New sound system

[Welker]

Opinion question: I replaced the cd in the 04 some time ago when I bought one from a nestor. I works ok but with the typical burst of sound sometimes which makes the use of the nobs tricky, the steering wheel controls being the better option. I priced out a new system which combines all that is new including a rear view camera and a navigation system for about $800. It would mean an all new look to the dashboard. Also, adding an $800 dollar feature to an old car with 120k miles seems foolish since the old lady is now more a garage queen than anything else. Think I should do it?

[Howlandd]

Re: New sound system

Put a few more dollars in to some preventative maintenance and $800 in to the new sound system and get her out of the garage!! The more a car sits the more often it will let you down.

[Blkhwk]

Re: New sound system

I've been looking myself at a replacement, but I don't need all that "stuff". I'm hoping to find the "basic" features with gps and a touch screen for controls, thinking I can get into a used one or older model for a few hundred dollars.

No matter what I'm doing to the car, I don't agonize over how much I'm investing into a car that is depreciating each year (although I think it's going to "stabilize" where it is now and remain there for a while). I focus more on the value and desirability of what I'm adding.

By doing my own repairs and service, it cuts down drastically on the cost of ownership and enhances the fun and satisfaction of ownership. It has also enhanced my appreciation of the vehicle. These 'Birds are really nice, well thought out, well engineered and well built cars.

[Rondor]

Re: New sound system

. These 'Birds are really nice, well thought out, well engineered and well built cars.

Not sure I totally agree with that considering the price when new, But they are still an amazing car for what they were intended to be.

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: New sound system

These 'Birds are really nice, well thought out, well engineered and well built cars.

I like my Thunderbirds but wouldn't go as "ga ga" as you. Nothing of great significance, but I have a fuel gauage light that comes on way to early on my 2003 that Ford never really resolved. I also had rubber problems with the brake boot and the shift console rubber too. Nothing of great significance, but enough to be irritating. The Fords and Lincolns I've owned have generally been good vehicles; not exceptional.

[Rondor]

Re: New sound system

I retired from a Co. with a huge fleet of cars and trucks. Beginning with the computer age they kept meticulous records on every vehicle.The cost of operation and ownership in over 90% of fleet was lowest for Ford products.Various divisions, managers and even individual employees had a strong input into what we drove. Again Ford won hands down. Chevy a distant second.

[Blkhwk]

Re: New sound system

I'm pretty "ga-ga" anyway, so maybe it's just me, but I've owned many cars (SL's, Ferrari California 250 and a GTS 365, Porsche, Cadillacs, Corvettes, etc) and I don't remember being any more please with any of them than I am with the TBird.
I think some of that has to do with the fact that I have time to "tinker" with it, which puts me in a position to see what went into the cars planning, design engineering and execution.

For a "production" vehicle I think it's really well done.

Also, I saw Edmunds customer reviews, it ranks way up there with it's owners. I find on the forums a lot of ink is spent on "problems". Rarely do people post "another day of owning a TBird, driving around with the wind in my hair, having a great time, and noticing "no problems".
I see the same thing on the Indian forum.......I find the new Indian to be a great motorcycle, but on the forum most of the posts are about problems with the bike or the dealer but after owning 2 Indians and 10 Victory's prior to that, I never had a warranty claim or dealer problem. I'm sure they occur because I read about them on the forums, but, their customer satisfaction levels run well over 90%, highest in the industry.

So my ga-ganess, is not without merit.

In fact after responding to this thread, I'm feeling even more ga-ga.

[Howlandd]

Re: New sound system

My father was a mechanic always just said the cheapest car to drive is the one you already own. I have a son who is fully ASE certified and he says buy any car you want. He'll have to work on it regardless of which make it is. I say buy and drive whatever makes you happy. As for my TBird. I love it, enjoy it and bought it to drive, which I do every chance I get rain or shine.

[007Cruiser]

Re: New sound system

Did you ever see a car brand without a service department?

[RetroGeorge]

Re: New sound system

Did you ever see a car brand without a service department?

A Yugo. Built to last.

[EllisonCal]

Re: New sound system

I like my Thunderbirds but wouldn't go as "ga ga" as you. Nothing of great significance, but I have a fuel gauage light that comes on way to early on my 2003 that Ford never really resolved. I also had rubber problems with the brake boot and the shift console rubber too. Nothing of great significance, but enough to be irritating. The Fords and Lincolns I've owned have generally been good vehicles; not exceptional.

Better that the gauge comes on early rather than too late. I had a 2000 Taurus and the gas gauge quit altogether. After finding out that it was part of the fuel pump and the gas tank would have to be removed to replace it and I was looking at over $500 minimum. I found an alternate way to avoid running out of gas. I set the trip meter to Zero when I filled the tank and then refilled it every 200 miles.