Thunderbird Sales crashing....
Registered User
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,873
From: South Jersey
Here's the problem with the T-Bird:
Take away the retro styling and what do you have? A large, heavy 2-seat convertible with unremarkable handling, acceleration, handling or any other noteworthy characteistic - in short an "average" car - for $40K....
I still like the interior color keyed to the exterior, but I think VW was more successful with the Beetle on this.
The Mustang will have the goods to back up it's racy, retro styling and as a result I think it will be succesfull, and timeless.
Take away the retro styling and what do you have? A large, heavy 2-seat convertible with unremarkable handling, acceleration, handling or any other noteworthy characteistic - in short an "average" car - for $40K....
I still like the interior color keyed to the exterior, but I think VW was more successful with the Beetle on this.
The Mustang will have the goods to back up it's racy, retro styling and as a result I think it will be succesfull, and timeless.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,139
From: Commerce, mi, USA
It's a real shame the TBird is not doing well... I believe it will damage some business cases for similar 'unique' niche cars. But I hope people realize too, this car was impacted by a couple key factors which can be avoided:
1. A troublesome production launch, including basic quality issues like tendencies to catch fire!
2. A design intentionally made to pander to women buyers:
http://www.detnews.com/2001/autos/01...a01-232902.htm
The question is, did/does the buying segment want this car to be just about couples and romance? I for one don't think so. I'm sorry, I truly detest the Barney-smiley-face front end of the new TBird. It's beyond effeminate... into 'silly mockery' territory. The taillights aren't too bad, but overall the car is just bland. Maybe that's a reason Ford will soon offer a supercharged version. I was also disappointed with the TBird marketing thrust... especially the ridiculous TV ad where the Tbird driver refuses to race another car. NO self-respecting male I know would be proud of doing that! And yet we are supposed to believe that's what a TBird owner would/should do... umm.. OK. 
Who knows... maybe Ford is onto something with 'feminine design'... turns out 53% of Mustang drivers are women!
http://www.auto.com/industry/mustang4_20030104.htm
Not that there's anything wrong with that
...just validates some things I've noticed about Mustangs 
1. A troublesome production launch, including basic quality issues like tendencies to catch fire!
2. A design intentionally made to pander to women buyers:
http://www.detnews.com/2001/autos/01...a01-232902.htm
Executives had two choices. Would they go with the muscular, edgy design or the curvy, romantic version?
Nancy Gioia, Thunderbird's 37-year-old chief engineer, was the only woman in the room. It was clear the dozen men, including design boss J Mays, favored the edgy version. Gioia thought to herself: Too much testosterone.
"Look at the front of it," Gioia told the assembled group. "It's snarling at me. The car looks too masculine. If we're trying to make sure this car is about couples and romance, this design is not inviting."
Nancy Gioia, Thunderbird's 37-year-old chief engineer, was the only woman in the room. It was clear the dozen men, including design boss J Mays, favored the edgy version. Gioia thought to herself: Too much testosterone.
"Look at the front of it," Gioia told the assembled group. "It's snarling at me. The car looks too masculine. If we're trying to make sure this car is about couples and romance, this design is not inviting."
Who knows... maybe Ford is onto something with 'feminine design'... turns out 53% of Mustang drivers are women!
http://www.auto.com/industry/mustang4_20030104.htm
Not that there's anything wrong with that
...just validates some things I've noticed about Mustangs
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 388
From: Racine, WI
I think the Thunderbird is kind of interesting, however not the kind of 2 seater I would like to buy. A little known fact about the car is that it is sporting mostly plastic body panels. Talked to a owner of one recently, he thought it was steel paneled!!
Maybe we could convince Ford to build an inexpensive plastic paneled mid-engine two seater since GM appears to be ignoring this segment. Ford had one or two mid concepts in the fiero days.
Maybe we could convince Ford to build an inexpensive plastic paneled mid-engine two seater since GM appears to be ignoring this segment. Ford had one or two mid concepts in the fiero days.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,873
From: South Jersey
Originally posted by BigDarknFast
Who knows... maybe Ford is onto something with 'feminine design'... turns out 53% of Mustang drivers are women!
http://www.auto.com/industry/mustang4_20030104.htm
Not that there's anything wrong with that ...just validates some things I've noticed about Mustangs
Who knows... maybe Ford is onto something with 'feminine design'... turns out 53% of Mustang drivers are women!
http://www.auto.com/industry/mustang4_20030104.htm
Not that there's anything wrong with that
...just validates some things I've noticed about Mustangs
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 109
From: Cherry Hill, NJ
Yea! Whats up with that? Women tend to like Mustangs alot.
My wife likes the Camaro alot, she would even beg me to drive it, not that I wont let her, but when we come by a Mustang she would be like "oooooh! Mustang". And Im like thats it! No driving Camaro for you today!!
My wife likes the Camaro alot, she would even beg me to drive it, not that I wont let her, but when we come by a Mustang she would be like "oooooh! Mustang". And Im like thats it! No driving Camaro for you today!!
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 805
From: MI
Originally posted 36 times by Z284ever
It's really something about the T-Bird. A Ford sales manager was talking to me about them. When they first came out, they were charging sticker PLUS a $10K mark up. Now they are selling them for invoice, ( if they can sell them). So, if you are buying a T-Bird today, you will pay about $20K less, than the original purchasers.
I wonder if the SSR will meet the same fate?
It's really something about the T-Bird. A Ford sales manager was talking to me about them. When they first came out, they were charging sticker PLUS a $10K mark up. Now they are selling them for invoice, ( if they can sell them). So, if you are buying a T-Bird today, you will pay about $20K less, than the original purchasers.
I wonder if the SSR will meet the same fate?
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
Originally posted by Pentatonic
I'm not sure if the SSR will even have a high initial demand. I mean the Thunderbird doesn't look ugly, but the SSR sure does.
I'm not sure if the SSR will even have a high initial demand. I mean the Thunderbird doesn't look ugly, but the SSR sure does.
Maybe actually selling some will merely be icing on the cake.
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