Looking Into a Quick, Cheap Car. What to buy?

How big is the back seat in a Mark VIII? I keep looking at a black one for sale, but putting Lauren in and out of a carseat seems like a pain in the ass
 
Roadrage said:
How big is the back seat in a Mark VIII? I keep looking at a black one for sale, but putting Lauren in and out of a carseat seems like a pain in the ass
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As long as she is sitting behind the passenger seat so that you can move it up a little, she will be fine. My 4 year old daughter rides in my M8 from time to time.
 
I'll sell you my mark. Perfect condition inside and out runs like a top with not a single leak. Just save about 2500 more and it's yours.
 
The only thing I dislike about the marks is the suspension... No not the air... The strut rods bushings.... They suck! And every mark has a rotted oil pan which you will NEVER find new.
 
RyeLou said:
They classify it as a Ford Contouor, the SVT part doesn't matter. The "newest" one is 11 years old.
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Pretty much the same deal on a Lightning, not that a Lightning is in consideration here. But the insurance just looks at it like an F150. Hell, when the insurance company set up my appointment to replace the windshield, the windshield guy was even going to bring a windshield for a non Heritage 2004 F150. Good thing I made it a point to make sure they brought the right thing when we were on the phone setting up the appointment!
 
dirtybird said:
Late 80's early 90's BMW. I picked one up for $2600. They aren't blazing fast, but fun cool little cars.
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I like this idea a lot. What models are good and what aren't though? There seems to be so many different ones, I have no idea where to start.

4Gas$ said:
Buy one of these, they are the most car you can get for the money,
and they are fun to drive & cheap to insure!


1CVPI2004.jpg



CVPI1.jpg
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Don't know why I didn't think of that before. I just raced a CVPI around flat rock last week and really enjoyed it. How do these do with some 4.10's, exhaust, and a tune?

RopeS said:
I like the GTP idea or even better, the Regal GS, but I'm also bias. I do also like the CVPI though.
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I still love those GTP's. I drove around a family members Fusion a while back and really enjoyed driving something that was comfortable with 4 friends, looked good, and was quick. I thought that the GTP is the only thing in my price range that is somewhat like a fusion.

4 cam tbird said:
For the price of some of the others on CL that are still decent looking, your $2500 would get you the car, 4.10's installed by Scott at Driveline Solutions, and a tune. Mid 14's for $2500, not fast but not too shabby.
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That sounds like a plan for sure. Not sure i'm digging the looks of the Mark VIII though enough to buy it. I am a huge fan of "function over form", but i'm just not sure about that. And I really don't want something that has a lot of known problems.


So, I have a lot more options that I though. The Crown Vic sounds good, but i'm not sure how they do on power compared to the thunderbird, GTP, or the BMW? Ideally, I would like to find something I can pick up for less than $2500, and have some money left to regear it. Coming from the offroad world, I know that can make a huge difference.

Thanks,

Ben.
 
As far as I know the only real issue with the Mark VIII's is the factory air bags. There are ways to get rid of them though.

Here's an idea, depending on how much work you really want to get into. The T-bird and Mark VIII are the same chassis. The Mark VIII engine bolts into the Tbird and as long as you start with a 94-97 V8 Tbird the wiring required is minimal changes to the engine harness. You can buy a cheaper Mark VIII, part it out, make money while keeping the engine, throw the engine in the Tbird and sell the Tbird engine too. You get the T-bird looks, the good part of the Mark VIII, and something kind of unique. Plus, it's lighter than the Mark VIII.
 
4 cam tbird said:
As far as I know the only real issue with the Mark VIII's is the factory air bags. There are ways to get rid of them though.

Here's an idea, depending on how much work you really want to get into. The T-bird and Mark VIII are the same chassis. The Mark VIII engine bolts into the Tbird and as long as you start with a 94-97 V8 Tbird the wiring required is minimal changes to the engine harness. You can buy a cheaper Mark VIII, part it out, make money while keeping the engine, throw the engine in the Tbird and sell the Tbird engine too. You get the T-bird looks, the good part of the Mark VIII, and something kind of unique. Plus, it's lighter than the Mark VIII.
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Did you ever run your mark viii swapped tbird at the track?If so, what did it run?
 
Typical teenager response. I'd take a mark over a thunderturd anyday. The mark has the same problems every other car does. Your going to have problems with anything you buy. Don't get a foreign car buy a somewhat new ford because parts are readily available and easy to work on.
 
Justindwright said:
Did you ever run your mark viii swapped tbird at the track?If so, what did it run?
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14.49 at Wentzville, MO IIRC. Never ran it at Milan. My Lightning has run faster at Milan than it did at KCIR, which I would expect to be fairly similar altitude, etc wise to Wentzville. A converter would have helped it immensely. I was just running a Mark VIII converter.

