I knew that if I went ahead and bought a car as a compromise that the right TC would come along soon after. A couple of months after buying a beautiful, 63,000 mile 91 Mercury Grand Marquis I found an 89 TC in red with ginger and a tan soft top on Craigslist LA. Only 72,000 miles and looking really good in the photos, now that I don't have the money for it anymore, AARRGGHH!! Oh well, too late to sell the Mercury with gas prices where they are.

Yup...I know exactly how you feel....
Been there, dun that... Used to think fate had it in for me! LOL (not to get philosophical...oops too late)
..Now I choose to see it as The Big Guy has something even closer to my idea of perfect, a little further down the road.... just my humble opinion..
Still it's hard not to get those Homer Simpson moments... DOH!

We've all had them. Had an opportunity to buy a Burgundy/burgundy/black 16v for a very good price before I knew what I now know about these cars. A tree had fallen on the car and damaged the driver's door pretty badly. My thought at the time was, "I'll never be able to find parts".

Two parts cars later, I wish I'd bought it....