Okay, so it isn't "Future Vehicle News" but it sure does put the "future" stuff and even the "present" stuff into perspective!
Anyway, so I stumbled across a 1984 Ford Tempo Brochure...some of the pictures are priceless. Here are some of the more interesting exerpts:
"Front wheel drive contributes to precise handling"
"EEC-IV - the most advanced onboard automotive computer in the world"
"Reclining front seats in full luxury cloth upolstery. Padded doors and carpeted lower sections"
"Body measurements must conform to critical tolerances..."
"The hood releases from the inside - a security feature"
"The rear view mirror is adjustable for day and night driving..."
"High 9:1 compression ratio delivers high torque in the lower rpm range, 125 foot pounds at 2,700 RPM."
"This high low-end torque provides power for the kind of acceleration needed for stop-and-go driving. Most overhead cam engines, on the other hand, generate peak power at the higher rpm end of the curve."
"Tempo generates 84 horsepower at 4400 RPM"
"Every detail is part of a total commitment to quality"
Some Options:
"AM/FM Monaural Radio"
"Air Conditioner"
"Reclining Front Seat Backs"
"Fold Down Center Armrest"
"Electronic Digital Clock"
"Three Speed Automatic Transaxle"
"Power Steering"
Interesting read from the last page (I bet the 1984 Accord Brochure didn't recommend this!)
"All vehicles need repairs during their lifetime. Sometimes Ford issues Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) and easy-to-read explanations describing unusual engine or transmission conditions which may lead to costly repairs, the recommended repairs, and new repair procedures....Ask Ford or your dealer for any such TSBs and explanations relating to your Ford or Mercury Vehicle."
Curb Weight: 2405 lbs. :eek:
I had a 92 Tempo once. By 70,xxx miles it had already dropped the exhaust at the manifold, had a full trans rebuild, cooked its ECU, and the HVAC buttons didn't work anymore. My friend had one to that spontaneously combusted in his driveway and nearly took down his house.
It had this switch in the trunk to shut off fuel if you got in an accident. My friends figured out you could trip it by slapping the rear quarter panel. Oh man, the number of times they did that while I was driving off. You would have to get out, open the trunk, and push this little button behind the carpeting to reset it.:mad: There is no car I hate more than Ford Tempos.
MissedShift 09-10-2006, 11:42 PM It had this switch in the trunk to shut off fuel if you got in an accident. My friends figured out you could trip it by slapping the rear quarter panel. Oh man, the number of times they did that while I was driving off. You would have to get out, open the trunk, and push this little button behind the carpeting to reset it.:mad: There is no car I hate more than Ford Tempos.
Ford Escorts had that too... A buddy discovered it once whilst attempting to do e-brake slides. Turns out that not only impact, but sustained Gforces would set it off... :D
shock6906 09-11-2006, 01:28 AM Ford Escorts had that too... A buddy discovered it once whilst attempting to do e-brake slides. Turns out that not only impact, but sustained Gforces would set it off... :D
Oh man, wait til I see another Escort or Tempo driving out of a parking lot, I'm smacking the fender and running!
Oh man, wait til I see another Escort or Tempo driving out of a parking lot, I'm smacking the fender and running!
Drivers side, maybe 6 inches behind where the c-pillar comes down:p
shock6906 09-11-2006, 11:07 AM Drivers side, maybe 6 inches behind where the c-pillar comes down:p
So did you just do it to your friends or have you hit random cars before?
So did you just do it to your friends or have you hit random cars before?
The only other guy I knew with a tempo had that ignition switch problem that would catch fire when the car was parked with the engine off. It caught fire parked on his driveway and almost burned his house down. I don't think I could do that to some random person while they were driving by, you could definalty ruin someones day by slaping parked cars, though. They would come out and have no idea why their Tempo wouldn't start, other than it being the POS that it is. It takes a firm smack, not so hard as to dent it, but definatly a good open handed whack. That would be an interesting site, 5+ tempos in a parking lot, all getting towed because they wont start.
Threxx 09-11-2006, 11:22 AM I really enjoy reading advertisements for cars from 20 years ago and seeing what they consider luxury features.
I think the Toyota Cressida was considered somewhat of a luxury car back then since Toyota had no luxury brand. Looking back on what was considered a luxury car back then it's funny because I'm hard pressed to look at it, and look at a Toyota Camry of the same year and see any real worthwhile differences in styling, feature content, etc... it's RWD vs FWD which is about the most major difference I saw.
AdioSS 09-11-2006, 04:36 PM ...That would be an interesting site, 5+ tempos in a parking lot, all getting towed because they wont start.
You have to wonder who else figured that out when they were new, and maybe went to a Ford dealership to try it out? :D Just imagine is somebody went there wanting to test drive a Tempo, but none on the lot would even start.
I find it amusing to see what decals carmakers thought worthy of plastering on the sides of their cars. Back in the 80s "EFI", "OHC", "ABS", and "FWD" were common things automakers thought they had to brag about. Even today manufacturers like to boast about special engines with "Turbocharged" or "Supercharged" decals. The most pompous one IMO is Mercedes' "Kompressor" badge -- like they couldn't use the English spelling and just had to write it in German :rolleyes: Lame.
shock6906 09-11-2006, 06:41 PM The most pompous one IMO is Mercedes' "Kompressor" badge -- like they couldn't use the English spelling and just had to write it in German :rolleyes: Lame.
