Faults:

*I found out that the previous owner of this vehicle was a felon, and obviously beat this car up. I doubt the car would have had this many problems if the previous owner did normal maintenance*

These were present when I purchased the vehicle:

Wear and tear on seats/dashboard.

Leaking power steering fluid.

Excessive oil consumption.

Power locks and cruise control did not work.

These repairs were needed during ownership:

Radiator grille @137.5k - $820.

Rebuilt transmission @139k - $990.

Exhaust malfunction @ 140k - $600.

My vehicle is currently in the shop, because the catalytic converter and rack and pinion system are dying.

General Comments:

I bought this car after I had been without a car for a couple of years. I moved to an area where a car was necessary, and as I was low on funds, had to buy from a less than honest used car dealership.

I have always found these cars, the MN12 series, interesting; they are sometimes referred to as an "American 6 series". They really don't make cars like this anymore. The styling is appealing from certain angles - the front is aggressive, with a very nice sloping hood. The side view is also good looking, with the long doors and low profile.

The interior is, in my opinion, one of the better ones done by Ford in the 90s. However, like most 90's Fords, it's a rattle trap - above 70mph, the rattling is loud and annoying. Most of the 90's Fords have a rattling problem, but this car felt much more solid at higher mileage than my 94 Probe GT did at lower mileage.

The seats are very nice looking, and comfortable as well - however, they could use more lower back support or long drives.

The controls are basic, but fall very easily into the driver's hands.

My car came with the power drivers seat, and the controls worked well. It was easy to find a good driving position. I like the leather wrapped shifter, and the steering wheel feels nice in the driver's hands.

The cup holders, however, are terrible. They are located on the inside of the center console, and are basically impossible to use, so I always put my drinks between the passengers seat and console, or between the drivers seat and door jam. Ford really screwed up on the cup holders, which is a shame, as this car is great as a cruiser.

The back seats are small, but adults can ride in them for short to medium lengths of time. There are belts for 3 passengers in the back, but in reality only 2 can fit, as the drive shaft leaves no room for the middle passenger in the back.

As I stated above, this vehicle is great for long distance cruising. These 4.6L V8s are basically bulletproof, and will run forever. The 96 Thunderbird's 4.6L comes with 205hp @ 4500rpm and 280lbs of torque at 3000rpm. 0 to 60 arrives in the low 8 second range, with the 1/4 mile coming between 16 and 17 seconds - not bad for the time, and still quite above average for today. The power comes on smooth and builds into the higher rev range. Torque off the line is great, but the car doesn't really begin to pull hard until 3000rpm. Freeway passing power is very good.

Gas mileage is OK, better than my 2007 Mustang GT - I think I get around 16 to 17 MPG around town and 25 to 26 MPG highway. The car takes regular grade, which helps expenses a bit.

These cars come equipped with a 4 speed automatic transmission, which gear hunts a bit upon downshifts. A manual transmission would have suited this engine better, and made it much more 'fun' to drive, but this wasn't meant to be a sports car; it was designed to be a powerful long distance GT, and the engine and transmission allow this car to complete its mission very well.

This car comes with an independent rear suspension, and handles very well for a big coupe, partly due also to the car being so low to the ground. It is very fun to throw into corners, and holds its own for such a heavy car. The ride is very comfortable, and glides over bumps and potholes (although I'm sure it rode way better when newer). Braking is adequate, although I'm sure the next owner may need new pads in the next year.

As far as reliability, I know for a fact that the previous owner beat on it, and therefore I cannot blame the car itself for some of the problems. However, the amount of repairs I had to pay for was aggravating, and will add up to more than the car is valued at. On a side note, these cars are very hard to sell on a used lot apparently. The demand for personal luxury coupes died out in the mid 90s.

I would like to keep this as a second car, as it is great in traffic. This is just an overall comfortable and powerful car, great to eat up long drives. I just bought a 2007 Mustang GT, so I cannot afford two cars, or I would keep it as a daily driver.

Faults:

Intake manifold 3 times cracked until they (FORD!) got the right fix. It did not cost me anything but inconvenience; the dealer was great.

This car has always been fun to drive, and now that it is used mostly for pleasure, it gives me a pleasure release on my favorite roads.

I keep this car in tip top shape; I plan on giving it to my grandson.

General Comments:

This car has lived up to what I bought it for, and it still turns heads at 15 model years old.