1993 vs 1998

[c.pro]

Hi all,
I'm looking to buy a Mark VIII in the near future, since i have wanted one for quite some time. I am truly stumped on which one to get though. there are quite a few available around my area, and i cant pick between a 1993 or a 1997/8. I love the looks of the 97/98 compared to the 93-96; however, i like the extra performance of the 1993. so, i was wondering, what makes the power difference between the two? i have read that it is related to the EEC, but i have also read that it has to do with the air intake.. which of those is true?
if it really is the EEC that makes the difference, is it even possible to swap the EEC from a 1993 into a 1997/8 and make it run/operate properly? or will it be all messed up because of lack of OBDII functionality?

Sorry to dump all that on you guys, but any help or input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!
-Colton

 

[94m5]

The power difference is easily overcome by a simple tune.

BTW....what the hell is wrong with you? GEN1s rule.

 

[mespock]

Why bother with the Girly looking Gen II ... just swap the tranny from a Mustnag and put it on a 93 then you have what Lincoln was trying to get with the Mark VIII ...

 

[Lownslowlsc]

If you want a more outdated looking car thats a wee bit faster and has a more aggresive front end get a gen1. If you want a much nicer interiour w/ better features that looks newer get a gen2. The upgraded interiour and the various light upgrades sold me on the latter.

 

[LaserSVT]

Gen ones blow chunks. Gen II is where its at. Superior interior, better valve springs (compared to early Gen 1s), more features, better control systems, better rear end etc etc.
The Second Gens look current while the first ones for some reason just look dated.

Now I aint saying I wouldnt own a first gen but I wouldnt own a first gen.

 

[thaywood]

That's a tough call dude. I've owned both G1 and G2 and currently have a '97 LSC. My old '96 was definitely faster than my '97, but the '97 looks better and has a much nicer more modern and luxurious interior. Both are fantastic. But if I had a choice, I'd pick the G2. I do miss my '96 and regret selling it to this day. If I could go back, I'd keep it and have one of each

 

[slowmkviii]

Either are great
I prefer the 2nd gen's
I do have both and my gen 2 is faster.

 

[lobird91]

Gen 2, I have actually had people think my car was much newer than a 98. I don't think too many folks with Gen 1s can say that. Nothing wrong with a Gen 1 in particular it just looks like a 1993 design.

-Alan

 

[ONLYTONY]

lincoln

I have a 95 (gen 1 ) and a 98 (gen 2 ) Love them both. The 95 gets better mileage and corners like a sports car,and no blend door problems. The 98 goes a little faster, and handles more like a luxury auto. Going to look at a 94 tomorrow. Get any MARK VIII and your blood will change and make you a MARKACHOLIC. Getting a MARK is like adding another member to your family, and you have to spend a lot of time enjoying it.

 

[Spree]

Go for the Gen1. Who cares about the lighting. Gen1's are where it's at.

 

[SwedishMark]

Depends what you want.
I could buy a Gen II just for the inner doors. But I like the middle console alot better on the Gen I and so on.

 

[NoLimit95]

Hi all,
i have read that it is related to the EEC, but i have also read that it has to do with the air intake.. which of those is true?

if it really is the EEC that makes the difference, is it even possible to swap the EEC from a 1993 into a 1997/8 and make it run/operate properly?

Thanks!!
-Colton

The ECM in the 93 is more aggressive but needs to be the W3Z2 but that's if you want to go without a chip and paying to have a tune burned to it. I have a 95 with the 93 ECM and those can only be swapped out from the 93-95 only. 96 is OBD-II, as is the 97-98. The air intake also helps the Gen 1 get up and go about a second quicker in the 1/4, almost 2.

It's all about which body style you like the best because the Gen 2 can be tuned and a few bolt on's added to hang with us Gen 1 guys. I like both but prefer the Gen 1 looks. Yes, the Gen 2 is nicer inside in some ways but not enough for me to care. I can do without puddle lamps because I don't park in puddles. I don't need heated seats because within 15 seconds, the seat is warm, well, where I live anyway. Gen 2's have their share of problems such as the rear neon's going bad or acting up. The blend doors tend to break and cause problems and that's not a fun fix if you have never done one before and you surely don't wanna pay for that fix.

Gen 1's have their flaws too such as looking good in the front end, being quicker. Seriously, most of them come with faded and or burnt chrome inside the headlights but clean housings can be found on ebay and if you have the cash, just buy new ones and install dual HID kits and never worry about it again. I have new halogen housings that have never had a halogen bulb burned in them and they still look brand new as of today. They're 2 years old but I bought them myself new, so I know what they have been through. They are now boxed up because I installed HID housings and I can verify that halogen housings have a very good light output with HID's inside them. I have both and have had plenty of experience with both.

