Satisfied with Your Bird.

[Rondor]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

I have always owned a Ford product along with a few MoPar's in 60's. I traded my Mercedes Benz SL on my 04 PCR. and couldn't be happier The Benz cost almost $70K back in '88 and while beautifull to look at didn't hold a cansle to Bird. AND......... best of all is the difference in the people. The Benz owners are a whole different breed of cat.
I will never go non American again.

[Rondor]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

After 50 + years of owning cars I will never buy another new one. Used garage queens are great if they haven't sat too long. My Bird had 48K miles and was half price including a new A/C and new COP's If I can't drive it I don't need it. But being an eye-catcher sure makes the drive nice

[FUN X 3]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

After 50 + years of owning cars I will never buy another new one. Used garage queens are great if they haven't sat too long.

Amen brother, no new cars for me either, there are too many good pre-owned cars out there now to choose from.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

Amen brother, no new cars for me either, there are too many good pre-owned cars out there now to choose from.

I agree.

So much has changed over the past few years.

I recently purchased an '08 Corvette roadster. Technically it was new. A left over in dealer stock. It carries GMs original warranty from the date I purchased it last fall. The discount on price was well worth it.

How-ever.....this may be as close to a "new car" purchase as I'll ever get again. Extended warranty availability has changed EVERYTHING, IMO.

My 2004 T-Bird is a great example of this. (As of now the 2002 I'm rolling the dice on without warranty) The mileage was so low on the '04 when I bought it in '07 the original warranty was still in place. When it expired, 3 years after the original owner's delivery date I still only had 22,000 miles on the car. Last summer the transmission started making some delayed shifts and I figured it was probably good money spent buying a Ford 4/48,000 mile warranty. (.....and of course now the transmission is working perfectly again)

These warranties are available for virtually all low mileage late model cars now. they are very reasonably priced and take away the only advantage a NEW car has.

Bottom Line:

If I can find a clean 2-4 year old car with low mileage often at little more than 1/2 the price of new?

If I consider the savings on registration (my state taxes property value on cars), insurance and depriciation.........it simply DWARFS the cost of an extended warranty.

Soooooooo.........no more "new" one's for me.

Even my "new" 2 year old Vette had 126 miles on it when I bought it. Scares me a little to think how many "test pilots" were at the wheel over the two years the dealer had it on his lot but it's still warrantied for the next 4+ years still. I assume any related problems would show up in that time frame. Getting a loaded rag top, at fire sale pricing, while most of the auto industry was still in despair last year was a situation that may never come my way again though so I think I can pretty confidently say this may be my last "new" car.

[Brucek]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

The VMG is my wife's baby. Her most memorable comment came from a friend. "when I see your car it makes me feel happy" Enough said

[HeelBird]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

Totally satsified with Amadeus. Now has about 84.000 miles. Only regret is that I've so many miles on him, but that's why they built the baby and why I ordered it.

[johnj]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

The power top works fine but you would think that Ford could have engineered a flap to cover the top when closed instead of the foolish boot. The stand is a piece of junk. The top removal tool took a little getting used to. Otherwise we like it although it's no hot rod.

[EllisonCal]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

I voted very satisfied and that is an understatement. Around town my '05 is a looker and when I'm driving it, it feels like I'm wearing a new Brioni suit. On the road it comes to life, the engine loves to be on the highway in third, fourth or fifth gear. On my cross country trip last year, I really became sold on this car. To those of you who don't take your Tbird on road trips, you really don't know what you're missing! Sure it will get some chips here and there, you may have to replace a windshield. But the joy of running this car through the mountain passes and seeing the mountains with the top down are well worth a few flaws in the paint.

Cal

[EDSBIRD]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

As someone who loved to have a new car every 2 years, I can say I LOVE the TBird. I've gone thru BMW's, MB's, Saab's, Corvettes and many more, but this Ford is the best ! And it's half the cost of the others.

I almost dropped the first time I brought it in for the 15k checkup, my bill was $19 ! The month before I brought my BMW in for a checkup and it cost me over $300 !

Have a great feeling to be driving American, love the looks and love the attention.

Good for an old guy just turning 63 ~

[texasbird]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

Half past midnight this morning, driving home from work. It was a nice night so I put the top down for the short drive. As I'm making a right turn at the last traffic light entering our sub-division, a woman waiting for the light to change yells from her Taurus, "That's a beautiful car, sir."

Never got that response in my Ford Ranger. Yeah... You could say I'm satisfied.

[CA BIRD]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

It is my wife's car that replaced a 1984 Corvette. 17,000 miles now. The only real problem is with the brake/gas pedal spacing. I have never had a car before that you could press on the brake and also depress the gas pedal at the same time.

[Lindy]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

Yes, pretty satisfied. However: two things could've should've been done to enhance the design of the hood: 1.) Functional hood-scoop; 2) The hood should have opened from the back. Like on some of the newer 4 door commuter-car Jaguars (like the one I saw at the convenience store gas pump the other day.) The 55-57 had such a hood, hinged at the front of the car. That would have been an "ace-in-the-hole!" But as it stands, the new design is history.

[Sandman]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

Lindy, you mean something like this??

[merlot4]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

I'm a new member of TBN and have to say it's a warm and inviting space with good people. I've had my Merlot 04 for a week and enjoy it as my daily driver. I liked my other cars, but smile a lot in this one! I think the lines of the car are very pleasing both to the eye and to the touch; the portholes really send me. Yes it has quirks and I can't say I'm looking forward to possible COP issues, but it's still worth the price of admission for the pleasure it brings. I find myself looking back at it after parking it; it's the real deal.

[Tbyrdy]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

I vote satisfied for one reason; the looks of the car and the attention it draws. No matter where my wife or I take it, when the top is down someone will say "You look good in that car!" The only other car I ever owned that got great comments at street lights is my 1970 Z28. (I still have it out in my Mancave restoring it.)

I would have voted very satisfied if it had a warranty that covered those expensive engine parts that break beyond 50,000 miles. We have spent a lot to keep this car running, but this was offset by the fact it was fairly inexpensive and looks so good. I also hate the external rear end noise in the car when the top is up. I think I will be adding some sound deadener in the future.

It's NOT a race car; it handles well and actually runs very quick for as heavy a car as it is.

The curb appeal is simply tops! I'll bet it gets more comments at a street light than the Corvette's do!