Articles on the Web

[5bird7]

Ok, more web searches. This one turned up a review article for those that have White Thunderbirds. Are you reading this, Tim?Talk about a "let the Stories Begin" review.

from curbsite.com (http://www.curbsite.com/2002/thunderbird/thunderbird.html)

[TbirdTim]

Thanks for finding that article. I know that we each have stories that we could tell about our experiences with our Thunderbird's!:thumbsup:

[5bird7]

more web searching today - found epinions (http://www.epinions.com/auto_Make-2002_Ford_Thunderbird) website with several reviews of the Thunderbird over the past year. Thought you might want to read those today.

[FordMan7]

Cool article -

I guess almost everyone is having the same kind of "neat experiences" with their t-birds!:thumbsup:

FordMan7:fordsrule:

[tr cruiser]

I found another online review (http://cartalk.cars.com/Info/Testdrive/Reviews/ford-thunderbird-2002.html) today.

This one is from a couple of critics who sound like they're trying hard not to like the Thunderbird.

There is a humorous photo of one of the guys trying to climb into the trunk, however. :)

[TbirdTim]

A good article... but I found a couple of mistakes. We'll see if anyone here can find the errors.:rolleyes:

[SixPac]

The article said side air bags can't be had. I thought we had side air bags, or am I confused?

[TbirdTim]

Yes, we do have side airbags...that's one of the mistakes. There's still another mistake in the article.:goof:

[DavidA]

They posted the wrong sticker price. It's $35,945.00, not $36.360. 3775 pounds, not 3900 (even with the hard top). Am I nitpicking yet or am I close?:puzzled:

[TbirdTim]

Those are things that I didn't even catch. The one that I was thinking of involved the fact that they mentioned that the car had a red and white interior, instead of a red and black interior.:goof: They sure didn't spend much time studying the car and/or they didn't check their article very closely for errors.

[FordMan7]

Gee, black/white - it's not that easy to get them confused?:moreek::ugone2far:

Who knows - I have seen a lot of reviews like that - moderatly accurate and trying to be rather bland about the review - Ie... I really love it but I don't dare actually admit to it!

It's a good thing most of us do not buy cars based on reviews

FordMan7:fordsrule:

[5bird7]

found this news release:
James Bond cars will be on display (http://breaking.examiner.ie/2002/09/23/story69410.html) Any one going to England next month?

[5bird7]

found another review:
from American Woman (http://www.roadandtravel.com/roadtests/reviews/2002roadtests/bullittmustang.htm)

[DavidA]

New Color (http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/thunderbird/index.asp?bhcp=1)

Click on button #2 on the "news" section on the left side and you'll see the new colors. The blue looks very nice with the white top.

[5bird7]

thanks for the link, I noted that they also have a new screen saver and some new wallpaper.

[Steve Legel]

click on two on the left of what?
Steve

[5bird7]

go back to DavidA's message and click on the bold words "new color" - those are links on this site. that'll take you to the pages he's talking about.

[FordMan7]

Very sharp!

I love the "pursuit of the good life since '55" quote - Very cool!

FordMan7:fordsrule:

[jawill2000]

Hmmm wonder where they got the 6 speed tranny!

[bluebird]

I have read somewhere that the T-bird's tranny is actually a six speed but the car's computer is only programmed to use 5 speeds. :puzzled:

[tr cruiser]

Button #3 (http://www.fordvehicles.com/features/news/detail/index.asp?id=203&bhcp=1) on the Pursuit of the Good Life page takes you to a news release about the JD Powers award. It's been posted other places, but this is the first time I've seen it on the Ford site.

[FordMan7]

It is only a five speed, however it is five speed with overdrive - which is just like a six speed! That could be where they were going with the "6-speed" quote

FordMan7:fordsrule:

[5bird7]

Found a news article (http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/red_sox/snotes09302002.htm) to read - scroll down that page until you see the heading "Ricky Rides Off"

and here's a follow up article (http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/sports_columnists/gcal10012002.htm) :moreek:


and a new news release from the BeanStalk Group (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/021001/12043_1.html) about the diecast models.

