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1997 Ford Thunderbird User Reviews

1997 Ford Thunderbird Review Ratings

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Average Ratings from 20 reviews

  • Performance:4.4 out of 5 stars4.4 out of 5 stars4.4 out of 5 stars4.4 out of 5 stars4.4 out of 5 stars 4.4 / 5
  • Appearance:4.4 out of 5 stars4.4 out of 5 stars4.4 out of 5 stars4.4 out of 5 stars4.4 out of 5 stars 4.4 / 5
  • Build Quality:4.2 out of 5 stars4.2 out of 5 stars4.2 out of 5 stars4.2 out of 5 stars4.2 out of 5 stars 4.2 / 5
  • Overall:4.8 out of 5 stars4.8 out of 5 stars4.8 out of 5 stars4.8 out of 5 stars4.8 out of 5 stars 4.8 / 5

Review Highlights Click to filter reviews below

PROS
"ride" 12 reviews
"power" 10 reviews
"handling" 3 reviews
"value" 2 reviews
"comfortable car" 2 reviews
CONS
"heavy car" 4 reviews
"fuel economy" 4 reviews
"small space" 2 reviews

User Reviews

Displaying 1 - 10 of 20 reviews 12 Next
exposures writes:
1997 Ford Thunderbird LX Review
Brakes:
Back Seats:
Cargo Capacity:
Family Car:
Fuel Economy:
Front Seats:
Handling:
Interior Space:
Maintenance Cost:
Price:
Power:
Reliability:
Looks/Style:
Overall:

Pros

Great value.

Cons

They don't make them anymore.

exposures
35

Rocketship — Takes off like a rocket, there's a reason why they put these engines in police cars. Bought this new in 97 and the body style still looks great. The factory spoiler completes the look. Maintenance is more than reasonable. Put the best speed rated tires on this and in your rear view mirror watch whoever tries to keep up with you on the turns slide off the roadway. Comfortable Leather seats make long rides a joy. Reliable, easy on gas 23mpg overall and a trunk that can hold a boatload of stuff. This car is still going strong at over 200,000 miles. I think I'll keep it.

Primary Use: Family transportation

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Brian writes:
1997 Ford Thunderbird LX Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

V8 Really fun to drive!!!!

Cons

18 MPG

35

Really Good First Car — Easy to work on and repair. big trunk space for subs :) 0-60 in about 7 seconds. interior is all plastic so everything squeaks so just turn up the music and you cant heard a thing. Great for first car

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Colin writes:
1997 Ford Thunderbird LX Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

Looks, handling, ride, roominess

Cons

really there was nothing I didn't like about this car. I shoulda kept it

125

97 T-bird — Plenty quick, for the late 90s not-so-impressive 2v 4.6 V8 20mpg if you keep your foot out of it 14mpg if you don't Lots of room front and back I think they're totally sweet looking would have liked a stick excellent ride excellent handling stereo sucks (get an aftermarket one) great engine note

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)

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Chris writes:
1997 Ford Thunderbird LX Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

Power, Compfort, Options

Cons

none

55

Thunderbird Sport — The 1997 Ford Thunderbird is awesome, great power, great equipment, nothing but greatness. I will drive this car tilll the wheels fall off.If you can find one with the sport package get it, nothing better for the money. Moonroof, Leather, HP, TORQUE!!! Heavy Duty Automatic, Dual Exhaust FLOW MASTERS!!!!!!!!!!! AND MORE STUFF TO COME

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David writes:
1997 Ford Thunderbird LX Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

It's a Mustang without the name.

Cons

Very little bottom-end torque.

25

A Great Car For First Time Drivers Wanting A Little Speed Out Of Their Machine. — It's a solid car. Under the hood, it packs a 4.6L fuel-injected V8 that, when it was made, put out around 205hp and 290tq. Luckily for me, it's not stock. The best estimate is that it's churning out close to 210hp and 300+ tq, thanks to a cold-air intake, true-dual Flowmasters exhaust, and Superchips Performance programming. It cost me about $2300 when I got it, and has since cost me over a grand in performance parts and maintenance. It sucks gas if your foot is in it.

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)

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Haukur writes:
1997 Ford Thunderbird LX Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

It has an exhaust modifaction that gets that v8 sounds clear through

Cons

the little space in the backseats

25

Ford T-bird 1997 Lx Review — Acceleration is fun, often or not with some wheel spin, atleast not yet any repairs, little squeake in the interior but seats are comfy and ride comfort fantastic, though a 4.6 liter engine should have more bhp but it is enough i suppose.

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)

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Jesse writes:
1997 Ford Thunderbird LX Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

this car is worth more than blue book price

Cons

ford has issues

35

Worth Everything Put In — powerful enough and it has a nice look. its also a little overweight for a sports car. it is semi simple to do work on but being a ford it has issues. it gets about 20+mpg and is very fun to drive.

