1996 Ford Thunderbird LX review from North America
"Affordable performance in a good looking skin with a touch of luxury"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Intake manifold blew at 70K miles (covered by a general recall).
Also needed an oil pan and gasket replacement ($500).
Driver's side window needs a new track ($100).
Stock CD player malfunctioned early on -- refused to eject a CD, replaced the entire stereo system.
General comments?
I was very pleased with the car until just recently. Seems like once it passed 70K miles, everything started to go wrong. Intake manifold was covered by a recall, but it still cost me $300 for diagnosis at another repair shop (before I knew of the recall -- thank goodness I checked it out!) towing, and rental car expenses. And, I guess living in a colder climate, a rusting oil pan is not uncommon, but not cheap to fix!
Seats, interior very comfortable. Love the sunroof/moon roof. Handles well for such a large, heavy car. V-8 motor performs great, and delivers OK mileage in the city (17-20), better on the highway (25-30). Of course, that depends widely on driving habits.
Hopefully, the problems have passed, and I can get back to ENJOYING my car.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.6L V-8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9/10 |
| Reliability marks | 6/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 45000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 71000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Ranger |
| Date of Entry | 8th September, 2001 |