Ford Tempo
Full disclosure here--I don't like the Ford Tempo, or its Mercury Topaz twin. Based on some of the other awful cars I like, including its Fairmont predecessor, I really should like the Tempo. I keep moaning on about how depressing it is that Detroit can't make a simple, inexpensive, reliable small car, but yet I don't give the Tempo--a car that filled that niche from 1984 to 1994--any of the respect it deserves. Mea culpa, Tempo lovers. Mea maxima culpa.
The Ford Tempo was a first-car staple in my generation--Tempos were ubiquitous in high-school parking lots back in my day, and two of my friends had Tempos as their first cars. Cookie the Dog's Owner already wrote two excellent posts on the phenomenon of first cars (Challenge, Results), and one of the most agreed-upon points was the fact that kids will love their first car regardless of what it is. I was one of the commenters agreeing fervently with that point, and yet the Tempo makes me question that assertion.
Can there be a more conflicted feeling than having a Tempo as your first car? On the one hand, you're excited that you own your first car; you want to race around in it, customize it, show it off to your friends, and take advantage of your new mobility. On the other hand, well, it's a Tempo. Small, ugly, and relentlessly slow, the Tempo married an agricultural driving experience with a lack of pretension and luxury that bordered on the Amish.
The Tempo looked bland, cranked out less than 100 horsepower for most of its life, had absolutely no willingness to handle, and had no style. In fact, Tempos had negative style; they actively destroyed style upon contact in a matter reminiscent of matter and anti-matter. You know how nervous public speakers are counseled to imagine that the audience is naked? Well, if you're ever intimidated by meeting somebody rich and famous, just imagine them behind the wheel of a Tempo. Boom--intimidation gone.
Even today, in an age where pedestrian small cars like older Neons, Civics, and Corollas are the new hot rods of the young, Tempos have furiously resisted becoming cool. That happens when an uninspiring design is married to a dullard chassis and coarse, low-performance engines. The early diesel four put out a shockingly low 52 horsepower; the 2.3-liter four put in the vast majority of Tempos generated between 86 and 100 horsepower depending on year and trim. A few late Tempos received the 150-horsepower 3.0-liter Vulcan V-6 from the Taurus; those might have been interesting, I suppose.
In late 1985 Autoweek previewed a Ford Tempo GT--a violently surreal combination of terms justified with some special wheels, the Chevy Celebrity Eurosport blackout trim treatment, and "high swirl output" version of the 2.3-liter four putting out a street-pounding 100 horsepower. I'm no an engineer, but "high swirl output" doesn't sound particularly meaningful to me. In fact, it sounds laughably obtuse. We certainly don't hear Ferrari boasting about the high swirl combustion in its engines. I never heard about the Tempo GT again, but the "high swirl combustion" and "high swirl output" engines persisted throughout the model run.
No, the Tempo wasn't a sports car, but that didn't stop a buddy of mine from treating his poor, cringing Tempo like one. He got air over hills, abused the narrow tires, and had the throttle pinned to the floor for roughly 90 percent of that car's life--frequently out of necessity to keep up with traffic. He eventually put that Tempo--and his insurance coverage--out of its misery by wrecking it in spectacular fashion.
As I pointed out at the beginning, none of this is particularly fair. When the Tempo debuted in 1984, its domestic small-car competition--the Chrysler K-car and Chevrolet Citation--weren't exactly world-beaters either. Yet Japan and Germany were producing some pretty compelling competitors, and by the time the Tempo was mercifully retired in 1994 it was hopelessly, overwhelmingly outclassed.
There are Tempo and Topaz fanatics out there; the best site for those looking for more information is TempoTopaz.com. This is my chance to make the usual distinction in these cases--I don't care for the car, but I have nothing but respect for a car lover who is passionate enough to make sites like this possible. In about 20 years, when there are only a few Tempos left, I'll probably come over to your immaculate Tempo GL in a car show and look at it appreciatively. I'm just not ready yet.
