EXHIBIT 5

                                                                 August 13, 2003
Ford Motor Credit Company
One American Road
Dearborn, Michigan 48126

         Re:  Registration of Securities

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Reference is made to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") on or about the date hereof, by Ford Motor Credit Company, (the
"Company"). The Registration Statement relates to the issuance and sale from
time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
of Variable Denomination Floating Rate Demand Notes of the Company ("the
Securities").

         As Counsel -- Corporate and Secretary of the Company, I am familiar
with the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws and with the
affairs of the Company. I also have examined such other documents and
instruments and have made such further investigation as I have deemed necessary
or appropriate in connection with this opinion.

         Based on the foregoing, it is my opinion that:

         1. The Company is duly incorporated and validly existing as a
corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware.

         2. When (i) the registration requirements of the Securities Act have
been complied with, (ii) the indenture between the Company and the Trustee
pursuant to which the Debt Securities are to be issued (the "Indenture") has
been qualified under the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
(the "TIA"), (iii) the form or forms of the Securities and the final terms
thereof have been duly approved or established by appropriate corporate action
taken by the Company and in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and (iv)
the Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, completed, issued and
delivered against payment therefor in accordance with such corporate action, the
Indenture and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the
Securities will thereupon be legally issued and binding obligations of the
Company.

         My opinions expressed above are subject to the qualifications that I
express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of (i)
any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent
conveyance, moratorium or other similar law or judicially developed doctrine in
this area (such as substantive consolidation or equitable subordination)
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally, (ii) general
principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy considerations which may
limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies.

         For purposes of the relevant opinions above, I have assumed that the
Securities will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and
non-assessable.

         I wish to point out that I am a member of the Bar of the District of
Columbia and do not hold myself out as expert in the laws of other
jurisdictions. However, I have made, or caused to be made, such investigation as
I have deemed appropriate with respect to the laws of other jurisdictions in
connection with the opinions expressed herein, and nothing has come to my
attention in the course of such investigation which would lead me to question
the correctness of such opinions.

         I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, I do not admit that I am in the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities
Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission issued thereunder.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           /s/ Susan J. Thomas

                                           Susan J. Thomas
                                           Counsel -- Corporate and Secretary