Both cars have air ride issues, if you neglect the problem. It's like this. If you don't have a few dollars here and there to spend to get the car up to par, then it might not be the one for you. You can always remove the air ride and swap over to a coil conversion but it came with air, that's one of the things that made me fall in love with the Mark and I will never come off air unless something drastic made me do so. They all cost to maintain. One thing that will and can catch you off guard is that you'll find yourself constantly wanting to mod the car in some way or the other. Making it look better, making it faster, adding gears, possibly tuning it, engine mods, wheels, brake setups, the list goes on and on. Once you start engine modding, the car feels good for a while but then it will hit you that it isn't fast enough and then you'll want more engine mods.

Some of us go for appearance and no engine mods, such as me. Mine runs quite fine as is. It's fast enough for me. I have no problems at all pulling out into traffic and jumping up to their speed within 3 to 5 seconds, depending on the speed they are all going. Some of us go for appearance and engine mods but I can say now that if the money is there to spend, you will spend it because there is just something about the car that makes you want to do it. Sometimes, it just simply needs some TLC and if done properly, it's not cheap and please run 93 octane gas if you want good gas mileage and you want the car to run as it should. I could keep on going with this all day but this is just my input about the Mark VIII in general. If it were me, it would be Gen 1 all the way. I have had 2 black on blacks, 93 & 94 and now I have the 95 with my own interior design.

Good luck with w/e you decide but now you kinda know what you're getting into. You'll love either one, no matter which Gen you get. When you find some, post them and run them past us and we'll be more than happy to put out $0.02 worth and tell you what we think of the color, the Gen, the looks, the asking price, what we feel it's worth..

 

[Don Pfau]

I have both and to me the first generation look like and makes a better hot rod. And a second generation looks and makes a better luxury car or LSC

 

[Lownslowlsc]

Go for the Gen1. Who cares about the lighting. Gen1's are where it's at.

:eyeroll:

 

[marked8]

I have had two first gens and my current 97. The Gen II has a few more quirks but they are worth it for the added content. The only Gen I I would own would be a low mile 96 LSC.

 

[UltimateSVT]

When looking for my 1st Mark VIII I was looking specifically fora Gen 2 but after coming across 3 high mileage Marks for way to much money I went to see 2 Gen 1's. My black '93 was solid. So I bought it. It has to be the nicest, fastest Lincoln I've owned. After that car I've owned 2 more Gen 1's & 4 Gen 2's. I LOVE THEM BOTH!

My honest opinion? You will not regret it no matter what Gen you choose. You will end up having fun with which ever one you buy. Both are fun to drive. Just go for the best deal with the lowest mileage or the one that's taken care of the most.

 

[97 Octane]

What the '93s don't have:

'98 has the newer and lighter air suspension!

'98 has upgraded Transmission!

'98 has Clear Lens and HID headlights!

'98 has LED turn signal mirrors!

'98 has Puddle lamps!

'98 has In-Glass AM/FM antenna!

'98 has Tail pipe cutouts!

'98 has stylized Chrome exhaust Tips!

'98 has Double DIN radio!

'98 has an extra Third light!

'98 has OBD-II / EEC-V engine management!

'98 has Digital Odometer!

'98 has Coil-On-Plugs ignition system!

'98 has the Wood trim!

'98 has inside door handles in Chrome!

'98 has rear seat Center Armrest!

'98 has Tilt and Telescoping steering wheel!

'98 has windshield mounted Compass!

'98 has an All-Speed Traction Control!

'98 has Point-Down on reverse mirror function!

'98 has Driver Seat Memory Presets!

'98 has Aluminum hood!

'98 has a Larger anti-sway bar!

'98 has more Steering Ratio (+3.14:1)!

'98 has Illuminated Cruise Control buttons!

'98 has the PATS system!

but....

'93 does not have the PATS system! +++

'93 has automatically adjustable rear dampers!

'93 has the One piece Driveshaft!

'93 has stout Cup holder!

 

[97 Octane]

Sorry for the long list.

... like my Gen 2, I like my Gen 1 equally as well.

 

[Lownslowlsc]

What the '93s don't have
'98 has the newer and lighter air suspension!
'98 has Clear Lens and HID headlights!
'98 has LED turn signal mirrors!
'98 has Puddle lamps!
'98 has In-Glass AM/FM antenna!
'98 has Tail pipe cutouts!
'98 has Double DIN radio!
'98 has an extra Third light!
'98 has OBD-II / EEC-V engine management!
'98 has Digital Odometer!
'98 has Coil-On-Plugs ignition system!
'98 has the Wood trim!
'98 has inside door handles in Chrome!
'98 has rear seat Center Armrest!
'98 has Tilt and Telescoping steering wheel!
'98 has an All-Speed Traction Control!
'98 has Point-Down on reverse mirror function!
'98 has Driver Presets!
'98 has Aluminum hood!
'98 has a Larger anti-sway bar!
'98 has more Steering Ratio (+3.14:1)!
'98 has Illuminated Cruise Control buttons!

but....
'93 has adjustable rear dampers!
'93 has the One piece Driveshaft!