The first commercial shows Formula 1 legend and 1980s Ford spokesman Jackie Stewart talking up the Tempo. I'm a huge Stewart fan; he was a great driver, a fantastic advocate for driver safety, and a thoroughly admirable man. But hearing him lauding the Tempo hits all of my irony buttons. Great lines: "It's been designed from the wheels up ... It handles well, it goes around corners well ... the Ford Tempo is a real driver's car." Oh, dear. The part where he shills the Ford warranty is particularly painful. Well, at least his close relationship with Ford helped Stewart to start his own Formula 1 team in 1997.
The second ad hits some of the Tempo's high points, but never verbally mentions the most fascinating thing--the Tempo is evidently capable of driving upside-down. I wonder what Ford ever did with that four-story-high Tempo script structure. Check out some of these features--the world's most advanced automotive computer, and an interior with more rear room than a Mercedes-Benz 300D! Because that's why the only thing the Mercedes has going for it, after all. I'd be willing to bet that it even has reclining seats and a digital clock!
The top photo is from Flickr user F.r.e.d.d.y.; his photo description explains that this Tempo is his, and broke down six times in three weeks. The other photos are from dave_7, whose photos we've featured here from time to time. You may know him from such Car Lusts as the Ford Courier, Jaguar XJ, and the Rover P6. Dave_7 bought his Tempo for $50; at that price, it makes a pretty good beater.
--Chris H.
kim on October 23, 2008 at 07:38 AM
im 16 and a black 87 ford tempo lx with maroon interior is my first car. its so lame that its cool. all of my friends love the cloth seats and how the controls are in such funny places. most of my friends own passats and audis. but hands down my car gets the most attenion when i role into the school parking lot. so i don't care what you say my tempo is the shit and i love it very much.
That Car Guy on October 23, 2008 at 08:36 AM
Frank Lee: If memory serves, our Tempo was a GL model. The interior was nicely finished, and the seats stayed in great shape until we sold it in 2003. My mother, 79 at the time, drove it every day, and she enjoyed shifting. I really have no complaints about the car... I really didn't want to see it go, but age was catching it.
Frank Lee on October 23, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Car Guy: Yeah, I like 'em (as you may have noticed) but age does catch up to them, especially here in the rust belt where the salt destroys everything. :mad: My high-mile '84 GL is getting pretty rusty but the others aren't so bad... yet. If it wasn't for the rust and the defective clearcoat that bakes off, they would age quite well. Those 25 year old seats, with 300,000 miles on them, aren't even pounded out that bad- they're still comfortable. They seem like a modern day Model T to me- simple, cheap, durable, reliable, economical, effective... and not slaves to fashion.
That Car Guy on October 24, 2008 at 08:34 AM
I'll take cloth seats over leather ones any day. The new fabrics are almost indestructable, warm in winter, cool in summer, and I've never seen leather last more than 3-4 years without cracking on wrinkling. I have a truck with heated cloth seats, which one dealer said did not exist, and it's my fave drive on a cold day!
tempo dude on November 16, 2008 at 12:10 PM
my tempo is 89 gl with 5spd great car it lacks in power but
damb what great milage , the computer is easy to code read for faults so i keep on top of any code faults my self
not as small as the escort an not as big as the taurus<---(terd)
tempo is the bastard child of ford evolved to the contour later
i like due to its cheap price so just keep selling them off
for $300 to $500
the 5spd's were much better
no 4spd aod automatic fwd transaxle was ever good, be it ford ,chevy ,dodge,toyota,honda
have owned caravans and what transmission nightmares
Jason Carpp on December 02, 2008 at 10:28 AM
The Tempo/Topaz are ok cars, but my favourite has always been its predecessor, the Fairmont/Zephyr.
Bill in New Jersey on December 08, 2008 at 01:32 AM
I'm another multi Tempo owner with nice things to say. I started with a VERY used 1984 Tempo for $100, I bought it for my wife to learn to drive in. It was a white 4 door with chrome bumpers, 3 speed auto, manual windows and a body that had been through the hell of several pretty bad drivers. I drove it home, leaking trans fluid all the way. I spent about $20 on a new trans gasket, fluid and some interior cleaning supplies (the past owners all smoked and it was all yellowed and disgusting). That car was pretty good for a while until my wife didn't realize the coolant had leaked out and seized the engine. I drove to her in my 89 Escort (still have it!), and was able to patch the leak, restart the Tempo and drive it home.
