My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

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My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

November 02, 2010, 01:04:58 AM

So I went to a local Ford dealer to look at a 1988 Lincoln Mark VII they took in as a trade to possibly buy it. This Mark VII is black with a burgundy leather interior. It has 149,000 miles. Here's a list of the problems I found after looking it over and driving it:

The bad:

minor rust on the lower front fenders and rockers, door bottoms are good and so is the undercarriage
paint is hazy and needs a hell of a buff job
both front seats are cracked up pretty bad
steering wheel needs to be recovered
steering is a bit loose, needs new tie rods
both the brake light and the ABS light come on when braking, not good
it squeaks like crazy

The good:
engine and trans are good and the car runs great
all electronic equipment works, even the a/c
the air bags are new and the system holds air

I've seen cars like this on craigslist for $900-1200. The dealer had it listed for, get this, $4999:wtf:. I managed to whittle them down to $1500 but no lower. I wasn't going to pay more than $1000 for this thing with all the work it needed. Needless to say I'm still looking. After driving it though I found I really like the Mark VII. It's just like driving my 88 T-bird except it's slower;). Call me crazy but I'd like to replace my 95 with a Mark VII. I found this one as well but it's waaaaay to nice to subject to dd duty: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=287909580&dealer_id=49235829&car_year=1988&rdm=1288674074656&model=MARK7&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&search_type=both&distance=50&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=LINC&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=newsortbyprice_DESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&sort_type=priceDESC&address=60638&advanced=&end_year=2011&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=43&standard=false

So who else thinks I'm crazy to want a Mark VII besides my girlfriend?

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #1 – November 02, 2010, 03:47:13 AM

You're crazy if you don't want one. Women (generally, not stereotyping here, just sayin') think of a car as little more than vehicular furniture to get from A to B.

Most of us here (fairer shag included

) know better.

You'd be crazy if you paid more than 1000-1200 for it, seems as if you've got the right idea about that, fwiw.

You're looking for a nice daily that'll rust after a midwest winter, or a beater you don't love?

I'd buy a shiznitbox rice-burner for the wet, cold months, keep a '7 for nice days...you've already got the 'Bird for that though..depends on how bad you want it, I reckon.

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #2 – November 02, 2010, 11:08:55 AM

I had a Mark VII and I had to sell it , I went looking for another one and ended up with my Bird instead

I WILL own another VII someday :D

With all that being said I would keep looking after how you described that one .
Both brake lights on is usually a sign of a bad acspoogeulator and that is $200 right there .

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #3 – November 02, 2010, 05:10:44 PM

I have two of them that I drive almost daily and I'm not crazy.

Other than interior/body stuff, the things to watch out for on these cars are brakes, transmissions, and heater cores. These three items can put you in the poorhouse. Suspensions are easier to work on than most people think and electonics usually involve nothing more than cleaning grounds or swapping parts.

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #4 – November 02, 2010, 05:16:51 PM

ones around here like that(similar cond.) go for around $500-900 depending on wether they are inspected or not.
nice ones and 90-92 lsc signifcantly more for some reason.

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #5 – November 02, 2010, 09:46:21 PM

Quote from: thunderjet302;340100

The dealer had it listed for, get this, $4999:wtf:. I managed to whittle them down to $1500 but no lower. I wasn't going to pay more than $1000 for this thing with all the work it needed.

So who else thinks I'm crazy to want a Mark VII besides my girlfriend?

Ummm ... can you teach me how to bargain like that???

Dealers tend to mark UP cars when I walk onto their lot.

And I don't think you're crazy. I had a Mark VII and wish I still did.

It was sweeeeeeeet.

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #6 – November 02, 2010, 09:51:03 PM

I love mine :D Especially after getting the air ride in order. (new(er) compressor) Makes for a real comfy daily driver.

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #7 – November 02, 2010, 09:52:02 PM

It's a Mustang in a tuxedo.

(((I heard somebody else say that. I didn't make it up.)))

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #8 – November 02, 2010, 11:42:22 PM

Quote from: ShowBoy;340297

Ummm ... can you teach me how to bargain like that???

Dealers tend to mark UP cars when I walk onto their lot.

And I don't think you're crazy. I had a Mark VII and wish I still did.

It was sweeeeeeeet.

After 4 negotiation classes in college I know most of the tactics. You don't want to screw with me;)

I want a Mark VII as a dd not another car to tinker with. I don't want a pristine one just one that is decent and I can drive everyday. Hell I'd even take an 88+ Bill Blass Mark VII as it has the 5.0 HO just like the Mark VII LSC.

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #9 – November 04, 2010, 12:36:46 AM

Get a later one (90-92) I believe. The earlier ones up to 88 had the suck motor in them. I forget eexactly though.

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #10 – November 04, 2010, 12:41:30 AM

All 88-92 Mark VIIs whether Bill Blass or LSC had the E7 headed HO engines. The 86-87 LSC had the E6 headed HO and the Bill Blass had the SO. 84-85 had CFI. There aren't many of them left and I sure as hell don't want one;)

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #11 – November 04, 2010, 01:36:15 AM

Ah that's right. I knew there was a weird year in there (87). I believe hey were all SD as well which struck me odd. Been away from the fox stuff for awhile now ;o)

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #12 – November 04, 2010, 02:11:23 AM

Yup, all were SD...

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #13 – November 04, 2010, 10:23:47 AM

I posted this car earlier in the thread: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=287909580&dealer_id=49235829&car_year=1988&rdm=1288879389125&model=MARK7&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&search_type=both&distance=50&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=LINC&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=newsortbyprice_DESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&sort_type=priceDESC&address=60638&advanced=&end_year=2011&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=43&standard=false

It's really only worth somewhere between $2500-3000. My crazy mind wants to buy it but another part of me says it's a bad idea to DD it. What are your guys thoughts? Am I crazy for considering it? Oh and unless I can get it for $2500-3000 I'm not buying it.

My Mark VII adventure/I want one as a dd

Reply #14 – November 04, 2010, 11:39:57 AM

You can't daily drive that 88 Mark VII with 32K miles! What's wrong with your 95 tbird as a DD?