1994 Ford Thunderbird LX review from North America
"With motors that last forever these cars are a bargain"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
A small bolt in the rear suspension linkage was worn, and made a small noise when turning. I replaced it with a similar bolt from Lowe's for about $1. That's it.
General comments?
The downside to this car is the headlamp plastic shell can get cloudy over time and reduce light output.
The upsides to this car:
Motor. Runs strong, and runs forever. I have seen several over 200,000 mile and even a few over 400,000 miles (Crown Vic taxis). Very quiet with modern spark control versus older cap and rotor.)
Transmission. Shifts for the older crowd, but basically bulletproof. The 1-2 accumulator spring can break in these. As long as that cheap part is fixed promptly, the rest of the transmission will live forever.
Suspension. Modern independent rear provides a very smooth ride on the highway while soaking up bumps with ease. This is the only car I have owned that has no rattles or squeaks when going over rough pavement. To me this is a highway car.
Interior. Seats are very comfortable, even for 5+ hours. Controls and dash layout are in just the right places. Air conditioning blows ice cold, even I have to back off the a/c a little sometimes. Heat will bake you right out of the car if you let it. I love the variable fan speed.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.6L SOHC Automatic |
| Performance marks | 10/10 |
| Reliability marks | 10/10 |
| Comfort marks | 10/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 57000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 68000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Ranger |
| Date of Entry | 2nd October, 2003 |