Disappointed in 02

[whvt01]

With the 04's coming out sure some are wondering why
you still see some of us complain about the lack of features
of the 02 and new models.

Many were part of the original pre-order crowd. Or
the 2 year wait. Ford was so sketchy about what the
car was going to have you really didn't know what was
truely coming. Dealers HAHAHA. It was constantly being
compared to the LS8. Well we had an LS8 with all the
bells and whistles.

So the day the car arrived and sat looking at all the features
Ford deleted from the LS that made no since. It was already
on a car this thing was built from. Dimming mirrors, drivers
information center, lighted mirrors, active handling, memory
seats and functions, and so on. It really felt like a stripped
version. Topping off dealer treatment like you were just
buying another Focus.

It might have been better if were trading up from more
typical sedan transportation but coming down from European,
luxury US and speciality cars it was very noticeable.

Just think if Ford approached the T-Bird differently from day
1 it wouldn't be on life support now, having mostly negative
articles written. Just a few more features, Ford taking
charge of corrupt dealers and sales staff with lack of
knowledge it could have been a different story

It's been a true case "if had a crystal ball". No way would
have waited on the 02. Would have let the first year go by
than picked up an 03. At least didn't pay a premium for it.

.

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[tuberking]

You never know what goes through the minds of engineers and bean counters. I also waited a long time for my 2002. I paid list.
Having owned a Lincoln ls, I agree that some of the bells and whistles should have been left on. Howver hind sight is 20/20. I don't regret having bought the car. I can live without the bells and whistles, even though they could have been left on. The things I wish that Ford should have done is as follows
1. The chrome strip on the sail, to prevent hardtop etching of paint
2. More structural integrity for cowl shake.
3. More driving seat room for taller people
4. Xenon lights
5. Seats with lumbar support

A lot of these things were discussed on a wish list awhile back. I would have paid more money for the car, for a little bit more of engineering.

 

[traveler]

I understand how you feel about the lack of features and especially about the gouging by dealers. That said, I'm more than happy with my 02 and would not consider trading for an 03 or 04. To me, it's like the differences between the 55, 56, and 57. Each progressive car had things not available in the previous year....porthole windows, conitental kit, higher fins. I'm sure there are loads of other things that changed, but, having never had one, I can't list them. But this is not really unusual for most any new product. I still see the Thunderbird Blue color, the 5 box package from Ford and my dealer to help me while waiting for my car, and the knowledge that this car was made only for ME as major assets to owing it. I honestly expected Ford to update the features on the car as they progressed from year to year. But I knew I only wanted the 02.🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

JMHO
deb

BTW, I paid only the original list price. Still, with the drop in price, I know I lost money. But it doesn't seem to bother me all that much whenever I drive the car😉

 

[njsusan]

My husband is 6'4" tall and has no problems in my little red bird. It does have lumbar control (only in the driver's seat) which is where I always want to be😎

 

[PaulH]

I agree that having more is better, but hopefully having the car first was worth it. I still do not run across many on the road and still get people coming up to look at the car.

If you really like the extras in the 04's just wait until 05. Then maybe in 06 you can upgrade to a used one knowing that the whole run is over and that no other upgrades are in the works.

I do agree that the dealer treatment is laking. I had my car in for warranty work and recieved it back with grease on the paint, dirty seats (black marks on them), small scratch in paint, etc. I expected better and they did offer to keep the car an extra day to clean it, but why should that even have to happen. I requested a leather cleaning kit and took the car to clean it myself. I let them know that my wifes Acura TL is always returned to me cleaner that when I dropped it off and that they needed to step up in service or I would start using another dealer. End the end, I will start taking the car to a Lincoln Dealer I know. I also, did not appreciate the Ford Escort Rental Car that they gave me to drive.

Still, great car!!!

 

[tbird]

The original Pampers diapers required the use of saftey pins, but people still bought them.

Every product is improved upon, it is to be expected.

 

[LON O'CONNELL]

I for one don't care about all the bells & whistles. Auto dimming mirror. Takes me all of two seconds to move mirror. Memory seats. What remember that I have it all the way back all the time. And 252 H.P. versus 280H.P. This is a cruiser, not a race car. If I want to go racing (and I do), I take my racecar to the drag strip. Don't be offended, I know there are a lot of people who want the bells & whistles out there. I'm just not one of them.

 

[whvt01]

Moving up to a final 05

Thought about this but after seeing a topic on current
trade in value's, will just keep the 02 with 2800 miles.

It seems 02's are having offers in low 20,000 range with
04 out they might slip into the high teens. So by 05
it would be a costly move for such a low mileage car.

An article in the auto section of our paper said a car loses 50%
or more of its value in the first couple of years. Ouch.

 

[tuberking]

When I was a kid growing up we used to go visit my grandmother. In her apartment was a very expensive couch that she protected with plastic see thru slip covers. She used to say that this was to protect the couch when company would come over. I never figured out what kind of company, as the slip cover never came off. After she died, we had an antiquated old couch in like new condition that we sold for $50.00

Moral of story---Just drive the t bird and enjoy it. It ain't a Dusenberg.

 

[whvt01]

The T-bird is driven but

Living in a small town its just a few miles to places so the cars
just don't rack up miles. Most errands are in one of the SUV's
since require picking something up, the T-bird just can't hold
anything. So the cars gets used when it is practical to do so.
Short day outings are nice in the two seaters.

