"Amoore100" (amoore100)
04/01/2016 at 20:10 • Filed to: Used Car Face-Off, Mazda, Mercedes, Lincoln
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"Amoore100" (amoore100)
04/01/2016 at 20:10 • Filed to: Used Car Face-Off, Mazda, Mercedes, Lincoln | 0
| 28 |
This will be the final international Used Car Face-Off for a while because as I do more research, I discover that there are very few niche markets which are covered equally by America, Europe, and Asia, and trying to match them can sometimes be a bit of a faff. That is especially evident today as we see here an American personal luxury coupe, a German grand tourer, and a more sports-oriented Japanese touring luxury coupe. Which will be your posh four seat cruiser for under $7k?
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This Lincoln is arguably the least prestigious of the bunch but is also the cheapest. It also sports the least miles, is the cleanest, and is likely the easiest to repair and most reliable. While its looks aren’t for everyone, who can deny that this was the pinnacle of American personal luxury in the ‘90s with its plush leather seats and big 4.6L RWD V8 powertrain?
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For just over $2k more over the pristine Lincoln you can have this slightly spoilt Merc. While the wheels probably aren’t to everyone’s tastes, the car seems generally solid with 140k miles and the V8 is likely (barely) more reliable than the V12. It’s definitely a risk, and you could end up like either Tavarish (if you replaced the wheels) or Clarkson (with a burnt out coil pack), depending on how the car turns out to be.
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If the Merc was a risk, then this Mazda would be a serious gamble. With only 78k km (~48k miles), this one does not have the famed 20B three rotor, settling for a twin turbo two rotor instead. Still, that means fewer gaskets to replace, less gas to be used, and less oil to be consumed. Does the hassle of shipping it over as well as the unspecified mechanical condition lead you to worry?
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Brian, The Life of
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 20:17 |
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That is the cleanest MKVIII on the planet. All the yeses!
Chariotoflove
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 20:18 |
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Lincoln! Always loved that car.
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Amoore100
> Chariotoflove
04/01/2016 at 20:19 |
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Hard not to considering it is exactly what it is and doesn’t pretend to be anything else. A very honest car :D
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Amoore100
> Brian, The Life of
04/01/2016 at 20:20 |
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Definitely! Given their price range, if you manage to find a clean one they’re still relatively cheap. Find one while you can!
Birddog
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 20:21 |
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Yeah, Lincoln all the way here.
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Amoore100
> Birddog
04/01/2016 at 20:22 |
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Modern land-barging like a boss!
OPPOsaurus WRX
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 20:27 |
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That Mazda has the coolest back seats
Master Cylinder
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 20:28 |
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The big Mark all the way. I used to have a ‘97, it was a great car. It actually handled fairly well for what it was, thanks to its unusal-for-an-American-RWD-car-in-the-90s four wheel independent suspension. And man, that car could eat up the miles. 28-30 mpg on the highway, too.
Plus, it’ll stay running longer than the rotary Mazda and be easier and cheaper to keep running than the Merc.
pjhusa
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 20:32 |
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If condition was all the same, CL. But the Lincoln looks to be in extremely good shape.
C62030
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 20:35 |
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It heartens me to see all the Lincoln love.
JCAlan
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 20:38 |
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I have been in love with those Lincolns since they were new. I remember drooling over them on the lot when I was a kid, and asking a salesperson if I could rent one ( I couldn’t). When I saw this car, I knew it was the winner, regardless of what it was up against. But then I saw that beautiful exotic looking Mazda and it won me over.
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Amoore100
> JCAlan
04/01/2016 at 20:40 |
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I don’t think I could make the decision myself. Well, actually I think I’d lean towards the Lincoln. Less maintenance, and if I’m getting a Cosmo, I’ll wait for a 20B despite its many flaws.
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Amoore100
> C62030
04/01/2016 at 20:49 |
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Perhaps its because the other two have the potential to be gigantic nightmares whereas the Lincoln is comfy and proven. It’d probably be my choice as well, but there’s also the Riviera...
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Amoore100
> pjhusa
04/01/2016 at 20:50 |
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Even if the CL was immaculate, maintenance would be much more expensive. Thus, the Lincoln is the more practical choice. But since when was practicality fun?
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Amoore100
> Master Cylinder
04/01/2016 at 20:51 |
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Wow, great recollection! Makes me want one as a great roadtrip cruiser now. Ultimate U.S. tourer!
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Amoore100
> OPPOsaurus WRX
04/01/2016 at 20:52 |
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Probably cramped, but it’s ok as most Japanese are smaller than us Americans.
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Master Cylinder
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 21:13 |
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It was great for roadtrips with your best friend or significant other - not a lot of room in the back seat, though. As long as the air suspension was working right, it was smoooooooooooth. And it had this neat trick where it would lower itself an inch or so once you got above 55-60mph, for better aerodynamics when cruising down the freeway.
I’d love to find another clean one one day.
El Rivinado
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 21:13 |
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I’d have to say the Mazda. I really do like the Lincoln Mark VIII and I’m as big a fan of American Personal Luxury Coupes as anyone on here. But I really just hate the 97-98 redesigned front end. It takes a really nice looking car for the most part, and gives it a derpish front end that makes it look like the kind of outdated and stereotypical Asian caricature you would see in a cartoon back in the 40s.
not for canada - australian in disguise
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 22:00 |
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If you’re voting for the Lincoln or the Benz, I hate you with a burning passion.
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Chariotoflove
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 22:11 |
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That’s exactly the way to describe it.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 22:30 |
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That Benz V8 is actually incredibly reliable. And FYI it’s not an ‘05, don’t care what the ad says, if it were it would be supercharged. Had no idea that Lincoln was RWD, kinda cool I guess.
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Amoore100
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
04/01/2016 at 22:44 |
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Lol in that case what year do you think it is given that your knowledge of AMG Benzes will always far exceed mine? Yes, the Lincoln was RWD, it's the Riviera that was FWD only.
boxrocket
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 23:02 |
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I was set to vote for the sweeet Mark 8, but your damn wild card Eunos Cosmos took the vote.
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Amoore100
04/01/2016 at 23:04 |
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Pretty sure it’s an ‘02. They started supercharging them in ‘03.
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Amoore100
> boxrocket
04/02/2016 at 01:06 |
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Because two wildly twirling triangles with two mini-turbines are sometimes better eight reciprocating cylinders. :)
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Amoore100
> El Rivinado
04/02/2016 at 01:21 |
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I completely agree with you on that point. Pre-facelift Mk VIII’s were 1000x better than this “masterpiece” that emerged in ‘97. Alas, no earlier examples were available in this price range, thus we must settle for this clean if somewhat odd (read: ugly) looking behemoth.
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Amoore100
> Master Cylinder
04/02/2016 at 01:26 |
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Well here’s your chance! Never mind finances and distance, those are just trivial things standing between you and the perfect luxury coupe! In all seriousness though, that air suspension system sounds certifiably awesome, especially with that aero feature. Paul Magès would have been proud.
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C62030
> Amoore100
04/02/2016 at 12:59 |
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Honestly I don’t love the looks of either. But I would take them both in a heartbeat.