1985 Mercury Topaz GS | Retro Review

Ford answered the call for more performance and handling for the Escort and Tempo with this sportier trim...but what if they had transplanted the SVO 2.3 Turbo!
Show 422 | Originally Taped 05-07-1985
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[@broeheemed32]

0-60 from the "high output" 101 hp motor: 12.6 seconds. Brutal!

[@johnmiller9024]

Keep in mind this was right in the middle of the Malaise Era

[@broeheemed32]

@@johnmiller9024 Yes, but at the same time, Ford was selling the Mustang SVO, same 2.3, but with 175 - 205 HP. I think the market for these little anemic blobcars was enough for them to not bother to make a "Topaz SVO".

[@BrownsFaninIowa]

@@johnmiller9024 I'd argue that 1985 was post-Malaise Era. There was a LOT to be excited about in 1985 -- new C4 Corvette, Mustang 5.0s and turbo SVOs, Camaro IROC-Z, Trans Am, Buick Grand Nationals(!!!) -- the horsepower and performance wars were quickly heating up. Hot hatches were coming on strong -- VW GTI, Shelby Charger Turbo and GLH Turbo, Honda CRX Si...so much goodness starting to become available on dealer lots... Contrast that to just 5 years earlier -- in 1980/81 there was almost nothing to indicate the coming performance and horsepower wars. 1985 was when we finally knew for sure that the new performance era had arrived. And yes, 12.6 second 0-60 (down 1.4 seconds!) was....less than adequate. But the national speed limit WAS still 55mph for another 2 years...but things were changing.

[@kz1000ps]

​@@johnmiller9024 Malaise Era is generally agreed to be 1973-83... I'm not trying to be a jackass or anything but there's no way the Malaise Era stretched from the early '70s to the late '90s. This car has lots of malaise stench to it but by 1985 the auto industry was starting to claw its way out of the performance doldrums.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

@@broeheemed32 The 2.3L SVO four was overhead cam and based on the Pinto engine family. It also sported a turbo on the SVO. The 2.3L HSC four was a pushrod engine based on the old Ford Thriftpower six from 1960. There’s no way the Tempo/Topaz’s stretched Escort chassis and front suspension could have handled the 200hp generated by the SVO engine. It’d torque steer itself in circles probably.

[@danbear5254]

My first car was a Mercury XR5 with a manual transmission and a sunroof. I have so many amazing memories of road trips and winter world explorations while we lived in Cheboyagan Michigan. My Mercury had 29,000 miles on him when I lucked into him, when I ‘we’ parted due to a drunk driver’s carelessness in Gulf Shores Alabama he had just under 200,000 odometer miles. In that car I experienced the joys of a manual transmission, the enjoyment and advantages of performing my own maintenance (excluding struts and tires, I paid professionals for that), how to use a road atlas, road manners, how to be my own therapist, rewards of conversations that could only occur on long road trip and learning the difference between independence versus isolation. I miss the car, I still cherish the memories though.

[@pamgodsoe9076]

I feel the same with my Topaz, 5 speed. Such a smooth shift, loved driving the car

[@AllyMcLesbian]

John Davis’s future epitaph: “still lacking voltmeter and oil pressure gauge!”

[@qmto]

His tombstone will have them (hopefully a long time from now).

[@ryns99]

replaced with idiot lights

[@Porsche996driver]

Good one Rachel!

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

I guess he thought by mentioning it on every review of a car that was missing the oil pressure and volt gages, he'd shame the manufacturers to start including them. Apparently it didn't work.

[@apl175]

I think Pat's will say something like "Take it to the dealer....don't mess with this yourself."

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

Yes! I'm so happy to see this review. In 1990, one of my first cars was a 1987 Mercury Topaz GS, 4 door automatic. I liked the look of the TRX wheels, but they were metric sized, and only Michelin sold tires that would fit on those rims. I got some junkyard 15" aluminum wheels from an Escort GT (those same wheels came factory on the 1992-94 Tempo GLS V6). Really helped with the looks and handling.

[@lab1042]

I like how they felt the need to advertise it's a "5-SPEED" on the trunk lid.

[@303nitzubishi4]

Many American manufacturers in the 80s still sold base model cars with 4 speed manuals. 5 speeds were widely available but technically optional

[@Analog_smog]

Honda, Toyota, and even Saab did it too!

[@manthony225]

It's like a "direct injection" or "hybrid" badge today.

