A Daily Driver or a Keeper?

[Billy]

So, what are your long-term plans for your car?
Are you driving it daily or do you plan on keeping the miles low for 20 or so years. Also, what do you think the Keeper value will be?

[WJR1007]

Mine is a keeper. Garage kept, Covered, and 628 miles after 7 months of joyous ownership!
As for resale, that will depend who's on my good side when I write the last update to my will.:thumbsup:

[ThunderBubba]

Keeper.:smile: Keeper.:wink: Keeper.:biggrin:

[Gobird]

:thumbsup: Mine is both for now. At least till the 05's come out. Not sure what I'll do with the 02 right now, when that time comes.

[flybrd]

Both for me too...when it's paid off, I'll probably get another less expensive car to make my day in and day out driver...I just can't seem to see myself getting rid of this car...EVER. It's my first brand new car, and I've had a long love affair with T-birds.:fordsrule::pbj::pbj:

[TBIRD RUNNER]

:fordsrule:
My Yellow Premium w/ partial accent
is used for weekend enjoyment and summer evenings pleasure rides. My two children will someday have to argue about who gets the 2002 and who will get the 2005 (50th Anniversary Edition).:pbj:
T'BIRD RUNNER

[YLO BRD]

Daily driver and a keeper. I don't take it out in the rain and it will be stored in my garage for the winter. Use my Explorer as a 2nd car, and to take my dogs to the park - they just don't understand why they can't ride in the bird.

[yelobird2002]

Keeper, weekends only for the most part. Garaged. 1,870 miles in 9 1/2 months.

[Red]

I can't imagine keeping mine very long. I've had over 100 new Fords, Lincolns, Mercuries, Jaguars, Merkurs over the past 35 years. Now that there is only the two of us, that will slow down, but Something will tempt me. I'll never pay MSRP again - this was a one time event.
We jokingly call it the "Sissy's Harley".
I would jump at the Hybrid Electric Escape but don't have details or prices yet. We'll see. Duane

[whvt01]

Keeper for sure !!:thumbsup:

At 150 miles a month so far, will never have
high mileage.

As for a keeper value, I'll even be to old to
give a hoot

[DavidA]

Daily driver. I'll keep it until and if something else excites me. I get restless after 6 months or so.

[T02 Bird]

David,

Isn't your six months already up? You were one of the first to get this car, so what's next?

KB

[DavidA]

T02 Bird
Truth is, nothing excites me like this car. I get more grins on my ugly face EVERY time I get into this car than I've had in 30 years. At this point in time, I don't see changing, but who can read the future?:thumbsup:

[NC2k2TBird]

Mine is a weekend car. I travel and don't want to rack up the miles on the TBird.

[RTBRD]

Both, I to am going to drive it until paid off and then get something else and make RTBRD a weekend car.

[joelja]

It is definately a keeper. After the long agonizing wait, this car ain't goin'
nowhere notime soon.
Driven on pretty days and evenings and to our wonderful Metro Atlanta Thunderbird Group events.
I cannot wait to get it out on the beautiful roads to Thunderbird Destination in October. That will definately be THE PRIMO TBIRD gathering.

We hope to hand the keys to our granddaughter, who is now two, in 14 years on her 16th birthday.

Until then, its FUN,FUN,FUN everytime we get it that car.:fordsrule::wavey::wavey:

[rlstonejr]

mine is not a daily driver, but it's not low mileage either. drove to Atlanta (1200 mile trip) in October. will drive to Key West in August and Destin in October. drive it most weekends and special occasions or trips. approaching 5000 miles in 9 months

[webrx]

daily driver - i can not imagine having it and not driving it as much as possible

[Bruce]

Its a low mileage but not necessarily a keeper.
I drive the Bird weather permitting which is about 6 or 7 months out of the year. I bought in in early July and it has 1,450 miles on it. But from now through mid April it will go on short 10 mile runs to blow the cobwebs out then back into hibernation.

[Proboxfan]

Mine's a pampered little baby. It sits in the garage most times with a car cover on it, usually until it's the weekend, and my right foot gets restless and/or bored! :biggrin:

I don't commute far to work usually, so since my truck sits outside, it's the primary mode of transportation.

Besides, I couldn't work all day knowing my baby Bird is sitting out in the rain! :sad:

[AZTB]

Definitely a daily driver...life's too short to keep it garaged. I didn't buy the car to just look at it. It's garaged both at home and at work, so it's VERY seldom sitting out in the AZ sun.

