Looking for a lot of general info, opinions and advice.

[evlgt85]

RE: Looking for a lot of general info, opinions and adv

Thanks again, all.

Sharon, not even as tall as me? Heck, tall isn't a term that can be used on me...wow. Glad to hear that the car should accomodate my dimensions well.

Sandy, unless the car is a screamin' deal, I doubt I'll be able to pull it off....but my morbid curiosity demands I hear about it should you find out anything

Hi Tim. If the rear window seal is purely cosmetic, I won't worry about it. Having two bubble-backed Capris in the household, I know all too well about ridiculously expensive glass. :/ Is Max a parts guy or service guy? My Mustang club used to have a parts guy at Five Star, but he's switched dealerships recently. Tucson cars are in better shape than Phoenix ones? I've never heard that one before. I hear you about the darkness and the roads. Plus, it's just plain DARKER out here at night when you're far from town. Hard to explain, but true. I agree, driving lights will be added. They'll be well hidden yet useful. Both of my vehicles have synthetic with the Capri being turbo'd and my GT having a nice new motor. I'm a believer. If you see a good 96 around, keep me in mind.

Hey Tony, good to see you here!

I've been getting a lot of good information to stow-away. Still not sure if I'll manage to swing getting the car before or after we move. Hopefully if it's after, it won't be too long after.

I know there was something I specifically wanted to address, but I'm not yet recovered from our club trip to SIR down in Tucson yesterday. Something in the air kicked my sinuses me via allergic reaction. My eyelids are still not happy campers. Ugh.

 

[Sandy]

RE: Looking for a lot of general info, opinions and adv

Skye, he's not even sure if he's gonna sell the McLaren M-81; it depends if he can get the Shelby he's runnin' after. Did you ever hear if the M-81 in Mass was ever sold???
If I hear any further, I'll let you know. Mark VIIIs are ALOT easier to find! (and alot cheaper!)
There's an M-81 that's been on & off a popular auction site - but be careful...... it's a FAKE ! {The tip-off should be the fact that it's RED!! }

 

[Moffie]

RE: Looking for a lot of general info, opinions and adv

Hi Skye,
Max is the parts guy that now takes all the "Club" orders at Five Star. He's a good man and is helpful in the extreeme.
The only reason that I said that the cars in Tucson are usually in better condition, is that the overall built-up area of Tucson is physicaly smaller and there is less stop and go driving, therefore the cars tend to have cleaner engines and less wear on the running gear. Other than that, there is the heat, which is less severe in Tucson than Phoenix and down where I live, (near Sierra Vista) the sun has much less impact due to the altitude. We also have lots of wide open spaces to cruise the car at higher speeds for longer periods of time. Of course if your home is in the bush you will have more cruise time also.
How was SIR???? I have never been.
I WILL keep my eyes out for a good '96, but If I find a good '93 or early build '94 I'll let you know. (the '93's and early '94's were manufactured with one piece drive shafts and do not suffer from the two piece drive shaft shake, which is present in the later ones. The driveshaft can be replaced with a one piece from one of the racing vendors on this site, but why spend the extra $400.00 when you might find a nice early car that already has good balance.


Tim Van Nattan
'94 Mark VIII
Santa Fe/Saddle
"Moffie"

 

[evlgt85]

RE: Looking for a lot of general info, opinions and adv

Sandy, I remember seeing that red one and having serious questions about it. Have you ever run across one of the body kits that Ford sold back in the day for the Enduro/M81 look?

Tim, thanks for the heads-up on Max. I'm sure I'll join the club once I get one of these babies. Your points about Tucson make sense. We're down there pretty often as we have friends down there. There's also a T-top coupe Mustang there that I'm wanting to nab.

SIR was a bit of a let-down for me. I'm glad I didn't take the GT down. No one was hooking, and we had guys that were .5 to a full second off of their normal ETs. I know elevation is a factor, but geez. But, we won our Hot Teams event and the Ford team is champion once more. Three-peat, baby! Whatever was in the air down there really messed me up. Couldn't breathe, my eyes were bloodshot, itchy and watery. I was not a pleasant human being. Didn't get home till after midnight.

I'm hoping for a black, blue, silver car. Silver would probably be my first choice, honestly. Black looks killer, but I don't know I want a black car in the valley. Especially since we're going to be in a very dusty area. Who knows!

 

[Sandy]

RE: Looking for a lot of general info, opinions and adv

I think that Red car has one of those body kits, but not 100% of it all.

 

[Moffie]

RE: Looking for a lot of general info, opinions and adv

SIR was a bit of a let-down for me. I'm glad I didn't take the GT down. No one was hooking, and we had guys that were .5 to a full second off of their normal ETs. I know elevation is a factor, but geez. But, we won our Hot Teams event and the Ford team is champion once more. Three-peat, baby! Whatever was in the air down there really messed me up. Couldn't breathe, my eyes were bloodshot, itchy and watery. I was not a pleasant human being. Didn't get home till after midnight.

I'm hoping for a black, blue, silver car. Silver would probably be my first choice, honestly. Black looks killer, but I don't know I want a black car in the valley. Especially since we're going to be in a very dusty area. Who knows!

Hi Skye,
Ah yes the altitude, my car runs better in Tucson (2300ft.) than it does here at home (4500ft.) just 59miles away.
About the air......we are having more than our share of range and forest fires, and for the past 5 days the smoke has been blowing in from Northern Mexico and West Texas, where they are having more than their fair share of fires also.
About the car...... (copied out of the Arizona Republic Paper friday' edition)

1998 Mark VIII, Hard to find White Diamond, loaded, grey
leather, garaged, perfect. $10,000obo. (480)390-7004 or
(480)860-1042.

I paid $9,000 a year and a half ago for a 1994 (63K) in pristine condition. If the car is as described; "perfect", then this is not a bad price for an Arizona car. The prices here are higher than other places in the country due to the condition of the car population. Phoenix does have the lowest prices in the state due to the traffic wear and the shear volume of vehicles in the county.
I hope you find this information helpful, and good luck in your quest for "your" perfect Mark VIII
(by the by---aside from looking slightly industrial, any white car in Arizona might be worth looking into due to their slower aging, and if the car does not have any tint on the windows, I suggest that you get some on all your cars, due to the sun and heat damage that cars in the Phoenix area on the interiors)

Tim Van Nattan
'94 Mark VIII
Santa Fe/Saddle
"Moffie"