Here's why:
* Harsh Ride: The Mark VIII's air suspension is a key part of its ride quality. Without it, the ride will be incredibly rough and jarring, making it difficult to control the car, especially at higher speeds or on uneven surfaces. This reduced control is a safety concern.
* Tire Wear: The uneven ride will put extra stress on your tires, causing premature wear and potentially leading to a blowout.
* Suspension Component Damage: Driving without air suspension forces the standard suspension components to handle the load they weren't designed for. This can lead to premature wear and tear, potentially causing parts to fail and lead to loss of control.
* Handling Issues: The car's handling will be significantly degraded. You'll experience more body roll in corners, making it harder to maintain control, particularly in emergency maneuvers.
* Reduced Ground Clearance: Depending on how the suspension is failing, ground clearance may be significantly reduced, making it easier to scrape the bottom of the car on bumps and dips.
In short, while you won't likely experience an immediate catastrophic failure, driving a Mark VIII without functioning air ride is strongly discouraged. It severely compromises the car's safety and handling, making it a much riskier vehicle to operate. It's best to get the air suspension repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
