1996 Ford Thunderbird LX review from North America

Transmission typical of these years is starting to shudder.

I've loved this car and wished I would have gotten the V8 model. My prior car was a '71 Dodge Charger with a 340 (replaced the 360) and that is why the low performance on the T-Bird.

Comfort and reliability are great. The key to the modern car is PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. While the V6 model is known to have head gasket issues, it is seldom known or told to you by a dealer that coolant FLUSHING either normal or 'reverse' flushing will speed along head gasket leaks. The transmission failures is a FORD issue. They know it, and the replacement of about $50 worth of plastic with aluminum or stainless pistons in the automatics valve bodies would have solved these issues.

Overall, I cannot say enough about the car. Admittedly the last few years rust has been creeping in, but I lived in MD/PA border and worked in PA, where they love the salt in the winter (and no garage) with a good set of tires. I have NEVER used snow tires during any of the blizzards we had had. I use low 1 and leave the engine rev limiter engaged. But the T-Bird will stick to the road if the person driving it has any skill and not bald tires.

Again, cannot say enough good things. I do know every manufacturer makes a good and bad one now and then, and some of us get lucky.