Ford's Thunderbird Gets Axed

Forbes ^ | April 22, 2003 | Jerry Flint

[sarasota]

The photo looks like it's a Chrysler product. Yeah, a "bloated" car, not at all like the original. What were the designers thinking?

[bmwcyle]

You will see the name on a another design in about 5 years from now.

[P8riot]

You will see the name on a another design in about 5 years from now.

Yeah, but according to the article it will probably be called the "Funderchicken".

[Lost Highway]

Indeed, they don't make them like they used to. Sigh...

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Do you by a Thunderbird for $40,000 or Jaguar XK for $69,975?

[longtermmemmory]

Probably the same idiots who ruined the town car for that bloated melted marshmallow exterior with the disapointment inside. Ford better get its act together or they will be in big trouble again. The only thing for is gaining a reputation for is trying to shrink the size of they cars bit by bit. BTW didn't they already make a futura. It was a boxy monstrosity.

[stevio]

With the top up, you have to bend your neck at an uncomfortable angle to get in it.

[Welsh Rabbit]

My first car was a '91 Thunderbird. My main attraction to it was that it looked good (for early to mid '90s standards). What a piece of crap though. If it wasn't one thing, it was two. Bad transmission, bad compressor, the power steering hose broke a lot, poor electrical design, alternator troubles, ect, ect. Just goes to show what happens when you don't take your father's advice...

[banjo joe]

These new managers also think that the names of Ford vehicles should start with the letter F

What a dumb-dick idea. So typical of "management".

I can tell Ford one thing: They're selling F-trucks now, but they better get their quality control under control.

[PatrioticAmerican]

$40K was WAAAAY to much for that car! If they had made them for $25K, they would have sold. I remember the original press release and the car was to be about $33K.

[longtermmemmory]

even the insides under the hood were beautiful. Now the premium price is for the plastic panels. Someone told me that the jaguar two seater is really a taurus underneath? I have no confimation but I do not doubt it.

Ford makes the marauder.
Right idea but Ford lacks Focus.

[kellynla]

When FORD flew the Vietnamese flag at their corporate headquarters upon opening a plant in Viet Nam was the day I wrote off FORD. I wrote them a letter stating that my first car was a FORD and my last car was a FORD but I would never buy another FORD as long as I live. There are still thousands of unaccounted for POW's in Viet Nam. Semper Fi

[Consort]

History of the Ford Thunderbird.

[FrankRizzo890]

What will they rename the Mustang to? Fustang?

[weave09]

My experiences with Fords have been all bad, T-Bird, Escort.
I guess the sayings hold truth:

Found On Road Dead
F--kin Owner Read Dumb

[Moleman]

I concur, Fords in general suck.

[longtermmemmory]

I had one of those too, mine had all the bells and whistles, power moon roof, super stereo, leather interior, abs, and those really great automatic seat belts. (I really liked those, who was the ford idiot who got rid of those?) Mine was a regualr workhorse, it ended with 157000 miles on it. If they were still making that style I would have bought another. I guess consistency in quality is not job 1. I don't know what my next car will be, but it will NOT be a cougar, a town car, continental or other neutered shrinked car.

[liberalnot]

buy the buy, i by fords. (/s)

beginning w letter "f's", they're called "fixits."

seriously, if ford and gm are going to stay in the auto business then they need to offer something comparable to a toyota or honda. people that own these cars won't get out of them. sound strong?--a president of ford said the same thing recently concerning toyota and honda. he said they are both better cars than the taurus.

notice the new futura is built on a mazda platform, what's that tell you? the old, solid model-t feel will be out for the euro and asian feel.

i'm at the bottom of the food chain. i own a ford ranger.

[JohnnyZ]

Do you by a Thunderbird for $40,000 or Jaguar XK for $69,975?

Ugh, neither! Buy a real car.

The recent Tbird models (not the new one) were a joke.

The recent Jags are stuck somewhere between sporty and luxury and can't make either work. I used to like Jags but I wised up and went for Volvos. Seriesly.