1988 Ford Thunderbird LX review from North America
"Damn good"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Front struts rattle.
Front wheel bearings needed replacing.
Seats are not the best.
General comments?
This is the fourth Thunderbird I have owned, and quite possibly the best. It is the LX model, so as far as options it is pretty bare bones.
The saving grace for me, of course, is the V8. it has a good amount of torque, but at 150hp it could use a little help in the get up and go. However, with plenty of aftermarket resources to choose from, this is only a temporary problem.
If you are considering a T-Bird with a V8, get the Sport model. You get much better seats, a quad shock set-up and a better rear end gear set. But by all means STAY AWAY FROM THE 3.8L V6 MODEL. Believe me, your wallet will thank you and you won't have to worry about the head gaskets going to hell.
Cheers.
Recommended reviews
| 1988 - Thunderbird Base 3.8 V6 A rolling trash can |
|
| 1987 - Thunderbird LX 302 (5.0 Litre) V8 A Luxurious Sleeper Performance Car, Called a Thunderbird LX |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1988 |
| Year of manufacture | 1988 |
| First year of ownership | 2008 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | 5.0 liter V8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 60500 miles |
| Most recent distance | 71000 miles |
| Previous car | Oldsmobile Alero |
| Date of Entry | 2nd January, 2009 |