[rlstonejr]

Rickey - I don't believe I have you listed in my database.......:biggrin:

[jawill2000]

HUH? The 5 speed includes overdrive.

[jawill2000]

What is this total newbie BS?

[5bird7]

just means you have 23 more posts to make to lose that title - nothing more - kind of an incentive to be active on the forum. (30 posts is the magic number).

[5bird7]

haven't posted here in awhile. :lol: Was sent this address this morning:
http://www.detnews.com/2003/autosinsider/0301/02/b01-49717.htm
Does the 'bird look silver? Is this a 2004 concept? (that's how to start rumors) It is a concept so look to find it on my pages later this week as I get more info.

[ThunderBubba]

Dot;

That must be a concept car. Possibly even the J. Mays car with different wheels. If the color was bad off (lightened up considerably) the dark grey may appear like this along with the saddle leather seats might look more like butterscotch like in this pic. Does the chevron vent on the side look like the enlarged ones on the J. Mays car? And the grill isn't stock either. The color could almost be the dove grey used on Lincolns back in the 80's.

[0bird2]

I like the wheels. Look to be fun to clean! I notice that the hood
scoop has been changed to a hood bulge, probably for clearance. Ford
is probably using the Eaton supercharger that is in Harley Davidson
and Lightning pickups.
OMG, 390hp. Gotta love it!!!!!!!!!!
Now I just need to convice Dot that I have to have one!!!!!!!!!!

[ThunderBubba]

George;

I completely missed the hood scoop change. Did you also notice that there were no fog lamps? I think I like the current hood better than the one on this car. But if they have space issues I could understand the change.

[YLO BRD]

Hopefully Yello7530 will get some good close up pictures of this one while at the show on Friday.

[Te42]

Before reading all the comments u guys made about the two guys finding fault with the Bird I too picked out some of the most obvious mistakes. David A sees all. U go guy.:thumbsup:

[5bird7]

In amongst all the tom foolery you'll see here today is this article for the serious minded:
http://acs.yellowbrix.com/pages/acs/Story.nsp?story_id=37318405&ID=acs&scategory=Chemicals&

[5bird7]

Convertible sales dipped some in 2002 yet still over 300,000 sold; 02 Thunderbird was in 3rd place on the sales charts. Good article to read.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030324/dem012_1.html

[5bird7]

Here's another article on the end of the Thunderbird.
http://www.lsj.com/news/business/030423tbird7c.html
I'm only listing it because whomever put it together for the Lansing State Journal, posted a timeline and it looks like they got their info off of my website trivia page. It's nice to think that there are journalists using my pages for looking up info on the Thunderbird.:pbj:

[Kokomo]

There is an article about retro look new cars which mentions the Thunderbird today. Here is a link:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2003-04-30-retro_x.htm

[5bird7]

Have 2 more articles for people to check out:

How about this positive review:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03248/218140.stm


and I found this "report card" rather interesting, especially his comments within each category:
http://autos.msn.com/vip/heraudreport.aspx?modelid=10760&src=vip

[AZTB]

Good articles, both...

[brd4jk]

that first article said it wasnt good in the snow...........i had raven in the ice and snow one time and it did great.........

gobird your comments on this i know you drive yours in the snow.

[NC2k2TBird]

We drove back from Asheville, NC to Greensboro in an ice storm this past February. There were cars and trucks all over the road, or should I say on the sides of the road. We were in the Bird and had no problems. We went fairly slow (no faster than 55 mph) with no cruise control on and kept plenty of distance between us and the car in front of us...

I think that it is more the way one drives on the road with bad conditions that dictates the consequences.

[K.P.]

The guy who wrote the first article Dot listed also "burbles" like Joelja in describing engine sound! He'd love to hear Joelja's Borla imitation!

The second article said the price will hold steady because there are "fanatics and collectors"! Who??? US????

[5bird7]

Here's another article:

http://theautochannel.com/F/news/2003/08/12/166721.html

[AZTB]

Dot...that's a great article!

[lovebirds]

Thanks for posting the link Dot. Pretty good article.....



