First time owner/poster! *long post*

[Insight]

Hello all, I'm a first time poster on this site and on Thursday I'm gonna pick up my 'Bird I just purchased. A lot of the people around me are surprised at my choice in a new vehicle, but I'm honestly as excited as a kid on Christmas.

Originally I owned an Acura TL and was really used to that car. I sold that car off in order to use the money as a down for my brother's house. In my time searching for a new car, for whatever reason I felt the temptation to start looking at Thunderbirds. I went to see a few and test drove them, and loved the way they drove.

Finally a couple weeks ago I found a good deal for myself. She's a 97 and only has 75,000 miles on her so far. I'm still in college at the moment and she's pretty much a basic 'Bird, but I plan on making some changes here and there both mechanical and aesthetic.

I look forward to working on my new car and sharing the progress with you all and I would appreciate any advice or tips. Sorry for the essay! lol

[007Cruiser]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

Welcome to TBN! Enjoy that new ride.

[snowbird]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

Welcome to the wonderful world of Thunderbird. I also own a '97 Bird and has been mostly trouble free. Now has about 90,000 Miles on the odometer. 4.6 engine. Still going strong. Enjoy the ride.

[Larro]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

Glad to have you with us!

[redbirdsal]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

Hi Jacob...or do you prefer Jake?
Wecome to TBN!

[FritsB]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

Welcome to TBN Jacob. Don't worry about the length of your post. We rather see a long post than no post

[justjon]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

Where else on the net would anyone be excited about a 97 Thunderbird? Sorry can't get much enthusiasm up myself. I think this may help prove the point about mostly older gentlemen driving retros.

[jerrym3]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

Love these mid 90's TBirds.

Trans issues are common, but these cars may become true classics in the future.

Look at your 97 dash. Ever seen a nicer layout?

[007Cruiser]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

Look at your 97 dash. Ever seen a nicer layout?

[Insight]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

Thank guys and yes I really like the dash setup. It has a personal luxury coupe feel to it.

Tranny issues do scare me because I don't know much about fixing them. Eventually I want to pull out the 4.6 and drop a 5.0 with an upgraded trans.

[Lindy]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

Welcome Jacob, enjoy!

Gene, thanks for posting the picture of the dash lay-out of the 1997 (like Jacob's), there is almost a hint of continuity of design evident from the 1997 to the 2002. Albeit for the most part I think that Ford to a quantum leap forward in design and quality for the 2002-05 T-Birds.

Lindy

[jerrym3]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

The mid 90's TBirds have a lot more dash wrap/around than the 2002/5's.

Also, one of the few cars that looks better with a decklid spoiler.

[Insight]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

*UPDATE*

Picked her up Thursday afternoon. Gonna take some pics tomorrow and post them up.

[Rondor]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

The 90's birds are too close to the Mustang for me

[jerrym3]

Re: First time owner/poster! *long post*

The 90's birds are too close to the Mustang for me

With all due respect, could not disagree more.

While they may share some mechanicals (as many Fords do), they are two completely different vehicles. Styling is not even close, and, a normal sized human could actually sit in the back seat of my TBird.

Again, except for mechanical parts, I don't know of anything that's interchangeable, body or chassis. (I don't know if they shared transmissions, but based on two trans rebuilds on my TBird, I wish they had.)

My daughter bought a new 99 Mustang/Pony package. No comparison to my 94 TBird. (She now has a 2008 Mustang convertible.)

As for ride quality, the IRS TBird was head/shoulders above the Mustang.

Downside, that little Mustang, even with a V6, was pretty quick. The 2008 V6 feels even quicker.