[@thewiseguy3529]

@@303nitzubishi4 try 3 spd automatics. That was the norm.

[@destructoidx99]

my trucks a 2005 and its a 4 speed

[@2006gtobob]

I bought one as an "emergency" purchase at the beginning of February 2004, a coupe for a mere $1,200 when the engine of my 91 Civic Si let go. While it was an incredibly boring car, I CAN NOT recall what year the car was, 92, 93, or 94, it ran and kept running for the next 5 years, then I donated it to a veterans organization. The only thing I recall doing that meant anything was replacing the front rotors and pads at 125,000 miles. Funny how I can recall so many details about the car, but can't recall what year it was. Not bad for quite literally being dropped off at a local mom and pop used car lot and randomly picking a car.

[@Stressless2023]

Same for me, but I remember mine was a '93 Topaz coupe, bought it in '05 for $900 bucks after the wife wrecked my (our) '01 Pathfinder... Hated the car for the whole year I had it, but never did anything to it not even an oil change that I can remember lol, it just ran and ran. Sold it on Craigslist for the same $900 I paid for it with no gas in it and a couple dents that it didn't have when I bought it lol... Bought the '06 Acura TL that I still have today, but the wife drives a '20 Ford EcoSport that she loves which somehow feels a little familiar to that old faithful Mercury to me.

[@chadhickey9942]

a good reminder of what the 80s was and how important it was to the auto industry.... certainly a learning curve for sure... if you advertised something with this power and design today, you would be laughed right out of the market LOL. but we wouldnt be where we are today without these econoboxes

[@calvinnickel9995]

These didn’t rust anywhere near as badly as the Japanese cars of the era.

[@zythr9999]

@@calvinnickel9995 I don't recall seeing many rusted out Mid 80s Cressidas

[@303nitzubishi4]

These cars sold well through their model run but were quickly leapfrogged by the competition from the getgo. That being said they helped pave the way for the Taurus which was a much larger success story

[@zythr9999]

lol

[@DStabs720]

Yea if in success you mean transmission problems on everyone sold

[@Andrew-bb3lc]

You see, everyone downs the X cars from the early 80s, but they decline to mention these piles of crap from Ford.

[@blackericdenice]

This car is the reason I love imports.

[@monkeywkeys3916]

Wonder why

[@sleeksilver]

Cars like this are the reason why many people started Loving imports and the reason why Honda and Toyota were stealing GM and Ford's lunch money.

[@monkeywkeys3916]

Bc they were junk

[@BakerBlak]

I’ve been waiting for this! All joking aside I love these retro reviews and I miss the old days!

[@markw208]

These retro videos are great fun. I’ve forgotten about some of these cars or the packages and features. I was a Ford fan for years, but realistically the Tempo/Topaz were “corporate committee” attempts to match Hondas and Toyotas. Sadly they still haven’t succeeded.

[@TofersCarTales]

Another little gem I'd love to find a clean example of someday.

[@sleeksilver]

I love your videos!!!

[@TofersCarTales]

@@sleeksilver Thanks so much! Always nice to find a fellow MW enthusiast that has discovered my little corner of KZbin.

[@christopher88719]

Does anyone here remember what a brand new Ford/Mercury smelled liked in this era? That scent comes to mind instantly when I see this car. It was a unique blend of off-gassing plastics, carpets, and velour.

[@scoschegn]

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. The Tempos and Topazs (Topi?) had a very specific interior smell that was much more pungent than other makes.

[@christopher88719]

@@scoschegn Exactly, it was a unique odor. Not a bad smell, just distinct.

[@sneakerfreak2002]

Its what a consider a true new car smell. If you kept your car clean, it retained the smell for years and years

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

I know the smell EXACTLY (I owned a new ‘84 topaz). I loved that smell. My neighbor had a new ‘86 Tempo…smelled identical. Thanks for the memory 😊

[@kerrybrucem.8967]

Like a new pair of British Knight shoes from Payless. My cousin had one 5 speed.

[@ImJustJoshingYa]

Waited so long to see this! Had a 93 tempo. Would love to see that generation retro review as well

[@carexpertandy]

There is a retro review video for the 1988 Tempo/Topaz, which is probably the only test they did of the 2nd gen (88-94)

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

Nice! You have great taste in cars! I had a 1987 Topaz GS, 1986 Tempo, 1988 Topaz L(all 4 door, 4 cylinder automatic), a fully loaded granny beige 1992 Topaz LS and the pinnacle of these cars... a Bimini blue 1992 Tempo GLS V6 5 speed 2-door with the factory ground effects and fog lights. I loved those cars. Good times!

