1988 Ford Thunderbird Sport 5.0 V8

Summary:

The best and only car I've ever had!

Faults:

The brakes and brake lines have been replaced this year.

(Brake lines were "in tatters")

The rear axel seal went bad.

I had a small oil and transmission fluid leak.

Window fell into the door, but did not crack or shatter.

General Comments:

It handles like a dream.

The V8 makes hard acceleration a breeze.

The seats are so comfortable that I could easily sleep in them.

The Cabin and car controls are ideally placed and not difficult to reach.

If you are tall, do not be afraid, this car has plenty of leg and head room.

The sport model is getting harder and harder to find.

The paint is 20 years old and still shines like a new penny.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st July, 2007

1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo coupe 2.3L turbo

Summary:

A well-craft piece of American muscle

Faults:

Nothing really. radiator has a slow leak, but that's soon to be replaced, had custom exhaust installed so it rattles now and then. Normal wear and tear on the inside all power options work and has no leaks when it rains, the little clips or the door handles are gone and the seat is showing its age, but no rips or tears though. the window fell of the rail once but repaired that with some heavy-duty glue.

General Comments:

I love this car! I always used to be the kind of guy were more cubic inches were better, but since I bought this car and did some modification to it I run with LS1's and Mustang are a piece of cake! the handling is amazing in the turns and the automatic ride control works like a champ. The interior is comfy, beautiful, and properly put together. the sound of the turbo spooling up when I step on it has to be one of the most enjoyable sounds on the planet. as for now I'm doing some more mods to make it even faster! ill update when I'm done, all I'm waiting on is the head to get done.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st July, 2005

1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe 2.3 liter

Summary:

A wickedly fast, superbly handling beauty!

Faults:

The Firm Ride is not working.

There is a fan running constantly in the engine due to a blown sensor.

On my previous Turbo Coupe, I went through three sets of brakes in roughly 50,000 miles. The brakes seem a little soft on this car, but the car still stops fine.

Trunk release does not work.

One fog lamp does not work.

Seats are faded, as I believe the car was parked for a long time.

General Comments:

I got my first Turbo Coupe in 1990 and sold it in '94, and waited nine years to get another.

The car was purchased off e-bay, and it is in really good condition. Needs some very minor body work and a paint job, and I need to either dye the interior or get new seats, as the red has faded to a rather nasty orangey-grey!

My husband maintains our vehicles and is very impressed by how well the car was maintained. I am the forth owner, the man I bought it from I believe just bought it, detailed it and sold it.

I won't lie to anyone and tell you that when something breaks on this car that it is cheap to fix it. It isn't! I spent a lot of money on my first one fixing the brakes. But look at it this way, it may be high maintenance, but believe me, it is worth it!

The car is extremely powerful! It is quick even when you don't engage the Turbo, and when you do, hold on because you may wind up in the backseat! I don't remember my first on being as quick as this one, but I do remember giving it to much gas a couple times on takeoff and spinning completely out! I am trying to behave with this one! Unfortunately the Firm Ride does not work on this car (I am dying to get it fixed), because when you combine the power of this car with the superb handling when the Firm Ride is engaged... all I can say is WOW! It hugs the road, corners beautifully, and you truly feel at one with the car. It is poetry in motion!

The car is gorgeous, I highly recommend black with the GTS blackout headlight covers. It is a wicked looking car.

The interior is roomy enough, and comfortable. If you can get the Premium Sound-system with the Graphic Equalizer I highly recommend it. However, my equalizer is disconnected due to an aftermarket CD player being installed, and it just does not sound as good.

I seriously have been in love with this car since I was 16, and I am 32 now. It is my dearest possession.

If you have a chance to get one of these cars, I highly highly recommend it. It will not disappoint!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th August, 2004

22nd Apr 2005, 14:34

I have an '88 5 speed. It has (ready for this...) 207+ thousand miles on it! I LOVE THIS CAR! I am the second owner of it and had since 1991. It had 20,000 miles at the time I purchased it. The seats have seen better days and it could use a new paint job (never been in a garage). I need to replace the cylinder head, because it recently developed a crack and the car wasn't running right. I can get the head re-worked for $350 bucks. My wife thinks I should just get rid of the car, and my father thinks I need to get my head checked for spending the money, but I cannot tell you how good this car has been to me, and the money is nothing compared to what other people have spent on their cars in the same 14 years that I've owned this one. There are some other odds and ends that it needs, but for the most part, EVERYTHING else works! AC, keyless entry, both power seats, moon-roof (NO LEAKS BABY!), ride control, power windows, etc. Most of all, NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TURBO! BURNS NO OIL, and starts right up every time, even in coldest winter months (I live in NY).

This car is fast, especially the 5-speed model. Even on the expressway, when in 5th gear (remember, this gear is OVER-DRIVE, not meant for passing!), all I have to do is put my foot down and this car reacts. That turbo kicks in and I feel myself being pressed further and further into my seat. It seems like the is no end to it. The car literally feels like it is going to leave the ground. I am amazed everytime I open the hood and see that little 4-banger. I am told that there is a lot more potential in this car as well. I mean, I don't know any other turbo charged car that boosts over 8 or 9 pounds, this thing goes up to 15! And that's right out of the factory! There are kits available to boost even further. As far as handling, it corners very well, even for a four seater, and is repsonsive. People have actually stopped to talk to me about the car, telling me about their T-Bird that they once owned and how they regret getting rid of it. Sucks for them! It's not going to happen to me, I'm keeping it! I also think it is a very good looking car, something I think is hard to find now-a-days. New cars all look the same to me - small and cheap. This car has some size and is rear wheel drive! Try to find a new rear wheel drive car, it's not that easy. Why would I want rear-wheel drive? Because front wheel drive is JUNK when it comes to performance! Yes, this car is completely worthless in the snow - but it is unreal on dry pavement, more so than ANY other FWD car.

Don't take my word for it. I haven't seen on article yet that says anything different about this car. Drive one yourself and you'll see.