1997 Lincoln Mark VIII review from North America

I've only had the car for a few weeks now. This Mark 8 has been well cared for by the previous owners and it shows. There's really no problems with it cosmetically, it's white with beige interior which works really well in Arizona.

The only issue right now is the low beam headlight. It appears the hid bulb is OK, but the ballast, or wiring to the ballast has gone bad. Too bad I spent over $200 on a new bulb already! The bulb was only made for the 97 and 98 year models, so it's not a common part.

This is a great car for long distance, high-speed interstate trips. It does not feel as big as it looks when you're behind the wheel probably because the steering is so tight and precise. This is one of the few cars I've owned that's just a pleasure to drive.

The engine is super smooth. It reminds me of the 97 Maxima I had, but with more torque. Shift point seems a little weird at 30mph, apparently that is normal for this car.

The interior is slick, esp the message center. I like the instant fuel economy setting, probably not the most accurate thing, but it's still cool.

The air suspension is nice, but expensive to fix. There are retrofits using coils which eliminates the air system altogether. www.suncoreindustries.com has them.

Replacement items can be had on ebay for a fraction of what dealers and even internet parts stores are asking. Things like keyless entry remotes and headlight ballasts which are just insanely overpriced. Also check markviii. org and other Lincoln forums.

Because of the cost and complexity of the parts, the Mark might not be a good choice for the complete idiot or car novice. In the lighting section, the owner's manual even states 'the bulb is NOT replaceable' and to take it into a dealer. Keep this in mind when buying a used Mark 8, because they can be had for low prices, but the parts can easily offset this. The rear neon brakelight also costs quite a bit to fix.