[@carexpertandy]

@@reallyrandomrides1296 Did any of those cars have the optional driver airbag?

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

@@carexpertandy Yes, I believe air bags were available on Tempos and Topazes from 1985 onwards, and cost over $800 (over $2000 in 2021 money). And you could not have cruise control or tilt steering, so very few cars came with them, maybe a few fleet buyers, which is what Ford was targeting. Tempo ended production in 1994, just as air bags were becoming mandatory, so very few came with air bags.

[@zythr9999]

@@reallyrandomrides1296 Lol

[@gxdjoeybaby07]

for being strut-based and front wheel drive, it looks like some decent suspension tuning (for comparison, check out the slalom for the 1984 toyota corolla le retro review, uploaded a few months ago)

[@jareknowak8712]

Bring back coupes! Bury the SUV!

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

Had the GL version,4 dr., full options and trunk rack. 2.3 liter was “adequate”, but was a great highway driver, excellent mileage. Got stolen and wrecked by a couple of punks, too bad.

[@GeeEm1313]

Those darn punk rockers.

[@monkeywkeys3916]

Dagnabbit

[@DavidAndre657]

CONGRATULATIONS, DAVID! ON YOUR 1,195TH VIDEO! 📹📹📹

[@timbuktug3321]

Back in the 80s my Grandmother’s co-worker and friend had one. It was black exterior and gray interior. I remember riding in it once and loved it I wanted my mother to buy one lol. I would love to find one of these to collect someday. I love the coupe better then the sedan it’s a more sporty looking car.

[@black98rt]

Missed 3rd on that 1/4 mile run. My family had an 88 Tempo GLS 5 speed and it ran pretty good. Good torque curve. But I once drove an older 4 door tempo 5 speed that seemed to run way better. Could be rolling at just above idle in 1st gear, punch it and it would spin all the way through 1st and leave a nice patch into 2nd. I think the valve cover said Ford Motorsports on it too. I ask the owner about it but he bought it used and didn’t really know anything about it.

[@samodio586]

I’d like to thank FORD MOTOR COMPANY for building tempo, escort, and Taurus they easily helped me buy my first house in the 90s. Premature failure on all systems was like taking candy from a baby.

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

3 factory transmissions in my ‘87 Sable. All out of warranty. $3K each time. Ouch.

[@larsupreme]

The amazing thing is that they were probably getting better performance out of this HSC 4 cylinder version of the Thriftpower Six architecture than any of the actual 6 cylinder US versions. Granted they were almost always saddled with dealing with heavier cars than the Tempo/Topaz, but not by much. And the those sixes I've encountered are amazingly cranky engines that, in factory tune, hate life above 50 mph.

[@TerrenceARamsey-m1n]

The 1983-'87 models come w/the optional 'C3' automatic transmission: its torque converter locked in 2nd and 3rd gears; the latter ones have an optional regular AT!!

[@ohger1]

The C3 was a rear drive transmission. These had the FLC front drive transaxles.

[@COYGunners]

Grandpa had one of these when I was really young and all I can say it was the last FoMoCo in our family until I bought a manual Ford Fiesta in 2016 lol

[@BReal-10EC]

It's impressive that Ford was getting close to the old 4.1 I-6 peak horsepower from this design related 2.3 four banger. Later HSO engines got 100 hp iirc, which actually was more (SAE rating to equal SAE rating).

[@lijoima]

HSC not HSO

[@BReal-10EC]

@@lijoima The HSO was a version of the HSC. High Specific Output.

[@SataniaMcDowel]

101hp ain't too bad considering how small it is

[@SuperSportSS]

Cool video. Would love to see a Motorweek review of the 92 sport versions...the GLS/XR5/LTS. Factory fog lights, V6, 5 Speed, spoilers and more!

[@chrisfreemesser]

I had an '84 Tempo with the 3-speed auto...those had a single barrel carburetor. Talk about a dog. Still, it was a simple honest car and I wish such things still existed. BTW I always wanted those cool cross alloy rims but never got to have them :(

[@chrisfreemesser]

@Jonathan A Lol, I meant 3-speed auto :)

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

I had the *exact* same car but WITH the TRX suspension. Yes, handling was decent but the tires were $110 each!! Stupid money back then. The car had short comings but I really liked it.

