T-Bird Prices

[ge0rge]

Re: T-Bird Prices

I was talking with a member of our club yesterday about this sort of topic. She once owned a '57. Back in the mid-60's, she saw a '56 for sale for $1600. I'm not sure how that would have compared to the new price for a '56. but it obviously had depreciated after ten years or less. Imagine what it would be worth today, even in 60's dollars..... So I tend to believe the decline followed by appreciation scenario.

ge0rge

[Borla Babe]

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.

That is exactly my thinking Bob........people with money to burn and don't care, people who are desperate to get rid of the car for some financial reason or the water damaged cars that Scott refers to.
There is just no reason to sell these cars for less than $20,000 and I don't care what blue book has to say about it, I have always gotten a few thousand more than blue book suggests. Most people would give their eye teeth to own one of these cars, and I'll be darned if I am going to be a part of just handing the car over to them at some low ball price. JMHO

[Red Bird Dave]

Re: T-Bird Prices

Based on the CPI Black Book for collector cars a 2002 Tbird is Good Cond $21,575 Excel Cond $25,000. A 2003 Good is $223,550, Excel is 27,775. This the July August book.

Red Bird Dave

[robbie199]

Re: T-Bird Prices

I visit my dealership here in Houston about every three months or so. They get calls on a reqular basis from people looking for our Birds. Trade in value has been going up here. Over 30K for a 05 and retail at 37K. Now, that is more than I paid for my Cashmere new a little over two years ago. They tell me to hang on to it for another two years or so and we may be surprised where the pricing will go. Few cars perform as well when it comes to depreciation.

[My Raven]

Re: T-Bird Prices

Most people would give their eye teeth to own one of these cars, and I'll be darned if I am going to be a part of just handing the car over to them at some low ball price. JMHO

Just tell us how you really feel, Julie ....

[Blubrd]

Re: T-Bird Prices

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

BHowe is from Vancouver BC and the "Birds did retail around $60,000 up here. Having said that, I haven't seen anything in an 02 Bird for sale in Canada for less than $28,000 unless it had really high miles. Normal range is still $30,000+ at dealers and private.

[wtxbird]

Re: T-Bird Prices

The only way im selling my bird is if someone hits it and its totaled. On every car i have owned that was totaled, i always got more than book.

Keep all records on your cars, and if they dont want to play ball, tell them you want one just like you had. I got 8gs over list more on my Seville, the one Diane crashed fighting the insurance company, they found a low mileage one out of state and agreed on my terms.

I thought i wanted a white bird, a dealer in Dallas offered me $17,000 and wanted $27.000 for his same year model, and my car had lower mileage, I told him how and where he could go.

[rpatton3]

Re: T-Bird Prices

I would not sell my wife's 4,000 mile for any thing less than what it would take to replace it. The hard top is off and hanging on an electric winch. It was removed by us the first time it was off the car.
I would like a radio with satellite inputs, 280 hp, but I hear the leather is better in an '02.

[DavidA]

Re: T-Bird Prices

I've said this before, but to repeat ... my guess is the cars will bottom out at about $10K. This will happen in 2 more years and then the price will hold for a couple of years. Remember, these will be 7-10 year old used cars! Watch what happens to many of them at that point. You may even consider buying one to save as a parts car then.

Once the attrition sets in and a large number are junked, they will start to climb back or at least hold the value at about $20K. I doubt most of us will still be here to see the car reach collector status.

The point is, price is not a factor to most of us. We own them because we love them and we love getting together with other owners at TBird gatherings. It's a fun car that has created a social life of it's own. There aren't many cars that have done that.

Enjoy the car, drive it, do whatever yanks your crank, but if you are trying to make money with it .. forgetaboutit!!!

[Monty]

Re: T-Bird Prices

I wouldn't sell mine for any price so price really isn't a factor. As mentioned before, I have 2 other almost new vehicles and just bought my 04 for the fun of it in May of this year. Really couldn't justify paying upwards of 40K (with hardtop) when they were new. It had 36K miles when I purchased it and I was going to leave it as close to that as possible. I have nearly 40K on it as of today and have an almost new F250 sitting at home in my garage. I can't seem to leave it at home and my wife if afraid to drive it on the interstate which she must take to get to work. Hope she doesn't change jobs.

[hammer55]

Re: T-Bird Prices

[quote=DavidA;247469]I've said this before, but to repeat ... my guess is the cars will bottom out at about $10K. This will happen in 2 more years and then the price will hold for a couple of years. Remember, these will be 7-10 year old used cars! Watch what happens to many of them at that point. You may even consider buying one to save as a parts car then.

IF THEY GET THAT LOW ILL BUY MORE THAN ONE, any of y'all want to sell me your birds for 10,000 in two years let me know, lol,(try to keep the miles down tho)

[MObird]

Re: T-Bird Prices

I was thinking the same thing, Mark! If prices get that low, I can start collecting them!!

[JAB02LHS]

Re: T-Bird Prices

I've said this before, but to repeat ... my guess is the cars will bottom out at about $10K. This will happen in 2 more years and then the price will hold for a couple of years. Remember, these will be 7-10 year old used cars! Watch what happens to many of them at that point. You may even consider buying one to save as a parts car then.

Once the attrition sets in and a large number are junked, they will start to climb back or at least hold the value at about $20K. I doubt most of us will still be here to see the car reach collector status.

The point is, price is not a factor to most of us. We own them because we love them and we love getting together with other owners at TBird gatherings. It's a fun car that has created a social life of it's own. There aren't many cars that have done that.

Enjoy the car, drive it, do whatever yanks your crank, but if you are trying to make money with it .. forgetaboutit!!!

[SR-71]

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%? Nah. Unless we're maybe looking at current U.S. prices compared to original Canadian purchase prices. But that'd be comparing apples and oranges. Depreciation can't be anywhere near 50%.

I bought my 05 a little over two years ago. It had a sticker price of $42,305. I paid $35,000. At 6,800 miles, and excellent condition, the current Kelly Blue Book values (in my zip code) are:

Suggested Retail: $32,185
Private Party: $29,145

For kicks, I did a depreciation matrix, using both of the KBB values and both original price values. Here it is, FWIW:




Seems about right. Of course, it's all academic to me, because there ain't no way I'm gonna sell my bird!

Cheers,

Kevin

[SR-71]

Re: T-Bird Prices

IF THEY GET THAT LOW ILL BUY MORE THAN ONE, any of y'all want to sell me your birds for 10,000 in two years let me know, lol,(try to keep the miles down tho)

Agreed! I'll get one and save it for my daughter. That way, she won't be after me to drive mine when she turns 16! I've seen what 16-year-olds can do to cars. No way is she driving my bird!