B
- Last seen
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2020
- Thunderbird Year
- None
Hi, I drive 12K miles a year, even though I work 3 miles from home. In nice weather, I am constantly back-roading in New England, checking out antique stores or finding interesting places to hike.
I have a 1989 Celica convertible with 150K miles on it, a six speed that is fun to drive. I still love it, but would like to only drive it locally since it is getting up there in mileage. My current daily driver is a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, again with 150K miles. That car has been very reliable, and is being handled down to my 16 year old son, who is clamoring for his learners permit. If the Ford survives Henry, then another son 3 years younger can use it afterwards. My wife drives a Volvo SUV, that we can use for family trips, so a 2-seater is ok for me.
I have always admired the retro T-birds, and can now afford one. I'm also 55, and would like to drive a car daily that I would enjoy. I realize all cars need regular maintenance, and have read the postings in the forum about the ignition coils and dried suspension issues, as well as cluster and PCM problems.
So, is it a mistake to buy a low mileage (20-60K) 2004-2005 Tbird as a daily driver? Or are the majority of these cars fairly reliable, if the owner is willing to maintain it properly? Do the ignition coil issues give you some warning before failing?
Other questions on my mind are:
1. This car would be driven in Winter, are they anymore prone to rust than any other car driven in the same conditions?
2. If taken through a car wash (I work at one and get free washes), are the hardtop or soft top prone to leaks? (Yes, the Celica does leak, the rubber stripping has dried over the years, but I deal with it).
3. I would likely replace the factory CD/radio with a unit with bluetooth capability. Recommendations?
4. Lastly, my preferred color combo is the Merlot Red. I am torn between getting a Black interior versus the Sand/Tan one. Is the Sand/Tan difficult to keep clean?
Any comments are appreciated. Thanks for reading this posting!
I have a 1989 Celica convertible with 150K miles on it, a six speed that is fun to drive. I still love it, but would like to only drive it locally since it is getting up there in mileage. My current daily driver is a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, again with 150K miles. That car has been very reliable, and is being handled down to my 16 year old son, who is clamoring for his learners permit. If the Ford survives Henry, then another son 3 years younger can use it afterwards. My wife drives a Volvo SUV, that we can use for family trips, so a 2-seater is ok for me.
I have always admired the retro T-birds, and can now afford one. I'm also 55, and would like to drive a car daily that I would enjoy. I realize all cars need regular maintenance, and have read the postings in the forum about the ignition coils and dried suspension issues, as well as cluster and PCM problems.
So, is it a mistake to buy a low mileage (20-60K) 2004-2005 Tbird as a daily driver? Or are the majority of these cars fairly reliable, if the owner is willing to maintain it properly? Do the ignition coil issues give you some warning before failing?
Other questions on my mind are:
1. This car would be driven in Winter, are they anymore prone to rust than any other car driven in the same conditions?
2. If taken through a car wash (I work at one and get free washes), are the hardtop or soft top prone to leaks? (Yes, the Celica does leak, the rubber stripping has dried over the years, but I deal with it).
3. I would likely replace the factory CD/radio with a unit with bluetooth capability. Recommendations?
4. Lastly, my preferred color combo is the Merlot Red. I am torn between getting a Black interior versus the Sand/Tan one. Is the Sand/Tan difficult to keep clean?
Any comments are appreciated. Thanks for reading this posting!