Used Cars: 1997 Mark VIII, lincoln town cars, air ride suspension

Question
QUESTION: Hi Jay,

I'm looking at a 1997 Mark VIII from Florida with 26k miles. The wholesale dealer bought it at an auction and has no real details. I would have it checked out by a mechanic first, but wanted to get your thoughts on maint/upkeep? I've heard about the costly repairs for lights, suspension, blend door, etc. Any feedback would be gratly appreciated.

Thanks,

Will

ANSWER: Well first and foremost I would want some type of legal proof that is the actual mileage, and there is no mileage issues.  That just does not seem right, not saying it may not be true, but I would DEFINETLY want proof.  Secondly, I am a big fan of these cars, they are all that and a box of chocolate.  Here is my take on this, Lincoln Town Cars are rear wheel drive, and outside of causmatics ie (suspension, lights and window motors), are relatively problem Free.  Continentals are front wheel drive, and basically a big pile of problems, all the way around, inside, outside, mechanically and causmatically.  The Mark VIII is a  rear wheel drive bad boy.  When you have a high tech suspension like that car has, it is going to use a lot of rubber components to make it that way, and like throwing a tire in the yard for 10 years, without exceptional lubrication, rubber dry rots, cracks, and Ka-bang....you are replacing all four air bags, on the air ride suspension.  And it is not cheap if you go to a Ford store, there are cheaper alternatives.  Outside of the suspension, and some minor causmatics, these are not bad cars.  The engine/transmission combo is in general a pretty good, long lasting drivetrain, even though it runs like a hot rod.  If this car has been well maintained, and that is true mileage, I would highly recommend it.  But I would not spare any expense in having the car checked out by a mechanic, carfax, and a tag agent to make sure the title and mileage is real.
Outside of routine maintenance, minor causmatic, and possible suspension, I think it would make you a good car in the long haul.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks! Here's my other question... 2000 Eldorado 65k miles or a 2004 Deville/DHS 50k miles. Any thoughts?

Will

Answer
I am not a big fan of the cadillac line up, however, the eldorado and DHS seem to be the best of the line up....You just can not be careful enough with cadillacs because they are front wheel drive, and as previously stated front wheel drives just dont hold up as well, and also they are INFAMOUS for head gaskets, they are almost impossible to fix, and once they go bad, the motor is done with.  I have had some come through here that were supposedly "FIXED" only to find out that the way chevy does the heads on them, that if the person performing the heads first repair, does not do it PERFECTLY with heli-coil, which does not really hold up anyway, then it is over.  They drill out the heads to much, the heli coil does not hold, game over, and you dont even want to price a replacement, n/star or other.  I have just been burnt to many times with caddys, and one of my repair shops said to never bring another one to them.  So if you are asking me Mark VIII vs Caddillac....I choose the Mark VIII....easily.  And you are going to have the same type of causmatic problems with caddys that you do lincolns, but the driveline in the Mark VIII is superior to the caddys....that is of course my opinion, there is plenty people that will disagree with me.  If it means anything I would pick a NON-NSTAR Caddy over a Continental...lol