Game. Set. Match.


P.s. You forgot the upgraded tranny.

 

[Right on the Mark]

What the '93s don't have:

'98 has the newer and lighter air suspension! I can't see any difference weight

'98 has Clear Lens and HID headlights! HID's which are no longer made

'98 has LED turn signal mirrors! Nice but light in dash is fine

'98 has Puddle lamps! I don't need to look at puddles

'98 has In-Glass AM/FM antenna! My antenna works

'98 has Tail pipe cutouts! I still have dual tips out back

'98 has Double DIN radio! No biggie I still have stock JBL

'98 has an extra Third light! Safety nice

'98 has OBD-II / EEC-V engine management! Thats a tuning plus bad for sticker

'98 has Digital Odometer! more to blank out

'98 has Coil-On-Plugs ignition system! More to die cops go alot

'98 has the Wood trim! gen1 come with wood grain too?

'98 has inside door handles in Chrome! if it don't go chrome it

'98 has rear seat Center Armrest! I'm never in back seat or is anyone else

'98 has Tilt and Telescoping steering wheel! More to go wrong wobble wheel!

'98 has an All-Speed Traction Control! good

'98 has Point-Down on reverse mirror function! I can see out my mirror fine

'98 has Driver Presets! My 93 has seat memory

'98 has Aluminum hood! Fiberglass hood

'98 has a Larger anti-sway bar! I am not NASCAR guy

'98 has more Steering Ratio (+3.14:1)! see above

'98 has Illuminated Cruise Control buttons! THIS IS NICE
also 98 have costly problematic rear Neon $$$$$$
but....

'93 has adjustable rear dampers!

'93 has the One piece Driveshaft!

Now don't get up in arms about my reply just haviing some fun
Edit 93 also has 3rd brake light

 

[97 Octane]

Now don't get up in arms about my reply just haviing some fun
Edit 93 also has 3rd brake light

All in good fun! Absolutely why I like this site better than the "other.org"

Man, you guys are quick to respond .... Don't you all have to be at work at
this time of the day?

I removed my extra 3rd light from Octane, so now, I am down to just one big one.

 

[KStromberg]

A small difference in factory performance is not a good reason to buy a Gen1 IF you want a Gen2. I'm speaking realistically here in terms of what YOU want. The later models have way more features as stated, and later 97' model and all 98 model builds have a better transmission that is more durable. I also favorite them because of the better designed beehive valve springs (I shift almost all the way to 7K rpms) and lets not forget OBDII.

The Gen2 with the newer OBD2 setup has MUCH more adjustability and parameters to work with when it comes to performance tuning. The difference in performance that you ask about is simply the intake design(which changed for the worse in 97) and the hotter factory tunes in the older models. "DLF" on here is the fastest all motor Gen2 on the list and I am certain that he is going to change everybody's viewpoint (well he already has really) on the whole Gen1 vs. Gen2 performance when he becomes the first Mark VIII EVER to run 12s all motor. I am certain it will happen. His trap speed is already there, he just needs the air to do it. Both DLF and I have already changed this viewpoint by taking both of our Gen2s deep into the 13s. Too be honest, contrary to what some people say, I think the Gen2 is more user-friendly when it comes to going fast.

And members, please don't interpret this as an insult to Gen1s. I love ALL Mark VIIIs. I think they are great cars but I am just giving my point of view and real-life experience and putting things into perspective. I ran 13.59 last year on a chitty mail order tune with 143K miles on this engine. I now have 153K miles and am dyno-tuned and am certain it is a low 13 car with good air on a set of slicks. We already have a Gen2 sitting at spot number 2 on the all motor list which goes to show that when these cars are modified, the Gen1s are not faster than the Gen2s when done right (by that I mean ditching the stock intake also on the Gen2s especially--HUGE power-rob ber right there). If anything, the performance is very similar to a point. But remember, DLF is already trapping faster than the number 1 guy, which is a Gen1.

I will say though that one negative thing about the Gen2 cars is the specific body design in 97-98 which leaves us with much less body parts still available.

Really though Colton, all of what I said might not mean much to most people anyways. Not everyone here are all out drag racers. A Gen1 at the right price is darn well worth the investment. Any Mark VIII at the right price is worth the money because we like these cars.

