1997 Lincoln Mark VIII Review
Price Estimate: $186 - $301
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Fast, Fast, Fast. Lots of neat doo-dads too.
Cons
- Back seat is way too small, and the exterior styling is garish.
What’s new
Lincoln thoroughly updates this personal coupe, lighting the darn thing up like a Christmas tree in the process. The Mark now has high-intensity discharge front headlamps, cornering lamps, a neon rear applique and puddle lamps. Wow, you'll see this thing from miles away. The hood, grille and interior have also been slightly redesigned.
For sale near Cupertino, CA
Vehicle overview
Since 1984, Lincoln designers have been suffering an internal struggle about the Mark. They've been non-committal about its role in the marketplace, and have been trying to decide if creating a stunning, radical new car will alienate 'traditional' Lincoln buyers. The 1984 Mark VII had a hint of greatness, but was saddled with lots of chrome and the vestigial rear tire hump. By the end of the Mark VII's run, it had gained more supportive seats, the 5.0-liter V8 from the Mustang GT, and an optional sport suspension. A monochrome look was available on the LSC, and the popularity of that trim level should have given the boys in Dearborn a clue. The Mark VII was a pretty good luxo-sport coupe before its demise in 1992, but the sheetmetal definitely needed an update.
The Mark VIII bowed in 1993, sporting an outstanding drivetrain and a radical new look. Unfortunately, the chrome remained, the tire hump was still affixed to the rear end, and the popular LSC model was canceled. Hmmm...still struggling. This year, the Mark VIII has been redesigned, now sporting more lights than the Flamingo Hilton. The front and rear ends have also been restyled, but there still doesn't seem to be a real direction for this car. Is it a great big sports car? A two-door limo? A Ford Tunderbird with lots of chrome? No one seems to be sure. Lincoln claims to have quieted the interior, but we liked it the way it was. What's the point of having that awesome engine if you can't hear it roar every now and again?
The Mark VIII is huge. Long front and rear overhangs contribute to the overall length, and parking this beast can be a chore. The styling is a sore point with us, but in certain dark hues, the Mark looks OK. If you're nuts over the styling, then chances are you'll like the rest of the Mark VIII.
We like Ford's modular 4.6-liter DOHC V8. It's perfectly mated to this big coupe, and goes a long way toward selling us on the car. The interior, like the exterior, is another love/hate design study, and our staff seems evenly split on the dashboard layout. Some find it reminiscent of Honda's Prelude and wish for a version of the Mercury Cougar's outstanding wraparound cockpit, others find the Mark just fine as it is. Some controls and displays have been reworked a few times since 1993, and fake wood has been affixed to the center console to provide some warmth to the techno-industrial interior ambiance.
Under the skin, the Mark VIII is unbeatable, and we think that buyers who like the styling of the Mark VIII will enjoy this quick, competent luxury coupe for many years to come.
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in California
$293/mo for Mark VIII Base
Mark VIII Base
vs
$270/mo
Avg. Large Car
See Edmunds pricing data
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Lincoln Mark VIII Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Spike
4.63 out of 5 starsAngelsilhouette, 08/18/2009
1997 Lincoln Mark VIII 2dr Coupe
The rated fuel economy must be average city and highway. When I put it on cruise control at 45mph on the long stretch between Gulf Breeze and Ft. Walton the instant mpg was touching 40mpg. Cruising at ~70 on the highway usually gets me around 27mpg, lately, and the engine is barely ticking over 2000rpm to do so. I prefer my old 93 to my 97, though, it seemed to be assembled with a … higher standard.
The Black Hole
4.38 out of 5 starsKevin, 05/07/2008
1997 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC 2dr Coupe
I decided to buy a Mark VIII after driving one from NC to CA for a friend that bought the car off Ebay. I took more than a year to find this car in CA. Most of them are on the east coast it seems. It is a very clean (repainted) two-owner car which had 65k /miles when I bought it 7/2007. The car now has 81k 10 months later. It has had (or has) every single glitch or known problem these … cars get. Heater blend door inop, drivers side mirror glass distorted, rear window strip kinked, vibration at 80+ from the driveshaft, rough idle, etc. But everytime I get past a problem and drive the car again, I love it!
Toreador Red
4.88 out of 5 starsAaron, 02/21/2007
1997 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC 2dr Coupe
This vehicle is truly the high mark of American performance combined with luxurious pampering. The sleek styling of the exterior combined with the soft leather seats with the computerized status readout truly make this a unique automobile. The air-ride suspension truly does make you feel like you are floating at times. The car depreciated from $42,000 (new) to around $7000 (retail), … easily making this luxury rocket a value to find. To me, the Mark VIII will always be the ultimate executive driving machine.
Luxury F-15 Fighter
5 out of 5 starsMark G., 06/30/2005
1997 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC 2dr Coupe
This car is an excellent blend of luxury, performance, great styling and looks (still turns heads after an 8 year run!!). Repairs are NOT cheap, but this is a fact of life with any luxury vehicle. If you want cheap, buy a Focus! I was able to buy a car in great shape, and not needing mechanical work.I owned a Mark VII from 1992-2002 and was familiar with the model. I have a moderate … setup, and am pushing about 300-310 HP. Comfort, speed, and a great JBL sound system!Fiber optics inside are jet cockpit like.! I recommend the LSC for its' upgraded package of suspension and braking. Since it has been discontinued, I shall garage mine. One of Ford's better ideas for sure! Thank you Wixom!!
1997 Mark VIII Highlights
Base
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 19 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $293/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 14.4 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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