View Poll Results: Should T-bird return to being a 4/5 passenger luxo-GT
Only redesign Thunderbird, it's gotten stale already.
6
12.50%
Just needs more power and a better price
28
58.33%
Return Thunderbird to it's status as a 4 place Luxo-GT like the GTO
11
22.92%
Keep it the same as a low production niche vehicle
3
6.25%
Voters: 48. You may not vote on this poll
Should Ford
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Should Ford make Thunderbird a GTO competitor
Anyone here think that Thunderbird should give up trying to be a old man's convertible, and instead become a competitor to GTO?
When you go back to Thunderbird's pre-masses and pre-Lincolnesque days, it was basically then what the GTO is becoming now. A fast, luxurous, very well made quality car that though wasn't cheap, wasn't in price at the levels of Lincoln.
As for Cobras, Mustang is moving back unquestionably into being a sports car, with it's agressive styling and fastback design as well as engine choices. Ford has no "adult" coupes at all, and would no doubt benefit doing a modern version of the previous edition 4/5 passenger luxo-GTs.
When you go back to Thunderbird's pre-masses and pre-Lincolnesque days, it was basically then what the GTO is becoming now. A fast, luxurous, very well made quality car that though wasn't cheap, wasn't in price at the levels of Lincoln.
As for Cobras, Mustang is moving back unquestionably into being a sports car, with it's agressive styling and fastback design as well as engine choices. Ford has no "adult" coupes at all, and would no doubt benefit doing a modern version of the previous edition 4/5 passenger luxo-GTs.
Last edited by guionM; Jan 31, 2003 at 02:01 PM.
Registered User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 545
From: Fort Erie, Ont.
It's difficult for me to analyze this since I'm not really a Ford fan, but the first thing that comes to my mind is to basically keep it the same, just lower price and add power. A complete redsign this early would look like panic to me.
If you go on the basis that you should do things on a scale of least resistance to most difficult, keeping low production niche has not worked, so next in line would be to add power and lower pirce. Try this method for a couple years and if that doesn't work, then I think you should try redesign, without retro styling.
If this fails, by now you've tarnished the Thunderbird name so badly, a GTO competitor ought to have a new name and R.I.P. Thunderbird.
Jeff
If you go on the basis that you should do things on a scale of least resistance to most difficult, keeping low production niche has not worked, so next in line would be to add power and lower pirce. Try this method for a couple years and if that doesn't work, then I think you should try redesign, without retro styling.
If this fails, by now you've tarnished the Thunderbird name so badly, a GTO competitor ought to have a new name and R.I.P. Thunderbird.
Jeff
Last edited by Captain Jeff Z28; Jan 31, 2003 at 02:16 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,180
From: Yadkinville, NC USA
Re: Should Ford make Thunderbird a GTO competitor
Originally posted by guionM
Ford has no "adult" coupes at all, and would no doubt benefit doing a modern version of the previous edition 4/5 passenger luxo-GTs.
Ford has no "adult" coupes at all, and would no doubt benefit doing a modern version of the previous edition 4/5 passenger luxo-GTs.
Lincoln LS V8?
Well, they are something!
Registered User
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 180
From: Chino, California
there was no option for who cares.
i could care less what happens to the t-bird. never wanted one as it use to be, and ill never want one how it is now(and was originally). scratches hard.....my head hurts now.
i could care less what happens to the t-bird. never wanted one as it use to be, and ill never want one how it is now(and was originally). scratches hard.....my head hurts now.
Last edited by CamaroJim; Jan 31, 2003 at 06:57 PM.
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Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,072
From: Lilburn, GA, USA
I would vote for the "Let it die" option. It moved way tooo far from the formula that it once was. There was a brief time where I was actually thinking about buying a Thunderbird SC.............
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 805
From: MI
Originally posted by guionM
Anyone here think that Thunderbird should give up trying to be a old man's convertible, and instead become a competitor to GTO?
Anyone here think that Thunderbird should give up trying to be a old man's convertible, and instead become a competitor to GTO?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Originally posted by SNEAKY NEIL
I would vote for the "Let it die" option. It moved way tooo far from the formula that it once was. There was a brief time where I was actually thinking about buying a Thunderbird SC.............
I would vote for the "Let it die" option. It moved way tooo far from the formula that it once was. There was a brief time where I was actually thinking about buying a Thunderbird SC.............
Beyond the notchy Mazda made 5 speed transmission, Ford's 1989 standard issue prematurely fading & peeling clearcoat paint, & the fact that finding any mechanic (dealer or otherwise) who knew anything about working on one, and of those who have, watching their face go pale when you bring one in, I'd have to say it was the best car I ever owned.
Very, very, very, tough and amazingly agile and quick cars.... especially for their size!
Try finding a manual transmissioned GM car whose clutch is still good after 145,000 miles, and finally needs the original rear brakes replaced past 125,000!
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 562
From: Mich.
T-Bird being a GTO competitor?
At first glance I thought this was about a T-Bird being the GTO competition
{flame off!}
I see your point but since the ending of the F body,The GTO has some mighty big shoes to fill...It is going against the Mustang if it likes it or not.T-Bird is in "most" cases a league of its own it is back to its roots.(I like to stick to american made products thank you )
The REAL competition for the VETTE "should" be the Bird,But Ford wants it other wise which is understandable they both went a different direction then what the cars were originally intended for and I dont think Vette followers would like it to be MORE luxo then fast like they were when they first came out.
{flame off!}
I see your point but since the ending of the F body,The GTO has some mighty big shoes to fill...It is going against the Mustang if it likes it or not.T-Bird is in "most" cases a league of its own it is back to its roots.(I like to stick to american made products thank you
)The REAL competition for the VETTE "should" be the Bird,But Ford wants it other wise which is understandable they both went a different direction then what the cars were originally intended for and I dont think Vette followers would like it to be MORE luxo then fast like they were when they first came out.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,597
From: oshawa,ontario,canada
Originally posted by CamaroJim
there was no option for who cares.
i could care less what happens to the t-bird. never wanted one as it use to be, and ill never want one how it is now(and was originally). scratches hard.....my head hurts now.
there was no option for who cares.
i could care less what happens to the t-bird. never wanted one as it use to be, and ill never want one how it is now(and was originally). scratches hard.....my head hurts now.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 564
From: Fletcher, NC, US
Originally posted by guionM
Try finding a manual transmissioned GM car whose clutch is still good after 145,000 miles, and finally needs the original rear brakes replaced past 125,000!
Try finding a manual transmissioned GM car whose clutch is still good after 145,000 miles, and finally needs the original rear brakes replaced past 125,000!
There's always exceptions to every rule, although in this case I don't see it as an exception; I see it as the fact that you may never have had a car like the one you describe and therefore it seems impossible to you.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 562
From: Mich.
Originally posted by kizz
Not to change the subject, but since you bring it up, take a look at the 85 Firebird in my signature. It's all original as far as the drivetrain. Factory clutch & factory brakes still living. There's always exceptions to every rule, although in this case I don't see it as an exception; I see it as the fact that you may never have had a car like the one you describe and therefore it seems impossible to you.
Not to change the subject, but since you bring it up, take a look at the 85 Firebird in my signature. It's all original as far as the drivetrain. Factory clutch & factory brakes still living.
There's always exceptions to every rule, although in this case I don't see it as an exception; I see it as the fact that you may never have had a car like the one you describe and therefore it seems impossible to you.
ROTFL your car ONLY has a lil over 3000 miles,He is talking about 152,000..........................
I dont see your point?
