Thunderbird Values-

[Ediron]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

We have to face a fact the retro birds are like as in an other post a $2.00 bill. There out there ,original but a lot of the younger set don't remember them or the baby bird for that matter. When they see them "wow cool car" but practical for a young family ? Most T-Birders are as I've seen past the growing stage incluing myself. Today there are many performance family sedans .

[MidLifeBird]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

All mass produced cars drop in value, regardless of the name on the fender. Corvettes, Mustangs, T-birds, muscle cars, foreign, and domestic all go down in value for a while, but then the collectible and desirable ones go back up. If you buy a 'new' car as an investment you better be in it for the looong haul. Regardless of how hot or rare they are at first, in a year or two another hot, rare car comes along and your's will cool off. How many ten or fifteen year old cars are bringing big money on Barrett-Jackson? Almost none that I see. When cars hit thirty, or more usually forty, years old they start bringing more money than when they were new. If you've got your Retro-bird on blocks under a cover hoping for a big return you better have good genes and plan on living to about 110 years old. An antique dealer once told me that two things make antiques worth big money. One is rarity and the other is if the item was an expensive, high quality item when new. T-birds were expensive, considered a luxury, and relatively rare; so I have no doubt they will be very desirable in the future. (They're desirable now, just not worth $50,000 - yet.)
As for values now, it's hit or miss. There aren't a lot of people looking to spend a chunk of money on an impractical used car right now, but there may be a lot of owners in financial stress who would like to unload one. That's a bad combination for current owners, however, if you've got the right color and milage and bump into the right buyer, anything is possible. I actually paid less for a 17,700 mile '03 in '09 than I paid for a 29,000 mile '02 in '04. What does that mean? Hell, if I know. Good luck if you're trying to sell one right now.
By the way, this thread started in Sept, 2008. We'll probably still be having the discussion in ten more years.

[justjon]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

For whatever this means .. As a once owner of a Cadillac Allante, I keep up with the Allante values. They are truely dismal. 93's, considered the best year, are selling for $6000 to $12,000, these are clean low milage fanatic owned cars. Who's buying what's out there? Mostly no one, but a few previous or multiple old fart owners (like us). The highest priced one I found had 340miles on it and was for sale for $25,000. remember these cars sold for $65,000 in 1993.
Oh the 89's, the first year like our 02's, almost scrap value, a few, very few Thousand dollars. My advice, just drive em. The survivors will be even more valuable in 50 years. By then no gasoline will be available.

[bronzebird]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

Merlot Blue (Steve) makes some excellent points about potential buyers interested in our cars that are now five to eight years old. In that time frame, there are lots of newer offerings that have performance, comfort and styling that is more in tune with the times. My wife's 2010 Toyota Venza (no, it hasn't been recalled), has more horsepower and torque than my T-bird and is over a full second faster 0-60 and is more comfortable on the highway.

New Mustang, Camaro and Dodge offerings have gobs more power and lots more goodies than the T-Bird offerings of '02-05.

I am not dismayed by all this. I paid $29,000 for my Bird in '07 as a one owner car and if I had to sell it today (thankfully, I don't) I'd be happy to take $18-19,000 for it. The original owner paid $39,800 for it so that is a little over $20,000 depreciation.

I've always liked the Cadillac XLR. There is a 2006 at a dealer in my town for sale right now at $25,500 with 41,000 miles and I bet I could get it for a couple of grand less. This is a car that sold for over seventy grand when new. That is bigger negative number percentage-wise than the Birds. If I could trade my T-Bird even for the XLR I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Bronzebird

[Swalker]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

Was offered 13,500 on trade for our 03 with 54k miles :(

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

Was offered 13,500 on trade for our 03 with 54k miles :(

It's a tough economy now vs just a couple of years ago.

Selling a used car of any type is one of the easiest to see casualties of the whole supply/demand equation.

The T-Bird is in no way what-so-ever immune to what is going on.

Like many others here we picked up our '02 and '04, both, used.

In '06 and '07.

At the time considered the deal on each a good one.

Looking back I really felt I was doing OK on the '02 and I thought I was STEALING the sub 20,000 mile '04.

