1993 Ford Tempo GL review from North America

Very little. Normal tires, brakes. Still original engine, transmission, radiator, etc. Even the water pump is original.

Did one brake valve. One serpentine belt.

One of the best cars made, if you consider all things. I am an aircooled Porsche 911 nut, and I must admit that the Tempo is in many ways a better car. It is far more reliable, does not leak oil, and parts are cheap and available. Not that I have needed many parts.

For what it is (an economy car) it has acceptable acceleration, handling and drive ability. It is also great in snow.

The Porsche 911 will only reward a very experienced driver on the road, as it will spin out easily (rear engine oversteer), whereas the Tempo has only a little understeer. For the average driver, this is a better arrangement.

When you consider how cheap these cars are (and were when new) and how reliable they are and easy to repair, I honestly cannot imagine many cars in the world competing with them on equal merit. We have had three of them, and they have all been fantastic.

By the way, the Porsche will not necessarily win on a race track either. It still all comes down to the driver. The air cooled 911's I am familiar with would have course blow a Tempo off the road with a top driver.

An inexperienced drive, however, would make it first time around the track with a Tempo, but would spin out several times in a 911 and lose. 911s are hard to drive at speed.

There is only one problem with the Tempo. Be careful with the valve cover gasket. Ford only sells these as part of a whole kit including the bolts and valve cover, and it costs $450. You can buy aftermarket ones, but be careful with the original if you ever take it off, as it can be reused (it is rubber).

Enjoy those Tempos! They are not making any more.