The visibility is especially crummy with the $2,500 optional hardtop that's got those silly little porthole windows. And, like most convertibles, it's somewhat claustrophobic and has lousy visibility with the top up. Like most convertibles, the Thunderbird is, of course, a lot more fun with the top down. It's less comfortable going fast on twisting mountain roads. The car is comfortable for long drives on the highway. The cornering is surprisingly good, especially considering the size and weight of the Thunderbird. It's neither marshmallowly and softly decadent nor feel-every-pebble-in-the-road sporty. A powerful V8 is part of the retro appeal of the T-Bird. But people who covet this car will want to touch the pedal and feel the car take off. We don't see people drag racing these things. And we think Ford intends that there to be more than enough power. The 252-horsepower engine is more than enough for the Thunderbird's 3,900 pounds. Like the Lincoln, and like the original T-bird, this is a rear-wheel-drive car. The Thunderbird comes with the same smooth 3.9-liter V8 and five-speed automatic that's used in the Lincoln LS. You don't have to be Alan Greenspan to know that with a hot car like this, there won't be any discounts until supply starts exceeding demand. The target price is $36,360 - which also happens to be the sticker price. But for those who love the looks, Ford has delivered an exotic looking two-seat convertible, with all the modern benefits of 2002 technology and reliability. Automotively speaking, there's nothing spectacular about this car, no engineering marvels, no handling tricks, no engine you can't get elsewhere. In fact, if you're not in love with the way this car looks, don't even bother. If you're looking for anything else, look elsewhere. It's designed for looks and relative comfort. And that gives it a pretty decent ride as well as seat room for wide, 2002-style American butts. It's only got two seats, but it's long, and as wide and heavy, as today's two seaters go. So the Thunderbird is not a small car - and not a cheap car either. That's a pretty nice small- to mid-sized, four-door sedan. To make the 2002 Thunderbird, Ford started with the chassis of the Lincoln LS. Maybe Tom WILL get another shot at his 65 AMC Ambassador convertible. And GM and Chrysler both have retro projects in the works, too. Two guys were standing around in the Ford design studio when one of them said, "Hey, why does everybody hate the way American cars look? Remember back in the 50's when everyone loved the way American cars looked?"Īnd the other guy says, "Well, why don't we just get some of those 50's car bodies again and plop them on top of modern car chassis?"Īs obvious as it was brilliant, Ford is doing just that - well, not exactly "just that," but pretty close. You can almost imagine how the new Thunderbird got started.
This is a swan to ugly duckling to swan story. It's an indulgence, pure and simple."īad: small trunk, heavy doors, lousy in snow "The new Thunderbird isn't particularly sensible.
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