new rims that are out fit?

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/9/91/250px-Lincoln_MKZ_a.jpg
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

Nice buy! :)

Did they not replace the belt?!!!! ::wtf::
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

Nice looking Mark Tommy;
Just being picky, and surprized that no one else mentioned it, but the right rear and left front wheels are backward. They came with uni-directional tires but they were probably changed to something else.
Anyway best of luck with the car and your plans for it.

PS, I should change that signature picture as I don't have the Mark VIII any more. I still miss it though.
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
Nice looking Mark Tommy;Just being picky, and surprized that no one else mentioned it, but the right rear and left front wheels are backward. They came with uni-directional tires but they were probably changed to something else.Anyway best of luck with the car and your plans for it.PS, I should change that signature picture as I don't have the Mark VIII any more. I still miss it though.
[/div]


Wow, I had to scrutinize the pictures for a bit - but you are exactly right. What a strange phenomenon. You can't really rotate the tires front straight back and back criss-crossed.....am I wrong?

To answer the other question, No. The one sales manager said yea, no problem he'll have the mechanic look at it. I even called in at mid-day and spoke to my salesman - he confirmed that it was being looked at.
I get to the dealership at 6pm and I find that the belt had not been changed because (in the words of the manager) "The mechanic said it was still good". I told said to the manager "You must think I'm either blind or just stupid - come out and pop the hood and tell me that belt is good"

I'm not going to go into the the whole story of the dialog back and forth - but I told both sales managers that they should work at not coming off as "f-en slimeballs" in the new year.
I'm satisfied with the price I paid, but I'm irritated with the way I was treated.
And I'm an easy guy to please-I worked in sales for six years-it's a hard business.
This was a bottom feeding dealership - that's the bottom line.
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

When rotating tires, you have to change front to back only. If you take your left front and switch it with your left rear, you should be good. Pictures don't show your right rear, but unless they took off a wheel from another Mark, that should 'fix' it.

Can't believe they didn't change that belt!!!

Bud Pytko
'97 LSC Silver Frost
'05 F250 SD CC PSD 4 X 4 AZ Beige
'94 Prowler 5th Wheel
http://squarebirds.org/images/BudPytko97LSC.jpg
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

You want to really test a tire shop?

Take your car with the directional wheels(on properly) and buy directional tires and have them mounted/balanced.

If they get them all right and you have no vibrations, you found a decent tire shop. ;)
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII



Good one driller.



Question though...are your guys' valve stems like friggin six inches long?

What's the deal with that?
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

Best of luck with it, she looks real clean!

However, one little thing that bugs me.... ask Scott ... don't mention 82 degrees in winter or I'll get pissed off. :p
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
don't mention 82 degrees in winter or I'll get pissed off. :p
[/div]

How about 72 degrees in the summer when it is actually 115? ::uh::
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII



I understand your statement.

You'll never understand my logic with this...I actually enjoy the summer much more down here than the winter. Why?

A. The days are longer - more time to play on the beach/boating
B. Less people - the winter weather attracts all the wrong people - geriatrics and transients.
C. More sunshine - yea - the weather is cooler in the winter - but doesn't get "nice" until Feb - especially this year, calling for "El-Nino" effect weather. This means a lot of days like today where it's sticky nasty humid, overcast, and on the verge of raining - but never does and therefore never cools off until the front is completely passed.

I'm originally from Cenral WI. I respect not ever needing a coat down here - but I suffer with $$$ cost of living, overpopulation, high crime rate, and dangerous driving environments.

Heh - wth am I still here?

err...good question.
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

"B. Less people - the winter weather attracts all the wrong people - geriatrics and transients."

Guess I'm the 'wrong' type of people as I'm drawing retirement SSI. And I was planning on a trip to Florida this winter!!! Maybe they'd like me better in Southern California???


Bud Pytko
'97 LSC Silver Frost
'05 F250 SD CC PSD 4 X 4 AZ Beige
'94 Prowler 5th Wheel
http://squarebirds.org/images/BudPytko97LSC.jpg
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

Logres, we don't even have nice summers here, it's usually hot and humid. I just hate winter.

Bud, I think he was referring to the slightly older crowd. My aunt had a friend (she lived down there) who instead of stepping on the brake, stepped on the gas and rammed a light pole. Better that than a pedestrian I guess. She had me drive some of her friends around to do errands and I felt like I was doing the community a great service. ;)
 
RE: My First Lincoln! A '97 Mark VIII

"Bud, I think he was referring to the slightly older crowd"

I guess I shoulda stuck in a giggle or two...but I am 'retiring' on the 31st of December. I'll be retired? or is it spelled 'retarded'?

Bud Pytko
'97 LSC Silver Frost
'05 F250 SD CC PSD 4 X 4 AZ Beige
'94 Prowler 5th Wheel
http://squarebirds.org/images/BudPytko97LSC.jpg
 
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