In 1996 we sold it to a friend who wanted to play with it, for $100 (lol) and went car shopping only to buy a 1993 Tempo GL, Silver 4 door, 3speed Auto and power everything. It had about 14,000 miles and was about $9000. I still drive this car daily and it's now showing over 140,000 miles. I have hardly spent anything on maintenance and repairs during my ownership. The Tempo had been hit by other cars several times while parked and I've always been able to fix it myself for under $30 (junk yard rear tail light) though most repairs didn't require parts, only my labor to bang out a small dent and reattach the bumper pad. You'd never know it was hit on all 4 corners if you look at it. Recently I replaced the front headlights and turn signals since they had been getting cracked and foggy. I also replaced all springs and struts with higher performance parts. I've driven the car for well over 100,000 miles myself and I'm constantly surprised that it just keeps running strong.
My experience with Ford 4cyl engines is that you don't treat them like a 4cyl.. I'm not abusive but I am heavy on the throttle. I change my oil and filters regularly, I clean or replace the Cap, Rotor, Wires and plugs when the performance drops (or the Check Engine light comes on). I like to work on my own cars and my 89 Escort and 93 Tempo are so easy to maintain that I don't need a lift for most things. I've replaced my own exhaust, engine mounts and brake lines when they are needed and I feel so much better knowing I could do it myself.
Everyone who knows me, knows that I love my Tempo and I plan to keep it running until it completely gives up. It's a great commuter car and has been super reliable.
Oh, and since you love the Mustang II so much.. lol, my first car was a Silver 1976 Mustang II coupe with a red vinyl top & interior with the 302and Auto trans; mine was actually pretty quick. I wish I never sold it.
My all time roster:
1976 Ford Mustang II (302 2barrel, 3spd Auto, coupe) sadly sold it.
1978 Ford Econoline Chateau van (351w 2barrel) LOVED it!
1989 Ford Escort LX (1.9 fi, auto 3spd, 2 door) still love it!
1975 VW Super Beetle (1600cc fi & 4 speed)Green, steel sun roof & a/c. sadly sold it
1971 VW van (1800?cc carb & 4speed) Orange & Cream. sadly sold it on ebay
1993 Ford Tempo GL (2.3 efi & 3spd Auto) 4 door, cloth interior. LOVE it.
1988 Ford Econoline Club Wagon (351w EFI & 3spd auto) restoring it.
1999 Ford Escort SE Sport. (4cyl, OD Auto) pretty good once we peeled the lemon rind off it. 1st NEW car we bought. Was pretty quick and handled well. Sold with over 110,000 miles.
Less than honorable mention: My wife was given her step fathers 2003 Nissan Sentra SE. Low miles, hard seats, a blue/green color that reminds me of a cheap pool liner. We drove it to Texas so she could go to college, I only pray she makes it home. I was happy to drive a Penske rental GMC box van home. My rear is still sore from the 20+ hour ride in the Sentra! It handles like a snow plow, turns like a snow tube and folds up like a box when it hits something. The engine is pretty strong but that's about all I can say good about it. It made me miss the 1984 Tempo for the first time since 1996.
Terian on January 23, 2009 at 09:18 AM
I have an 89 ford tempo 5 speed with awd. This little car is better than you give it credit I keep this car even though I have offers to buy it continually because even though you say they are not fast this one is geared high and is fairly fast. It also has excellent gas mileage. I get 47 mpg on the highway at 75 mph can't beat that with the cost of gas having been so high. I didn't want the car to began with but was talked into it, now I am glad I was.
fordman61 on February 13, 2009 at 04:36 PM
I have read some o the comments about the Tempos and I disagree. As far as style goes ,most people that hate Tempos think that a Skylark has style. They look like they are made of leftover parts. My brother had a 1986 Tmpo with the HO 4-cyl. and a 5-speed trans. He outran a 260 v-8 powered Camaro in the quarter mile and top end . I had a 1989 Tempo ,and while they are not the fastest, I could take on any Japanese econobox with ease. Don't put them down if you never drove on seriously.
