In celebration of my newfound membership, I present... My Mark!

[Patrick]

I bought my Mark VIII back in February for $3500 from a dealer with about 95000 miles on it. It had a few slight (lol) electrical problems as some of you probably remember from my topic about a month back, but about $500 later and all is well. There is unfortunately still plenty of work to do aesthetically, though, but I look forward to it.

So in celebration of my newfound membership, and the fact that I just washed her today, I present to y'all, my silver 1996 Mark VIII. No pics of the interior because it really needs to be cleaned out. I generally keep it clean, but there's trash all over the back seat.

I personally think that this is an amazing picture of her.

I suspect that before I got her, she was in an accident. Notice how the "passenger side" of the grille, hood, headlight, and chrome "eyebrow" are all deformed. This saddens me. (PS anyone know an easy way to fix this?)

Good pic of the passenger side.

Yet another example of the aesthetically displeasing aspects of my car. Again, a reason that I got it for so far under bluebook, but I've got no idea how it happened. I can only suppose someone was hugging a curb closely and the front driver airbag dropped out and slammed into the curb. No idea though. Bondo to the rescue!

I don't wax it because I have to park underneath of a tree that bleeds sap all year round, and with my work and school schedule, it's hard enough finding the time to wash it 1-2 times a week like it needs. But I do what I can.

Overall, it's probably one of the worst daily-driver Mark VIIIs on the board, but that doesn't matter, I love it the same. And before too long, it'll look like new.

 

[maxmk8]

Congrats on the car . And welcome


You better get those air bags fixed....

 

[driller]

Welcome!

Congrats on the the ride and thanks for joining the club!

The grille and chrome brow piece are easy enough to replace after you find the parts. Check our 'links' page for info to contact Max at Five Star Ford for new prices or troll ebay for some used parts. Be aware the chrome piece is a difficult item to ship damage free.

You may even find a door to swap and avoid the bondo.

On the plus side, you've got the nice 10 spoke chrome wheels and clean looking headlamps! :big-grin:

 

[billcu]

Welcome to the Club!

Your car looks great except for the minor cosmetics you mentioned. Take your time and shop around, you should be able to find the parts.

I'm constantly battling tree droppings too. Most of it washes off easily but during spring, I can't park in certain areas because the sap is like tar to remove. I'd at least try to get a coat of wax on the topsides of your car to protect the paint from the sap (and the sun).

 

[Patrick]

Thanks for the comments and welcomes, guys!

I used to drive a 2004 Mustang up until I totaled it... then I bought the Mark, and I've never been happier. I still don't know what to name her, though...

It has, I believe, every option available, too, which in my mind makes it all the better. haha I agree, too, the wheels are what makes it. Unfortunately, though, some of the chrome near the center of one or two of them is starting to flake, but I'm sure I could find another set of them.

billcu: I agree that I really should find the time to wax it at least once in a while, but I'm going to eventually have it repainted, so I'm not too overly worried about sun or debris damage for the time being. It can't really be seen in the pictures, but there's already some heat damage done to the paint. Why? Again, I don't know. I got the car for about $3000 under bluebook, so I figure if I can get it back to good condition for under $3000, I saved a lot of money on this car.

driller: Yeah, I know that the brow and grille are pretty easy to replace-- I've already taken the brow off just to see what might be up with it, but therein lies the problem. Along with the brow being deformed a little bit on the passenger side, the passenger site headlight is jammed in a centimeter or two. The hood on that side is also pushed in, but I'm not sure if the hinge has been warped, or just the hood. God help me if the hinge was warped. haha

maxmk8: I know that I need to get the airbags fixed, but I'm not quite sure what's wrong with them. I'm contemplating just replacing the entire suspension with coilovers since I could probably do it with my dad for relatively cheap.

 

[steve]

Congrats

 

[scotty96lsc]

A great find.

 

[LeoC2]

Congrats and WELCOME!

But please, give her a coat of wax or two so it'll be easier to remove the sap

 

[Patrick]

Alright LeoC2, you win. Sometime next week, I'll give it a fresh wash and wax it, too. For you. Plus pics will follow.

 

[SGT Jensen]

I bought my Mark VIII back in February for $3500 from a dealer with about 95000 miles on it.

I got the car for about $3000 under bluebook, so I figure if I can get it back to good condition for under $3000, I saved a lot of money on this car.

According to kbb.com, the suggested retail value of your car in your zip code is $5875. Keep in mind that kbb determines the SRV as if the car were in excellent condition, which it is not. The private party value of your car is $3610 in fair condition. Which is higher than the 3500 that you paid. So did you get a good deal? Sure! You paid less than it is worth, but not $3000 less. I have a '93, a '94, and a '95. No, they are not parts cars, I drive them all. Together, the three of them cost less than $3500. It is not my intention to flame or insult, just wanted to chime in with my 2 cents. Nice car though! Welcome to the world of Mark VIII ownership!

 

[Patrick]

Hmm... when I checked KBB, it listed the excellent condition value as closer to $6200. I realize that mine isn't quite (lol) in excellent condition, but I figure from a dealer for that far under blue book value, it was a steal. In my mind, though, if I spend under $2500 getting it back to very good/excellent condition, I've saved a lot of money than if I bought an excellent one to begin with.

e: Oh, and I didn't even begin to think of it as flaming, insulting, anything like that. Just, as you said, throwing in your 2c. And thanks for the welcome. It's a world I'm proud to be a member of.

 

[J]

Welcome d00d.....gotta LOVE the Silver Frost!

 

[Trixie]

Welcome and congrats. I think she looks great!

 

[Sinastar]

Real nice car Patrick. A co-worker of mine has the same year and color.

 

[Patrick]

Oooh sexy-- new pics!

Oooh sexy-- new pics!

Well, after a little over a month, I finally got around to waxing her.

I think my camera might be possessed, because 4 of them are pretty blurry. Oh well-- the ones that aren't really show it off, and the one's that are... well, it's still a pretty car.

 

[maxmk8]

Fix that grill, Patrick. It will make the car look much much better! It already looks really good though, the grill is just such an eye sore.

 

[Patrick]

I know, I know, I just don't have the cash at the moment for a new grill. I've got an idea though that might work, and only cost me like $15. haha Maybe I'll try that...