 

[Lownslowlsc]

All in good fun! Absolutely why I like this site better than the "other.org"

Man, you guys are quick to respond .... Don't you all have to be at work at
this time of the day?

.Org is the absolute worst, sometimes I wonder if the members even know about lvc or lod.

And sadly, the internetz is the only thing I do at work. Easy money but it can be a real f'n drag at times.

 

[keVIIIn]

What the '93s don't have:

'98 has the newer and lighter air suspension!

'98 has upgraded Transmission!

'98 has Clear Lens and HID headlights!

'98 has LED turn signal mirrors!

'98 has Puddle lamps!

'98 has In-Glass AM/FM antenna!

'98 has Tail pipe cutouts!

'98 has stylized Chrome exhaust Tips!

'98 has Double DIN radio!

'98 has an extra Third light!

'98 has OBD-II / EEC-V engine management!

'98 has Digital Odometer!

'98 has Coil-On-Plugs ignition system!

'98 has the Wood trim!

'98 has inside door handles in Chrome!

'98 has rear seat Center Armrest!

'98 has Tilt and Telescoping steering wheel!

'98 has windshield mounted Compass!

'98 has an All-Speed Traction Control!

'98 has Point-Down on reverse mirror function!

'98 has Driver Seat Memory Presets!

'98 has Aluminum hood!

'98 has a Larger anti-sway bar!

'98 has more Steering Ratio (+3.14:1)!

'98 has Illuminated Cruise Control buttons!

'98 has the PATS system!

but....

'93 does not have the PATS system! +++

'93 has automatically adjustable rear dampers!

'93 has the One piece Driveshaft!

'93 has stout Cup holder!

My personal feelings about these features:

'98 has the newer and lighter air suspension! : Don't care..removed anyway

'98 has upgraded Transmission! : ill give you that..but most mark owners won't be beating on it to the point of failure anyway..a simple jmod and mercon v fluid change will work just fine.

'98 has Clear Lens and HID headlights! : gen 1 HIDs..problem solved

'98 has LED turn signal mirrors! : Don't care.

'98 has Puddlelamps! Don't care...ugly shaped mirrors.

'98 has In-GlassAM/FM antenna! : could be nice if your antenna is busted..mine works great, so not a problem for me.

'98 has Tail pipe cutouts! : so do 95s and 96s

'98 has stylized Chrome exhaust Tips! : same as above.

'98 has Double DIN radio! Same as 95s and 96s

'98 has an extra Third light! : Neon is cool..when it actually works, which most 2nd gens at this age now don't anymore and require fixing.

'98 has OBD-II / EEC-V engine management! : this just means now you have to have it emission tested so no deleting cats, and if it does have a CEL on you will not pass, and there is.no performance difference between OBDI and OBDII..just easier tunability.

'98 has Digital Odometer! : don't care

'98 has Coil-On-Plugs ignition system! : no performance difference.

'98 has the Wood trim! : so do some 94s and all 95-96s

'98 has inside door handles in Chrome! : BFD

'98 has rear seat Center Armrest! : don't care, how often do you sit in the back seat? And 96s have this feature if you want to call it a "feature"

'98 has Tilt and Telescoping steering wheel! : Don't care, just another thing to break, which most have by now unless its either low mile or has been fixed..never had it on a car and don't need it.

'98 has windshield mounted Compass! : really? So what..late 95s do also and all 96s.

'98 has an All-Speed Traction Control! : wish it didn't have traction control at all! Mine doesn't work anyway with the w3z2.

'98 has Point-Down on reverse mirror function! : don't care..again, just something else to break on a 15 year old car.

'98 has Driver Seat Memory Presets! So do all 1st gens..never use it anyway..I'm the only one who drives it.

'98 has Aluminum hood! : way easier to dent..the 1st gen plastic hoods are more durable and really not that heavy.

'98 has a Larger anti-sway bar! : this is a plus, ill give you that..but just find one from a sport Thunderbird/cougar or a super coupe and change it.

'98 has more Steering Ratio (+3.14:1)! : eh I like my stiffer steering..anyway, feels more sporty and less like a boat.

'98 has Illuminated Cruise Control buttons! : so do 95s and 96s..can't say the same for the 93s and 94s but I assume they do also, they are just black buttons opposed to interior color keyed.

No disrespect, just pointing out the flaws of most of those "upgraded" features of the 2nd gens. I'll take a 1st gen any day over a 2nd gen..cheaper, less problems, no emmissions (besides 96s) and more aggressive looks..I like the look of the 2nd gens also but not enough to pay premium price for..since most think they are worth $2000-3000 more.

 

[My Great 8]

I got your point Kevin, but he was comparing 93 and 98. Not all year Gen 1's.