So guys, here's my take...I've been watching and waiting, and I'm in no hurry to buy a new bird, but I'm in the loop to buy a very plain delux
hardtop. I've been in correspondence with mike biddle, and for 3 years we've been following the Ford Thunderbird, like nobody else. 1. Of the 25,000 produced for the year, the first 18,000 were "preordered" as per Ford announcemnt at "unveiling day party" June '01. I thought these were for speculators and die hard enthusiasts, but rumor suggests that dealers were placing dummy orders in family names to assure early delivery. Many of these were delivered to dealers, with no "hard sale" in place. Orders, like for you patient waiters are just finishing being filled. What's the count so far about 18,000? Also each dealer is allocated at least ONE Thunderbird, even if it's a rural dealer in northern Michigan snow belt, where he sells F250's with snow plows by the dozen. Rumor has it those cars were brokered off to make room for better, more sellable inventory. This does not take into account the "grey market cars" from Canada... So what about the remianing 7,000 to be produced between now and October '02 to end the 02 model year. How many preorders are set for the 2003 run?? There are 352 Thunderbirds listed for sale on Auto Trader.com. I've dropped internet postiongs using Ford web site and other searches, and have 3 local dealers offering me the folowing.1)yellow
hard top full color interior premium at 39,9995 + $500.00, 2. Yellow
hardtop, premium, partial interior at $40,400 MSRP and the offer to change an upcoming build of a yellow premium to a yellow delux
hardtop (I like the deluxe wheels better, and I'm trying to capture the concept car look) at MSRP when it arrives. Chris Lebus, from the forum, here will bend over backwards to serve your needs. Thanks again Chris!! What do I think?? I think the cars are out there, the economy is flat, the car is in a market with upscale two seat roadsters and down scale (Miata) roadsters also. I applaud the younger members of the Forum, but I'm 47, upper income have two adolecent daughters, and I have to stretch my imagination to justify any other than selfish pleasure at spending $40thou. My wife, Janet, is actually supportive of my Thunderenthusiasm. For your 'price over list,' you receive the first kid on the block, and managing the wait promotional materials. This subject comes up at the local classic Thunderibrd club events and I'm sure it will be a buzz at Parsippany and in Destin