T-Bird Prices

WOW, I was looking at Cars.com and I see that some 2002 birds are priced as low as $14,000.00 now. There is a ton of 2002 & 2003's in the $19,000 range with really low miles (under 40,000). This is a real shame that these vehicles are not holding their value.

[cho143]

Re: T-Bird Prices

I don't know where you are looking but I think its a bull story

[My Raven]

Re: T-Bird Prices

Do they have salvage or rebuilt titles? Those are the only ones I have found in that price range and usually without the hard top ... At least here in the States.

[wtxbird]

Re: T-Bird Prices

WOW, I was looking at Cars.com and I see that some 2002 birds are priced as low as $14,000.00 now. There is a ton of 2002 & 2003's in the $19,000 range with really low miles (under 40,000). This is a real shame that these vehicles are not holding their value.

There has been a lot of flooding in the US, so for $19000 you can bet its been a swimmer or a rebuild , and yes you can still wash titles if you run them through enough states. I used to get the Alabama titles, they only issue a bill of sale,and don't trust Cars.com for up to date info.

[DLJames]

Re: T-Bird Prices

I have been watching the prices on used ones for a couple of years now. It seems to me that the prices tend to peak in the spring and then trickle down during the summer and fall and bottoming out around January. I am looking to possibly pick up an 04/05 for the Florida house if I can find one reasonably priced.

[Brad]

Re: T-Bird Prices

I recently sold my 2002 and bought a 2003, so I feel that my opinion on value is atleast a little credible. I agree that 14k is generally a salvaged car.

The prices I'm talking about are retail:

I sold my 2002 with nearly 80K miles on it for $17K. Based on the ones available I thought I would have gotten 19k, but I had very little interest at that price. Lower milage 2002 probably sell in the mid 20's.

The prices on 2003's are a little better. An extreme low mileage 2003 (under 10K) is probably worth 26-28K or so. Anything with under 2k miles they seem to be asking 30K or more. For me warrenty was a huge factor, so if you haven't gone past your 3/36 I would HIGHLY recommend you extend it now.

Keep in mind the ads you see are for cars for sale, and that does not mean that they sell or that price or if they sell at all. Condition is obviously a huge factor. A local dealer had a 2005 with less than 10K miles on it that it wouldn't take less than 29K for. The car looked like a piece of junk. Tons of dings and scrapes, bare metal showing on the door edges, I didn't even bother opening the door

[Hannah3]

Re: T-Bird Prices

On CARS.COM there are only 14 2005s listed that have under 10k miles. The cheapest is 29.9 (no hard top) going up to $44k.

[Tony007]

Re: T-Bird Prices

I REMEMBER A POST HERE FEW WKS AGO...A 2003 007 EDITION WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT WAS GOING FOR $40K....

[ScottyNeutron]

Re: T-Bird Prices

WOW, I was looking at Cars.com and I see that some 2002 birds are priced as low as $14,000.00 now. There is a ton of 2002 & 2003's in the $19,000 range with really low miles (under 40,000). This is a real shame that these vehicles are not holding their value.

Not sure I would classify 39K miles and under as "Really Low Miles". Maybe by blue book standards. For those who purchased theirs as second or third cars, I would think 10K miles and under classifies as really low miles.

[bhowe]

Re: T-Bird Prices

The point I was trying to make is that these cars don't seem to be holding their value like some other "low production collectable type" cars do. If you can already purchase a 2005 for $29,000 then it has depreciated by almost 50% in two years. I have been trying to sell my 2002 (20,000 miles) for $25,000 and am getting very little interest other than "lowballers" that try to deal on the phone.

[My Raven]

Re: T-Bird Prices

The Retros are still "used cars" and will be for several years to come before they bottom out and begin to appreciate. In the meantime, as we can see from the Broken Wings thread attrition due to floods, accidents, and acts of God will continue to make those survivors in good condition more and more valuable after prices bottom out. The same happened with the Early Birds in the early to mid 60s.

That said, the special edition models: the NM, the 007, the PCR and the Cashmere already seem to hold their value better than the "rank and file" so to speak: Especially the 007 and the NM.

[EllisonCal]

Re: T-Bird Prices

Regarding resale value of cars in general, most depreciate for the first 7 years then hold that value for another 5 years. When I was shopping for my Tbird last year, I found that there was very little difference in price between 2002,3,4 and 2005 models. Condition and mileage made the biggest difference. Because the cars are so similar, I bought my 2005. That way I had a longer warranty as it was a "Certified used Tbird" and carried the 6 year, 60,000 mile warranty. I was also able to buy the Ford Premium extended warranty for an additional $700. My car had a sticker price as a Certified 2005 of $31,999. but the dealer sold it for $29,495. less my trade-in. When the car was brand new, it was just under $40,000 from what I can determine and that was without a hardtop.
Cal

[Borla Babe]

Re: T-Bird Prices

Unless dealing with a trade in situation (and I've always done excellent on those too), I've always sold my cars privately. I advertise privately and it is me who decides what the car will eventually sell for, not the potential buyer. I won't even deal with a used car salesman.
No way in heck my 02 would be put on the market for $14K, I wouldn't sell it for $19K either. With my attitude I might be stuck with my LadyBird for life, but that's ok with me too.

[bhowe]

Re: T-Bird Prices

Well I guess as long as bird owners are willing to take huge losses and give these cars away then we'll have to settle for the market prices. I for one will not add to this by giving mine away. I guess I will hang onto it for a while.

[EllisonCal]

Re: T-Bird Prices

The point I was trying to make is that these cars don't seem to be holding their value like some other "low production collectable type" cars do. If you can already purchase a 2005 for $29,000 then it has depreciated by almost 50% in two years. I have been trying to sell my 2002 (20,000 miles) for $25,000 and am getting very little interest other than "lowballers" that try to deal on the phone.

50%? When did a new 2005 Thunderbird cost $58,000? $38,000 is what I've heard. And $29,000 for a car that sold for $38,000 new 2 years earlier with no miles on it is pretty good. Most new cars lose 50 % after about 5 years. That means a 2002 Thunderbird should sell for about $20,000, but they are more than that if they are in pristine condition and have reasonably low mileage.
Cal