[taflocks]

don't get me started i cant beleive you people that have had such a wonderful car for a year and have only a thousand miles on it.........
this car was made to drive not sit in the garage to be saved for the grandkids........the little monsters won't appreciate it anyway.enjoy your cars,drive them, this is what they are made for. not to sit idle.
this car will not likely be a monymaker for 30 years and by that time you will all be in walkers. i sure bet the guy[his name escapes me] with cancer that had to move to a care home wished he had driven his car more. stop being so uptight and go out and take a ride.and for driving in the rain just think of it as a free carwash.

[Proboxfan]

Is it wrong to want to preserve the life and looks of our cars?

Mine has 2000 miles on it in 10 months. Not a lot, I know.

But then again, I don't expect to buy another car for years to come. And I mean at least 10 years when I say that.

Besides, when I go to work, I usually have work boots and clothes on, and I don't want to cause undue wear and dirt on the Bird.

It's just not a daily driver to me. That's all!

I'm just glad that I could afford to not have to make it a daily driver in order to extend its life and keep on enjoying it.

Believe me, it's not a museum piece, but I'm going to do everything I can to keep on enjoying it as a weekend and special events driver.

I don't want to subject it to any more door dings, bird crap, sun fading and any other harsh elements if I don't HAVE to.

Believe me, I'm not afraid to spin the tires on it once in a while!

Besides, I thought YOU were the "anal" guy who worried about everything?! :biggrin:

[taflocks]

i want my car right but i will not worry about driving it...........i know it's not a work truck but don't save it for the kids............USE IT WHEN YOU CAN

[Proboxfan]

Tell me honestly. Did you have a cursing fit when you "threw" that brick up and damaged the underside of your Bird?

I would've! That's how deeply I feel! :biggrin:

[AZTB]

Proboxfan:

I owned a Mustang GT for 10 year...drove it daily...only had 99,000 on it when I sold it and it still looked like new, right down to the carpet. The fella I sold it to couldn't believe how clean it was...

I say drive it, but take care of it. Life's too short.

[TFOR2]

Just like most of you, mine is a "keeper." Bought it in June of this year and just turned 5500 miles of primarily weekend roadtrips and evening trips to the nearby ice cream emporium. With the nasty Ohio winter upon us, my Bird will be spending most of the time in its nest, though I just had it out last Saturday (dry roads, sunny skies) for a drive of over 100 miles. Who knows when my next chance to do that will be. This Bird won't be flying in the snow when that nasty salt is applied to the roads.

[jerrym3]

Bought mine in May 2003, and it only has about 2400 miles on it.

I firmly believe in "use it, don't abuse it".

Rides in inclement weather or constant daily drives to work in traffic aren't very enjoyable no matter what you drive, so the 03 Bird stays garaged.

However, weather permitting, I make a habit of using the car at least once per week, even if it is only to work.

Mine's a keeper. I plan on turning it over to my daughter when driving becomes too chancy for me.

But, no matter how much I like the car, I would never consider owning two or more. There are too many other desireable cars out there that I would like to own.

Heck, I wouldn't want two (or more) 1964 Galaxy convertibles or two 1958 TBirds, either.

[taflocks]

didin't bother me much when i hit the brick.....the dealer caused scratches bother me more

[goldent]

Keeper! I have an Escape for a daily driver. Who cares what it will be worth in twenty years

[FUN X 3]

To each his/her own, but...

My beautiful blue/white Bird is a year-round daily driver approaching 20,000 miles. I take real good care of it, it's dealer-maintained at the proper intervals, I keep it clean and free of door dings. It has a few minor scratches/chips in the front and a couple along the side from flying rocks, but other than that, it looks perfect. Right now, it's covered in melted snow-dirt, but it'll wash off, that's why we have soap and water.
This is the most fun car I've ever owned and driven. I am truly Bird Crazy. :nuts:
I've spent literally thousands of $$$ on Bird-related events, accessories and Bird "stuff" since I bought the car.:moreek:
I couldn't imagine not driving it all the time.:sad:
So I drive it all the time.:biggrin:

[theherd]

Amen, Phil!!!

