Satisfied with Your Bird.

[toysax]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

Art, We purchased ours at the local mobile sound folks in LaGrange Ga. I am not much with installations so I had them order and install. You can google and find them to purchase but installations is what I look for when getting things added to our bird. We put in the sat radio and same shop did that work for us.

[steelblue5505]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

Art,
Gentex by MITO Corporation makes a great auto dimming mirror with compass.

It replaces the one in our Birds perfectly.

It comes with very easy to understand instructions, the whole instal takes very little time.

The mirror & compass have been working in my 05 since Oct. 2006 when I put it in myself.

I purchased mine on-line from AutoAnything.com

I paid $179.95 for the mirror and a additional $9.95 for the wire cover. This covers the wire that comes down from the windshield trim to the mirror.

If you or anyone else is interested, I have some great notes & link to photos of install taken from another Bird site that I would be more than pleased to share. Just send me a PM

[PaulD]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

I am a new owner but can report that I am very satisfied with mine so far. I was fortunate to find a low mileage garage queen that looks show room new so I am sure that is part of my satisfaction factor. I looked at some others that were in such poor shape that I decided to pass on. It was sad to see how poorly some of the TBirds looked (torn tops, major door dings, bad paint, water in the trunk, worn out interior, non functional electronics, etc). Lots of project cars out there waiting for someone to come to the rescue. If I had not waited for the right car, I may not have been reporting the same level of satisfaction due to the amount of labor and cost I would have spent to "make it right".
Like many, I would like more "kick" under the hood as well as true sports car handeling. However, I knew up front what the retro TBird was like thus I bought it as a cruiser. My wife says I will never grow up (true) but my reckless hot rod days from the 50s & 60's are well behind me. Life is not fair.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

OF COURSE I AM VERY SATISFIED, OWNING THREE SHOULD BE THE CLUE. MY THE WAY, LOOKING FOR AN 03 WHISPER WHITE WITH THE FULL RED ACCENT. CHARLOTTE IS JUST AS SATISFIED, SHE HAS TWO AND WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHO WILL GET THE WHISPER WHITE.

[RustyFrye]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

With that appearance and comfortable enough for me to do 1100 miles in one day (West Memphis, Arkansas to Brick, New Jersey) I have to say very satisfied.

[CnP]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

The only reasons I checked "satisfied" instead of "very satisfied" are

1. The leaks (both when I have the hardtop on and when I have the covertible top up as well),
2. The brakes require much more effort to apply than what I've been used to.

[Treken]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

The only reasons I checked "satisfied" instead of "very satisfied" are

1. The leaks (both when I have the hardtop on and when I have the convertible top up as well),
2. The brakes require much more effort to apply than what I've been used to.

I am starting to get a leak on the passenger side with the hardtop on. Read everything here but still can't figure out the problem. I think it is the front molding, and in your case, that is what I would say if both tops are leaking. Mine just leaks with the hardtop. That seems to be a problem with alot of convertibles I believe...

You may want to read the threads on roof leaks...

[My T]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

Ditto to everything that Mike says in Post #32. Same make and model.

Well, everything except the easy install part. It was NOT that easy and I ended up having it done by someone with more patience than I have in such matters. No problems since - works fine!

[lostjohn]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

I voted very satisfied! The car is everything I expected and more. I can't go anywhere without someone coming up and saying positive comments about it. It does have a few problems, but all cars do. Nothing I can't work with... John

[Sealy]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

I put myself down as a Satisfied. I’m a die-hard AMC/Rambler fan. I gave up my ’64 Rambler (American 440 Convertible) when I realized that the equation no longer made sense – even to me. It was a good looking little car that brought me a lot of happiness, but there was no way for me to justify putting the money into it that it needed. Someone else is now working up to that realization. The T-Bird looks good, is unique, and has a retro feel. It’s also dependable, easy to service, and parts are available. I looked at them when they came out and liked everything but the price. Six years later, the price was much more to my liking. The Bird meets most all my needs quite well, so I’m satisfied. But to be really satisfied, I’d be back in a Rambler. Maybe a ’65 Ambassador 990 Convertible.

[NotU]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

There are maybe 2, 3 items I would have liked to be different, but my wife has stated, "We'll never sell this car! It can always be restored."
I guess that tells you how she feels about it.
You can't please everyone all the time.
Randy Mattson

[15AGAIN]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

Not only am I very satisfied with the Bird, I am very glad to have made the friends I have on the Nest and the reasons for all the traveling I have done since my retirement. I would not be having this great of retirement if I had not purchased the Bird.
Thanks to the Bird and everyone on the Nest!!!!

[AZTB]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

I ranked it 'satisfied.' Have had too many problems with the '05 to be 'very satisfied.' If it was the '02, then the answer would be better.

[RQTBIRD]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

This has been the most fun vehicle I have owned. Exciting every spring and fall when you switch out the hard top for the convertible.
The T-Bird events have been great, and the friends we have met even greater!!

[jaguar72]

Re: Satisfied with Your Bird.

Fully satisfied and why not? For starters:

Ah, well, a DOHC short-stroke 3.9L all-aluminum V8...

Four-wheel independent suspension...

Four-wheel disk brakes...

One of the most stark, austere, purposeful (those are all compliments...) beautiful and comfy cockpits ever designed (a strong but true statement); everything falls readily to hand...it's a great place to spend time...lovely steering wheel...

Two great huge round black-on-white dials (tach/speedo) floating right in front of you...

Almost no more electronic gimmickry than it needs (the sound system is fine, I guess, but when it's on you can't hear the engine properly...I like Bach as well as the next guy, but it's a damn pretty engine note)...a couple of the other electronic things could have been eliminated to save weight...

Decent transmission (Ford 5R55N, I think) for an automatic...

Adequate power and handling for all practical purposes...

Inspired, absolutely drop-dead gorgeous styling with or without the hardtop (although I would have made both the side styling vents and the hood scoop functional, but that would have meant more plumbing and more weight which the car doesn't need...). Anyhow, it's an honest-to-God classic...

17-inch wheels (the stock premium chrome/2002 are perfect)...

Etc, etc...

A real manual five- or six-speed stick & clutch transmission (none o' this paddle shift nonsense; yeah, yeah, I know, F1 guys use it...), would have been nice (so you can learn how to double-clutch shift; almost, alas, a lost art...); and, perhaps, a supercharger(!), a very elegant way to increase power. But that would mean still more weight... .

It is a very competent automobile, much more so than people realize.

Some of these comments might seem a tad(!) subjective, but what's not to like???

V/R,
Gary Jenkins/jaguar72