'03 Torch Red/Performance White H/T Partial Red Accent

[texscott]

that was a very good article. I like the part about them autocrossing it. Had some friends who did that back in the 80's. One of them have a Sunbeam Tiger :naughty:

Thanks DOT

[5bird7]

There's an interesting "prediction" in the following review of the 04:
http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/new/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/37569

[5bird7]

Debated about where to put this article but since they mention Ford several times, figured this was ok:
http://www.motortrend.com/features/news/112_news031203_tbirds/

It's about the use of the Thunderbird in the upcoming Thunderbirds movie.

[ThunderBubba]

Everything about that "CAR" is wrong. Ford ought to sue. It will be our luck that the movie will be a big hit and they will keep making sequels with that "THING" being featured.:cussing: :cussing: :cussing:

Just say no to that movie.

[LuvHisBird]

YUCK!!

I agree with Thunderbubba. What a shame to do that and feature that in a movie.........:mad: :mad: :cussing: :cussing:

[JBest]

The Autochannel web address listed by 5bird7 above,....on two different occassions has frozen my computer into a time warp continuum. Never have that happen for any other address or situation.
Don't believe I'll go near "Autochannel" again!

:nervous:

[RTBRD]

I don't know, it will give the Bird more publicity than Ford ever did (not to mention the 3 second shot in the Bond movie) and it sounds as if the car will be the star and the good guy/gal and after all, it does look like our loves, in a twisted sort of way.

I'm sure that Gobird noticed who the director was, Jonathan Frakes, #2 on Star Trek, the 2nd Generation series.

[Proboxfan]

If that rumor turns out to be true about the supercharged 390 hp 2005 T-Bird 50th Anniversary model, I'm not going to have any choice but to trade mine in on one! :pbj:

I'm still wondering about the color selections that they'll have, though.

I mean, I don't mind gold at all, and if they only make a gold 50th edition that has the badging and the 390 hp supercharged engine, it will be a no-brainer. That's the car I'd get.

And if the others are more or less like the '04s in all respects (except for maybe a few colors), it will make the choice a no-brainer for most people interested in a 50th edition.

I'm just wondering what kind of price tag it will carry, and how many they would make of a specially badged, supercharged edition? $50,000 for one of say, 5000 cars like it?

I can't wait to find out!

[Bruce]

I'm in for one! The 50th with Super Charger (VAVOOOOMMMMMM)
Maybe if we pool all our resources we can get a volume discount?
Forget the discount it may take Ford too long to approve it and they would all be gone.

[Proboxfan]

When it comes to TBN, if we tell the Ford dealers that we're associated with it and a member, they'd be likely to jack up their asking price for all the headaches we've caused them, especially with the hardtop problem! :lol:

[5bird7]

I think we're in for a big let down if we expect a supercharger from Ford on the thunderbird. If it happens, it happens but the last word I heard was that it was shelved; though someone mentioned that someone's brother that worked at Ford said they were still looking at it. That's too far removed to consider it a good rumor. For that matter, I think I read somewhere that the SVT team itself is being shelved.

[K.P.]

Saw this on the front page of my road runner page....from CNN money....not directly about TBirds, but car colors.....



America's favorite car color

DuPont: White is number two, but shades of gray are moving up fast.
December 12, 2003: 10:21 AM EST
By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN/Money Staff Writer



NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - In its annual Color Popularity Report, DuPont Automotive reports that silver, the choice for 20.2 percent of new cars, was North America's most popular car color for 2003. White, the color on 18.4 percent of new cars, came in second. Black ranked third at nearly 12 percent.

Most popular car colors
Silver topped the list of most popular colors for cars produced in the U.S. and Canada.

Color 2003 2002
Silver 20.2% 22.8%
White 18.4% 15.2%
Black 11.6% 12%
Med/Dark Gray 11.5% 7%
Light Brown 8.8% 6.4%
Med/Dark Blue 8.5% 10.9%
Medium Red 6.9% 6.9%
Med/Dark Green 5.3% 5%
Bright Red 3.8% 3.3%
Dark Red 0.9% N/A


Source: DuPont Automotive

The rankings are based on the portion of cars manufactured in North America that are painted in each color. Auto manufacturing plants are acutely aware of day-to-day consumer sales, said Terrence Cressy, marketing manager for DuPont Automotive. Color changes can be made quickly in response to the most recent sales figures, he said. So, numbers of cars manufactured in each color provide an excellent indication of actual popularity.

