If being the Ford Tempo Fan has taught me anything, its this: power is VERY over rated.

If being the Ford Tempo Fan has taught me anything, its this: power is VERY over rated.

@pauljones: See now here's the problem. Most people's experiences with automatic seat belts are limited to those in the Escort and Colt. Very cheap cars.

A/C? Come on now, there are windows for a reason.

Question is: does it have automatic seat belts? If not, Ford Tempo is still the best compact American car.

This story has all sorts-a awesome in it. Its 7 in the AM, I'm listening to Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine, and from 1:20 to 8:00 I'll be wearing a 1940s-style police uniform.

Looks pretty Jurassic Park worthy. Then again, (at the time) I thought the Explorers looked pretty Jurassic Park Rated as well. Look how well they held up.

The Tempo is greatly appreciated Murilee. Perhaps now, I can move past the atrocity that befell the lone GL at LeMons.

@blitzcat: Dontcha know, words are politically incorrect these days? I mean what if some French or Spanish speaking person were to find themselves in a Ford Explorer which was labeled with words instead of symbols?

So Chrysler. When is there gonna be a Challenger Convertible? Come on, we need something more bad ass than the Sebring Convertible.

@IN THE FACE!: Lose the rims and put on some cheap black-painted steelies on all season re-treads and I'm happy.

This reminds me of an old SNL skit which depicted then-President Clinton pissing on the U.S. constitution.

Damn, only about $750 too much.

The usual. User's manual, sound system booklet, 1989 Ford accessory booklet, warranty info pamphlet, insurance/registration crap, etc.

@RadioFlyer: Again, the problem with the SVT Contour was pricing. With an MSRP of $22,905 for a basic 2000 SVT, you're looking at a very expensive compact.

No and no. Sure Ford didn't dime out to lazy designs like those appliances built by Honda, Nissan, and Toyota. Nonetheless, they did dime out when the SUV craze grabbed Americans by the balls. The Explorer flourished, and the Taurus left out to dry.

@maximum-sienna: That's why they call me, the Ford Tempo Fan. ;)

By 1986, you could purchase a Ford Tempo with a 7.9% APR. This low interest rate almost certainly helped Tempo hit sales of 277,671 (not including Topaz sales, which were: 78,397).

When I think of Futura, I think of the Malaise Special Fairmont Futura with its strangely colored pillars.

@FightingChance: Durable things too. Stock speakers are now 21 years old and all original, and they can handle the 50 watt head unit I installed a while back with ease. I've had more than one person ask me what size speakers I had, and they were genuinely surprised when I told 'em it was factory stuff.