RE: WTB GEN 2
Max, you can't afford NOT to fly somewhere to look at a car that you are about to spend $10k or more on. How are you gonna feel after you pay to have it shipped out here and on arrival you notice all the door dings that the owner forgot to mention. Or the heated mirror that is half full of that black crap. The waffled rear window seal that was not mentioned. The leather drivers seat that looks like 100,000 miles of bad road. The three body panels that have been repainted, each with a different shade of the original color.
Two years ago when I started looking for my first Mark VIII I flew to L.A. to look at a '94 Deep Jewel Green with Opal Grey interior. Glad I did. The paint was scratched at all four corners. The right front fender and right door had a very poor bondo/palint job. 27K miles.
Next I flew to West Palm Beach, Fla. to look at a '96 LSC Opal/Saddle. The HID's didn't work, front end repainted, paint scuffed on trunk and rust on undercarriage. The interior was mint. 30k miles; at a Lincoln dealership.
Back to L/A/ to see a '96 LSC Red/Black . The front bumper looked as though the old bastard had nosed it into the Manzinita bushes ten thousand times. The interior was DIRTY. The trim panel under the steering colum was falling off. The trunk lid looked as though every old lady that ever went to the grocery store had set a bag full of can goods on it and then slid the bag across the trunk lid. This was a 2nd owner car currently owned buy an old man that said that the car was clean and that he owned several COLECTOR cars. He wouldn't budge on the price and I'm glad that he didn't. 29k miles.
Next I flew to Houston, Tx. to look at a '96 LSC Opal/Saddle, 24,791 miles. Exactly what I wanted and for the right price. Bought it and drove it home. You know the rest of the story on that one.
This past spring I flew to San Diego to look at a '96 base, Light Saddle/Saddle with 15k, 2nd owner bought it to sell and make a buck. Just a little problem with the clear coat on the roof and a little spot on the trunk lid. O.K. if thats all I'll go look-see and have my paint man take care it for $800. Oh yes, there was a problem with the clear coat, a BIG PROBLEM. The whole roof, most of both quarter panels, the trunk lid, the hood, and the top of both doors was gone(the clear coat). The front bumper was hanging by a thread, the rear window seal was not waffled, it nearly wasn't there and what was there was paper thin. Every body panel on that car had something going on with it, be it clear coat, paint, dents, dings or scratches. I knew that I wasn't going to buy it when the owner drove up next to it. I could see most all that stuff before I got out of the car. I can't explain the interior. Not bad or worn. Maybe sun baked and faded with the dye gone in some areas. The car was nice and tight and performed really well as you would expect, having only 15k miles. I dldn't buy it.
Max, go look at it BEFORE you buy it. Buying a Mark VIII is like buying a pair of shoes or a wife. You gotta try'um on first. And you don't do it on a rainy day or in the dark!
I'm still LOOKING for a '96 LSC Opal/Saddle with 30k or less. I might consider a base model.
Let me know if I can help.
Good luck
