Convertible top question

[noz34me]

Re: Convertible top question

There should also be the cover for the hardtop when it is on the stand and you will find out soon enough if the tool for the front screws is missing. Check for the wheel nut socket too.

If you are referring to the t-handle tool, it was in the glove box. Did not see a cover for the hard top though. That would be nice, if I buy the car, because I don't plan on having the hard top on much, if at all.

[noz34me]

Re: Convertible top question

There should also be the cover for the hardtop when it is on the stand and you will find out soon enough if the tool for the front screws is missing. Check for the wheel nut socket too.

If you are referring to the t-handle tool, it was in the glove box. Did not see a cover for the hard top though. That would be nice, if I buy the car, because I don't plan on having the hard top on much, if at all.

[FritsB]

Re: Convertible top question

That's a negative. Get the old guy out of the car before you do anything.....

You made my day Dough

[FritsB]

Re: Convertible top question

Thanks for the answers and ideas- - we'll see how it goes.

What kind of color is the car you are trying to buy?

[noz34me]

Re: Convertible top question

What kind of color is the car you are trying to buy?

It's a really light gold/metallic beige color.

[blue731]

Re: Convertible top question

I bought an '04 last year at a dealership. Just before going to sign the papers, I told them I need to have the hardtop removed and convertible top raised. They were very accommodating. The salesman and the manager came out and removed it, raised and latched the top, lowered it back and reinstalled the hard top. It was an instructional experience, because they had a bit of trouble getting the locking cams back in the right place, but quickly figured it out. So, I got a tip on that.

[bronzebird]

Re: Convertible top question

It's a really light gold/metallic beige color.

Tom:
It is called Bronze.
Bronzebird

[noz34me]

Re: Convertible top question

Tom:
It is called Bronze.
Bronzebird

What color is the soft top? I got a call from them the other day; one time they said it was black with tan on the inside, then they said they thought it was tan with black on the inside.

This is a Ford dealership, by the way.

[My Raven]

Re: Convertible top question

Tom, DEFINITELY have them remove the top.

When I looked for my first T-Bird back in 2003 there was an 02 for sale at Leith Ford. I looked at it several times, they let me keep it one weekend, and so I had my buddy who is a Ford service advisor for a neighboring dealership drive over with me for a look. The minute he walked up to the car he told me it had been egged and showed me where the shell had speckled the paint when it hit the body. The salesman went and got the sales manager who became nasty and indignant when he heard Rick’s comments.

Rick gave me a no go look so I knew I wouldn’t buy this one but I suggested just for the sake of being there we take the hardtop off. We got the hardtop on the stand and I began to push the button for the soft top to come up. As I did I heard all this speckling and cracking.

Leith had accepted the car on trade without taking the hardtop off. The car had been egged and the yoke and all had seeped into the soft top bay. When I rose the top all the dried egg shells started to pop off and it was one big mess and it stunk to high heaven.

Needless to say I passed on this one.

We could never figure out if the owner pulled a fast one on Leith after it was egged by lowering the soft top, leaving the egg and shells on the soft top, placed the hard top on and then quickly took it and traded it or if the egg and shell had some how eased under the hard top into the soft top storage area where it had dried on the soft top. I suspect the former.

I remember when we left I put the window down on Rick’s Expedition and I heard the sales manager scream “Somebody get that g** d**n thing washed and cleaned up.

The salesman called me about a week later and asked would I be interested if they had the top professionally cleaned and the car repainted? LOL.

[007Cruiser]

Re: Convertible top question

Looking at an '05 with the hardtop. It was owned by an elderly guy that passed away.

The soft top has never been used; hard top never removed. Do you folks consider that a positive or a negative? Dealership said if I was really "serious" they would get a couple big guys to take the top off so I could see the soft top go up and down.

I'm concerned that the top being stored for 4+ years it may have some problems.

Doesn't sound like a very good dealer. I'd probably take my $$$ somewhere else.

[Welker]

Re: Convertible top question

I also think it would be instructional to have the top taken off and put back on. It really does take two people to do it(or one with a block and tackle which you should buy asap for your own garage). The first time the people at my dealership took my top off(the car was new), they didn't have a clue how the T tool worked or how the latches under the portholes worked. Watching them learn was a good learning experience for me.

[McInroy]

Re: Convertible top question

I'm an elderly guy who hasn't passed away (yet) and I, for the first time, removed the hardtop from my 04 Pacific Coast Roadster which I bought new. I have some issues but I think I'll start a new thread and tell the hole gory story.
Mac

[5bird7]

Re: Convertible top question

What color is the soft top? I got a call from them the other day; one time they said it was black with tan on the inside, then they said they thought it was tan with black on the inside.

This is a Ford dealership, by the way.

Color of the soft top on the bronze car will depend on the interior color of the car.

If it has the light sand interior, ie, the seats are light sand with matching gear shift knob and steering wheel, then the soft top would be the light sand color on the outside with a black liner. Beautiful to look at when up on the car but a bear to keep clean (cleaning instructions can be found here by searching)

If the interior is all black, then the soft top will be black.

[Meowgal]

Re: Convertible top question

Mine is black and I've never regreted passing on the other bronze on the lot with the tan top. I liked the contrast, for one, and was also concerned about the cleaning. In addition, my other car had tan leather seats and I was sick of the blue jean rub!

[snowbird]

Re: Convertible top question

Mine is black and I've never regreted passing on the other bronze on the lot with the tan top. I liked the contrast, for one, and was also concerned about the cleaning. In addition, my other car had tan leather seats and I was sick of the blue jean rub!

When driving a Bird, you can only wear "pre-washed' blue jeans. At least that is what my wife told me.
MartinB.