[@knucklebuck3924]

One of my favorite Ford jelly bean

[@hurley911]

My dad had a 1985 Topaz 4 door automatic sedan. I thought it’s conservative design looked similar to Mercedes-Benz 300e(w124).

[@pcwizzy460]

I'd like to see a 1987 Mercury Lynx retro review!

[@zythr9999]

LOL

[@Kingsoupturbo]

Not bad for the 80's really! The Toyota Supra just got 160hp in 85 and ran mid 16's, so a the humble topaz, probably half the price, not so bad! probably a pretty good torque curve with that 2.3

[@pbfloyd13]

Except... A similarly spec'd Corolla got the same hp with 700 less CCs and a carburetor...

[@britishsecretagent0078]

Such a classic car. I see them everywhere 😂😂

[@DavidAndre657]

HAPPY 1,195TH, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND HAPPY MOTORING! 🚗🚗🚗

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

The 2.3 Liter was a strong motor for a four. Nice low end torque, would run forever. With a motor like this, 0-40 or 0-50 could be on the quick side, but slow at higher speeds with good hillside pulling 🔋

[@zythr9999]

Similar to Iron Duke?

[@FuckSlowShit]

I got the 85 Nissan Sentra I know that feeling, small engine low horsepower m torque. Very strong japanese cars

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

0-60 in 12.6 was strong for a four back then. The 2.3 was derived from Ford's 200 ci inline 6 that was in the Maverick, which meant smooth low end torque. John Davis should have mentioned the 0-40 time☺ Running door handle to door handle with 2.8 liter Chevies out of lights

[@calvinnickel9995]

Doubtful.

[@kimchipig]

In a race with a 2.8 litre Chevrolet, the result is inevitably a photo finish or an oil painting.

[@melrose9252]

You are correct.

[@gmessing]

The 3.9 second 40-55 passing time in 3rd gear is quite impressive actually. The quarter mile time of 17.7 is also quite good for the day, despite a lowish 72 mph trap speed. Tells me this thing has very good low end torque and/or gearing, but eventually runs out of steam.

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

@@gmessing Most definitely. This motor is derived from the old inline 6, with 2 cylinders cut off. My Dad had an '83 Ranger with this motor, with 4 on the floor. It would lay some rubber in 1'st out of the gate, was a torquey motor for a 4, and didn't have a buzzey exhaust note. Our 305 Nova left it in the dust, but the Ranger blew the doors off of our '84 Olds Omega 2.5 liter four, which no power at any speed

[@barryervin5297]

I could sort of understand people buying Tempos, as cheap transportation, but I could never figure out how a buyer for something like this ended up in a Lincoln Mercury dealership? I guess not that many did.

[@carexpertandy]

Mercury models were more likely to be sold to middle aged adults and senior citizens. But I can’t imagine how many people would’ve gone to a Mercury dealership looking for something sporty and snazzy looking like this.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

Topazes sold pretty well, actually. Over 100,000 units a year most years. Hell, Lincoln-Mercury sold rebadged Escorts, EXPs, and Mazda 323s in this era, too. And the Merkur XR4Ti. Some people bought Mercurys because they still believed they were just a bit more special and distinctive compared to the Ford you’d see at every stoplight.

[@barryervin8536]

@@judethaddaeus9742 True. And I'm sure some people already owned a Lincoln or Mercury and wanted to go to a familiar place to buy an "economy car". Or maybe they had a L-M dealer right down the street and the Ford place was 10 miles away. The XR4Ti was a cool car. I always wondered if it would have sold better as a Ford but probably Ford didn't want the competition with the Mustang in the same showroom.

[@red.5475]

I absolutely love this car.

[@sutherlandA1]

The tempo/topaz engine was essentially a cut down ford falcon thriftpower 6

[@javierjosechavezbenitez3707]

That's what the HSC really was. Unrelated to the 2.3 OHC on base Mustangs et al.

[@ohger1]

My wife had one as her first car when she started her career. Ran many trouble free years, but what that car needed more than anything was a four speed auto instead of the three. It would upshift to third on hills, lose speed, then downshift to second upshift to third, then downshift again, and on and on. Otherwise it rode well and was a quiet car.