[Red Bird Dave]

This is my fun car and a daily driver. I'm going to retire in about 2 or 3 yrs. I have a long commute (120mi) each day. I trade off with my wife's car (she is already retired). I have a toyota pickup for running around locally. This is probably my last car. I want to enjoy it while I can. When my kids inherit the car they can restore it!

Red Bird Dave

[ucla81]

Keeper. But it's still just a car. I drive it daily. Who gives a damn if it gets high mileage on it. On the other hand, no one really gives a damn either if its 'garaged and low mileage.' Either way it can be well taken care of and look new. I didn't get it to sit in my driveway. And we all know they aren't going to be worth anything more than any other car in the years to come.

[BirdsAndBugs]

I envy those that can and do use their Thunderbird daily. I haven't driven my Thunderbird as much as I would like, but to use it as a daily driver is out of the question in my opinion. I put about 23,000 miles a year on the vehicle (currently a Volkswagen Eurovan) that I drive to work and for my daily transportation. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position financially that I can buy expensive cars like the Thunderbird regularly so I want to be able to keep and enjoy this car for as long as I can.
:pbj:

But I also don't think that there will be any great investment value to these cars for many years to come so I wouldn't make my garage a museum for it either.

[Bill Brown]

Hot date and weekend driver until the 56 bird lands in the nest then I will shift to 56 will be weekend hot date night car the the 02 will be the daily bird.

[AZTB]

Hot date night??? What's that??? :nuts:

[Blue Heaven]

It is very interesting to read all the different points of view on this subject. I guess we run from one end of the spectrum to the other. That's what makes this place so interesting and so much fun.

As for me, mine is a definate keeper, for me and no one else. I am one of the most anal and fanatical car people you could ever meet (I used to make my friends take their shoes off before getting in my cars). I have to go with Proboxfan on this one. My bird goes out on weekends and sunny days only between the months of April and November (I have a Taurus to use for a daily driver). She's 17 months old and has 9300 miles. I'm not saying that this treatment will make mine worth any more then another '02 that was driven regularly, frankly I don't care about that. It's just that I've had a very deep connection with my cars since high school, and this one is by far the deepest. :love:

[Bruce]

Dino,
Very nicely said by a fellow New Englander.
Thanks,

[AZTB]

Dino: I STILL make people take off their shoes (and I drive with mine off). If they don't understand, then it's only 'cuz they've never had a connection with a car like we do with the Bird...their loss!

[K.P.]

Mine was actually purchased because JerryP planned for the car to be used for special events, fun drives, but NOT for daily or even necessarily weekly use and my intent was to drive mine to work a few times a week, even to the grocery store or mall. But the fact is, it's a 25 mile drive to work (and got rear-ended a few months ago on the interstate exit ramp on the way to work--imagine--it could have been the Tbird!), and I have to park in a parking deck with narrow spaces. I had my regular car (Honda Odyssey) keyed in the parking lot at our local grocery store, and the mall?...forget it! So, even though I don't drive it as much as I had planned to, I still love it and it still looks brand new. And it looks pretty darn good in the garage! I drive it when the weather is nice (except in Asheville!) and when I have somewhere special to go. The rest of the time I look at it patiently waitiing for me.

[PennBird]

Count me among the daily drivers, but only 'cause I'm lucky enough to now have a short (25-minute) commute and a decent, safe place to park at work. Without either of these, I'd be looking for a daily Jeep. I certainly respect the "keepers" in the group. But it's interesting how some "keepers" baby a car for resale-value reasons. That makes 'em "sellers," doesn't it?

[BotNew56]

A daily driver AND keeper. After all my '56 was a daily driver for 7 years and it's still a keeper.

[JerryP]

I don't drive my bird unless the weather permits. For my commute, I really prefer to drive my truck. I sit above traffic and if it gets dirty or banged up, then who cares. Each time I get into the bird it's like getting into a new car. The new just doesn't wear off. If I live another 20 years, then it'll always be the same experience. Not a daily driver and definitely a 'keeper'. This is not to say that I wouldn't replace it with another Thunderbird. I can be persuaded.

In Karyl's post, she's right. It doesn't pay to take the chances we take around home, even in our older vehicles. I guess certain folks do not like those owning nice vehicles. Each of our older vehicles have been hit in parking lots even though we have taken all necessary precautions. I guess they just don't like the "queen". :biggrin:

[FEsTbird]

I am a daily driver in general. We need to use the other car (wife's Mary Kay Pontiac) when we have to take either the 2 grandchildren or a big package. However, since I retired my mileage is about 7000 miles per year. At that rate my extended warranty will take me to 2010. I figure that by taking good care of the car it will be a good clean car when I want to sell or trade.

