Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

[rogerl]

Hi Guys:

Due to a change of circumstances, I will probably be putting my 'bird up for sale in a few days. She's a beauty and will be sorely missed. Only 5424 miles. I have the Ford ESP, too.

By coincidence, there is an almost identical car, with identical miles, in the Barrett Jackson Palm Beach auction this Friday. The only difference is that the auction one has a full accent and mine has the partial accent. Personally, I prefer the partial accent as, in my opinion, the full accent adds too much color to the interior.

Here is a link to the one in the auction: http://tinyurl.com/79u2kx6 Just search for 2002 thunderbird and you will see it.

I'll probably wait to see what the auction one sells for before determining a price for mine.

Regards - Roger
Boynton Beach, FL

[Rondor]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

I saw an ad Sun in Fl T/U for an '04 for 26K. Nothing said about it being anything special. Sounds like we have hit bottom and heading back up. Good luck.

[Leroy]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

This is the prime time of the year for selling these cars and prices will be up as buyers are more interested in a sporty ride for the Summer. Also there aren't many V-8 powered Roadsters less than 10 years old in our price range and collectability. With Blue Book prices holding well also means banks will loan more on these cars too. As always, the low mileage well cared for cars will bring the highest prices.

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[justjon]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

This is sounding like the Allante net just before they tanked and everyone was selling their cars. It's getting to be a ghost town here too. I don't think this bodes well at all. Gas continues to go up, the cars just keep getting older, ESP is coming to a forseeable end. No aftermarket Tbird specific parts, the electronics make these cars repair nightmares. How much is a tail light now? Handwriting is on the wall. Drive it or sell it.

[AZTB]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

WHOA, John...a little too much doom and gloom there, buddy. Try and remember there are still Lincoln LS's and Jaguar S's with needs out there, too. Our ESP expires on our '05 this June and truthfully, I'm not that concerned.
But even then, in the grand scheme of things, it's only a car. 100 years from now, what's it going to matter?!

[jerrym3]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

This is sounding like the Allante net just before they tanked and everyone was selling their cars. It's getting to be a ghost town here too. I don't think this bodes well at all. Gas continues to go up, the cars just keep getting older, ESP is coming to a forseeable end. No aftermarket Tbird specific parts, the electronics make these cars repair nightmares. How much is a tail light now? Handwriting is on the wall. Drive it or sell it.

Third choice, use it as an "every now and then" cruiser and let the kids/grandkids enjoy taking the car to future classic car shows. (This is my choice, although the kids aren't that interested in her.)

Unfortunately, there's a lot of similarity mechanically between the retros and the LS/Jag S, but not much with regards to body parts.

[lasuvidaboy]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

My additude is my 'Bird has been paid for 7-year so unless I'm spending $400.00 every month on repairs, it is worth keeping. Add to that I still love the looks of the car. The freeway gas mileage is not horrible but around town it does like the gas. That said, if a car is paid for and has been well maintanied I see it as a win-win situation.

[lasuvidaboy]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

[QUOTE=jerrym3;471322]Third choice, use it as an "every now and then" cruiser and let the kids/grandkids enjoy taking the car to future classic car shows. (This is my choice, although the kids aren't that interested in her.)


Are younger people even interested in cars today? Since they grew up w/look-alike plastic boxes, there is little passion for cars like many of us had in the past. I could'nt wait for September to roll around when the new and re-styled cars were introduced. It is a different era.

[AZTB]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

My additude is my 'Bird has been paid for 7-year so unless I'm spending $400.00 every month on repairs, it is worth keeping. Add to that I still love the looks of the car. The freeway gas mileage is not horrible but around town it does like the gas. That said, if a car is paid for and has been well maintanied I see it as a win-win situation.

I agree...someone wrote in to our local paper this week that they had a 1995 blah-blah that they loved, was low miles, but needed $1500 in repairs...should they keep it? The mechanic responded by asking them if they could buy the exact same vehicle, with all things being equal, for $1500 would they buy it? Of course, the answer was yes!