[@davidaubin3902]

5:00 John: BUT AS IN MANY GERMAN CARS, BOTH AN OIL PRESSURE GAUGE AND VOLT METER ARE MISSING! LOL

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

Considering that most Tempos and Topazes were sold as 4 door automatics, and they were being positioned as economical family cars, I'm surprised they tested a two-door 5 speed manual.

[@albear972]

4:56 minus 3,2,1, the mandatory mention of the infamous missing *voltmeter and oil pressure gauges*

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

The jelly bean styling was very modern at the time, and the shape of the side windows on the two-door looked nearly identical to the Lincoln LSC, and somewhat similar to the aero Thunderbirds of that era.

[@monkmchorning]

On business, I rented a standardly equipped Tempo. While it certainly wasn't exciting, the acceleration was adequate for the time, and the steering response and handling were not too shabby.

[@troysanchez776]

Who else is old and can remember seeing one with the trx alloys?

[@jtckentucky3481]

101HP- wow that’s some high output!

[@kristinapence4051]

We had an 84 tempo in drivers ed at Fort Osage high in Independence mo back in the 80s! Hey for a few years they were great cars! They're not around much anymore! Tempo-rary?

[@bruceyung70]

I remember these cars.

[@theoparke]

The high trunklid, the rounding in the front... you can almost see the Taurus trying to push out of its design chrysalis in this car. (And it's not a Retro Review without Davis kvetching about so-called "missing" battery and oil pressure gauges.)

[@AiOinc1]

I've got the gauge cluster out of one of these. Found one at Pull a Part in white!

[@stephenrye6474]

My Dad had a 4 speed Topaz. Don’t remember which year. It was a terrible little car and highlighted why Detroit had lost its way.

[@zythr9999]

LOL

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

I owned a 1984 Topaz LS with the TRX suspension. The metric TRX tires were $110 each. Stupid money back then for a high school kid like me. I really loved the futuristic aero shape of the car and the plush, well appointed interior of the LS model. The body was solid as was the interior. In retrospect though, it was not a good car. The engine was extremely underpowered and the 3 speed auto transmission was crude with ungraceful shifts. The handling was decent but not nearly enough to justify the overpriced metric tires. TBH - overall, I really liked the car. $129.27 was the payment with my part time job. $131.79 when the payment was late…which was often lol.

[@zythr9999]

I remember CR bot recommending the auto in Escorts before 91, because of how bad it was.

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

@@zythr9999​​80’s transmissions in Ford small cars were terrible. The 3 speed auto in my ‘84 Topaz was very crude. Each shift occurred with a surge and a lunge. Great looking car but mechanically crude across the board.

[@DavidAndre657]

Show 422 | Originally Taped 05-07-1985

[@DavidAndre657]

1/4 MILE: 17.7 seconds 72 MPH

[@DavidAndre657]

IT'S MY 1,195TH VIDEO CELEBRATION! 🍾🍾🍾

[@tehscope9422]

I bought a 1986 Topaz new 2.3 5 speed the first and only new car I have ever bought I chickened out at 115 mph due to the suspension the car bounced all over the place but it was still pullin .

[@DavidAndre657]

MAGNIFIQUE! 🇫🇷

[@jimdayton8837]

I wonder how many of these are left. The first gen Tempo and Topaz are already really rare.

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

Jim, in a nostalgic way, I love the 1st Gen tempo / topaz having owned a 1984 Topaz LS. I always have an eye out for them but the last one I saw was an ‘84 or ‘85 beige Tempo GL back around 2010 in PA. These were not durable cars 🙁

[@FuckSlowShit]

​@japanwatchconnection you think. Sorry to ruin your bubble bud but there a few still around in California I'm sure there's a few others in other states

[@DavidAndre657]

HERE'S TO THE 1,195 FOLLOWERS, 1,195 LIKES, 1,195 SUBSCRIBERS, 1,195 UPLOADS, 1,195 VIDEOS, 1,195 VIEWS, AND MANY MORE VIDEOS TO COME! 📹📹📹

[@DavidAndre657]

EPA MILEAGE: 22 City 🏙 31 Highway 🛣

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Boy we’ve have come a looooong wayyy!! That kind of performance is unacceptable now a day’s!!😂

[@TheBandit7613]

No, it's not. I was shopping for a new econobox work car (I have a couple nice classics) Went to Mitsubishi, their econobox has under 100 hp and is dog slow. No, I didn't buy it. Still looking.