Jonathan MacMillan on February 21, 2009 at 08:23 AM
my 1st car was a TEMPO and still is. ive had it for 3 years and haven't had any problems with it yet- toes and fingers crossed. its got 282,000kms on it and i beat the heck out of it day in and and day out. all around its a good car for me but its only a step above walking. main thing its cheap on gas and parts are a dime a dozen- its definitley a babe magnet.
Patrick on February 27, 2009 at 04:29 PM
My girlfriends 92 Tempo has over 200,000 miles on it. Sure, the occasional starter and really minor stuff fixed...but good gosh man, before she got it, it was driven out in pastures for calving. As a matter of fact, after I wrecked into the back of a Jeep Liberty, doing little to no damage to it by the way..and completely v'ing the front end thanks to the spare on the Liberty, a friend and I actually took the time to swap the engine and tranny into a differet body.
Ken on March 10, 2009 at 12:28 PM
The Ford Tempo was a great little car. It had rack and pinion steering, macpherson strut gas shocks, high swirl heads even on the base engine, and fully independent rear suspension (ahead of the Mustang). Also, it was ahead of all the imports with their rubber band timing belts that need replacing every 90 k...the Tempo has a steel timing chain that you never need to touch.
The car weighs just over a kilo, so it feels quite sporty and handles well for an economy car. It also delivers great gas mileage and has lots of rear seat room.
The best thing about the Tempo is its reliability. It is good for hundreds of thousands of miles before anything major goes. The only design flaws were the harmonic balancers on second generation models (a cheap fix at 100k) and the rear struts drain holes get plugged so they need doing at about 150k (that is still a long interval).
I have a '93, and I love it. I have modified the suspension to give it a more sporty ride. It is a fun, economy car that did Ford proud. I have driven many other cars including some prestigious sports marques that might outdrag or outhandle it, (but not by that much), but none of them were cheaper to run or less of a headache to own, and that includes some Porsches.
vince sabitina on March 24, 2009 at 03:10 PM
i happened to own 6 ford tempos in my life two i bought new a 1989 and a 1991 and a couple i bought used from the auto auction to resell they were the most reliable guys that i owned i never had any major problems with them.i think ford made a big mistake when they quit making that car and changed it to the ford contour which ended up being a dog for ford.
Vicki Davisson on March 29, 2009 at 03:14 PM
Didn't these cars have terrible electrical systems?
merc0390 on July 02, 2009 at 08:38 PM
i own a 1994 ford tempo gl with the 2.3 5 speed manual trans sun roof ac power steering power windows power locks awd 2 door rare car i got it free put 200.00 in driver side front end work it has 222,000 miles has had 3 owners no major repairs original everything aside of tires and all works i love it i have had it a month with no problems it does not compare to my civic 1.6 for take off but puts it to shame for top speed and i dont find it too sluggish maybe i got a rare decent one who know i loved the post though thanks for the info input and opinion
Sean H on September 13, 2009 at 02:10 AM
The first Tempo I remember was a 1988 that my mother bought brand new. She had that thing for 110k miles. It was just a GL 4 cyl automatic. She was in a nasty accident and that car saved her life. Two years later (her being new to driving in the snow) she pushed a Ford Bronco (full sized) about 2 yards. She didn't even put a dent on that Tempo. As far as the styling goes, yeah, it's bland, but not ugly. Well 88-94 anyways.
I wound up with two Tempos. And I have to say, they were great cars. My first one I could've maintained the front end better, but it still took my beating. My 2nd one, I actually looked for a V6 5-speed. It was a great car. The best winter beater I've had.
I know they have a horrible reputation, but we've had nothing but good luck with them.
william on October 18, 2009 at 10:20 PM
i have a topaz GL five speed manual and i put a k an n filter and took off the back filter to the muffler and new lifter cams led lights inside the car an i thought she looked nice and so did my friends this car i dont car wat anybody says is waaaayyyy better then the slow honda car any day i sped up to only till i had to slow down 120mph at 5500rpm and it goes up to 7000rpm an was still accelerating witch is pretty fast for a four banger its amazing cuz its the five speed manual witch i admit it is faster then the tempo and topaz that are automatic well i think its a very nice car@!
william on October 18, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Srry my topaz is a gs not a gl.
