1989 Ford Tempo LX review from North America
"The Ford Tempo is a great first car, which is easily customizable, and has a great engine"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The oil pan leaked and I had to put a quart of oil into it every week for three months. That cost about $200 to fix.
The tires were extremely worn out when I got it, so I bought new ones.
The windshield cracked, which cost about $125 to fix.
The door locks only work on one side of the car.
The right rear window does not work. The car is equipped with power windows and locks.
A couple of hub caps fell off.
Someone hit my bumper in Walmart and it has a huge crack in it. If you are out there...
My alternator belt broke a couple weeks ago.
The muffler is going, but I don't have enough money right now to pay for it. At the moment, it is being held onto the car with duct tape.
The paint is chipping off all over the car.
The headlights are inadequate at night or in the rain.
The car has a stalling problem, however Ford is expected to recall the starter in a few months.
The bell signaling that you left your headlights on does not sound until you have left the car. This has caused me to have to jump it after work at least three times.
General comments?
This is a great first car. It stalls a lot, however it has only failed to start again once. That was my friend Jeff's fault because his conga drum hit the emergency fuel shut off switch in my trunk and we did not realize it. However, the fact that a fairly small car such as this could fit a large conga in the trunk with room to spare is amazing.
It has great pick-up for getting on the highway.
The brakes are in great shape.
The steering wheel is made of a weird kind of rubber, but a $10 leather cover from Walmart fixed that.
The stereo system was great for 1989, however I needed more than a cassette player. The way it is designed, it was easy to install an aftermarket CD player and new Sony speakers.
Recommended reviews
| A workhorse that just won't stop |
|
| A car built to last till the next millennium |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1989 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 52000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 60000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 26th January, 2002 |