Realistic Thunderbird value

[BirdsAndBugs]

Thanks for the reply. Getting rid of the car is not a done deal as yet. Still thinking about it and what to get as a replacement. Thinking about a Mustang convertible. Used 2016's are a little pricey . Sometimes making a decision is hard to do.

Larry, you've got a great low mileage 2003 Thunderbird with only 21,000 miles. I assume it's most likely paid for too. Why take on the expense of another vehicle when this vehicle can still provide many years of fun and service and likely at very little cost on an annual basis. Enjoy what you have!

[428PI]

I work at Carmax and could have gotten a 2003 well used tbird for 1500 bucks or so on the wholesale lot. I was too late and a coworker bought it and traded it at a Kia dealer a few months later. I would have made a hot rod out of it. The paint was going and the seats were shot.

[MikeB6]

I bought my 2004 Evening Black Premium with 30,300 miles, and the hardtop/cart/cover in May for $12,000. Put new Michelins on it, had Ford check it out and change all fluids, it's currently at the body shop being buffed to get rid of some scratches + refinish both bumper covers, already added Pioneer head unit with navi, backup cam, handsfree phone, and new spare tire, so I will have just about $17,200 in it. I think I'm gonna be ok, particularly since it has sentimental value. I could have bought a low mileage BMW, quite a few years newer, but would maintaining it cost LESS than the TBird? I don't think so, plus the TBird came with all maintenance records and the previous owner was a dear friend. [A cautionary tale: My stepson bought a late model, really clean truck whose odometer read 27,500. Then major problems developed, turned out that the entire instrument cluster had been replaced, the truck probably had around 225,000 miles on it.] Anywho, in late May this year, Hagerty insured the TBird for $18,500 based on model year, equipment, color, mileage, and condition, including projected condition after the bodyshop visit. I'll admit that Hagerty valuations run higher than Kelly Blue Book. Also, Hagerty Plus (gives you greater towing distance, needed that for the early days with my Nash Metropolitan) offers a concierge service, so if you need a hard to find part, there's a guy whose job is to help locate it for you. I've gotten over the jitters about parts availability. Just some food for thought.

[Welker]

Sometimes a local dealer will give you a bit more for the car if it is low mileage and showroom perfect.......just to have it on display. Two years ago a Ford/Mazda dealer here had one on display outside and a price tag of $24,000. I think he sold it for about $12,000. I can tell you that I have kept track of every dime I have spent on the car and I believe low mileage is not a good measure of how good the car is unless the buyer is not intending to do anything but sit and look at it. I just had all the plastic parts that failed in the cooling system replaced. The guy who repaired the car said "there is a lot of plastic in there. You'd think they would know better than have the whole cooling system made out of plastic". It is all replaced now and drives like a new car. We have put the hard top on and intend to keep it on until the roll is called up yonder.

[Rondor]

I just looked at Classic Cars. com ( Hemmings ) I believe and overall the retro prices look pretty promising. As many over $16 K as under and most Classic dealers. The biggest surprise is that higher mileage seems to be less a negative than just a short time ago. While these aren't accrual sale price I can't believe a dearer would advertise at a price near double what he hopes to get. These cars are unique enough in style and History to always have a market. Just depends on what kind and how big as to what we may get , We actually went through this 60 years ago.

[428PI]

As far as plastic in cooling systems I've replaced some of mine (water pump, hoses, thermostat housings, etc.). Let me tell a story though. The other day we got a Jaguar XR (or something like that) in at work with the 3.0 supercharged engine. The lead tech wanted to ride with me on a test drive and the other Lead made some comment about knowing the tow truck number. When we pulled into the parking lot from a 4 mile drive I saw a woof of smoke and the temp went high. Got it back into the shop and something under the supercharged-intake let go. It's getting towed to a Jag dealer as it's under warranty. This one only had 48k miles on it too. 2015 model I believe! Plastic-yuck!!!

[BLACK BEAUTY]

now here's a good deal https://ocala.craigslist.org/cto/d/2...644539079.html

[MikeB6]

My step-son tells me that his shop's bread and butter is replacing failed water pumps in VW and other German make cars. Lots of plastic. I happen to like German cars, so I keep quiet about them around him. My Z3 left me on the side of the freeway once in LA, traffic moving at a walking pace. There was a pop sound like a champagne cork, then steam rolling out from under both front wheel wells. Long story short, the plastic connection from the engine block to the heater core decided to expire. At 48,500 miles. I get that it's made to break away so the engine will submarine under the car rather than into the passenger cabin if hit head-on. It did make me late to a Christmas Eve celebration. Still loved the car, though. Hoping my tolerance has not boiled away in the past 10 years and I have some left for future misadventures with the TBird. If you drive an interesting car, you have to be prepared for some surprises. At least, as the Auntie in "The Joy Luck Club" said "that my thinking."