goodbye topaz
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,135
Likes: 0
From: Canada
goodbye topaz
well my topaz got smoked at work by a Yukon. which is a good thing. my topaz and i didnt get along lol!
but now the driver of the Yukon my manager wants to fix it out of pocket. ok sure fine. but my topaz is still getting parked. i've got me a *gasp*dodge neon *gasp*
after that topaz i dont think ill buy another ford car. ill still keep the old truck, but no more topaz's and such
but now the driver of the Yukon my manager wants to fix it out of pocket. ok sure fine. but my topaz is still getting parked. i've got me a *gasp*dodge neon *gasp*
after that topaz i dont think ill buy another ford car. ill still keep the old truck, but no more topaz's and such
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,934
Likes: 0
From: iowa
you reminded me of my forst car a 1989 mercury topaz. It was blue with a red hood and red fender. I beat the snoot out of it and was on the way to the junkyard after braking a brake line and the motor mounts. The car died right at the entry of the junkyard and had to get help up to the scale. the 2.3 liter engine were so much junk and gas mileage sucked in the car. The car wouldn't shift until 5800 if held to the flloor. A quality first car though.
Until the end i had no problems with the 2.3 but have seen my share of rangers and rustangs.
Until the end i had no problems with the 2.3 but have seen my share of rangers and rustangs.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
We had an 87 mercury Topaz 5-speed that ran like a striped -you know and it had over 200K miles on it. You had to be very careful or you would collect speeding tickets! I did have to put a timing chain in it. It got T-boned in an intersection tho 
I still have the motor,transaxle, and electricals.
I still have the motor,transaxle, and electricals.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 35
I have a 87 topaz.... auto, but surprisingly powerful and gets 29mpg.
the engine is good, but it is the other stuff which fell apart around it. Tranny, all belt driven accessories, fuel pump, turn signal, even windshield.
the engine is good, but it is the other stuff which fell apart around it. Tranny, all belt driven accessories, fuel pump, turn signal, even windshield.
The Pacifier
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,245
Likes: 7
From: Cloverdale, BC
I had an 87 Tempo. That was probably my best car. The thing ran beautifully up until the end. The thing hauled ***. Awesome mileage, perfect alignment, ...
When I parked it to insure my Mustang, that's when all heck broke loose. I re-insured it, then found the heater core developed a leak. Then it got a very erratic idle. Then, there was another coolant leak somewhere else, the AC died, ...
Anyway, when I went to start yanking out the heater core, I saw what a pain it would be, and put everything back together. I put it up for sale, and wouldn't you know it, someone STOLE the thing!
I've never owned a car since.
When I parked it to insure my Mustang, that's when all heck broke loose. I re-insured it, then found the heater core developed a leak. Then it got a very erratic idle. Then, there was another coolant leak somewhere else, the AC died, ...
Anyway, when I went to start yanking out the heater core, I saw what a pain it would be, and put everything back together. I put it up for sale, and wouldn't you know it, someone STOLE the thing!
I've never owned a car since.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 35
Ouch! Stealing a Topaz, the dude must have been real desperate.
I found that there are many bugs in it, but once you work them out, it runs nicely. That's what I would like to think anyway, as new "bugs" keep coming up. You wouldn't believe the repairs list.
I hear many take it to incredible mileage. that is 200 miles plus, but that's out of my league in terms of repairs.
I found that there are many bugs in it, but once you work them out, it runs nicely. That's what I would like to think anyway, as new "bugs" keep coming up. You wouldn't believe the repairs list.
I hear many take it to incredible mileage. that is 200 miles plus, but that's out of my league in terms of repairs.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,357
Likes: 3
From: S. Mississippi
We had a tempo too, i think it was like a 87...automatic..etc. It ran great aside from a hunting idle.... it was fast as all snot too... but you couldn't keep cv joints or brake rotors in the thing... we parked it when it lost compression and the timing belt broke....now the steering column has been ripped apart and its basically junk....
Still a great little car though.
Still a great little car though.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 35
Topaz/Tempo have many virtues.
Nobody wants them, so you buy a running one for $300.
Because the resale value is nil, you don't care if you wreck it, damage it, etc. Drive it without reservations.
Parts are cheap and everywhere.
Good first car to learn driving. Wreck it, no big deal. Blow up the engine, part it out. It is however not the easisest car to learn auto mechanics on. RWD is much better.
Far less likely to be stolen vs. a BMW or Caddy.
CHEAP, poorly made car with poor components. Some of them do make it to insane miles once all bugs are worked out.
I Like it.
Nobody wants them, so you buy a running one for $300.
Because the resale value is nil, you don't care if you wreck it, damage it, etc. Drive it without reservations.
Parts are cheap and everywhere.
Good first car to learn driving. Wreck it, no big deal. Blow up the engine, part it out. It is however not the easisest car to learn auto mechanics on. RWD is much better.
Far less likely to be stolen vs. a BMW or Caddy.
CHEAP, poorly made car with poor components. Some of them do make it to insane miles once all bugs are worked out.
I Like it.
Last edited by carpe_diem; Feb 18, 2004 at 10:21 PM.
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Little Elm, TX
If you are lucky enough to find a V6 Tempo/Topaz, you can have a LOT of fun for very little money! Saw one in the local Steals and Deals for $800, with working A/C!
Hey, I need another car...
Hey, I need another car...
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