1988 Ford Aerostar from North America - Comments

Well, The Timing Chain Broke One Month After Buying, Resulting In A MAJOR Repair.

The Ignition Switch And Key Cylinder Needed Replacing Shortly Thereafter.

Rear A/C Developed A HUGE Coolant Leak, Resulting In Constant Overheating.

BOTH Front Power Windows Stopped Working.

Fron A/C Leaked Freon And Seized The Compressor.

Transmission Leaked So Bad, It Needed Two Pints Of Fluid Replenished On A Twice Weekly Basis.

THIS VAN IS A S@#*&! BOMB FROM THE GET-GO!!

HENRY FORD MUST BE DOING CARTWHEELS IN HIS GRAVE, KNOWING THE HORRIBLE QUALITY OF HIS CARS!!!

"QUALITY IS JOB ONE"!?

Overall The Van DID Have Great Accelleration, And Ford Is known For Having Excellent Brakes.

Your previous car was a Dodge Monaco, and you are complaining about the Aerostar's lack of quality?

And why do you feel the need to capitalize every word of your review?

You have to keep in mind no car manufacturer is going to produce any vehicle that lasts for more than five years. Because if they did, they would put themselves out of business. That goes for all of them.

Why would you buy a new car if the one you've got is okay. They know this, and this is how they stay in business. It's called planned obsolescence. Any car or truck you're gonna buy is only made to last a max of five years or less. So when you buy a vehicle that is more than five years old, you're taking a big gamble as to whether or not it will hold up.

For example, my family has a 2003 Cadillac and a 2002 Chevy Astro Van. As soon as they hit the five year mark, things like door trim and plastic paneling were literally coming off. The spot welds on both doors have come undone and there is only one hinge holding each of the doors on the Astro van.

The Cadillac is already past the five year mark, and already needs to be replaced with a new car.

I myself have a 1988 Aerostar, and yes I have replaced all rubber and plastic parts on that van. But what do I expect, it's over 20 years old. That's 3 times past its life expectancy.

It's got just over 170 thousand miles. I just recently put a radiator and fan clutch in. It's all in the way you drive an old vehicle as to how it will hold up for you. If you try and keep up with everyone else between the stop lights, of course it will clunk out. You have to remember 85% of people who drive like that have a pretty new vehicle to under a year old vehicle. I drive my van at 3,000 rpm or under all the time, and it gets up to 45 or faster between lights in 3rd gear; any faster than that, I will be getting pulled over.

One thing I know for sure is the government hates old vehicles, because they don't make much money off them like they would a new car.

The only oils I run are Valvoline 10-40 and just about half a court of Lucas oil stabilizer. We cannot forget about the fl-1a oil filter original from Motorcraft. I use a oil filter socket that fits on the groves on the end of the oil filter, plus a 3/8 drive ratchet to put it on. I don't like the oil filter straps, metal or plastic makes no difference, they tend to crush the oil filter.

All I know is my van works good for me, which makes me happy. Yeah people go around me cause I drive too slow, but hey my van will probably still be running on the road when theirs is in the junk pile. Cause they ran them 70% throttle or higher all the time. Don't worry, the light is not going to change any faster for you. I normally slow down to 35 mph by the time I get up there. The light changes and I didn't burn up my breaks, rotors, trans, motor, etc or strain the motor and trans to get back up to speed. Unlike the guy next to me at the light pulling 5,5000 plus rpm to get up to speed just to slam on the brakes again. Most people don't know how to drive, that's why they don't get optimal mileage/usage out of their vehicles.