When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

[04birdman]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

that 04 on ebay...@24k...thats about what there goin for..i bought mine a month ago..04 prem..with all the goodies...15kmiles for 23k plus tax

[saj]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

I PLAY with my toys, by golly! And not just the 1:1 scale -- most of my die-cast birds are out of their boxes, too.

DavidA -- 16-18 months, eh? Wow, that sounds like fun. My wife still talks about how fast I got rid of my 300M when I sold it after 5 years.

[FritsB]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

[QUOTE=saj;311571]most of my die-cast birds are out of their boxes, too.QUOTE]

So are mine....welcome to the DLM (Diecast Liberation Movement)

[V8 Cat]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

I've had over 150 cars in my life, GTO's, Cougars, Cadillacs, Lincolns, many Corvettes and even a Rolls Royce. Other than a '64 Riviera that I kept for about 23 months, I have never kept a car more than 16-18 months. Our TBird is approaching 7 years. Now that's APPRECIATION. P R I C E L E S S!!!!

David,
We are really opposites. I used to trade every 18 to 24 months when I was younger and wasn't living off of retirement income, but look at me now. Have owned the Jag XK8 10 years, the Lexus SC300 13 years, and the Honda Nighthawk 700 motorcycle 23 years - all were purchased new. The Tbird will probably be owned at least 7 to 10 years. Oh I did forget the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP that I got rid of within 2 years because I hated it. I usually research the cars I buy all different ways so I don't make bad decisions I have to live with, but I screwed-up on the Grand Prix.

[sfbaypaladin]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

A few posters cited the decidedly finite availability of parts as these cars age. Are there any hard to get parts we should be hoarding at this point?

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

A few posters cited the decidedly finite availability of parts as these cars age. Are there any hard to get parts we should be hoarding at this point?

Depends on your long term plan in my opinion. I use my Thunderbirds as weekend drivers and I can seriously envision myself having these cars 20+ years as I've had a love affair with Thunderbirds since I was a kid. I've bought a few trim pieces on eBay (Thunderbirds, V8 emblems, wheel center caps) as spares for the future. But if you're using your Thunderbird for daily transportation and expect that you'll replace it in the future with another vehicle after it is 8-12 years old, then you'll probably be fine and there is probably no need to hoard parts.

[texasbird]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

I would probably recommend the trim pieces and items unique to the bird, over the parts shared by the Lincoln LS.

James

[Welker]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

The fact that there are people who will buy this car for its looks and style will keep its resale value higher than normal. As the car ages and if it is kept up, new struts, brakes, high class detailing, etc, there will be a market for it based on the desire to own one but not for the desire to collect it for appreciation. Unless the car becomes an old, abused beater I think the bottom is about $18,000 for T Bird lovers and if the car is kept up. I would think the end of depreciation is more likely than significant appreciation but someday, who knows, you may get a call from a movie studio to rent it. It happens.

[Welker]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

Don't know why my earlier reply got lost somewhere in the kronosynclasticinfindibulum of space but it did....so I'll try again. I think there will be a slowing of the depreciation as time goes by and if you keep the car in good shape(tires, brakes, transmission, struts, etc) and have it professionally detailed every couple of years, there should be some appreciation after the resale hits bottom which I think, unless the car is an abused beater, is about $18,000. The year will become less important as time goes by. The draw of the car is primarily its looks and elan which should hold up if the car does. Most of us are not holding our T Birds for appreciation and are enjoying them....but the number available will lessen as we use them. I intend to use mine, keep it going like an old 737 until it gives up the ghost like the "wonderful one hoss shay".

[Welker]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

Don't know why my earlier reply got lost somewhere in the kronosynclasticinfindibulum of space but it did....so I'll try again. I think there will be a slowing of the depreciation as time goes by and if you keep the car in good shape(tires, brakes, transmission, struts, etc) and have it professionally detailed every couple of years, there should be some appreciation after the resale hits bottom which I think, unless the car is an abused beater, is about $18,000. The year will become less important as time goes by. The draw of the car is primarily its looks and elan which should hold up if the car does. Most of us are not holding our T Birds for appreciation and are enjoying them....but the number available will lessen as we use them. I intend to use mine, keep it going like an old 737 until it gives up the ghost like the "wonderful one hoss shay".

[MerlotBlue]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

Drive and enjoy.

These cars will hold up well on resale vs other 2 seater convertibles if for no other reason because they are unique and were produced in relatively low production #s.

Really good 2nd hand models of all 4 years can be had for approximately $20,000 now and sometimes less.

Unfortunately "Blue Book values" are often pretty far off the mark. No way is your car worth $25,000 to anyone but a misinformed buyer.

Low volume production is only half the story for price stability.

The other side is desirability.

I love our two T-Birds but I'm not deluded about it.

In a world with too many car companies throwing new, more powerful and more luxurious models at us each year the likelihood that an underpowered, too heavy for most, 2 seater is really only going to appeal to anyone more those of us who really appreciate the balance between comfort, luxury, ride and style the car offers seems pretty remote.

As Ford found out, when sales fell flat after the first year, the group of buyers willing to "pony up" extra dollars here are very limited.

Still, as much as my post may sound like I'm down on these cars......I love 'em. They are comfortable and while a little weak on power they do get out of their own way and I just love the idea that I don't see one at every street light in the summer.

As a side note.......I'm not sure any car produced in the last 15-20 years by Detroit will have the kind of following and price appreciation potential of the old Muscle cars. Too complicated and expensive to keep running when older these late model cars will for the most part not be worth the effort.

Old cars, before fuel injection, computers and other very expensive to fix and replace systems, engines and transmissions can for the most part be fixed up cheaply and kept running with little more effort or knowledge necessary than it takes to keep the old Lawn Boy push mower running.

Today's cars keep even licensed professional mechanics scurrying off to in-services and classes to keep up. Hard to imagine that many will be worth the expense and effort 15-20 years on when things seem to break or go bad on a regular basis.

[NEW_BYRD]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

Drive and enjoy.

They are comfortable and while a little weak on power they do get out of their own way and I just love the idea that I don't see one at every street light in the summer.

I feel that these cars have a lot of power! It's interesting that I've heard a few people so far say that Ford could have made them "more powerful" with a better engine. Hell, when I drive a V6 I'm like "C'mon! Go go go!" Then I get in my car and it's like a rocket ship. *shrugs*

[2FAST4U]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

Some exceptions will be the GN and GNX, selected Corvettes, some specific Mustangs, and maybe limited others.

Like Dino said in post #4, I did not buy my T-Bird for appreciating value but rather for the joy of ownership and enjoyment...By the time it will become a real collectible, I'll be over 100 years old!!
I'm not a car collector but as "Lonestar" said, maybe my GN will keep increasing in value over time...
Claude

[Geodiver]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

I bought mine because I love it...it IS the classic American sports car...it is Americana at it's best, just like Triple-A ballparks, drive-in's and Fender Stratocasters...would American Graffiti been the same without the blond in the T-Bird? Whenever I drive my car I feel like I'm part of history and this is how most folks react when they see it. The car tells a story and I feel so proud to own one...enjoy it, savor it and it will never depreciate in value.

[00mustng]

Re: When are the 'birds going to start appreciating???

....I've noticed a real influx of American Spec. 'Birds making their way north...with currency exchange and the price range...and the fact not many Canadian Spec. cars where built...there is definately a market here....which may help keep a bit of value going forward....