One of the easier cars to drive
New wheel bearing (from doing donuts in snow/ice).
New steering box.
Tie rods rotted.
This car handles really good. It is easy to control.
The cup holders are in the most random place possible, which is inside the center console. If they are being used, the passenger does not have an arm rest.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 17th February, 2009
A classic American icon
Replaced upper and lower ball joints at 106000 miles. Cost about $120.00, did them myself, not easy.
Struts at 109000, cost $230.00.
Shocks/rear at 98000, broke one, decided to do both, cost about $121.00.
Had trains fluid and torque converter fluid changed to Mercon V to get rid of that annoying shutter between 40 and 60 mph.
Strut rod bushing at 10600 miles, cost $35.00. Did them myself.
Brake rotors 3 times since buying it in 1995.
Love this car, can't bring myself to sell it. My wife hates it, but then again, I've never let her drive it.
Plenty of power and great handling.
Comfortable as they come. I drive cross country a lot.
Wish the cup holders had been thought out a little better.
Worth every penny ever spent on her.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 15th January, 2009
The only good Ford
Head gasket blew at 35,450 miles. (Dealership replaced it for free because the car was under warranty.)
Transmission started slipping at 69,315 miles. (Was low on transmission fluid, my husband put some in and it was fine after that)
Alternator replaced at 73,545 miles. ($300 fix)
Engine started tapping on start up after about 91,200 miles. (Lifter probably, but when the car warmed up it went away)
Fuel economy went down from an average of about 20 mpg to 17 mpg, and I was only getting above 19 mpg when I was on the freeway.
Engine died on the freeway at 102,394 miles due to the computer failing ($1,300 to fix)
Passenger door would not open from the outside at 119,842 miles.
Engine seized up on the freeway while my husband was racing it; I think at about 123,000 miles...
I personally liked this car, but my husband didn't. I think he hated it because it was a Ford honestly.
The car was very comfortable, fast, and performed pretty well. My husband destroyed the engine I think because he always drives everything hard. He just replaced the engine on his 1999 Grand Am last week from driving it too hard. I always tell him not to drive them hard, but he doesn't listen. He says he doesn't want to fix this one and tells me that I have to drive the Oldsmobile with over 175,000 miles for now. It is a good car, but it does not compare even close to my Thunderbird.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 10th October, 2008
I think that lady deserves a new Thunderbird ---- and a new husband.
This was one of the most reliable American cars ever made, especially the V8. You still see nice ones on the road and for sale, despite production ending with the '97 model year. Can't say I see many '97 Grandma Am's around any more, or newer ones either. It sounds like your husband lacks mechanical sympathy, and over drove it, like his Pontiac.
The last years of the rear drive T-Birds were awesome. Very well built and reliable. My family has a 1997 Mercury Cougar (same car as the T-Bird) and it is absolutely like brand new.
I wasn't wild about the post-1997 front-drive Cougars.
The Thunderbird was always a rear-drive car. '97 was the last year of 5 passenger capacity.
A great car for the price, and enough power and comfort to get you from A to B with a smile!
Well, the black paint was oxidizing when I bought it not a month ago.
The odometer is broken at 119,000, but it's estimated at 138,000.
The cup holders are useless, as they're located inside the center console.
The brake line near the back passenger side is starting to leak.
A/C has a leak, but no oil leaks.
Suspension is weak, but hey it's a 13 year old car!
All in all it has held up great and I have no major complaints.
The car is very comfortable and roomy. You'll have no trouble carting people around in the spacious interior.
And as with most smaller engines, the 4.6 V8 has no trouble carrying you and your passengers.
Definitely a passenger-oriented car with ample room and comfy seats. Great cross between lux and sport. Options are great.
Sure, this thing is a dinosaur but it's still got a lot of life left in it, and if you treat it well this car can last. It was built when Ford could afford to make reliable, good automobiles. Nowadays, cheap plastic parts and engines that won't last 100,000 are dominating the American automakers.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 31st July, 2008
I have a '95 Red T-Bird. The odometer is also out at 54k. My mom had the car sitting around since 2008. It's 2013 now, so there are a few problems with the suspension too. I think the engine has about 65k on it. I am wondering if I should spend the money to fix all the little things that are wrong with it? The body is in excellent condition. A/C is out. Leaking transmission fluid from the pan; front end needs to be completely rebuilt. Both windows do not roll down, power. Is it worth it?
It's not worth the cost. You should set it on fire and watch its essence take to the sky like a Thunderbird.
Front end do. And choose if you want air and not fix the windows. Or fix the windows and forget fixing the air. Flush all the fluids. Drive it til, but do not dump tons of money in it. It's a perfect go to work car to drive to a manufacturing plant or city where a new car would suffer damage to paint, debts and dings. Or a mall.
10th Oct 2008, 10:20
Sounds like the car was a piece of junk and not really that good to start with.