Owners Age Poll 2011

[Southern]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

Youse did good.

I'm 73 and am glad the poll showed us more detail than the older one.

[jayred1]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

I like this one better, too ... I went from the "oldest" category to under the median! I'm young again!!! But regardless the age, we all love our Birds!!

[My Raven]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

I bought my first one when I was 43 ... I will be 51 next month still happy & T-Bird'n with MY RAVEN!

[PaulD]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

As the data is showing, the vast majority of owners are in the more "mature" age groups. I did some checking to see if the younger owners were active on the forum and was glad to see that ...yes...they are holding their own with the older and more opinionated comments from the mature crowd. Glad to see that the next generation of TBird owners are active and ready to keep TBN rolling forward.

[jayred1]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

I also noted the skewed distribution toward the late 50s & 60s and less than 4% being under 40. I realize this might re-open the discussion about how much our cars will/won't appreciate/depreciate ($$); but the data seems to point to limited interest by the younger crowd ... at least in the near future.

Of course all it takes is to have the right car (color, miles, care), at the right time, with the right interested buyer - regardless of their age!

[V8 Cat]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

but the data seems to point to limited interest by the younger crowd ... at least in the near future.

Anybody under 55 hardly gives the Tbird a second glance in my locale. Kinda like the way I was about Buicks, the Mercury Grand Marquis, and the Lincoln Town Car when I was that age.

[jerrym3]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

This pole is ample evidence that the TBird name is most likely laid to rest.

Almost 75% of Tbird retro owners are 56 and older. That's not a good sign for a new version TBird.

Thunderbird was a great name in Ford's glorious past, but that's where it now belongs; Ford's glorious past.

I'd rather see the name go out on a high than a who-knows-what type of vehicle.

I've owned four TBirds (58/85/94/03) in my lifetime, all very interesting cars.

I'm OK with The End.

[ibjeff]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

Interesting poll. I'm 54 and grew up with Thunderbirds. Mom'n favorite was her 63 yellow. Dad bought it right off the showroom floor in Flagstaff, AZ in 1963 as a present to mom. We have owned a 55, 60 convertible, 2 63s, 68 4door, 2 2005s, and now the 2002 Thunderbird Blue.

[Jim Young]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

OLD SILVER SHINES THE BEST'

[camodude]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

This pole is ample evidence that the TBird name is most likely laid to rest.
Almost 75% of Tbird retro owners are 56 and older. That's not a good sign for a new version TBird.
Thunderbird was a great name in Ford's glorious past, but that's where it now belongs; Ford's glorious past.
I'd rather see the name go out on a high than a who-knows-what type of vehicle.
I've owned four TBirds (58/85/94/03) in my lifetime, all very interesting cars.
I'm OK with The End.

You might be happy with it coming to an end. I have wanted one as long and I can remember. Now that i'm old enough to buy one I don't want to see it come to an end. I am one of the younger people in this group and I still think the name Thunderbird has a lot more life to give. I drive a WW 03 that i been upgrading parts on. 02-05 is the bird of my time. I'm hoping they will come out with many more.

[jerrym3]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

James, would you be happy to see a complete line of basic transportation vehicles with the Thunderbird name on them?

Thunderbird hybrids, hatchbacks, mini-wagons, crossovers, small sedans?

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see Ford making any specialty Thunderbirds like ours in the future, so I'd rather see the name RIP.

Although they were full lines, not specialty models, these great names all died: Mercury, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, DeSoto, Packard, Nash, Studebaker, etc.

A company cannot produce something that doesn't sell. There's way too much competition out there now.

Just look at where Hyundai and Kia were a few short years ago, and where they are now.

Now, maybe if the Chinese market took a liking to the Thunderbird, Ford might change it's mind.

[camodude]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

James, would you be happy to see a complete line of basic transportation vehicles with the Thunderbird name on them?
Thunderbird hybrids, hatchbacks, mini-wagons, crossovers, small sedans?
I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see Ford making any specialty Thunderbirds like ours in the future, so I'd rather see the name RIP.
Although they were full lines, not specialty models, these great names all died: Mercury, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, DeSoto, Packard, Nash, Studebaker, etc.
A company cannot produce something that doesn't sell. There's way too much competition out there now.
Just look at where Hyundai and Kia were a few short years ago, and where they are now.
Now, maybe if the Chinese market took a liking to the Thunderbird, Ford might change it's mind.

A Thunderbird hybrids wouldn't be a bad idea. Ford is slow getting behind the idea of something other then gas fueling its cars. Ford is just now coming out with a v6 turbo for its f-150. That will get better mpg and same horsepower. In other topics posted on this site many people even comment how the younger generations are looking for small fuel efficient engines. Why not build a personal luxury hybrid. There is a market for those cars. The others you listed not so much(hatchbacks, mini-wagons, crossovers, small sedans) As long as the idea behind the car stays the same i would be find with a smaller engine. Personal luxury of either a 2 or 4 seater with the same goal of a thunderbird. I think it was more Ford lack on advertising then anything. Look at the way they sale a lot of their trucks or cars. Competition would really be the Audi TT, BMW Z4 or Mercedes SLK. All of them are foreign companies. The Chrysler 200, lincoln MKZ, and Cadillac are really the closest the competition the t-bird would have in American made market. Only the Chrysler 200 comes in a convertible.

[jerrym3]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

The Thunderbird name has been all over the block.

From personal 2 seater luxury to 4 seater family to semi luxury to less expensive Lincoln Marks to Fairmont look-a-likes to the 80's Turbos to the mid 90s BMW wannabes to the latest retros.

Hybrids? Please, no.

When it's over, it's over.

As a younger TBird fan, I give you due credit. Unfortunately, there just ain't enough of you.

[Larro]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

I turned 65 this year so I guess that puts me in one of the majority categories. When I was in the seventh grade my uncle had a first-gen T-Bird and I thought it was very cool. When I was 15 and almost old enough to drive legally I lusted after the "Bullet Birds" at my local Ford showroom. As a teenager working in a gas station in southern California I saw all kinds of cool cars and still loved the T-Birds. When I saw "Thelma & Louise" it reminded me of how beautiful the '66 convertible was. Through all the years I was never able to actually own one but when I saw the retro concept at the '99 Detroit Auto Show I was smitten with love at first sight and a determination that this would at last be "my" T-Bird series. Now that I finally have one I don't care one bit what anyone else thinks about it or whether it's a future collectible or whether it is a good investment. It just feels GREAT every time I get into that driver's seat or even walk past it in the garage. And although I've owned lots and lots of different cars in my life, some of which are considered very cool, I've never had as many positive comments about a car from friends and complete strangers alike. I LOVE THIS CAR!

[islandtime]

Re: Owners Age Poll 2011

Now that I finally have one I don't care one bit what anyone else thinks about it or whether it's a future collectible or whether it is a good investment. It just feels GREAT every time I get into that driver's seat or even walk past it in the garage. And although I've owned lots and lots of different cars in my life, some of which are considered very cool, I've never had as many positive comments about a car from friends and complete strangers alike. I LOVE THIS CAR!

And that is all that matters!