11th gen Thunderbirds ..... oppinions?

"AddMustard" (AddMustard)
08/16/2014 at 22:46 • Filed to: None

First, are these any good?

Second, am I insane for kind of liking them?

Third, why are they so fucking expensive still?

2002 are 14-16k on CL

2003-2004 are 18-20k on CL

2005 are over 20k on CL!

DISCUSSION (17)

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > AddMustard
08/16/2014 at 22:49

I like them, but I really know nothing about them

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > AddMustard
08/16/2014 at 22:50

YES

Because no one bought them (for a reason, obviously)

/sarc (somewhat)

AddMustard > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
08/16/2014 at 22:52

No one bought a lot of cars and they're as good as free!

HammerheadFistpunch > AddMustard
08/16/2014 at 22:53

They are just panthers basically; slow and sloppy. I dig on the looks though, I knew someone who had a 57 and a new one when they first came out. man those 57's were tiny.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > AddMustard
08/16/2014 at 22:53

1. Not really. Only V6 auto's if I recall. EDIT: Turns out they had a V8 making (only) 252 horse power.

2. Kinda, definitely the lower end of the retro styling era. Not PT Cruiser bad, but mid-way at best.

3. Here are three in the $12,000 range. But limited model run with a high-ish starting price kept most out of the hands of the those that would trash them. They mostly only see weekend duty. That being said there are two listed at 30k or higher as well.

DisplacementForDayz, ironically lusts after a Honda Grom > AddMustard
08/16/2014 at 22:54

They're too much of a compromise in my opinion, the retro styling doesn't match the modern styling, I see that they were trying to emulate the original, but the overall body shape doesn't work.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > AddMustard
08/16/2014 at 22:55

Um, I thought it was because of the anemic V8, slushbox, and dealers charging like 50k for them new...

AddMustard > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
08/16/2014 at 22:56

There's 1 or 2 in the 10k range locally but they have been up for a long time.... likely for a reason

ClassicDatsunDebate > AddMustard
08/16/2014 at 22:59

Are you over 50? If no, than yes

Because all the boomers aren't riding power scooters yet

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > HammerheadFistpunch
08/16/2014 at 23:00

Jaguar's actually.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > AddMustard
08/16/2014 at 23:03

They are based on the Jaguar platform that is used to underpin the XF and was used by the Lincoln LS. The Jag based, Lima built 3.9L V8's are making 280 HP which is not anemic as people would say. The 5-speed autos are terrible. Seats are comfortable.

oldirtybootz > AddMustard
08/16/2014 at 23:09

I can't use my gif of SpongeBob jackin it to his computer screen, but if I could I would.

I fell in love with these while my mother was working at Ford and they had one on the showroom floor. I don't care if they're junk, I want one real bad.

Bad Idea Hat > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/16/2014 at 23:30

Almost 2 tons of car, though. It probably wasn't going to make much fast (I don't think it was designed for that, as a luxury car). Still, a Coyote and manual would have made it much more interesting.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Bad Idea Hat
08/16/2014 at 23:50

Is 0-60 in 6.5 really that slow?

Bad Idea Hat > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/16/2014 at 23:56

NOT GOOD ENOUGH

It actually isn't, but I look back to the early generations when they put stupid sized engines into the car. I wish there had been more options.

Another would have been a weight reduction, but it's a luxury car, so I know that isn't happening from Ford.

phenotyp > AddMustard
08/17/2014 at 00:16

My dad bought a graphite-colored one early this year. He was, until then, someone who in my now thirty-seven years had been a strictly GM man.

At some point (2009? Maybe) I started my daily T-Bird check-off in Austin. No shit, I'd see one every single day, and not the same ones. This continued until I left Austin in 2012, and I continued it with occasional success in SF. No comment on driver demographics.

When I was at Ford in 2002, I threw in some sketches for what the next one might be, and I had really high hopes. Of course, there was never the next one.

All this to say that I've always had a weird soft spot for it, even though it has never appealed to me. If that makes sense to anyone.

McMike > AddMustard
08/17/2014 at 14:39

My first impression? It was Ford's boring answer to the Sebring wrapped in the retro styling everyone was doing of the 00s. I can't remember why they didn't sell, maybe they were too expensive? Maybe everyone thought they were Ford's boring answer to the Sebring wrapped in the retro styling everyone was doing of the 00s?

They could be fun and be a decent car. I just never gave them a second thought.