Faults:

Water pump went started leaking.

Brakes were really bad in it.

Headlights are really really dim.

Needed a new starter.

It needed a new distributer.

General Comments:

This car handles very well for an older car. The gas mileage on it is not to bad. The interior except for the roof is in excellent shape. It is very low on miles for the age of the car. The power isn't all that good going up hills. I wish that it would have a lot more power.

Faults:

The car's braking system was fantastic, when it worked. When it broke, EVERYTHING cost a great deal of money unless you could cut corners like I did or you knew people. I once had to have Ford do an entire search to find an ABS sensor and it had been sitting on a service shelf for 8 years.

The car also loved to overheat, and of all places, on the highway. You would think hard city driving would be the key, but not so in this case. My guess was that it was just a poorly-engineered water pump.

The fuel pump was the anti-Christ, and replacing it (and the fuel sending unit) was like the fifth ring of hell.

General Comments:

The postings on here made me think about a car that I loved dearly but no longer own. Despite its shortcomings, I have to be fair since the car was ten years old when I bought it. Although I have owned a few cars since then, this was one of the finest vehicles Ford ever made. It is a rarity too: I used to see one every three to four days; I am lucky if I see one now every three to four months.

I used this car as a daily driver, which was a bad idea in terms of my then broke-college student budget. I think I had the least-optioned TC available: no illuminated vanity mirrors, auto dim/lamp, etc. However, the color scheme (Black with Scarlet Red velour) was the best!

I'd eagerly recommend anyone to buy this car if they find a decent one, which is quite hard to find. The lower mileage, one-owner car is worth the extra $700-1000, trust me.

Faults:

Cooling fan (plastic) cracked.

Throw-out bearing is prone to chatter. Replaced it at 18K and it's doing it again.

Some have warped brake rotors, but it's a problem with many Fords of the same vintage.

Rear springs are prone to slight sag.

Antilock brake booster wears out prematurely. Gives a lot of prior warning -- light goes off and on.

Driving with the driver's seat base far forward will eventually loosen and/or crack the plastic housing that covers the housing. But this is cosmetic.

ABS plastic nose cone and header are a real weakness. They crack easily if hit and offer little protection for the radiator. Buy a couple of spares if you plan to keep the car forever.

Voltage regulator on some late '87 Fords goes haywire. Gas and temperature gauges will fluctuate bizzarely or peg out at high and stay there.

A/C developed a big leak 2 years ago and I have yet to repair or convert it from R12.

Check engine light occasionally lights, but nobody has found anything wrong. Also lights if following or idling behind a vehicle with emission problems, so I've nearly concluded it's a sensor.

General Comments:

Change the timing belt if there's any doubt.

Economical: 33 MPG highway @70 - 80 MPH. Huge gas tank, like 22 gal or so.

"Giant sucking sound" around town, 5-speed is a pig there. Or maybe it's my driving ;-)

No problems with the turbo or intercooler. All seals still good.

Motor mounts are still holding.

Original clutch has a lot left.

Power stering & rack are okay.

Automatic shocks work.

Got almost 28K (honest) out of the original tires, mostly highway.

Paint's good, car has always been indoors. Has a hood that you can see from inside the car.

Current car - '00 Buick LaSabre Custom as close as you can get to a Turbo Coupe for driveabilty and economy in a new car.