![]() ![]() Owners, most of whom found nothing short of the now-discontinued Chrysler Prowler to cross-shop, said the Thunderbird is a good choice for everything from daily commutes to drop-top cruising to long-distance travel. Through it all, the Thunderbird maintained its composure, with a surprising aplomb that caught many owners pleasantly off guard. Our test car needed just 124 feet to stop from 60 mph, bettering the LS by 11 feet and even outdoing a Mercedes C320. Thunderbird’s four-wheel disc brakes provided good stopping distances with no sign of brake fade, rotor distress or pulsation. Rear: Control arms, coil springs, shock absorbers, antiroll barįuel delivery:Sequential electronic fuel injection The sport-tuned LS we tested back in ’99 turned 0.81 g and ran the slalom at only 40.5 mph.įront: Control arms, coil springs, shock absorbers, antiroll bar ![]() For comparison purposes, in a recent test BMW’s M3 (about 350 pounds lighter) pulled 0.87 g and ran the same slalom course at 46 mph. On the skidpad, the Thunderbird pulled a respectable 0.83 g and wheeled through our slalom course at 44.1 mph. Thunderbird turns in this performance despite odd gearing in which first runs to 43 mph while second is good for only a 14-mph range, shifting to third at 57 mph.Īlthough the chassis suffers from the usual convertible shakes, the car corners ably, offering a mild amount of understeer that is easily managed via throttle modulation. Compared to its LS sibling, Thunder-bird is downright quick: The LS’s 0-to-60-mph time is 8.37 seconds its quarter-mile, 16.19 seconds at 88.9 mph (AW, Nov. That’s almost as quick as a Honda Civic Si in 0-to-60-mph time, and nearly half a second faster than the V8-powered Oldsmobile Aurora in the quarter-mile. Producing 252 horsepower at 6100 rpm and 267 lb-ft of torque at 4300 rpm, Thunderbird does 0 to 60 mph in 7.25 seconds and hits the quarter-mile in 15.39 seconds at 91.3 mph. "Did I mention this car is gorgeous?"įor those able to get their hands on a new Thunderbird-not an easy proposition due to limited production (constrained still further by early quality control problems) and sometimes above-sticker dealer demands-the car seems to be worth the trouble.īuilt on the same rear-wheel-drive chassis as the Lincoln LS, Thunderbird also comes with the same drivetrain: a premium-fueled 3.9-liter V8 mated to a five-speed automatic. "A defensive driving course should be offered with each vehicle purchase, as other drivers practically drive into you as they are gawking," said one owner. And though the novelty may wear off, in the looks-for-the-money category, this retro two-seat convertible is in a league of its own. It’s pinched for space, but it’ll haul two six-footers and their clubs. It may not be the most nimble driver, opting instead to soften the corners and chuckholes with velvety comfort. FORD’S NEW THUNDERBIRD MAY NOT BE the fastest flier on the planet, but it’s quick enough. ![]()
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