Ford's Thunderbird Gets Axed

Forbes ^ | April 22, 2003 | Jerry Flint

[shotgun]

So you think your buying a: Licoln, Mercury, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, or Aston Martin..think again

The loss of the T-bird line won't be a complete failure. The new '05 Mustang will be based upon the T-Bird frame and components. The current stang is still utilizing the 1978 Fairlane/Zephyer frame.

This should be a big improvement to the stang.

www.ford.com

[Incorrigible]

See post #37

[Revolting cat!]

And she'll have fun fun fun
'Til her daddy takes the T-Bird away

[tomkat]

'course, no life is complete without one experience with george lucas - the prince of darkness ...

my first car - bought by me, and designed to cause maximum irritation to my old man  

[hopespringseternal]

As long as they're paying UAW wages, that ain't gonna happen.

Perhaps the heart of the problem. A lot of the canceled models would have been successes if you knocked $10-15k off the price.

[Richard Kimball]

if ford and gm are going to stay in the auto business then they need to offer something comparable to a toyota or honda

You're right, there. I hadn't owned anything but Chevy's for years, but last month I bought a Volkswagen turbo-diesel. I needed a small commuter car. I had a GM card with $800 credit on it and went to my Chevy dealership. The Cadaver, Malibu and Impala all suck. I still love the Corvette, but it's out of my range. The guy told me I could get a Monte Carlo with the racing package if I wanted something sporty (huh?). Taking a six cylinder, painting it black and putting #3 on it does not make it sporty. The turbo diesel is built better and averages 47 miles to the gallon. It's not super fast, but will go over 100 mph. That saves me over a thousand dollars a year in gas. I'd love to buy another GM, and I liked the Thunderbird, but as they say, the TBird was (maybe) a $25,000 car, and the dealers would NOT discount. The VW ran me 16K.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I've liked GM cars, mostly Chevrolets, since the 1950's, but my wife and I bought a 98 Explorer and other than the tires, its been a darned good vehicle. 93,000 miles and no major trouble.

[buccaneer81]

We bought a '93 T-Bird for my step-daughter last year. Great car. I've never been a Ford fan (I drive a Chevy), but this car is a good deal for the parents of a 17 year old.

[geege]

Now that's beautiful!!!!! Oh bring back the GTO

[longtermmemmory]

Thats what killed the original two seat thunderbird. You need a back seat for double dating and a back seat for getting a better view during drive-in movies.

[Petronski]

Ford makes the marauder.

Another wonderful car that is 30% overpriced. Oh, and there is that persistent rumor out there that the Marauder too has been earmarked for cancellation.

I don't understand what is wrong with the 'braintrust' over at Ford: their advertising sucks, they keep shrinking their cars, and every time they come up with a winning model, they price themselves out of the market. Sad really, except for the fact that GM is just as dumb and Chrysler's plans, while cool, are still just plans.

PS: To Ford Management, please don't name my next car the 'Frown Fictoria.'

[gridlock]

Ford Fairmont Futura - Available in the early 80's.

My sister had one. Mercifully, her boyfriend cracked it up in short order. Apparently it had a little pep to it, but the engine could easily outrun the chassis.

[longtermmemmory]

actually I am gravitating to cadilac, I test drove the STS or something like that and it was realy nice. Interior was good (cupholders well placed etc). I am too pro-american to go flimisy japanesse or be snookered into a lexus or infinity. (those two seem like such a con job of marketing)

[SAJ]

Filly.

[cyphergirl]

If you baby & take very good care of a faggoty built like a toy in a box of crackerjacks ford, it might make 100k.

Funny you should say that....

My '97 Mustang GT just flipped 100,000 today and I've never had a problem with it. I fully expect to get another 100k out of it.

[kellynla]

I don't know where you get your information but there are over two thousand unaccounted personnel. You may prefer to "write them off" but those of us who served do not and will not. I have neither the time nor the inclination to educate you but if you go to the D.O.D. Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office website you can be enlightened. www.dtic.mil/dpmo/pmsea/index.htm

[shotgun]

It's one hugh global corporate world.

[winner3000]

I hope you do get another 100K out of it. My first and last American car was a '94 Cougar (pretty much the same as a Thunderbird of the same era). Had to have the transmission changed at 65K, a new engine at 74K and the new engine died at 102K. The Ford dealer told me that the 3.8L engine had this kind of problem (of course they couldn't have told me that when I was about to change it the first time!) Never again!

Since I'm boycotting both French and German products, the only recourse for me is to buy Japanese (preferably made in the USA)

[US_MilitaryRules]

My Choice