Ford Thunderbird (2002 - 2005) Midsize | Compact

Ford Thunderbird (2002 - 2005) Midsize | Compact 

DESCRIPTION

After being on hiatus for several years, Ford introduced a new Thunderbird for 2002. Returning to the original formula for the Thunderbird, the latest version had a two-seat coupe/convertible layout like the first-generation Thunderbird and retrofuturistic styling to match.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 11-20 of 233  
[Dec 30, 2004]
LJBurke
Model Reviewed: Ford Thunderbird

Strength:

Everything. I couldnt ask for a more dependable car. She's fun to drive fast and sweet to cruise slow. Breaks well. I like the rear wheel drive too. Somehow, squealing out doesn't look as tough if it's your front tires doing the squealing. In the extreme cold she starts right up every time. She's never stranded me anywhere.

Weakness:

As the rest of you have stated.. whomever designed those cupholders had his head in his rear. Whenever something spills it gets everything in my center console wet! (If that's a car's major weakness, it's a pretty good car)

This is my 4th t-bird. My first car was a 1980 T-bird. v-8, Black and grey. That was the square modle, when they looked like the LTDs of that time. The second was a 1985. Same paint job. 4-cyl turbo coup. Was hard stepping down to a 4 but the turbo made it better. :) The next was a Maroon 1993 LX. V-6. Hated it. Got the 95 when it was a year old and had around 8,000 miles on her. She has been awesome. She has about 170,000 miles on her now and I have never had major engine trouble with her. I've had to replace things like serp belts, etc... recently had to replace the battery.. for the first time! Tune-ups and such.. but other than basic maintainance I have had to do nothing but put gas in and go. Still rides smooth and gets about 21mpg hwy. I had a CD playerinstalled and speaker system. She's *silver-blue mist* which is basically light purple, but looks light blue in certain light. At this time I have to replace a head lamp. Im thinking of going halogen, but I need to replace the plastic covers as well since they are yellow and dingy from 10 years of fighting bugs. I'm also thinking on replacing the carpet. Any suggestions?

Similar Products Used:

1980- t-bird 1985- t-bird 1993- t-bird

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Dec 17, 2004]
stix213
Model Reviewed: Ford Thunderbird

Strength:

V8 has ample power being the same 4.6L engine block as the Mustang GT of the same year. Paint has been taken care of and still looks a week old after 9 years. Luxury car and muscle car in one. Headlights are daylight sensitive and turn on and off when needed. Extremely comfortable car and feels like you are part of the road. 50 mph and 95 mph don't feel any different.

Weakness:

Who the hell was in charge of the cup holders? It has two, but only easy access for the driver. The transmission likes to have overdrive shut off on twisty uphill climbs, but the O/D off light is way to bright at night time. Stock CD player was replaced by previous owner after it failed. Its a big car, so if you are like me coming from a small ZX2 you have a little adjustment to make in your driving style. Car is large enough to be a four door, but just has two extremely enormous and heavy doors, so watch other cars in the parking lot when opening and closing the doors and warn your passengers.

This car is great. A steal for the price (bought used). Other people have complained about the stock paint, but mine still has stock and turns heads after being 9 years old. Moon roof is great with no leaks. The V8 runs smooth with extra power to spare. I love just setting the tempurature I want inside and forgetting about it. With the leather seats the car feels like a luxury car, but hitting the gas with the V8 feels like a muscle car. The car is like a lazy track star in that it likes to just cruise around town slow like a grandma, but hit the gas and after the automatic transmission puts it into the right gear... BAM you are gone! And with the traction control the car will just straighten itself out if you break the wheels loose!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 20, 2004]
cmlongo
Model Reviewed: LX 4.6 V8

Strength:

Nice looking, lots of power, smooth ride for a heavy car, very comfortable.

Weakness:

Wind noise through closed moonroof above 55 mph. You had better be aware of the intake manifold problem (see above)

I bought this car brand new. Have absolutely loved it for the past -8 years...until today. My intake manifold failed yesterday -- on the freeway no less. Got off quickly, had it towed. Turns out Ford knows about the problem. Did not put out a recall, but a 'Technical Service Bulletin' that I never even knew about until my mechanic told me. Ford would only replace on fail IF within 7 years/70,000. Well, my odometer clicked over to 70,000 yesterday (1) and I am 6 months past the 7 year mark. Bottom line? I'm on my own for the repairs. $600 part plus labor. This was my baby -- took *really* good care of it. Last Ford I will buy after this wonderful 'customer service' experience.

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
3
[May 12, 2004]
Anticon
Model Reviewed: Thunderbird LX

Strength:

Its look and design

Weakness:

FORD....(never again)

Bought this car with 80k miles' now has 90k, ran strong, looked great, and the man had all receipts and everything done to the car. Changed the tires and brakes when I got it, then the problems began. New head gasket, rewiring, fuel pump, exhaust, serp belt and now more problems are coming... loud hiss of the compressor, and a loud knock after the car has ran for about 4 minutes of driving, nothing like the usual ping after a highway drive. The gas gauge no longer works so I have to use the mileage trick. It doesnt seem to have power anymore and chugs gas for being a v-6. 150k miles and i gotta dump pretty much a whole new tank of gas. Not pleased with this as a first car, cant afford it.