Now the price I paid seems merely "fair".
The difference was the economy in general.

ALL used cars were in higher demand at the time. Personal luxury was a segment with plenty of it's share of that demand.

I really doubt that today in a period of double digit unemployment anyone can honestly say they expect big demand for a car that really is pretty impractical vs the bread and butter cars capable of carrying more than two people and a bagged lunch in the trunk.

Most of us call our T-Birds an "extra" car........a toy for sunny days and week-end cruising.

Not exactly the description of a car for "hard times".


Soooooooo..........while I'd love to have gotten today's pricing.......I didn't but I'm not spending anytime fretting over it.

It is what it is.......I still like our T-Birds and I'm thankful we aren't experiencing the pain so many people are today that might require me to actually have to sell 'em in this market.

Seems that DRIVING them will be the best way to realize "value" now......


Gee, what tough break........I'm all broke up over it!

[JoelK]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

Any car you plan on driving and enjoying should never be thought of as an investment. That simply is counter productive to appreciation. Either drive and enjoy it or store it and never use it. If you leave it alone for thirty-forty years you will most likely have appreciated value. Cars do not appreciate values in the short term. I love my T-bird and drive it all sumer. The appeal of the car does not seem to be limited to a particular age group or demographic. The cool factor... Love it or don't buy one....

[vsardine]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

Some more real numbers. My 05 MSB was totaled in Oct. with 12700 on the clock. Lib Mut gave me 27300. I found one with 3400 on it. The owner was asking 32900 and accepted 27600. Still had to pay a grand to ship it, but I have an extra roof and maybe can recoup the transport. I am in NYC, the other car was in Detroit.
Thats the second problem. Location, location, location. I think living in a larger market affects the value of somewhat of a specialty car. The way it affects real estate. As I was looking for my replacement, part my criteria was how easy it was to get to see the vehicle. 2 hrs. nonstop wasn't a problem.
Just my 2 sense!

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

Well, my MSG 03 Thunderbird is paid for so it's not going anywhere. I briefly considered selling my 05 Inca Gold Thunderbird. But I've decided against it. I'm surviving on temp work and still have some money in the bank so I'll just keep it. I have no plans to buy any car in the foreseeable future. When my daily driver 04 Volkswagen Passat wears out, I'll just put one or both of the T-Birds into daily service. I bought them so I might as well use and enjoy them.

[Peterfurlan]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

Purchased my 2002 with 22,000 miles in July of 2009 for $22,900. I was just killing time
looking at cars at a Chevy dealership and the car really caught my eye. No way I was
going to buy this car,salesman comes out,take it for a ride,okay if you insist. That was it
I loved it this was no sports car nice soft ride very comfortable as someone before said
old farts car, which I am. My wife and I go for a ride top down feel like a couple of kids.
As far as the resale value my children will have to worry about that. So anyone out there who is using this car as their primary ride and want to sell find an old fart like me.

[jerrym3]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

Local Ford dealer (All American Ford/Paramus, NJ) still has a silver TBird on his lot for quite a while.

Big SALE sign on the windshield.

[snowbird]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

A really nice 2003 , low mileage Sp. Ed. 007 on ebay at the moment with 2 1/2 days to go and already at $25,500 +. Seems to be getting a lot of attention and one to watch.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...fCarsQ5fTrucks

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

A really nice 2003 , low mileage Sp. Ed. 007 on ebay at the moment with 2 1/2 days to go and already at $25,500 +. Seems to be getting a lot of attention and one to watch.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...fCarsQ5fTrucks

I don't where you got $25,500. It's only at $24,599 now.....but the reserve is not met. With only 1,400 miles on it, I'm sure the owner is looking for something closer to $30,000. Good luck in this economy. People just aren't buying many toys anymore.

[Leroy]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

Here's a 04 Merlot in Reading,PA. with hard top and sand interior, and only 190 miles on it. Bid up to 17K with 5 days to go. Item #290403122007. Make a nice car for someone. Leroy

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[rodeknyt]

Re: Thunderbird Values-

what is the purpose of Kelley Blue Book and NADA pricing?

The only part of the Blue Book that is relevant to a dealer is the RETAIL price he can charge to the next buyer.