Is this a premium or Deluxe? 2004 | Ford Thunderbird forum club group 1955-2005 models
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Is this a premium or Deluxe? 2004

  • Thread starter Thread starter NewToTBird
  • Start date Start date
NewToTBird

NewToTBird

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Thunderbird Year
2004
Recently purchased this beauty. Love it! Came with after market wheels mounted with 235/50/R 17 tires, in addition to original 16 spoke alum wheels that were preserved for future use? Can anyone tell me the difference between the 2004 Deluxe and Premium models? I'd like to know what I have.

Also, I trying to determine the exact factory specs on the wheels. It appears they may be 7.5j x 17's, 5 x 108 mm lug spacing ( 5 x 4.25"), 63.4 mm center bore. Can anyone confirm this, but more importantly, what was the factory offset spec. I would like to find an extra of the after market wheels. They are TSW wheels, "YAS "model and appear to be a discontinued line. Their specs for this wheel are 8 x17's, with 40 mm offsets. I'll give the company a call and see what they can tell me. Perhaps they have some leftovers kicking around somewhere??

Thanks
 

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Answered back in 2010- https://forums.fordthunderbirdforum.com/threads/t-bird-deluxe.3816/

Check out the search feature of the site or look at similar threads that are inserted into pages or when you are posting a new topic.

Deluxe 2002 vs Premium 2002 - Wheel style is the primary difference between the two. Deluxe without hardtop does not have traction control.
Deluxe 2003 vs Premium 2003 - Wheel style and heated seats. Only premiums had the heated seats
Deluxe 2004-2005 vs Premium 2004-2005 - Wheel style and heated seats. Only premiums had the heated seats.

2002-2003 Wheels
Deluxe Standard 2002-2003 Wheels
7 section - 21 spoke
Premium 2002-2003 Wheels
7 spoke
2002-2003-Deluxe-Wheel.jpg
2002-2003-Chrome-Premium.jpg

2004-2005 Wheels
Deluxe 2004/2005
17" wheel with 16 spokes - Silver painted
new style center caps with white "Ford" ring
Premium standard 2004/2005
17" with 7 spoke chrome wheel new style center caps.
2004-Deluxe-Wheel.jpg
2004-Premium-Wheel.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks Bob, we do have seat heaters and dual zone AC/Heat if that also makes any difference. Looks like it is a Premium model.
UPDATE on the wheel sizes. It is stamped 7.5 x 17, and 60 mm offset on the inside of the stock 16 spoke wheels. I measured the TSW after market wheels and came up with 8 x 17 with 40 mm offset. Because of the lower offset, it appears the wheels are slightly outbound from the original wheels, perhaps 1/2", not enough to be a problem.

Now I'm really confused. With the presence of seat heaters it appears to be a Premium, yet the wheels indicate Deluxe??? Either way, I love this car just the way it is.
 
outYet the wheels indicate Deluxe??? Either way, I love this car just the way it is.
Post a photo of your factory wheels. Obviously, wheels are something that are easy to swap out, so you may not have the wheels that were original to the car. The wheel photos are in my post above.
 
Answered back in 2010- https://forums.fordthunderbirdforum.com/threads/t-bird-deluxe.3816/

Check out the search feature of the site or look at similar threads that are inserted into pages or when you are posting a new topic.

Deluxe 2002 vs Premium 2002 - Wheel style is the primary difference between the two. Deluxe without hardtop does not have traction control.
Deluxe 2003 vs Premium 2003 - Wheel style and heated seats. Only premiums had the heated seats
Deluxe 2004-2005 vs Premium 2004-2005 - Wheel style and heated seats. Only premiums had the heated seats.

2002-2003 Wheels
Deluxe Standard 2002-2003 Wheels
7 section - 21 spoke
Premium 2002-2003 Wheels
7 spoke

2004-2005 Wheels
Deluxe 2004/2005
17" wheel with 16 spokes - Silver painted
new style center caps with white "Ford" ring
Premium standard 2004/2005
17" with 7 spoke chrome wheel new style center caps.
My 2004 has the Deluxe wheels shown but also has electric seat heaters.
 
According to the 2004 sales brochure page 8 there is a 16 spokes micro-machined aluminum wheel, optional on Premium not painted as in the Deluxe.
Ford_US Thunderbird_2004_8.jpg
 

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Last edited by a moderator:
Jose is correct.
For 2004:
Deluxe: 16 spoke is completely painted
or
Premium: 16 spoke is a machine finish (painted between spokes only). This machined wheel and the new-style chrome were optional wheels for the 2004-05 Premium.
Of course, someone could have switched your wheels.
 
Answered back in 2010- https://forums.fordthunderbirdforum.com/threads/t-bird-deluxe.3816/

Check out the search feature of the site or look at similar threads that are inserted into pages or when you are posting a new topic.

Deluxe 2002 vs Premium 2002 - Wheel style is the primary difference between the two. Deluxe without hardtop does not have traction control.
Deluxe 2003 vs Premium 2003 - Wheel style and heated seats. Only premiums had the heated seats
Deluxe 2004-2005 vs Premium 2004-2005 - Wheel style and heated seats. Only premiums had the heated seats.

2002-2003 Wheels
Deluxe Standard 2002-2003 Wheels
7 section - 21 spoke
Premium 2002-2003 Wheels
7 spoke

2004-2005 Wheels
Deluxe 2004/2005
17" wheel with 16 spokes - Silver painted
new style center caps with white "Ford" ring
Premium standard 2004/2005
17" with 7 spoke chrome wheel new style center caps.
my 03 "deluxe" has the wheels shown but also has heated seats
 
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