Erik T. on December 01, 2009 at 03:06 PM
I bought a 1994 Ford Tempo as my first car a few months ago (I'm 19) and it has been nothing short of an amazing car. It's extremely reliable, and cheap and easy to maintain. The only problems I've had with it are a small oil leak from the dipstick tube and worn struts, but both of those issues will pop up on any car eventually, no matter how expensive or sporty they are. I will admit that it is rather slow, and it's acceleration is comparable to that of a motorized scooter, but why is that a reason to complain? The Tempo gets me from A to B with no problems or complaints, and has never even thought about leaving me stranded. My dad also owns a Tempo and openly admits that it runs like a tank, and almost everyone I've talked to says the Tempos run forever. I work at a Sears Automotive Center, and all the mechanics I talk to say the same thing: That the Ford Tempo is a very reliable car. It does have it's quirks, but the same is true of ANY car anywhere. Long story short, I'm planning on keeping this car for a long time to come, and I know it's going to last. These are great little cars that will keep going and going and going.
walkthelin3 on February 02, 2010 at 11:26 PM
i find all of this funny.. i own a 92 ford tempo v6. it stays planted to the ground around turns and its pretty quick.. ive raced and beaten civics with my car completely stock.. ive owned it for 2 years and ive taken it out in every blizzard ive had. so far its 4. i tried to fish tail the car and it wouldnt.. even in the snow.. gas milage isnt the best but i swear by this car.. i musta lucked out cuz i dont see what you guys are bashing about. then again i have a 6 cyl not the 4. but even so. my dad has a 4 cyl and that thing broke down only once and it was for something stupid and inexpensive... drive a 6 and then rewrite this add.. own the car long enough and the looks grow on you
walkthelin3 on February 02, 2010 at 11:28 PM
I decided that this car really wasn't meant to go anywhere NEAR whatever speed it was doing (90? 95? 86?).
oh and by the way.. the 6 cyl speedometer goes up to 85 but it maxes out at 112.. ive done it countless times and tracked it with my gps
luke on June 10, 2010 at 09:34 PM
Awhile back, my girlfriend finally ended her long car search that became necessary after she totaled her 1995 Geo Prizm. I am a backyard mechanic(going to school to get certified), so I sent her Craigslist posts of cars I thought were nice: Early 90's buicks and Olds(can't help it I am a GM guy). She picks me up from school a few months ago in a baby blue 1989 Mercury Topaz GS sedan. As we pull out of the parking lot, we try to start off from a stop on a hill and the transmission slips so bad that it can hardly move. We get moving finally and this thing shakes horribly. The warped front rotors, bad cv halfshaft, and rotted wheel bearings all combine to make a terrible noise that can be described rattling, grinding, and clunking all in one. The clear coat is missing, and it has polycast Ford Tempo rims on it with missing center caps. At the time she was about to start college roughly 20 miles away. Her genius father failed to notice all of the above problems when he used the only $900 she had left in the bank to buy this car. We now had a very big problem on our hands. This car was not really drivable, and she started school in a week. I started of by going to the junkyard and getting some steel rims off of a Tempo with good tires on them. I replaced the pads and rotors on it, then did an oil change. I topped off the coolant and power steering fluid, and it was ready to go! Next thing that had to be done was the halfshaft, which ended up being a wheel bearing job as well after it literally fell out in peices upon removal of the halfshaft... Ended up finding a Topaz at the yard with almost brand new struts on it, and good wheel bearings. Bought the front pair and slapped em on. Then I replaced lower control arms. After changing the transmission fluid over to the correct Mercon V fluid and adding a bottle of Lucas stop slip trans fix, it actually is able to drive. The last owner beat this thing nearly dead, and with fairly little money invested, it has turned out to be good transportation for us. It's still a junker, has no power, and looks pretty bad, but I will always have a love for Tempos and Topazes that can only be realized if you own one.
tomm on June 23, 2010 at 02:14 PM
Now, in 2010, these cars are fading away. Only ones I see are super-beaters dripping rust and parts. These were built to last a short time, and Ford expected people to 'trade up'. But they did, to other makes.
At least now, Ford is making better cars!
Big Dave on March 10, 2011 at 09:19 AM
I learned how to drive on a 1991 Ford Tempo GL. I took it on a trip once and the steeting wheel shook so violently that my hand kept falling asleep.