Since my last car was a Jeep the Tbird rides like a dream. Maybe one of the best cars I have had. Feels basically as good as my son's Lexus.

[Bill Brown]

JimDube; Hot Date Night is taking the bride out for a topless spring evening drive or to that special place we like to eat or a weekend get together with fellow TBNers at the Biltmore, BMS, Hanover or the Blue Ridge Parkway.

[MikeB]

Mine is definitely a "Keeper." Illini Bird is in hibernation now in her "Garage Bag" and I won't see her again until March or April.:sad:

BUT, from then until November, she takes Sue and I to all our travel destinations. If I tried to not drive her hoping for a large resale value later, I'm afraid I'd be long gone. I bought this car to have fun, and that is what I intend to do! She's pampered but driven for many pleasant miles in the spring, summer & fall.

Mike

[AZTB]

Bill Brown: good answer, good answer!

[Joe Varey]

Its a keeper!!!!! Or at least till the 05 Mustang

:naughty:

:biggrin:

[Brad]

Daily Driver and probably a keeper for me (unless I trade in for a 2005)

I'm pushing 20K miles in a little over a year. I'm planning on driving it until reliability starts being a problem (I'm guessing around 100K). I figure I can garage it in another 5 years. My 8 year old has already called "dibs" on it. I can't imagine a better first car. <my current theory is that the kid will get in less trouble with a 2-seater since he would only be able to haul around 1 hooligan friend @ a time. (I had this secret hope that DAJ would have blown the motor in his bird with the Nitrous, and that he would have tried to put a 302 or bigger engine in a Bird so I would know if it was possible for when the time comes for me to get a new engine)

This is the first "new" car I've ever purchased, and I tell everyone that I love it so much that I plan to drive it until the wheels fall off.

I have no problems with anyone that want to keep it in the garage, however to me it just seems like a waste for a quickly depreciating automobile (ie what has been your cost of ownership per mile). I do like that fact that it sounds like there will be plenty of hardly driven used birds for sale once I wear this one out.

Again, no offense, but I think it's fairly easy to keep a car that you hardly ever drive clean and in good shape. Driving it every day and trying to keep it showroom fresh is clearly a challenge. Last weekend in preparation for the snow and salt, after I took the car to be hand washed and "cleaned" I spent another 6 hours waxing, cleaning and polishing, knowing that it's going to be too damn cold in the coming months. What I found funny was that even after 6 hours it still seemed "filthy" to me

[blackbirds]

Daily driver:pbj:
Love the car and enjoy the drive to work everyday. :biggrin:
The 56 is my weekend cruiser and gets to spend the winter and bad days in the garage (got to respect the old age). Someday maybe someone will keep my new one for weekends and cruising. But it won't be me:tyty:

[03DSB]

I plan on keeping it FOREVER or at least as long as I live.:beer:

I work from home, so the bird sits in the garage most of the time. Purchased 9/30 and has 460 miles. It rarely rains in Vegas and never snows so with the low miles and the excellent driving conditions the car should outlast me!

[Bruce]

Hi Gene,
I am very interested in adding a K&N air system to my 03 Bird would you be so good to expalin the particulars to me.

Thanks,

[Blue Heaven]

Bruce,
If all you want is a K/N Filter, I have one with 9000 miles on it. It is a direct replacement for the stock filter. I just bought the cold air induction system from LS1BMW0 and it takes a different filter, so I can't use this one. Just check and see if an '02 filter will fit an '03's airbox (I think they are the same).

Let em know if you are interested.

Dino

[15AGAIN]

15AGAIN is a keeper, but I do drive --25K miles and it was 2 years old last month. I do not drive to work--right now until next July when I retire I am driving 180 miles round trip each day to work, so I sure do not want to put those miles on 15AGAIN. Keep in garage, do not drive in bad weather, snow, rain, etc unless on a trip. Seems like all trips have rain involved at some point!
After I retire, it will become daily driver, I just will not have to go any where if weather is bad--can always borrow wifes van.

[N1NCZ]

Mine is also a keeper, but driven daily in better weather and left inside during the snow, just plan on keeping it forever ....