1988 Ford Thunderbird LX review from North America
"V8 power and fully loaded"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Has leaked everything possible at one point or another.
Troublesome dash lighting.
The transmission doesn't shift very well at times.
Weird electrical short, would start, but not run.
Has been through four starters and three alternators since I've had it. The car also regularly eats water pumps.
General comments?
It's not very hard to work on, which is a good thing because you will be working on it. Invest in some metric tools.
It looks very wicked in midnight blue, lowered, with 20% tint all around, shaved emblems, and wheels. I've had cars slow down to 55 and change lanes when I've pulled up behind them. :)
It's comfortable on the highway, great for long miles.
Relatively quiet, not much wind noise.
Nice radio (premium sound) from the factory, but I've upgraded recently.
Has every option I can think of, more than some new cars.
It's a blast to drive, with enough power to pull out into heavy traffic and not think twice about it. The gas mileage is decent, but a new Mustang will beat it. I love this car, and despite having to fix it regularly, I plan on keeping it around as a project car for a very long time. It is definitely a unique car, and looks fast sitting still.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1995 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 5.0 V8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 5/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 75000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 178000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 3rd May, 2003 |