Are we typical retro owners ?

[EllisonCal]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

Rondor, this was a great idea for a thread, I'm lovin' these stories.

[AZTB]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

...My wife bought our 04 in 04 because she thought it would give me a reason to live after cancer surgery.....and I lived and we still have the car. It is kind of talisman with 120K miles on it.....still looks beautiful and runs like a charm.

Glad you've come out on the other side of your surgery with hope, by way of the love of your wife and the joy of your '04!

[StevenM]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

Ned, that is a great reason to own a Tbird. Congratulations and many more miles ahead of you!

[DaiUyTed]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

When they first came out, we bought a PT Cruiser for our grocery & dogs hauler, because they were the right size and mildly interesting. We would occasionally get cards under the wipers soliciting us to join PT Cruiser clubs. We thought, "meh", just like the non-enthusiastic Tbird drivers mentioned above. Different strokes...
p.s. I even monkeyed with the grill on that one, too.

[ISSYRO]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

My car of retirement was going to be a Mercedes Benz SL, it was to be my toy and not my daily driver as I have other cars for that task. One day I was looking through some car ads and I noticed this white Thunderbird and it hit me. I got off the ad but something kept me going back to it over a few days, I just could not get it out of my mind. So, I said this was the one, forgot about my MB and went and purchased it. I figured if I did not like it I could always turn it around and sell it. I then found this forum and the fun factor got even greater. Today when I got home I read this thread and it got me so excited I jumped into the Tbird and volunteered to go grocery shopping just so I could take it out for a drive. It is so much fun, and it is just not another car but something that I am proud to own and to show to others. If this one starts hitting the skids, I will do all in my power to keep it going. It has become a duty to take care of it.

[Gobird]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

Don't think I'm a typical owner. I ordered mine in 2001 and waited 13 months for it to arrive at my dealer that was selling them for sticker price. We now have 118,000 miles on Misty Blue and plan on adding another 100,000 miles whatever the cost may be in the future.

Yes, I could buy a lower mileage 02 then what I have but it wouldn't be the same car. I know what I have with this Bird and it's not about the $$$, it's about where we have traveled in this car and the friends we have made over the past 14+ years.

For us it's not just a car, it's a part of our life.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

Well, I really enjoy the Thunderbirds, but I guess I am not typical.

[007Cruiser]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

Well, I really enjoy the Thunderbirds, but I guess I am not typical.

You think?

[Alamobird]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

I would guess that most original and subsequent Retro owners were attracted to the vehicle because they had fond memories of the 55 - 57 two seaters. This was certainly true in my case. I was too young, and my family was too practical and not wealthy enough to buy one.

So now I'm living the childhood dream, as I would guess most "Nesters" are as well. We are the ones who will keep the dream alive. Time will take its toll on the Birds owned merely as vehicles. Unfortunately, time will also take its toll on people who remember 55-57. I'm not sure the Retro's had the same impact on the young that the original Birds had on us.

I wonder if state Motor Vehicle Departments would be able to produce information about the number of Retro's still registered in each state. It would be interesting to see how many are still on the road.

[Sandy J]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

I think ONE THING that is not helping is the POST and Articles You SEE ON OBTAINING OF REPLACEMENT ELECTRONIC MODULES AND ETC> Tends to make one think He should possibly sale rather than go through all the misery ????? So far I have been fortunate but who knows WHAT'S LURKING !!! LOL
Just bought a new BMW 435i and its very close to size of TBird ; like it very much and performance is awesome ; and 33 mpg on the highway !

[Sandy J]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

Bob ;

YOUR REASON and THINKING was IDENTICAL to MINE > My high school year a Friend parents bought Him a BRAND NEW BLACK 56 TBIRD > Man how I admired that car . No way could I being from parents who could never afford or myself . I made myself a promise that one day I would have one . Well many years later I found myself financially able to afford . And decided to get the car of my Dream .. But on shopping I discovered it was NOT AS EASY TO ENTER AND EXIT as I could in those early days being I had rounded out to a 200 pounder !!!!!! LOL So that idea was put on hold .. Until several years later I thought about and saw my 2005 Cashmere .. MUCH MUCH DIFFERENT IN THOSE RESPECT ! LOL .. Not my daily driver but love the car !

[Rondor]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

[QUOTE=ISSYRO;629616]My car of retirement was going to be a Mercedes Benz SL, it was to be my toy and not my daily driver as I have other cars for that task.
When the retro came out and was marked up over sticker once again I couldn't afford that much for a 2 seater. De Ja VU all over again. Then I found 560 S L Mercedes with 68 K miles, for $10,000. It was pristine with all the records. That was the biggest disappointment of any car I ever owned. That was in'07 and in '09 I traded even for my PCR. You haven't lived to you hang on a website with some Benz people. I did get a heck of a deal on the SL tho' which ultimately got me a deal on the T Bird.

" don't tell anybody, but the Benz is an over-rated piece of crap."

[phil]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

I agree, I am driving and make an effort to pull up next to a retro T Bird and the owner does not even look at me or my car. I don't see any interest any more that when I drive my Ford Escape. When I have my car at the beach people always come by and point at it or at least look at it, but zero from other T Birders.

[11TH GEN]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

I agree, I am driving and make an effort to pull up next to a retro T Bird and the owner does not even look at me or my car. I don't see any interest any more that when I drive my Ford Escape. When I have my car at the beach people always come by and point at it or at least look at it, but zero from other T Birders.

LOL, you think any of them are intentionally doing it to screw with you? Hmmm.

[Brad]

Re: Are we typical retro owners ?

LOL, you think any of them are intentionally doing it to screw with you? Hmmm.

When I pull up next to another retro bird at a stop light I say "Nice Car". 9/10 times they look annoyed and say "thanks" without realizing right away that I'm driving one too.