Well seeing as Mercedes is a German company, I could understand them putting the German spelling on it. Besides, "Compressor" would look even dumber than with the K.
I find it amusing to see what decals carmakers thought worthy of plastering on the sides of their cars. Back in the 80s "EFI", "OHC", "ABS", and "FWD" were common things automakers thought they had to brag about. Even today manufacturers like to boast about special engines with "Turbocharged" or "Supercharged" decals. The most pompous one IMO is Mercedes' "Kompressor" badge -- like they couldn't use the English spelling and just had to write it in German :rolleyes: Lame.
I also stumbled upon a 1984 Chrysler Conquest brochure...man it has "Turbo" plastered all over it. On the exterior mirrors, door handles, seats... you get the picture...
Well seeing as Mercedes is a German company, I could understand them putting the German spelling on it. Besides, "Compressor" would look even dumber than with the K.
Using that logic, what else (intended to be read by the public) is written in German on a Mercedes? Do they call an airbag a "Heizschlauch"? Does the passenger side door mirror say "Gegenstände im Spiegel sind genauer, als sie erscheinen" on it?*
Why couldn't they just be like everyone else and call it "supercharged". Or better yet not say anything, since such insecure bragging should be beneath a premium brand like Mercedes
* I can't speak German, but I do know how to use web translators :D
guionM 09-11-2006, 07:39 PM We have come an extremely long way.
Wasn't too many years ago cars had a 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty & tune ups were every 3,000 miles.
How about something to really blow your mind?
In 1974, one of the highest mileage US cars was a Ford Pinto. It had a 2.3 liter OHC 4 (the 1st US engine designed from scratch in metric).
The car put out 82 horsepower, did the quarter mile in 21.5 seconds at 65mph (according to Car & Driver, June 1974) and topped out at 84 mph. It weighed 2680 with a full tank of gas.
The car got 16.7 mpg average with the automatic & 21 with the 4 speed manual.
Today, you can buy a car that has 250 horsepower, does a 16.2 @ 90 quarter, goes from 0-60 in 8.5 seconds, tops out over 130 mph (140 with bypass), averages 17.7 according to the EPA..... but weighs 4039!
Yep, Ford's Crown Victoria!
1,400 more pounds, twice the cylinder count, twice the displacement, four times the horsepower, 0-60 in less than half the time...... and averages at least 1 mpg better! :eek:
Now, just think....
That 405 net horse, 3700 pound, LS2 powered, fastest-it's-ever-been-in-history, Pontiac GTO gets even better fuel economy, not just over the Crown Vic........ but a frigging half ton lighter 1/5 the horsepower Ford Pinto!
Yep Werm... we HAVE come a long way! :lol: :bow:
Bobby1Kenobby 09-11-2006, 08:46 PM We have come an extremely long way.
Wasn't too many years ago cars had a 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty & tune ups were every 3,000 miles.
How about something to really blow your mind?
In 1974, one of the highest mileage US cars was a Ford Pinto. It had a 2.3 liter OHC 4 (the 1st US engine designed from scratch in metric).
The car put out 82 horsepower, did the quarter mile in 21.5 seconds at 65mph (according to Car & Driver, June 1974) and topped out at 84 mph. It weighed 2680 with a full tank of gas.
The car got 16.7 mpg average with the automatic & 21 with the 4 speed manual.
Today, you can buy a car that has 250 horsepower, does a 16.2 @ 90 quarter, goes from 0-60 in 8.5 seconds, tops out over 130 mph (140 with bypass), averages 17.7 according to the EPA..... but weighs 4039!
Yep, Ford's Crown Victoria!
1,400 more pounds, twice the cylinder count, twice the displacement, four times the horsepower, 0-60 in less than half the time...... and averages at least 1 mpg better! :eek:
Now, just think....
That 405 net horse, 3700 pound, LS2 powered, fastest-it's-ever-been-in-history, Pontiac GTO gets even better fuel economy, not just over the Crown Vic........ but a frigging half ton lighter 1/5 the horsepower Ford Pinto!
Yep Werm... we HAVE come a long way! :lol: :bow:
:confused: Might want to try that math again, but yeah, I know what you mean, it's amazing what we have available to us today. And that's just comparing it to a car that is in no way a technological leader.
guionM 09-11-2006, 08:58 PM :confused: Might want to try that math again, but yeah, I know what you mean, it's amazing what we have available to us today. And that's just comparing it to a car that is in no way a technological leader.
Make that Crown Vic THREE times the horsepower and the GTO almost 5 times the horsepower. :lol:
bossco 09-12-2006, 11:36 PM Using that logic, what else (intended to be read by the public) is written in German on a Mercedes? Do they call an airbag a "Heizschlauch"? Does the passenger side door mirror say "Gegenstände im Spiegel sind genauer, als sie erscheinen" on it?*
Why couldn't they just be like everyone else and call it "supercharged". Or better yet not say anything, since such insecure bragging should be beneath a premium brand like Mercedes
* I can't speak German, but I do know how to use web translators :D
Y'know if I wuz a bet'n man, I'd say you probably waited 1,626 posts just to use said web translators for just such an occasion.
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