Similar Products Used:

1999 Ford Windstar (same amount of problems) 1998 Chevrolet Lumina 2002 Volkswagon Jetta

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Jan 25, 2004]
Kevin86
Model Reviewed: THUNDERBIRD SC

Strength:

-SUPER CHARGER!!!! -manual trans(gotta have this) -all around great car looked more up to date inside compared to the stangs of that year -stock body kit looks great overall would buy another SC

Weakness:

-low gas millage around 200 miles per tank but what can u expect it a v6 supercharged engine. -hard to drive in the winter parked the car in a few yards. -had some problems rite be4 i dumped it.(fuel pump head gaskets master cylinder abs light woouldnt goi off along with the e-brake light) -not a lot of performance parts out there for it if you own one check ebay out if u got some money you can get some good ones.

I know a lot of people say the engine has problems with the head gaskets and this is true as it happened to me but i beat the hell outa the car and ran it hard everyday (redline it and drop clutch) anyways if the car was driven well i feel it would last for a very long time! the super charger was very fast and impresive. everyone was doubt full when i wanted to race them with a 6 cyl. as they thought it was slow. (didnt no it was a supercharged car) car kept up with every car i rolled against from stangs to little civics(these were no match) i didnt have any mods done just basic car and it still pushed unbelievable power and people looked at the car and asked about the car all the time! Wanted a peice of a 89 supera at my school be4 i sold it but never got a chance(woulda whipped his ass

Similar Products Used:

1994 beretta-good pick up had the 6 cyl in that 1993 saturn-peice of crap would never touch 1 again 2000 eclipse(sisters car)- nice accelleration you can rev the heck outa them be4 they redline 1992 grand prix (friends car)-they are nothing but problems im going to buy an eclipse myself next easy to mod and good looking

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Dec 25, 2003]
keshia79
Model Reviewed: Ford Thunderbird

Strength:

Everything is great!!!! Especially the V-8 size motor.

Weakness:

The cup holders suck and the paint fades over a short period of time.

This is a very good car it's great on gas mileage in the little time that I've had it I've spent maybe a little over two hundred dollars on things like oil changes etc.

Similar Products Used:

1989 Ford Mustang 1994 Ford Mustang 2003 Ford Mustang 2004 Ford Mustang

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Dec 23, 2003]
ken abell
Model Reviewed: ford thunderbird

Strength:

styling, steering, braking, acceptable acceleration, nice comfy interior, nice handling car. the removable top is fantastic but it is normally off the car.

Weakness:

none for me except i put it away every nov. due to the winters in ne ohio!!

great car. makes me smile every time i get in it. great styling..handles fantastic, accelerates very well, decent gas mileage( +22mpg on open road)i got the tbird blue which is a beautiful color no longer avail. in the 2003 model. interior is comfortable for a 4 hour road trip. i get constant complements from people on the street.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Dec 11, 2003]
Daneille

Strength:

picks up speed, great car to fix up performace wise, and a great car to feel relaxed driving.

Weakness:

none unless you baught a messed up T-Bird.

My first car at the age of 18 yrs old. Mother was looking for a cheap car for me, and the greatest car dealer recomended we take a look at the "95 T-Bird they just had got in. when i saw the car i said mom thats the car i want no questions asked.Its not the dream car i pitcured myself getting but it became love at first sight.Its a great car picks up speed and drives smooth, inside car so comfortable you could go to sleep in it.Only had 35,000 miles when i purchased the car and havn't had no problems except needed new alternartior, which was understandable since it hadnt been driven that much. so new light maintance was gona be expected.

Similar Products Used:

Mustangs

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Nov 28, 2003]
Garrin

Has anyone had problems with the polycarbonate manifold cracking? If so, e-mail me at kauhane@webtv.net. 60,000 miles and it has happened twice. Ford discontinued it after a couple of years. Were there problems?

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
3
[Nov 17, 2003]
vanilla_honey333
Model Reviewed: Thunderbird

Strength:

Being fast!

Weakness:

Practically everything!

My first car was the "Thunderbird", although I bought it used, I wasn't planning on it to be perfect, but I did expect it to make it through an intersection. I HAD to let it warm up for at LEAST 10mins in order for it to function, if I didn't let it warm up, it wouldn't go into reverse (my house has an inclined driveway, so I would end up going steadily forward & possibly hit the car parked in front of me. That wasn't the half of it. When I would get down the street-which lead to a STOP sign, it would shake really bad & then die! I can't tell you how many times it did this! Eventually-when I could afford to fix it (I was only 16 @ the time-therefore, I didn't have a lot of money), it cost $1,000.00 to fix it. They fixed the suspension, replaced the motor mounts, & cleaned the throttlebody. I hate this car! The only thing good about this car is that it was fast!

Similar Products Used:

NONE, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN!!!

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
Showing 11-20 of 233  

(C) Copyright 1996-2018. All Rights Reserved.

carreview.com and the ConsumerReview Network are business units of Invenda Corporation

Other Web Sites in the ConsumerReview Network:

mtbr.com | roadbikereview.com | carreview.com | photographyreview.com | audioreview.com