Silver actually dropped in popularity from last year, while white moved up, but not enough to take the top spot. Medium-dark gray was the big mover, moving up 4.5 percent overall in North America. It went from sixth to become the favorite color choice in the luxury segment in North America, a segment that often indicates future trends in vehicle colors. Overall, it was the fourth most popular color.

QUICK VOTE
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"Medium-dark grays, enhanced with coarser metallic effects, retain the technical sophistication of silver while providing a sense of richness and value to differentiate new vehicle models from the mainstream," said Rover Daily, automotive color marketing manager for DuPont.

Medium-dark green, a perennial color leader in the 1990s under names like Hunter Green and Forest Green, dropped out of the top-10 color choice list for luxury cars. It still made moderate gains in the full/intermediate SUV/truck/van segments, however. Reds, updated with slightly cooler, bluish hues or made more brilliant, remain popular with consumers, according to a statement from DuPont.



I like what they have to say about my Mountain Shadow Grey!!!:thumbsup:

[RTBRD]

This is from the 12/1 issue of Autoweek.

"SVT will suffer through at least a year with no new product...SVT chief John Coletti says plans call for remaking the SVT brand as Ford's highest echelon of performance...SVT's F-150 Lighting truck and the SVT Mustang Cobra will cease production by the middle of 2004 and will return as 2006 models, along with a third, not-yet-specified SVT product"

If the third not-yet-specified model is the TBird, it will only be for the last year of production and I don't see that happening.

[Bruce]

Give Red and only Red in a two seat convertable with style and some power!

[JerryP]

I think if the supercharged version were to be a reality, then something would have 'leaked out' by now. We can only hope.

I'm with everyone else, I'm in if a performance model hits the market. I can't be left in the dust.

[AZTB]

I like the white Birds...think they're pretty classy looking (and a good, clean black one, too).

[jerrym3]

Even though I have the necessary funds to replace the 03 with a new Bird, the money lost by selling or trading in my 03, plus the inflated cost for a new supercharged Bird, make it a ridiculous move economically.

I'd rather spend the bucks towards replacing the aging Towncar with an LS, Marauder, new Towncar, or Crown Vic LX Sport.

[5bird7]

Haven't done this in quite awhile - another google search for articles: Found one - Ford apparently will be showing the James Bond edition in India during Feb & March this year at weekend road shows.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/406988.cms

[DrtiBird]

I glanced at that article, but was wondering about the color: "...the sunset coral blue convertible specially designed for Hollywood beauty Halle Berry..."

I guess that could be a special edition for the India market!! LOL

:pbj:

[5bird7]

jackpot:

2 articles in one from the detroit auto news about the Nov 5 affair at Wixom. The 2nd article to read is the 3rd article on the page.

http://www.usautoscene.com/

I don't think this article will last long on the net since it's on their homepage so copy it while you have the chance if you want it.

[Quickdraw]

jackpot:

2 articles in one from the detroit auto news about the Nov 5 affair at Wixom. The 2nd article to read is the 3rd article on the page.


The Justins also have the FCN video from Nov 5th but haven't had time to post it. I can send it to anyone that wants it - it's about a 4 meg file.

[5bird7]

I'm game, Harry, send away. :)

[Johnny Gumballs]

Dot......thank you SO much for the postings of the reviews. I love reading about this car and its total magic on the road!

[5bird7]

This article won't last long as I could only bring it up in google's cache:

"a Family Affair" (http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:gj9RXK_VddIJ:www.palmbeachdailynews .com/hp/content/specialsections/auto_showcase/AS_121604_Thunderbird.html+ford+thunderbird+50th+a nniversary&hl=en)

[SixPac]

Sounds like that young lady would have a great time at Thunder Fever. She's attractive, single, and loves fast cars. Somebody down that way needs to look her up and tell her about TBN and all our events.

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: