seems like some areas mark viii's are just another down and out lux. car w/one foot in the crusher. how many of you knew what these cars were before you rode in one or bought one? I've noticed more that were bought cheap and driven into the ground w/flat bags beat panels than I've seen fixed up/built up (this size car has a larger following towards the east coast than here in the west) I get razzed a lot for driving a lincoln (why did'nt you buy a mustang?) my car is no exception. flat bags, broken door handles, crappy tires,warped rotors.broken blend door actuator. it was headed for the auction then prob. wrecking yard.only 86,000 miles. I go to the pick -a-parts often can't tell you how many clean mark viii's I've seen getting stripped. we've saved three paid an average of 750.00 for them mostly with the same problems. someday these cars will recover their lost status (whats left of them) I spot them often sitting in back yards,tow lots ect. most all need work due to previous owners lack of maint. I'm also into merkur xr4ti's I watched them go through the same thing. they are a very well built car, in the mid 90's you could pick one up for a song ( I owned 5 at one time parred down to two one survivor I only drive occasionally the other built to 300hp w/full comp. susp) only in the last couple of years has the value started to rise. I drove those because I had'nt found another car that had the blend of performance,handling and ride with an eye towards economy. with the exception of handling the mark viii blows its doors off. I.M.O. some of our members have a inflated veiw as to how others look at our cars! how many other mark viii owners have people look at you like you were crazy when you tell them you get 28-30 mpg on the freeway and 20plus intown! to them its just an old gas guzzler.
