27th Nov 2003, 07:01
I know a mechanic who owns a Tempo. His engine blew up and he is not very pleased about it. It also likes to rust on him like Ford put a uv catalyst in it!!
Ford Tempos do NOT like to be revved or driven above 4500 RPM from what I have learned. This mechanic kept it maintained like clock-work!! So why don't you get stuck with a Tempo and see how you like it!!
25th Dec 2003, 13:34
Ford sold lots of these ugly beasties. Most are in the junk yard. Anyone one who thinks they got a good deal with one of these is far too easily pleased. My advice: you don't need the shock you would get from owning a Japanese car, so keep buying Fords.
13th Jan 2004, 22:54
Try buying a V-8 Ford car such as the Crown Victoria of the same year, your opinions will change totally.
26th Feb 2004, 20:33
I would like to add to this. I own a 1988 tempos GLS. It hasn't caused too many problems. It leaks oil, but that's no big deal. The parking brake cable is loose, but putting it in reverse and turning the car off is just as easy. The only serious problem I have had with it was the steering column which I got from the junkyard for $50. The other problems I had was the headlight and turn signal covers fell off. Epoxy glue works great for that. I am not a ford fan, but this is not too bad of a car. And like some others said, cars will rust. And cars will have problems. I don't know a car that doesn't have problems here and there. For all you people that say something goes bad regularly, that's just exaggeration and we all know it.
20th May 2004, 15:55
My 1988 tempo has 225000 miles on it and I have only had the clutch replaced and some front end work (about $450). All in all not bad for a car that is 16 years old. Maybe mine was made on a Tuesday.
Iowa.
10th May 2005, 18:19
Yeah. I don't get why people whine about their car being a POS when in fact they didn't take good care of their car, if at all.
10th Sep 2005, 16:06
I bought a used 1991 ford tempo from someone and I haven't really had any problems with it except for the oil leakage and hard shifting. But everything else is in good working condition and I even run a car system off of my car so I really don't have any complaints to make.
26th Sep 2005, 09:20
Tempos are junk. You get an odd one, and it'll work good, then I'm happy for you.
I know several people who've owned tempos since new. took good care of them, and yet, they were junk. the body rusted out quickly, pieces became misaligned. Any tempo I see today, look like crap, with so much body fill, and etc.
Engines, unless you had the V6, were gutless, and hated being revved.
I'd rather own a Cavalier, at least I can depend on it.
27th Jul 2006, 20:09
Ha ha, I love that... why would anyone keep a car long enough to replace brakes and alternator every year??
Anyways, I bought a 1988 Ford Tempo and it was totally awesome, I beat the snot out of it, it always started for me.
I had troubles once, but it was an easy fix (probably cause I drive it through 6 ft pot holes, and I got it 3 years ago and put 70,000 km on it, and the whole time I think I changed the oil maybe 3 times?).
I did have to put oil in once in a while, cause it almost went dry on me a couple times, and I drove the transmission oil empty, and didn't even ruin the transmission.
I never put radiator coolant in it, maybe like twice, and it always ran empty.
I was horrible to this car, and still it drove and I got about 10 km per litre of gas, which is for you Americans, 24 miles per gallon. Not too shabby for an old car.
Also, the body was still really good. It had been undercoated forever, and the woman I bought it from had taken really good care of it. I killed it, and I am now getting it ready for a demolition derby.
I will drive it to the end!!
26th Nov 2003, 13:13
If the driver doesn't take care of the the car and drive it wisely, the car will eventually become a piece of junk. You can't expect anything out of a relationship if you put nothing into it.