Are younger people even interested in cars today? Since they grew up w/look-alike plastic boxes, there is little passion for cars like many of us had in the past. I could'nt wait for September to roll around when the new and re-styled cars were introduced. It is a different era.

I remember that, too...fall was a magical time of year for me as a kid cuz the new cars were in the showrooms!

[Gobird]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

As things go sometimes on this site this thread has gone off topic but here goes.

Just speaking for myself. The ESP for me would have been money up in smoke. I have only spent a few hundred on it in the past 10 years, guess I have been lucky. For what ESP would have cost over the past 10 years I could have bought a lot of parts for my car to keep it going. That said, I have no problem buying new cops or other parts for it when it needs them, when ever that happens.
This car has been paid for for many,many years and I can't complain at all about it. I didn't buy it for an investment, I bought it because I liked it. I have said this before but this car will be with me until the day they roll me in the oven.

I just love this car.

[jerrym3]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

[QUOTE=lasuvidaboy;471327]

Third choice, use it as an "every now and then" cruiser and let the kids/grandkids enjoy taking the car to future classic car shows. (This is my choice, although the kids aren't that interested in her.)


Are younger people even interested in cars today? Since they grew up w/look-alike plastic boxes, there is little passion for cars like many of us had in the past. I could'nt wait for September to roll around when the new and re-styled cars were introduced. It is a different era.

I remember those September days very well.

Peeking in soaped up dealer's windows to see the new 56 Ford; walking miles to stop at different dealers to get new car catalogs; walking through storage lots behind dealerships just to get a look at the new 57 Chevy; staring for an hour at the first 57 Merc I ever saw parked on the street.

My one daughter drives a late model Mustang convert; her steady boyfriend (and his dad) have built a Mustang dragstrip racer; my other daughter and her husband like BMWs.

The TBird's just not their type of car, but one daughter does want the 64 Galaxie.

Most of my younger nephews are SUV/pickup guys with a few small Asian sedan lovers thrown in.

But, correct, they are not real car lovers like some of us are.

[Rondor]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

My how we wonder. the concerns about keeping theese going are going to separate out the car guys from the old days from the wanta be's today.You don't think that there was a time when 56 T- bird parts were as rare as can be? Wonder if the P T Cruiser guys are worried? All 2 and 1/2 million of them. If theese cars were like door knovs nobody would want one any way.

[jerrym3]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

My how we wonder. the concerns about keeping theese going are going to separate out the car guys from the old days from the wanta be's today.You don't think that there was a time when 56 T- bird parts were as rare as can be? Wonder if the P T Cruiser guys are worried? All 2 and 1/2 million of them. If theese cars were like door knovs nobody would want one any way.

Well, I'm a car guy, and I'm a little concerned.

The question is will there be a market for retro parts in the future?

Since the average age of a retro owner is a bit high, if the youth market doesn't take a liking to the car, who's going to restore them in the future?

No restoration market means no replacement parts.

But, at my age, I really shouldn't be too worried.

[jimbubbawade]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

Article in todays paper says the number of people in the 20-30 year age bracket with no drivers licenses is way up.. and climbing.... blames the internet.... you can interact socially on the net.... depends on your definition of "interact" I guess...

[lasuvidaboy]

Re: Probably Selling My '02 - 5424 Miles - T/Bird Blue

Article in todays paper says the number of people in the 20-30 year age bracket with no drivers licenses is way up.. and climbing.... blames the internet.... you can interact socially on the net.... depends on your definition of "interact" I guess...

Also many teens apparently are afraid to drive today. I know several parents who have teenagers that have no desire to drive or own their own car. In contast, when I hit 16 in 1979 I HAD to have a car. My parents matched the money I saved from various jobs (do teenagers even work today?) and I went out w/my brother and bought a 1969 Pontiac Firebird convertible. BTW, according to articles I have read in various car magazines, the car companies are very concerned as many younger people have little to no interest in cars. What a difference a generation (or two) makes:)