My opinion, what's yours

[snowbird]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

Went 'Cruising the Dub' (cruise night at the A & W) last night in our '66 t'bird convertible. Took our eight year old grandaughter with me. She likes cars as well. She got a ballot to pick her favourite car (not the one we came in) and there were new cars as well as a good veriaty of old ones. She picked a customized 49 Mercury, continental extension on the rear, cruiser skirts, lowered all the way, chopped roof, a real lead sled. Was I surprised ? You bet. There is hope afer all.
Drove home in the dark, top down, and nearly froze. A great night.

MartinB.

[MEK04]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

We did the dub last night too. $1.00 dollar donated to MS for every Teen Burger sold. Went to the A & W close to home but the lot too small only had about 20 cars. So we left and went to Cambridge they had well over 100 cars all years. Ours and a 57 were the only T Birds.

[Brad]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

When my friends and I would argue over what year a car was we would always check the tail lights for the year...typing this prompted me to check the Tbird to see if they still do that...my 2003 has an "02" on it so apparently they still do.

If you're unsure if the Tbird is holding it value, compare the values to a Lincoln LS now versus MSRP. Although the LS wasn't that much cheaper new, a quick look on cars.com it looks like they are selling for about 1/2 what Tbirds are.

[lasuvidaboy]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

Even with the decline of the 'car culture' in the States over the last 25 years w/younger people, I think the TBird will hold it's value in the upcoming years and become a collectible classic for many reasons. #1 is the great styling, #2 it's a convertible and #3 it's a rare car based on production numbers of today's cars. I live in car crazy L.A. and I still get many positive comments about my TBird. People will come up to me and say 'That is a beautiful car'. How many people do that w/an 8-year-old BMW or Mercedes?? The answer here in L.A. is not many! Drive your cars-the more exposure it gets the more younger people will see it and want them in the future.

[Rondor]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

I agree if they still get attention in L.A. that's a good sign. The fact that theese are so driveable in todays world and yet reflect on yesterday is fantastic.

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

But our Birds get very little exposure because most of them are Garage Queens.. If you want the the lust for our cars to grow and create a demand we have to drive them in public.

[jerrym3]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

Let's not forget some of the good.

Today's cars last longer, get better economy, handle better, and are pretty darn quick, even the four cylinder ones.

I remember an auto article in 1955 stating that the 55 Olds Super 88 was the 0-60 champ.....10.8 seconds! Today, that's a snail's pace.

As for looks, now that computers do most of the basic design (and factor in government regulations), cars all pretty much look cookie-cutter.

But, as a sign of the times, I'm having a lot of work done on my house by various craftsman.

They look at the retro, but they all drool over the 64 Galaxie.

I imagine 40 years from now, they'll be drooling over the retro.

[XCR440SP]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

I have to both agree and disagree.

I do think we're in a unique time when style is starting to come back. The 2012 Focus is a great looking car for a lower end vehicle. Problem is I think there is a problem with killing a new style by over doing it. The new Focus is great, but Fiesta is simmilar and drawings of the next Mondeo/Fusion looks like a bigger version. If all the Fords look the same the style will get old real fast.

Also I loved the grill in the 06 Fusion when it came out, but now Ford's put it in lots of cars, and now not only Ford, but Hyundai Sonata, Honda Insigt and others are doing the big chrome bars again.

That said, the one area I do see great things in are the "Specialty" cars. Look at Mustang. 550 Horsepower Shelby GT-500, Boss 302 with 7500 RPM redline and 440 Horsepower, California Special, not bad.

Dodge has challengers with hockey stick stripes, Statutory grape paint, Hemi.

Chevy has the Camaro (and Z/28 should be out soon), Corvette body style is gettin old, but Z06, and ZR1 make up for it and various special editions help (Grand Sport, Z06 Carbon).

As to the identifying them, that is getting tougher, but styling is only part of the problem there. Look at the number of models on the road. Right now I can order Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, Mustang, Taurus, Crown Victoria, Escape, Edge, Explorer, Expedition, Flex, Ranger, F-150, F-Series Super Duty, Econoline, and Transit connect, compare that to what used to be available.

[DaiUyTed]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

But our Birds get very little exposure because most of them are Garage Queens...

"most of them"? Hmm. Dunno. A good topic for a poll, if there hasn't been one about frequency of use. Seems to me there's been some discussion around the subject, but no poll to get hard facts. I scrolled through the forums topics, watching the "poll" icon, but didn't find one.

Does the Nest site have a listing of polls? That would be helpful for us noobs.

[Lindy]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

Now I can't even figure out who the manufacturer is unless I get up close and look for the name. They all look alike. Even the new Taurus looks like every Toyota or Honda on the road. Blah.

I humbly agree, there are so many Oriental clones.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

"most of them"? Hmm. Dunno. A good topic for a poll, if there hasn't been one about frequency of use..

Mileage on your Bird (2007)

WHEN DO YOU DRIVE YOUR BIRD

Daily Driver or Klassic Keeper

What is a Garage Queen!

[Rondor]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

When mine wears out it's nice to know I will be able to get a like new garage queen and start over. I bought this one half price and will likely get the next one for very little more. Theese will hold up and be usable much longer than the 50's did. Other than looks they weren't that great a car

[Chuckster]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

As to the identifying them, that is getting tougher, but styling is only part of the problem there. Look at the number of models on the road. Right now I can order Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, Mustang, Taurus, Crown Victoria, Escape, Edge, Explorer, Expedition, Flex, Ranger, F-150, F-Series Super Duty, Econoline, and Transit connect, compare that to what used to be available.

Very true - not to mention the short life span of any particular model name. Apparently name recognition doesn't mean much any more. I guess the Mustang & Thunderbird names have endured longer than most any other from Ford. A lot of model names are here for two or three years, then they disappear, and may or may not show up again. Just to name a few...Escort, Freestar, Freestyle, Probe, Five Hundred (not to be confused with the long running Galaxie 500 or Fairlane 500), Festiva (not to be confused with the current Fiesta), Granada, Fairmont, Tempo.

[merlot4]

Re: My opinion, what's yours

I just did a quick search on Yahoo for 300 miles near my location (Georgia) and found 30 Tbirds. Nearly all had 40-60+K miles and were all priced very closely. It would definitely appear that the low mileage examples will be standouts in the next few years as the higher miles birds accrue even more miles and become less desirable.