Primary Use: Commuting to work

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Clayton writes:
1997 Ford Thunderbird LX Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

funsies

Cons

gas money

25

Good For Driving Around And Having A Good Time — good accel, good breaking, handled pretty well. The Engine was clogged when i got it, it ran like a V6 instead of a V8. green body, leather interior. expensive on gas and a few problems with maintenance but it wasn't too bad. This car was fun as hell to drive.

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)

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Cale writes:
1997 Ford Thunderbird LX Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

good looks from the outside. runs very good for a 4500# car. for $350

Cons

air bags deployed due to deer damage but all is repaired  but the airbags

25

T-bird....(thunderchicken) — good car for 350 bucks. runs good with the 4.6l v8 engine option. sets you back in your seat even with 2.73 gears in the rear end. gotta give it credit i guess for having 139,000 miles on the modular v8. it should have quite a bit left in it. ...well maybe. i need to go a little easier on it if i want it to last. my ram air hood is my favorite part of this car. it gives it the agressive looks..so much for a sleeper grandma looking car

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Brenda writes:
1997 Ford Thunderbird LX Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

It is the best one around

Cons

It has a small back seat. haha jk

25

Say What?! — I bought it for a little under $6,000 with it having no more than 87k miles. Which I think that it was an amazing deal. I have had no problems with it. The Thunderbird has been on of the best cars I have drove/owned. It's performance is outstanding. The brakes and acceleration are a little touchy but I'd rather them be a little touchy then be hard as hell to push. On average I can get a good 25 mpg. I'm not going to lie I have raced a dozen and a half times and I've only lost to handle full. Those that have beat me were customized though so they had an advantage.

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Cost $3,652 Average Instant Market Value $5,488 Average Instant Market Value $17,584 Average Instant Market Value
Gas Mileage (highway) 24 27 24
Horsepower 145 150 340
Cargo Volume (cu. ft.) 15.1 10.9 12.6
Front Leg Room (inches) 42.5 42.5 42.7

Reviews From Other Years

2005 Ford Thunderbird Reviews

This Car Loves To Drive! By bhfmail

This car ride wonderfully- Me, BB King, Eric Clapton & the North Georgia Mountains~heavenly! Put the top down this car ads to the scenery. The power and handling is the best. Once you drive/ride in it... Read More

A Great Retro-inspired Modern Boulevardier By George

Love the style, comfort and performance. The T-bird is a "soft" sports car, it is fun to drive, it has great acceleration and is a perfect highway cruiser. Very, very reliable, and cheap t... Read More

Read all 4 2005 Ford Thunderbird reviews

2004 Ford Thunderbird Reviews

Retro T-bird Ok, But No Classic By Luger

The retro-Birds are nice looking and average performers, but they miss being either a luxury car or a sports car. The trunk is so shallow that there is little storage. Ford got the retro part right,... Read More

Unique Color And Style. Great For The Weekends. By rfiorenza

Looks great, handles great. Modern day version of the classic T-Bird of the 1950's.V-8 gives excellent acceleration, braking and handling. Front seats very comfortable. Heated. Vehicle has been very r... Read More

Read all 7 2004 Ford Thunderbird reviews

2003 Ford Thunderbird Reviews

Thinking Of Getting A New One. By Kyle

not the best handeling car... but its pretty quick in a straight line.Breaks could be better. It needed the roters replaced at under 18000 mi. andk several coil packs went bad... it was under warranty... Read More

Ugly, But Fun By Gordon

I have never liked the look of this car, but my uncle got one and let me drive, and I loved driving it! It almost handled like a sports car. I did a burnout 180 in the middle of the road in it. Read More

Read all 3 2003 Ford Thunderbird reviews

2002 Ford Thunderbird Reviews

Bought It New, On A Whim. Glad We Did. Worth The Money. By Charles

Neat little fun car. Nice looking with the hardtop and with the convertible top down. Eight years old and only 14,000 miles. the RedBird spends it's Maine winter in the garage under wraps. A TWO perso... Read More

Thunderbird 02 By Kerry

i dislike the gas prices. its $40,000 its very fun to drive it takes turns like a sexy sports car should, the appearance they couldnt have done a better job. no repairs yet 7 years old only has 40,000... Read More

Read all 3 2002 Ford Thunderbird reviews

1996 Ford Thunderbird Reviews

Nice Bird By Tommi

the facelifted mn12 bird was an awesome car. the new 4.6 modular sohc engine packs a really good punch without the cost of gas mileage. i installed an eibach suspension set and that really set the car... Read More

Nice Sleeper By DBear326

One of the first cars I bought, Had it for a few years and enjoyed it. Loved the power from the V-8, it surprised a few people who didn't expect it to have the power it did. I wished I had kept it a f... Read More

Read all 23 1996 Ford Thunderbird reviews
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