[@DavidAndre657]

1985 Mercury Topaz GS | Retro Review (1,195TH VIDEO SPECIAL!.) 📹📹📹 YOU BETCHA!

[@DavidAndre657]

I MADE IT! MY 1,195TH VIDEO! 📹📹📹 I FEEL LIKE CELEBRATING! 🍾🍾🍾

[@DavidAndre657]

BASE PRICE: $9,389 (1985) 💵💵💵

[@nlpnt]

I had an '84 base Topaz in the '90s. I'm not sure what level of babying it had enjoyed in its' former life (it had only about 70,000 miles by the time I got it) but it fell apart like it was just waiting to. Didn't make it to 100k.

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

I had a little better luck. My ‘84 Topaz had 115,000 miles on it in 1990 when I sold it and it still ran and shifted great. Did leave me stranded once when the TFI (thick film ignition) module died at a shopping center.

[@DavidAndre657]

PASSING 40-55 MPH: 3.9 seconds

[@mcqueenfanman]

TBI! I love all the early cheap factory fuel injection systems. Seems Ford went to port efi across the board before the others.

[@tedunguent156]

My uncle had one of these back in the day. He didn't have it for very long. I had a 1985 Plymouth Horizon 2.2L 5-speed manual that would smoke this car in a drag race or on the "track." LOL

[@bghoody5665]

"... Ford is obviously working very hard to improve ..." Okay, John, Ford wasn't working THAT hard. Sheesh.

[@DavidAndre657]

TEST MILEAGE: 31 MPG ⛽⛽⛽

[@thewiseguy3529]

I love these lol I don't know why

[@ramoncarter6585]

These cars are so rare now think they first generation Tempo /Topaz looked modern for a car back in the day call me crazy but it did. The engine and body might been weak but they were some good cars even liked the second generation better than the Contour / Mystique.

[@GIUSAF]

My first car was a 1985 Topaz!!

[@boss12]

I wonder how many of these are still on the road now.

[@chadhickey9942]

0

[@boss12]

@@chadhickey9942 I was thinking -2

[@disan9135]

They went extinct in the year 2000. They were disposable cars unlike Honda and Toyota which we still see on the roads from the 90’s and even late 80’s.

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

I watch out for 1st Gen tempo / topaz and the last one I saw was in 2010. Unfortunately, they are all gone. Not very good cars but I like them.

[@boss12]

@@thetinysideoftiny7625 I actually saw one recently, here in the desert they do still exist.

[@LakeHowellDigitalVideo]

You all can't handle the power of that high output motor. One hundred One horsepower is just too much. It's like the hellcat of 1986.

[@fredmertz8538]

The dealership sales personnel never told the buyers how much those Michelin 'metric' tires would cost to replace. Over $1,000, and that is in 1985 dollars.

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

Fred, I don’t think they were that expensive back in the mid 80’s. I had the TRX suspension and I was paying $110 each for the tires. Still quite expensive. I think as time wore on and the availability decreased, the price of the tires went up…did you actually see a set of 4 hit $1,000? If so that’s crazy!

[@fredmertz8538]

@@thetinysideoftiny7625 I worked at an independent auto parts store back in the day. I would quote people $1,200 for 4 new Michelin metric tires because they were the only brand that sold metric in the U.S.

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

@@fredmertz8538 WOW! EXPENSIVE!! You're definitely right on the exclusivity. That was the ONLY tire that fit my metric rim. I was a high school kid with a car payment. $440 plus tax, mount, balance, etc for 4 new tires was eye watering in the mid-80's lol.

[@mattdavis9601]

Can you even buy TRX compatible tires these days?

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

@@mattdavis9601 Fred can correct me if I’m wrong…but about 10 years ago or so, I did a search for the TRX tires…just for fun. At that time the mold for the tire was sold to a speciality company (maybe Coker?) and they were producing the TRX tires in low volume. I remember the price was very high. These tires were used in some of the Mustangs of the era…so I suppose that’s what was driving the low volume speciality production. Don’t know if they are available in 2022.

[@DavidAndre657]

0-60 MPH: 12.6 seconds

[@FuckSlowShit]

Hey if it pulls it pulls

[@DavidAndre657]

BELLISSIMO! 🇮🇹

[@howardkerr8174]

Fairly early into my car buying I learned that it's a good idea to study the specifications before putting a pile of money down. The Topaz was a fairly interesting car, even if it was really nothing more than a stretched Escort. But what kept me from ever wanting to own one was its weak and unsophisticated 2/3rds of a very old OHV 6 cylinder engine. Had the V6 been offered sooner...

