1988 Ford Tempo L review from North America
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Alternator and battery replaced.
Brake pads replaced.
Tie rod ends replaced.
Heater core replaced.
Hard to start in winter (mind you, it gets to be -30 celcius).
Air conditioning doesn't work.
Muffler replaced many times.
Seat belts don't retract.
Paint peeling and rusting.
Some stalling issues.
Sensors replaced.
Tires replaced.
Needs wheel alignment.
CV boot replaced.
Front struts replaced.
Normal maintenance stuff.
General comments?
This car is becoming an heirloom. My mother's car, then my sister, and now me, and it's still running OK despite that. When you consider how old this car is, all the replaced parts and problems occurred simply because of the age of the vehicle. So, despite the fact that it's nothing fancy at all, this car has kept on ticking through the test of time. For something cheap to begin with, I don't think it's a bad car.. they are TOUGH. If you're looking for speed, comfort, flashiness, or attention, you won't get with this car. What you will get is something fairly reliable, cheap to buy and run,& it gets from point A to B.
Recommended reviews
  | Less reliable as the years were added on |
| A great performer for an economical car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| First year of ownership | 1990 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.3 Manual |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 7/10 |
| Comfort marks | 6/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 20000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 201000 kilometres |
| Date of Entry | 27th July, 2004 |