1996 Ford Thunderbird LX review from North America
"Somewhere between a sedan and a sports car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Intake manifold replaced under recall.
Decorative light on trunk lid cost $200 to replace a burnt out light bulb.
Shifter brake interlock cost $550 to replace.
Lot's of pinging when I get on it, even after a dealer tune-up.
Shock absorber gone after 60K miles.
Brakes replaced at 80K miles.
Transmission seal for drive shaft gone at 80K miles.
Overall, pretty reliable, but when it breaks the fix ain't cheap.
General comments?
The model with sports handling option is pretty fun to drive, but the standard suspension wanders all over the road.
V8 has plenty of pep.
Cabin is comfortable for 260 pounds on 6'0" frame, but not really big enough for a 280 pound 6'4" friend. Interior will seem huge for petite people.
Air conditioning not quite up to Arizona summers.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| First year of ownership | 1996 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.7L V8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 8/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 25 miles |
| Most recent distance | 81000 miles |
| Previous car | Mazda RX7 |
| Date of Entry | 7th September, 2001 |