[@patriley9449]

These cars were quick enough for the times. Today everyone wants to have massive horsepower even though there is so much traffic in most places to negate the benefits of excessive power.

[@DavidAndre657]

WUNDERBAU! 🇩🇪

[@DavidAndre657]

MW ROADTEST: 1985 Mercury Topaz GS

[@mcqueenfanman]

3:36 We need some of Craig's Take The High Road stories.

[@Dr_Reason]

I always wished they made the straight six Fairmont engine this way with 150 hp.

[@dforrest4503]

“Midsize” cars probably smaller than the smallest thing you can buy today.

[@markb3756]

I went back and watched several times around the 4:28-4:30 time stamp to try and figure out why the seats looked frayed or something. Did anyone else notice this?

[@stukoviak]

@ 3:45 "but some things on the Topaz Sport still need work, such as brakes" *disregard the bouncing passenger seat backrest*

[@KN-bw6gu]

Ha! I noticed that too.

[@aarongranda7825]

Will someone tell me if those doors interchange with Thunderbird and cougar?

[@DavidAndre657]

BRAKING 55 MPH: 124 feet

[@johnsmith-xw4ez]

Mercury Topaz & Ford Tempo are gone, Today: The Ford Mazda 3 & focus took their places.

[@davidzdziarek-zl8cu]

Fords weren't ALWAYS Fix Or Repair Daily; MY first car was a '63 Falcon, and I owned a Mustang later in life.

[@pbfloyd13]

As charming as this little topaz was I think I'd've gotten a a 323 or Civic instead.

[@dellstudio10]

1989 Mazda 323 was my first car. Ran great and had plenty of power because it was so light. Rated at 87 ponies but felt like a good bit more with the short gearing of the 4 speed manual. Super reliable too. I dogged that car everyday and nothing ever broke.

[@tedunguent156]

@@dellstudio10 1989 Mazda 626 GT produced 145HP/190lb/ft at the wheels from a 2.0L Turbo. The Corolla, Civic, 323, Jetta from that era were not impressive cars. Too small and uncomfortable and cheaply built to impress. They did handle fairly well and they got excellent fuel mileage. Stepping up to the Accord and 626 was a BIG deal. Mitsubishi had the Starion then.

[@97I30T]

@japanwatchconnection And yet somehow the Tempo and Topaz stiil sold like hotcakes for their entire production run. They were extremely popular all the way up until their discontinuation after 1994.

[@PhillyDee215]

Throwback😯

[@zythr9999]

Throwaway

[@PhillyDee215]

@@zythr9999 🤣

[@zythr9999]

@@PhillyDee215 LOL

[@PhillyDee215]

@@zythr9999 aye one day our cars will be throwbacks/throwaway😉

[@jimmyjimjims7483]

Long time ago I found a well used one of these for sale in front of an Autozone, ended up taking it for a test drive and it felt quite unsafe, like it was on stilts or something. The body roll was mildly dangerous and it was super underpowered. Granted it was a 15 year old used car at the time but I said no thanks even at $1000 lol

[@monkeywkeys3916]

All it needed was a Hemi

[@davidhoward1653]

Wow I remember that dash layout in our parents four door Topaz LS still looks good today. It was a 85 too.

[@petulantfrenzy5532]

I hate rear badging in general. Ford calling out what trans is in the car was terrible. ABS badging was also awful. Oh and luggage racks on coupes wtf?!

[@sutterpark]

My late father used to lease Ford Tempo AWD at the time my dad had to stay in Mi and the winter was very harsh! That car STILL got stuck with AWD! You THINK Ford back then could have 4wd in a sedan but nooo! The car was under power no V6 got stuck 4 feet snow! My dad friend had a Jeep Wangler with 4wd and help my late dad the car slide in a ditch

[@mattdavis9601]

4 foot of snow is about halfway of the windows. No wonder it got stuck.

[@mikep.5517]

Missed shift at 3:13 :)

[@DavidAndre657]

MORE MOTORWEEK RETRO REVIEWS.... ........................JUST AROUND THE BEND

[@jsciarri]

Do the world a favor and stopping posting 5 or more comments on every video with the specs.