Retro Tbird Values in 2025

[John_Boy]

Hello All - first time poster here, I guess. We need to sell our 02 bird (posted on this forum) and having what I believe a lack of legitimate interest locally here in Kansas. I am interested in what others here are experiencing with the actual, 2025 values of these vehicles. There are posts about the values on this forum, but it appears those pre-date the coronaconundrum and are not up to date that I could find.

For example, we bought ours in the summer of 2021 for $17k. Sure, we paid a covid premium as there were no used vehicles available back then. In fact, this one was on the showroom floor of the Ford dealer we purchased it from as they had no other vehicles to fill the space. KBB has it now as a national average for $9,635. Ugh. I highly doubt that takes into account the color and "deluxe" trim package of the vehicle as well, but maybe does.

What have you all experienced with local buyers? Do your interested parties use KBB value? Other places like carfax, NADA (JD Power), etc. have a wide range. I see lots of birds listed here and other places with much higher asking prices - wondering if anyone is acutally getting that. I'm sure there are other factors, but just curious everyone's experience.

For example, I have it listed locally for $11,500 and have only received low-ball offers from 7000 to 8500. Not ready to go that low.

Thanks!

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[biddle]

KBB has it now as a national average for $9,635. Ugh. I highly doubt that takes into account the color and "deluxe" trim package of the vehicle as well, but maybe does.

Thanks!

Warning! Truth Bomb ahead!
NADA is what the banks oftentimes use to determine what they can loan on a car, and it has always been higher than KBB or Blackbook. CarFax has been outed on National TV, so who trusts them? NADA value is high, likely because many people are broke and have no cash to put down and are financing tax, title and sometimes trading in a car they are "upside down on" so the banks use it for loan limits. The used car manager had the Black Book and the Finance manager had NADA. lol

In the 1990s I worked at the Ford dealership, my cousin owns a Honda dealership. With that said, the color doesn't matter and the car is not a collectible. Nothing has changed with buying and selling cars in decades, they even use the same deal sheets, except computers print them now. People think their car is worth more than it is, and there is no rational reason. You already know what your car is worth, but won't accept it, correct? You paid a premium AND bought it retail at a dealership during a once in a century event. You are not a dealership, you are selling private party so you get less.

You are saying KBB says the car is worth 9500.00 and getting what I consider solid offers of 8500.00 that you should be countering at 10,000 and selling at 9500.00. You are not getting low ball offers, you are in denial about the value of your car. You say they are low balling, the buyer says you are up in your sleep. LOL KBB is actually probably higher than what the dealership uses to determine car values sold at auction etc.

Also, this is a depreciating item, so it will continue to go down in value, and since you live in Kansas, you have a small window of time to sell a RWD convertible car, you are not in Florida or Southern California.

At the end of the day, the car is worth what someone is willing to pay for it, and as you said you can't find any buyers at 11,500.00. This is not a car that even sold well new, and was a flop for Ford, people are not waking up every day wanting to buy a 23 year old Ford Thunderbird.

 

[John_Boy]

Well, maybe just needed to hear that from someone. I just find it interesting that for all the vehicles listed for sale on many platforms, the listing price is much higher than KBB. Thus the confusion.

 

[biddle]

the listing price is much higher than KBB. Thus the confusion.

You are not looking at sold prices. When you buy a car, you don't pay list price do you? If it's private party, I've RARELY seen someone list their car for what it's actually worth. I delete posts on here all the time with insane asking prices. When you posted yours, I knew it was high, but it was still a negotiable starting point.

This car has 1/2 the miles AND is on an auction site which usually brings top dollar and charged the seller fees!

 

[T-BirdTom]

On Bring-A-Trailer you can take a look at current auctions and also see (below those) a scatter diagram of prices in recent years. Those are Auction Results, so are as real as it gets.



Best wishes,
Tom

Thunderbird (2002-2005)

Browse and bid online for the chance to own a Ford Thunderbird (2002-2005) at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online.

bringatrailer.com

 

[Critterpainer]

The market is very soft. Sold my super clean 2002 with 34K on it for 10K It was sold "as is" needing suspension work due to rubber rot and the Air Bag light was on. The buyer told me that the light was due to a poor ground to the firewall behind the instrument cluster. It to the shop 4 days to find it!