Are the Mark VIII's you don't like the 96-98 bodies? I strongly prefer the 93-95 Mark VIII looks to the 96-98 cars and the later ones had poorly cast intakes that actually make them dyno slightly less stock than the old ones (despite same/similar HP ratings) as well as making the older ones a hair faster. We're not talking a lot, 10 HP or so and a tenth but it's something.
 
There's a nice looking Crown Vic near my place here with $2400 written on the windshield. I'm about 50 miles south of you right on the Ohio line.
 
4 cam tbird said:
As far as I know the only real issue with the Mark VIII's is the factory air bags. There are ways to get rid of them though.

Here's an idea, depending on how much work you really want to get into. The T-bird and Mark VIII are the same chassis. The Mark VIII engine bolts into the Tbird and as long as you start with a 94-97 V8 Tbird the wiring required is minimal changes to the engine harness. You can buy a cheaper Mark VIII, part it out, make money while keeping the engine, throw the engine in the Tbird and sell the Tbird engine too. You get the T-bird looks, the good part of the Mark VIII, and something kind of unique. Plus, it's lighter than the Mark VIII.
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Not a bad idea at all, I don't mean to sound like a "typical teenage", but the reason i'm running from my jeep is the amount of time I spend under it. I'm kind of looking for something that would be fun to drive, and I could just mod as I go.


MarkVIII93 said:
Typical teenager response. I'd take a mark over a thunderturd anyday. The mark has the same problems every other car does. Your going to have problems with anything you buy. Don't get a foreign car buy a somewhat new ford because parts are readily available and easy to work on.
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Don't be an asshole, a typical teenager would go buy a V6 mustang and cut the mufflers off. I'm trying to find the best option for me, and if I don't like the looks of a car suggested, don't rag on me.

4 cam tbird said:
14.49 at Wentzville, MO IIRC. Never ran it at Milan. My Lightning has run faster at Milan than it did at KCIR, which I would expect to be fairly similar altitude, etc wise to Wentzville. A converter would have helped it immensely. I was just running a Mark VIII converter.

Are the Mark VIII's you don't like the 96-98 bodies? I strongly prefer the 93-95 Mark VIII looks to the 96-98 cars and the later ones had poorly cast intakes that actually make them dyno slightly less stock than the old ones (despite same/similar HP ratings) as well as making the older ones a hair faster. We're not talking a lot, 10 HP or so and a tenth but it's something.
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Thanks for the response. I'm not really digging either of the body styles, but the early ones look better for sure. I'm still looking though, maybe they'll grow on me.

stalked_R/T said:
There's a nice looking Crown Vic near my place here with $2400 written on the windshield. I'm about 50 miles south of you right on the Ohio line.
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Thanks man, any way you could post the road/city thats at? I wouldn't mind taking a trip down there to check it out.
 
I'm surprised nobody said a DSM. Find a 1990 - 1992 Eagle Talon, Plymouth Laser or Mitsubishi Eclipse turbo. They can be unreliable for sure, but typically only if they go to long on a timing belt, balance shaft belt and water pump. Find one with balance shafts eliminated and a newer timing belt and water pump and you should be okay. The turbos seem to last a long time. As always, the maintenance the previous owners performed is critical. 1993 and newer DSM's tend to be much less reliable (mostly crank walk but other issues as well).
 
2QuickZ's said:
I'm surprised nobody said a DSM. Find a 1990 - 1992 Eagle Talon, Plymouth Laser or Mitsubishi Eclipse turbo. They can be unreliable for sure, but typically only if they go to long on a timing belt, balance shaft belt and water pump. Find one with balance shafts eliminated and a newer timing belt and water pump and you should be okay. The turbos seem to last a long time. As always, the maintenance the previous owners performed is critical. 1993 and newer DSM's tend to be much less reliable (mostly crank walk but other issues as well).
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no 21 year old car will be reliable plus find a nice resonably priced one in michigan
 
stalked_R/T said:
It's on Sterns Road just West of Jackson road in Temperance, MI
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Thanks man, I'll have to make it down there soon.

easy2cy said:
Maybe check this out:

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/ctd/1815125032.html

White BMW 325

3n63m23p25Q35U25S2a6sb07284ce767f18b0.jpg
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That looks pretty awesome actually. I really like that body style, thanks!

2QuickZ's said:
I'm surprised nobody said a DSM. Find a 1990 - 1992 Eagle Talon, Plymouth Laser or Mitsubishi Eclipse turbo. They can be unreliable for sure, but typically only if they go to long on a timing belt, balance shaft belt and water pump. Find one with balance shafts eliminated and a newer timing belt and water pump and you should be okay. The turbos seem to last a long time. As always, the maintenance the previous owners performed is critical. 1993 and newer DSM's tend to be much less reliable (mostly crank walk but other issues as well).
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Thanks for the reply, I have looked into those cars, and though they look like a blast I'm not sure they'll be more reliable than my current car.



Well, thanks for a the replys everyone, I definitely have an good idea of what to look for now.
 
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