Interesting Price Info

[MidLifeBird]

Since my Dad retired a few years ago he has been picking up and dropping off cars for one of the dealerships in town. He just called me to say he was driving a black '02 T-bird with a solid black interior and black hardtop. The mileage is 45,000. The car was bought over the internet from North Carolina, not at a wholesale auction. The price was $14,200. I'm sure the dealer will put a significant markup on the car, but it was available to anybody at that price.

[Vegas Retrobird]

Re: Interesting Price Info

And the prices continue to fall...

[Sealy]

Re: Interesting Price Info

Since my Dad retired a few years ago he has been picking up and dropping off cars for one of the dealerships in town. He just called me to say he was driving a black '02 T-bird with a solid black interior and black hardtop. The mileage is 45,000. The car was bought over the internet from North Carolina, not at a wholesale auction. The price was $14,200. I'm sure the dealer will put a significant markup on the car, but it was available to anybody at that price.

What's yer point?

[FUN X 3]

Re: Interesting Price Info

I think he's trying to say black is beautiful...

[Peterfurlan]

Re: Interesting Price Info

And the prices continue to fall...

Actually a high price for a dealer to pay.

[Leroy]

Re: Interesting Price Info

I would say that's a reasonable price for an 02 with that many miles and who knows what else could be wrong with it. Show me the Car-Fax. Leroy

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[EllisonCal]

Re: Interesting Price Info

As with most used cars, they tend to decline for the first 7-8 years and then level off, or increase due to the inflation effect on new car prices.

The 55-57 Thunderbird classics were not very expensive between 1960-1965 either.

And they had the help of not being a discontinued model.

Cal

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Interesting Price Info

Actually a high price for a dealer to pay.

I AGREE, DEALERS NORMALLY ARE IN BIRDS LOWER THAN ANYONE.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Interesting Price Info

And the prices continue to fall...

HOW LONG CAN YOU WAIT?

[Lindy]

Re: Interesting Price Info

IMHO, our new 2002-05 Thunderbirds are a special and relatively rare, piece of Americana. Many (including myself) perceive them as a bonifide proxy for the 1955-57 Thunderbirds. A very low mileage example might fetch north of thirty grand, about the same price of a good "baby-bird." True, those classic birds, if excellently restored, are commanding double that amount. There are those of us that pamper & treat their '02-05 T-Birds like the true proxy which they indeed are. However, paradoxically, there likely are equally as many owners who value and care for them as they would any mundane car. Such folk simply do not recognize their treasure and therefore sell them at a discount. If you want to compare apples with oranges ; you all, might recall the 1978 Silver Anniversary Corvette Indy Pace Car which many bought above sticker price and squirreled away. It's taken 32 years for an almost no mileage speciman to command 40 grand. Gee, I can't quite think of an apples to apples comparison. The new VW Bug? I don't think so, they made too many in ten or so years...I'll stick with Thunderbird...Fun, fun, fun!

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Interesting Price Info

IMHO, our new 2002-05 Thunderbirds are a special and relatively rare, piece of Americana. Many (including myself) perceive them as a bonifide proxy for the 1955-57 Thunderbirds. A very low mileage example might fetch north of thirty grand, about the same price of a good "baby-bird." True, those classic birds, if excellently restored, are commanding double that amount. There are those of us that pamper & treat their '02-05 T-Birds like the true proxy which they indeed are. However, paradoxically, there likely are equally as many owners who value and care for them as they would any mundane car. Such folk simply do not recognize their treasure and therefore sell them at a discount. If you want to compare apples with oranges ; you all, might recall the 1978 Silver Anniversary Corvette Indy Pace Car which many bought above sticker price and squirreled away. It's taken 32 years for an almost no mileage speciman to command 40 grand. Gee, I can't quite think of an apples to apples comparison. The new VW Bug? I don't think so, they made too many in ten or so years...I'll stick with Thunderbird...Fun, fun, fun!

I AGREE, THE GOOD, WELL TAKEN CARE OF, LOW MILEAGE ONES HAVE STOPPED COMING DOWN.

[EllisonCal]

Re: Interesting Price Info

Yeah, but in order to have a low mileage Thunderbird I would have had to drive my other car a 2002 Avalon (boring...). So, I figure I'll drive the wheels off of "Annie" and if I still have it at the time of my demise, my kids can either sell it, restore it, or enjoy it.

If I wear it out I'll just look for another low mileage '05 and keep on truckin'.

IMHO
Cal

[Ediron]

Re: Interesting Price Info

Cal, my exact feelings.I be long gone before it becomes an American Classic.

[Chuck]

Re: Interesting Price Info

My thought is that you'll see these cars going for south of $5,000 over the next 5 or so years

[Sealy]

Re: Interesting Price Info

People who bought these cars as an investment are learning the fickle nature of objects d' art as money makers.

We are, or should be, the second wave of purchasers - the ones that buy the cars because we like the way they look, appreciate their uniquness, and enjoy the company of like minded people. We're taking advantage of the investors that are unloading, which is OK by me. They shouldn't have bought in the first place. For our ownership - if, at any point, money comes into the equasion - you are in the wrong hobby.

My Bird is parked outside (under cover), gets washed and cleaned as needed, gets driven when I want to (with the top up or down (mostly)), goes to car shows (and Home Depot), and is, generally, some of the best money I've spent. I think that's enough to ask of it. (That and being Merlot and LS.)