Advice for perspective buyer

[Zophiel]

First off, hey everyone, nice to meet y'all. My name's John and I live in Southern California.

I have pretty much decided my next car will be an '04 Tbird. I've been doing a bunch of research and it looks like this is a good place to get some questions answered. So, without further ado...

I'm going back and forth between VMG with a white top or Merlot with the Merlot top. I like the "retro" look of the VMG/white combo. But the Merlot is a beautiful color. Any thoughts you have on the subject would be appreciated. The Merlot looks like it would be hard to keep clean.

I'm trying to decide between the 16 spoke wheels from Ford or simply replacing the factory wheels with something else. (I saw pictures of someone's 5-spoke two-tine wheels on a blue bird here. They looked sweet.) Maybe Cragar SST's or something similar?

Also interested if anyone has seen the Merlot "off-colored" aluminum. It's bronze or copper or some such? Hearing it described made me think it wouldn't look as good as the standard aluminum. Does anyone who has seen it have a strong opinion?

Anyway, thanks in advance.

[jjaz]

John,
If you want "strong" opinions, you're definitely on the wrong forum...
:rolleyes::wink:
And, as for choosing between Merlot and VMG, that won't get anyone's attention, either. :box::box:
Seriously, the Merlot is favored by many and the VMG is favored...
by a few of us, too.
IMO, the VMG is another one of those rich Tbird heritage colors brought back from the mid-50's and I like that retro look.
Probably, there won't be as many VMG's as other colors on the road, making it a bit more unique.
You would probably be more pleased with the '04 chrome wheels or after-market sets. The standard wheels don't do much to set the car off.
The Tbird is a fun car that looks good in every color. No matter what decision you make, it'll be the right one for you.

Was it Alfred E. Newman or Henry Ford that once said "Let the customer choose any color they want...
as long as it's black"?

[Gobird]

:pbj: John, Welcome to the Nest. I don't think you can go wronge with either of those colors. Myself, I prefer the Merlot, but a lot of people here do like the VMG.

As far as the wheels go, well it has to be delivered on something so you'll have the factory either way. If you don't like them then they can be replaced with an aftermarket type. Look through the gallery and I'm sure you'll find a few aftermarket ones there.

I haven't seen the bronze trim in person yet but people here that have say it looks real good and is something different compaired to the others.

Hay, just pick your color and dive right in, this is a great car no matter what color it is.:hail: :hail: :pink: :pink: :pink:

[Gobird]

:rolleyes: Think that was old Henry that said that.

[FUN X 3]

When I was going through the same thought process with my '02, I wanted a "retro" color that would trigger people's memories of the old Thunderbird. That's why I chose Thunderbird Vintage Blue, it just hits a chord in people who like T-Birds. If that's what you're looking for in your T-Bird, then choose Vintage Mint Green, and get a white hardtop while you're at it. It's a CLASSIC color combination.

I really like the Merlot with the sand accents. It's a CLASSY color combination. IMHO, the Merlot is a more modern-looking color, and there is a drawback- there are a lot, and I mean A LOT of other makes and models of cars on the road with the same color combination. Show me another make and model with VMG!

Wheels? Get the premium wheels, they will look great with the white hardtop, or substitute whatever trips your trigger for the standard wheel.

Sand aluminum trim? I saw it back in June on a '04 prototype at Wixom, and I've seen other pictures since then. I think it looks great with the sand accents.

Well, you asked for it, there's my input. Whatever you end up with, I promise you'll enjoy it! I've been grinning for 15,600 miles now...:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

[joelja]

First of all, welcome to the thunderbirdnest forum....this is the active forum for all new TBird people.

So much fun, info, and friendship.


Color is a personal preference thing.... the VMG with the white top is growing on me ...very cool and retro looking.

But if I had to make a choice of all the '04 colors right now.....I would take the merlot with the sand colored interior. The bronze finished center stck pieces look very good.

I prefer the shiny chrome look when it comes to wheels.

I have seen a merlot car with the sand colored package in person....it looks awesome in the sunshine with the metal flake finish.

Buy what you think you will enjoy for the long term.

But whatever you do, enjoy the car and keep talking to us here....let us know what you ended up doing and ask all the questions you want.

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Proboxfan]

Welcome and congratulations, John! :wavey:

I like the Merlot better myself, but who am I to tell you what you want! :nuts:

I don't know if you have the option of choosing the color of your softtop with either car, but be forewarned that white or light colored tops can show dirt and wear a whole lot more than a black or darker colored one. I think the Merlot comes with a sand or tan colored softtop, and that wouldn't be so bad. Make sure to ask your dealer about the softtops if that concerns you like it would me.

Also, before you drive your car home (and I know you'll be in a hurry to do so), ask them to lift the hardtop up and check to make sure there are protective strips under it on the decklid of the car. That way maybe you can head off the trouble of having your paint scuffed, gouged or scratched like most of us here have already. When I took delivery of my '03 T-Bird, the dealer just told me that the mylar strips in the cardboard in the trunk were for going under the hardtop after I took it off and put it back on the next time. He didn't bother to tell me that there weren't any there already (and maybe he honestly didn't know) and I assumed there were, or I would've asked to have had it done right then and there.

If you can force yourself to wait until later next year (I know that may be impossible!), I think you could get yourself a really screamin' deal on either the VMG or Merlot and won't have to order one.

