The 2002 Thunderbird is Suh-weeet!!

[Tretiak]

Wo, I really like the look of the new Thunderbird. However, at $40,000 (if you can get it for that) is a little much, even if I had the money.

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2002/ford...l?id=lin0001g#

[Ellen Cherry]

The link doesn't work.

I'll have to see it to believe it. I've thought Thunderbirds have been pathetic for years.

[Tretiak]

Hmm, try this one...

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2002/ford...5a/prices.html

[My Darn Snake Legs]

Originally posted by Ellen
I'll have to see it to believe it. I've thought Thunderbirds have been pathetic for years.

You take that back! The Thunderbird is a work of art! Well, most of the time. (The '80s weren't kind to it, but then even the Ferraris from the '80s weren't all that cool.)

The new T-bird is beautiful. They took the classic look and feel of the car and gave it a new spin. Like an engine that will take out a 'vette. The only close competition it has is from my '95 version.
<Homer>
mmm...independant suspension...4.6L V8...
</Homer>

that's all...
--==the sax man==--

[Ellen Cherry]

I'm not from Missouri, but you'll still have to show me. Link still won't work.

And SaxMan, maybe the 80s Thunderbirds are still too painfully fresh in my memory. But I haven't seen a car lately that's made me go WOW! and have it turn out to be a T-bird.

::Arms folded across chest, waiting to be wow'd.::

[Ellen Cherry]

OK I got enegetic and searched the site and now see the wonderous machine. Purty cool. Ooo but that '57 model HUBBA HUBBA.

You know, I'd love to have one of those old Metropolitans. Who made them? They should have "Darling" stamped in the dashboard.

[August West]

Couldn't agree more. The owner of the local Ford dealership has been driving one around town for about 2 weeks. Everytime I see it I have to clean a puddle of drool out of my car.

[Zappo]

Originally posted by Ellen
OK I got enegetic and searched the site and now see the wonderous machine. Purty cool. Ooo but that '57 model HUBBA HUBBA.

You know, I'd love to have one of those old Metropolitans. Who made them? They should have "Darling" stamped in the dashboard.

Ellen, when you see a new T-Bird in the metal you'll be wowed. Trust me on this one. I have to agree with you about the '80s Birds, though. They don't do much for me but I wouldn't kick an '83 elan Edition or an '84 FILA package T-Bird out of my garage. And before I die I want a late '60s T-Bird Town Landau sedan. When I first saw photos of the new 'Boid I was sort of underwhelmed too. But at the Philadelphia Auto Show in February Ford had a red one with the deluxe interior on display and it was a knockout. My friend and I were bewtiched.

I'll take mine in aqua with a black deluxe interior with aqua accents, please.

As for the Metropolitan, they were manufactured by Austin of England for Nash Motors. When Nash and Hudson merged to form American Motors in 1955, Mets were available as Nashes and Hudsons (identical except for badges) from 1955-57. When AMC discontinued the Nash and Hudson lines for 1958, the cars were marketed as Rambler Metropolitans until the line's demise at the end of the 1961 or '62 model year.

You're right, Mets are cute, but every time I see one I expect to see a dozen clowns jumping out. However, one of these days I'm going to affix lifeboat davits to the trunk of my '66 Fleetwood and hang a Met back there for emergencies.

Stay crisp,

Zappo
Who knows too damn much about cars for his own good

[BunnyGirl]

My sister had a Thunderbird. POS. But, dawg, could that thing HAUL A**. Big ol' V-8. Worthless, but fast and powerful, POS.

I like the new ones. Check out this link.

[bernse]

I like the new ones very much. A damn sharp car.

I would still like a Mid-90s T-Bird or Cougar Supercoupe with a 5spd as my "cruiser" car as well, though.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Originally posted by Ellen
You know, I'd love to have one of those old Metropolitans. Who made them? They should have "Darling" stamped in the dashboard.

You mean the Nash Metropolitan? Dunno if I'd want a ride in that Pro Street version tho.

[WEW]

Here's another link

[racinchikki]

The new T-bird's pretty nice. But I want a Nash Metropolitan! Or a Hudson Hornet.

[Cerowyn]

Personally, I'd rather have the Jaguar S-type (or even the Lincoln LS), which is the same platform as the Thunderbird, but not de-tuned. The T-Bird's engine makes a respectable 252 hp, but the car has mediocre performance (3800+ lbs contribute to that).

I gotta hand it to Ford on the styling, though. It seems they've picked up the baton that Chrysler was carrying for innovative design from an American car company.

[Ellen Cherry]

Oooo they're so cute! Thanks for the links. I can see me standing pertly beside this lil baby: My Metro

[Coldfire]

It's... OK. Hell, it's a WHOLE lot better than any other T-Bird from the past 20 years, that's for sure (Saxman, a '95? You're joking, right?). It's just that all this retro crap is starting to get on my nerves. The New Beetle, the PT Cruiser (although I still LIKE its styling a lot, the trend is getting on my nerves), the T-Bird, the Audi TT (to an extent).

Top Gear tested it this week, and thought it was very nice, except for the cheap built quality of the interior.

[Zappo]

Originally posted by racinchikki
The new T-bird's pretty nice. But I want a Nash Metropolitan! Or a Hudson Hornet.

A Hudson Hornet?

Marry me. Please. Instead of a ring I'll get you a '53 Hornet Hollywood with Twin H-Power. How about it?

Zappo
Who can't smoke for all the gasoline in his blood

[Rocketeer]

Two things: One, Hudson Hornets are cool. Big big six-cylinder engine; low, sleek bodywork. Definitely cool.

Two, why the heck did it take Ford so long to bring the new T-Bird out? Seems like we've been seeing the show-car prototype for ages now, and it's finally entering production. If this is the best Ford can do, nimbleness-wise, they're in trouble. Didn't take Chrysler nearly as long to get the PT Cruiser on the market. (Of course, Chrysler isn't perfect; they missed the boat by not accurately predicting the demand, so that they still aren't building enough of them....)

Three, I've read a review or two saying that Ford missed the mark, that the new T-Bird isn't sporty; it's just a barge with a pretty face; soft handling and lazy acceleration. I think they should move some of that Jaguar DNA the other direction: Instead of making Jags more like Fords, they ought to be making Fords more like Jags.....

[Tapioca Dextrin]

$40,000 for Thunderbird. The local Quickie Mart sells it for like a buck a bottle

[Arden Ranger]

Oh, wow! Those are way sweet!