Its not being saved thinking will have something of value, not
in our life time. Would be nice, but no

 

[leisha]

In 71 I could have had a 62 Vette in like new condition from a Doctor's wife who had died. It had been her car.
Blue / white top / white soft top / white coves and light blue interior.
$2100... a new one was over $6000!
Compare what a 62 in worth VS a 71!
A good one is worth almost as much as a new 04 one.
Ditto a 56 Bird.

Hang on to the 02, may be devalued now but wait till the 05's are gone and the demand will rise... Hopefully!

 

[tbird]

Originally posted by leisha

Hang on to the 02, may be devalued now but wait till the 05's are gone and the demand will rise... Hopefully!

Sorry but I disagree, there are some awesome cars that are coming out this decade.

I think these Birds will all depreciate down to nearly nothing just like very other car does. Collectibility factor is low.

 

[whvt01]

In 20 years they might start to creep up

A friend sold a 78 corvette a couple of years ago, not in mint
shape by far, non factory wheel, non GM motor. They got
$8,000. They did quite a bit of looking so it wasn't just
ran across the right buyer.

I have a last year El Camino. Very Good shape. One on Ebay
just went for $7500. Not taking garage queens. Some that
have been modified and abused bring around $4000-5000.
So they are starting to creep up and not 20 years old either.

Seen some Trans Ams like had in High School with the 455, they
bring way more than cost new. The one had got damaged
in 81 big time, it still sold for half of what paid for in 73

So its possible we could see a similar trend with the T-Bird.

 

[tbird]

The reason that stuff is worth anything is they don't make it like that anymore.

Now everything is made cheap and with crappy materials.

 

[Craig]

I'm not Nostrudamus

I can't tell what the future will hold. While the live for today philosophy is foolish, I can't lament what could have been. I had hoped for a car that would hold its value, but this car is just fun. I'll keep it for ten years more or less, then who knows. It is a one off eye catcher. It does get a lot of attention. It will continue to be rare. Parts should be easy to get, because of the LS connection, so it should be easy to keep running. I'll be 53 in a few weeks, so I figure I have up to 25 or more years to enjoy driving. This car is FUN TO DRIVE. As far as bells and whistles go, in the long run they are the things that break and irratate you into buying a new car. I may make this into a go getter later, Headers, free flowing air cleaner, free flowing exhaust system, and you are over 300HP. I'm more concerned about the aluminum block than other lack of items. But then if by some freak of nature the block warps who knows what might fit in the engine bay, and at that point you have a real one of kind street machine. I'm just glad I could afford to buy it and I'm not stuck in a Focus. Yea, I have six years of payments, and the car payment is more than my mortgage was. Yea, at this point six months later, I owe more than the car is worth. But, I'm not one of the heard plodding along chewing my cud, going into the shute in the meat packing plant like I could have been if I had bought a SUV, which probably been more practicle. You can't put a price on enjoyment. You can't put a money value on individuality. You can't put money value on the feeling of pride in ownership, when people come up to you and tell you how much they like the car, and how cool it is. 😀 If everybody in the United States went out and bought a pink car, we'd be a PINK CAR NATION," but think how boring that would be.

😛

Over the Fourth of July weekend I was wrestleing with the Idea that I may not be alive at Thanksgiving, it gave me a different perspective on things. I know opinions are like noses, everybody has one. My humble opinion is that I'm glad Ford built the car. I'm going to drive it every day. I'm going to make minor modifications to the car to individualize it, to make it more enjoyable to me. If the car increases in value, great, if not what great memories I will have of a fun car, and how can anybody put a price tag on that?😎

 

[Tyrod]

I'm more concerned about the aluminum block than other lack of items.

I don't think you need to worry about that. An aluminum block made of good alloy is less likely to warp than a traditional cast iron block made of the current poor grade of cast iron used in modern blocks. The only reason all blocks aren't made of aluminum is cost.

 

[tuberking]

You know what--------I am sick of everybody whining about value and collectors items. We all have a wonderful car. If you are disappointed , then trade it in. I for one will drive the car, I agree with Tbird that it will not appreciate. In 95 I bought the 3000gt Spyder Vr4 Hard top conv. Paid alot of money, never drove it. Love the car, but go to Kelly Blue Book, it is not a collectors item. Go to Ebay, hard top convertible------not such a rarity. For those of you that want an investment go to ebay under antiques.---I would be much happier to have a solution with the hard top etching and a chrome strip, than all this crap--------sorry my opion-------just had a bad day at work.

 

[whvt01]

Another car that is doing well in the collector/value market is
the Buick Grand National. A cousin has 2. I had a Riviera
with the GN motor, So few were made that service manuals
didn't even list some parts. If had that car now sure it would
be of collector interest.

When traded the car on a Lincoln Mark the Lincoln dealer
placed it in his showroom. It had never been in the rain
so, looked new. As far as numbers got 3 times Kelly Blue
book but with the markup on lincolns they had playing
room. The Mark was not a good move, value wise.
So switched back to sports cars.

The bird being a speciality car, looking forward to seeing
what the future brings.

Don't think anyone on either of the forums expected the
bird to return what they paid, but the sudden drop in prices
due to lack of market interest has. Who would have thought
2 years ago that 02's would still be sitting on lots.