Well, first off, the dealer was really crappy.
It had a problem with one of the tail lights being out, but all it was, was that it had to be plugged back into the wire harness.
Also, it has a short on the circut for the interior lights, keyless entry, power locks & mirrors. I have to occasionally replace the fuse, but it's no big deal :) I'm planning on fixing it soon though.
Other than that, I have had a great experience with this badass car, and all of the crackheads who say that "FORD SUCKS" need a serious reality check. Ford is the ORIGINAL and BEST. THE BEST NEVER REST!!!
I love my car. My car is so badass. I love the paint. I also love the comfortable, beautiful, ergonomic, amazingly wonderful interior.
Also, the 4.6 V8 is a GREAT engine. Very powerful and responsive. It's no 5.0, but it gets the job done.
The rear wheel drive is nice too :) I wish that it had traction control for the rainy days, and I wish it had ABS, but it has ever other factory option (except leather, but that's okay, because leather sucks).
Also, the factory moonroof is fun. The car has power everything, and it is just too awesome for words. I'm getting happy just talking about my Thunderbird.... My beautiful baby!
Thunder birds have always been a great car. I have driven many different years: '70 302ci, 78 351w Town Landau, 79 302 (extensive mods -my car), '84 turbo coupe, '87 turbo coupe, 89 3.8, '93 3.8, '97 4.6. These cars are all great and very fun to drive. I have had a thunder bird fetish since I was 5 years old. In these cars you get more respect on the road than semi trucks, except for the average, jealous Chevy monte carlo driver who will treat you badly on the road. Mmmmm... can't wait to finish my '79.. I am stripping off the vinyl top and putting all the chrome back on, painting it gloss white lacquer with brown lacquer lower 2 tone scheme. Decals, 400hp, manual transmission, big tires, Cragar 54's, Cougar XR7 buckets and dash, Oh it's so nice.. Can't wait to drive it again!
The only thing that I have to say is that the 4.6L T-Bird's put out plenty more than 115hp, from the factory ford rates them at 205hp with dual exhaust. I have had my '94 T-Bird Dynoed and it put up 248hp/312tq to the wheels with under-drive pulleys, PI Heads and Intake Manifold, Borla Cat-Back Exhaust, and JBA Headers. Cold air and a larger MAF are next in line, along with a superchip. Anyways I love my T-Bird, but your numbers are wrong.
You say that the 4.6 is no 5.0, but in reality it is somewhat better. It is slightly more powerful in the T-Bird (205 HP vs. 200 HP) and is quicker stock 0-60 and in the quarter in a T-Bird. The 5.0 also has 5 ft-lbs. less torque than your car.
I have a 1996 4.6 that beat a 1994 mustang 5.0 by two car lengths in the 1/4 of a mile. The only problem I had was I blew the intake manifold resulting in a piece of plastic being sucked into my intake and bending a rocker arm. But ford replaced it due to the fact the manifold was on recall and the rocker arm was affected by the manifold, so it was all replaced for free. All my friends love to drive my car one friend loves the fact that you can spin both tires while doing 35 mph on dry pavement.
The 96 4.6lt will not break them loose going anything above 15mph. well atleast not stock, I own one. and my brothers 98 GTP spanks my car and my frend's base 01 Maxima beats me by about 2 car lengths.
I got a 96' 4.6 v8 tbird... by far best car I have driven... the thing has more power then the majority of the cars I've driven, and and handling is great too... the problems I have had with it are I blew my intake manifold near the altenator... that's about it. hopefully I will be getting a new exhaust system and intake, but they are hard to find for my model... if anybody knows n e performance parts for my car.. leave a comment
all in all GREAT CAR, even tho it's a ford...
Check out www.tccoa.com (Thunderbird Cougar Club of America). They can help out with anything on these cars, including performance and maintenance.
OK well in all reality the 4.6 can spin tires at 20 with a hard down shift from the tranny when its feeling "happy". no where near 35 though. Second I've dynoed my stock 4.6 in my bird and power to the wheels was 176 HP 220 ft. lbs of torque. A decrease in what factory was supposed to have. Although these cars munch the v6 firebird, camros, stangs..etc..etc they are no real match for any thing with a HP rating of 230 or more. Also Your birds running kinda slow if a GTP beat ya by two lengths I could see maybe 1/2 -1 length not two my bird can tackle one of those cars off the line, but than well you know the rest boost gauge goes way up and there gone, but not by much. shifting into second you get ground back fast. A few upgrades and these cars can be kings of the roads. And also in mustang territory 0-60 wise. Very potent sleeper.
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