Also, keep in mind the interior. If you plan on getting a light colored leather, just beware that it shows dirt and wear much more than darker colors, just like the softtop. It's my feeling that the VMG is going to be the car that will require more pampering than the Merlot just due to the lighter colors of interior and softtop it probably has.

Whatever you decide, good luck and enjoy! Post some pictures if and when you get some good ones taken. :cheers:

[Zophiel]

Wow. Hey thanks for all the positive and immediate responses.

I think that I'm gravitating towards the VMG. A dealership near my house had one and it looked pretty darn good. And while I do love the photos I've seen of the merlot, I think that Phil has put in words the feelings that I've been having about what the color signifies for me.

Plus my wife really liked it. As it turns out, the dealership had the EXACT thing that we are now discussing a VMG/white with the chrome wheels. I could probably go buy it this afternoon if I really wanted to. Unfortunately, the spreadsheet that controls my spending says "not until February can you do this." But who knows what could happen between now and then.

On convertible tops: I believe the soft top that comes with these cars is BLACK in all cases except when you have the merlot/sand combination. At least, I sure hope it is. I will verify with my authorized Ford dealer when I purchase. The hardtop will be "performance white" just because it looks so dang cool.

And THANK YOU to Gary about the mylar strips. I will ABSOLUTELY make sure that they do this.

I'm thinking about white-walls now. Does anyone still make them?


John

[SunLuvNBird]

:wavey: Welcome home, John!

Everything I would say has already been said, but I just wanted to welcome you to the most informative, friendliest place to be!
:bestwish: :bestwish:

[winterm]

John,

Welcome, Welcome to "The Nest!" You are definitely in "the place to be!"

Looking forward to your posts.

[BirdsAndBugs]

Welcome John! :pbj:

What you're asking though is not advice, it's personal preference. So pick what color and options you like and go with it. You'll be making the right choice for you!
:bestwish:

[K.P.]

John..Welcome!
I like your combination of VMG/white top..The VMG is a beautiful color, and a white hardtop would look so wonderful. If I were getting a new one now, that's what it would be. (I guess I'll keep the Grey for a while--my husband says I can't get a new one every year!)
As far as the wheels..with a white top and given that the green is a lght color, the '04 wheels with the white in the center ring looks nice. BUT, I do like my Neiman Marcus wheels and on anything but the VMG with white top, I prefer at least the '02-'03 wheels if not the NM.
Sounds like you are going to have a beautiful car!!!:thumbsup:
I'm jealous..I want green too! :bawl:

[SunLuvNBird]

Karyl, are you "green" with envy??:lol:

[K.P.]

:bawl:~~sniff~~ yeah, I think maybe so!

I do love my Grey, and I love how I feel when I drive it, but that VMG is really pretty! That shade of green has always been my favorite color (not ever of cars until now!) Oh, well, can't have 'em all! I'll just have to get a diecast!

[BirdsAndBugs]

Karyl, when I bought Thunderbird in May I was leaning toward the sky blue as I liked that retro color too. Also liked the 007 model real well but my wife figured it would be hard to keep the white interior clean.

However, when I saw the Mountain Shadow grey in person, it had such a classy appearance I had to go with it even though I initially wasn't impressed with it from photos I had seen on Ford's website. I knew it was the right choice.

As far as I can see, you can't really go wrong. All the Thunderbird colors have looked pretty darn good.

[jerrym3]

I would stll go for black. Nothing like it when it's clean. I just wish that they made a full color tan (darker than sand) interior rather than just the buckets and wheel.

Adding the few chrome touches (hood bezel/rocker panels) makes the black stand out even more.

Just put the bezel on mine (with the chrome door strips) and it's amazing how it's dressed up the front.

Before the bezel, you hardly notice the scoop and the horizontal strips; now, your eyes are drawn to it.

Last choice, IMHO, would be the VMG.

[leisha]

A classic combo!

Enuf said...

[SunLuvNBird]

If I were just buying my bird now, and couldn't get the MS Grey, I would definately get the Merlot.....
I just LOVE :love: sparkley things,(much to the dismay of my husband and his wallet) and the Grey and Merlot REALLY sparkle!

I like the look of the vintage colors, especially when paired with the white hardtops, but it's just not ME (and the VMG color makes me want to have ice cream every time I see it, and that wouldn't be good for my waistline! :nono:)

[K.P.]

Kathe--- and I always like green "sherman" (as my little brother used to call sherbet when we were kids!)

Like I said, I do like how I feel when I drive the MSgrey, also, when we were in the parade at Jonesborough (Thunder Valley weekend) a man followed us down the parade street telling us how "rich" the color looked. I didn't argue with him. I'm really happier in the Grey than I probably would be in any other color - and I won't tire of it in years to come. I might tire of a pastel color sooner.

[JerryP]

When Karyl spoke of wanting a VMG too! She really meant ALSO! You have to watch her, she would take one of every color.

[SunLuvNBird]

:laugh: JerryP, much to the dismay of YOUR wallet! :lol:

[K.P.]

I see no problem at all!!:laugh:

[Bird V8]

Hi John, Welcome. My wife and I looked at the Mint one at the El Cajon Ford dealer. It is very nice. She wanted a T Bird Blue like the one we test drove in 2002 so we bought a low milage one recently. Buy the color you really like. Les ( El Cajon)

[yelobird2002]

Guess I have been sleeping at the screen the last couple of months. What color is this VMG .

[5bird7]

VMG - vintage mint green - like lite lime sherbet with a little sparkle.

there are photos on this site and mine of the VMG