CarGuru\’s second car owned – 1984 Ford Telstar, 5 speed manual

I’ll never forget the following advertising tagline plastered in magazines and billboards everywhere “You can feel it in the curves”. I’ll never forget watching the TV commercials that showed off its sleek and futuristic lines (especially the sporty looking TX5 hatchback). But most of all, I’ll never forget the digital dashboard (with the bright yellow tacho line) and the multitude of buttons that flanked the thick rimmed steering wheel.

Yes, this was Wheel’s Car Magazine’s Car of the Year for 1983 – Ford Telstar, and a very worthy winner.

When I first saw this car advertised on TV – at the tender young age of 12 years young – , it was “Lust at first sight”. I eventually talked Dad into going to the local Ford Dealer in Mildura to check it out. At the time, Dad owned a 1966 HR Holden Station Wagon. He had bought that car new but 18 years later, no longer wanted something that big and so heavy on fuel. Although Dad really looked after his cars – regularly washed his cars and serviced them by the book – he wasn’t one to spend his hard earned money on upgrading every few years. So, just getting him to the Ford sales yard was a great feat.

We looked (or rather I prodded Dad) to the top-of-the-line Ford Telstar TX5 Ghia. For its time, this car was luxuriously equipped. The more notable features included the centre oscillating air vents (which were used to distribute the air-con/heating evenly between the two front seat passengers), the fancy/sophisticated dashboard, velour seats, advanced warning lights/chimes (such as if the tail light is not working) and adjustable dampers (we’ll talk more about this later). All this for $14,500 drive away. What really appealed the most to Dad was the incredible claimed fuel economy figures – 30mpg (miles per gallon) around town and an incredible 41mpg on the highway. What really appealed to me however was to be seen in (and hopefully eventually start learning to drive) this really flashy car. Dad ended up buying this car in June 1984, but it was more to stop my incessant nagging rather than a real immediate need to replace the 18 year old Holden. The day that we picked up the car was the most exciting day in my life.

Now let’s turn the clock forward 7.5 years to Dec 1991. I don’t know what came over dad but I managed to convince him to buy a 1991 Honda Accord Exi 4WS (Wheel Steering). This car was the most stylish 4 door sedan available on the market at the time. This was another car that turned heads wherever it went. I literally did not sleep the night before our trip to Adelaide to pick-up the car. The other reason why I was so excited was that Dad had told me that we will exchange cars when he picks up the Honda. “Exchange” meaning I’ll give him the Laser and he will give me the Telstar. Dad would use the Laser as the cheap runabout and for the odd jobs that he would do here and there. The Honda would be used mainly for long distance driving. How could I reject that offer.

There were so many things that appealed about the Telstar, even at 7 years old. It was a very reliable car (not once did it break-down during my 12 year ownership period). Ride and Handling was very capable. This may have had something to do with the adjustable damper settings – Normal, Sport and Auto. The “Sport” setting would stiffen all 4 dampers to provide better handling. The “Auto” setting would automatically adjust all 4 dampers according to the road conditions. And “Normal” is just that. These settings were somewhat gimmicky, but it is interesting to note that the modern day car, nearly 30 years on, is still adopting derivative technology. The seats were comfortable and upholstered very nicely. Although interior passenger space was barely adequate, the boot was huge (and cavernous with the seats down). The car excelled in country driving. At 100km/h, the engine barely revved to 2500 rpm, and the passengers were well insulated from wind and road noise. Although it was a Ford, the fit and finish was exceptional. Finally, 7 years on, the car still looked relatively modern.

But, like all cars, it also had some weaknesses (though nothing major). Like the Ford Laser, the engine was noisy once the yellow tacho light went passed 3500 rpm. The steering was very heavy for parking manoeuvres (which was our fault as we did NOT tick the Power Steering option when we ordered the car). Interior passenger space was tight for 4 (especially for those sitting behind my 195cm frame). NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) wasn’t the best.