zoeysparents

Just wondering if there might be someone out there from or near Whitecourt Alberta.
I have been corresponding with the Ford dealer about a 2002 Thunderbird and would like to find someone to possibly look at it to verify its condition.
Thanks
The car is on the Auto Trader site.

ChadStang

I can tell you that I’ve known the Kelly their Dealer Principal for years and he’s a straight shooter. If I was closer I’d go take a look but unfortunately I’m about 150km away.

zoeysparents

Thanks....that helps some.

Ray Spencer

I managed to find a 2002 Thunderbird for the wife last year. Looked at three. Almost bought the first one...actually gave the guy the cheque but when I went with the owner to the Insurance Corporation outlet in Maple Ridge, B.C., the insurance agent told my wife that the Thunderbird was a "rebuilt." This means it had been in a major collision and written off but some auto-body shop had taken the bird, straightened it out and banged it out, repainted it. It was actually in two major accidents a year apart in Seattle, Washington rebuilt and brought across the line into B.C. Once in British Columbia (BC) the T-bird was re-registered but as a "rebuilt." This statement was at the very bottom of the owner's government insurance form which we had not bothered to look at i.e. Is this vehicle rebuilt? Y/N. So right at the ICBC office we had the registered owner go back to his bank which was next door and retrieve the cheque we had given him. The R/O tried to tell us that he did not realize he owned a rebuilt vehicle....yeah right.

The second vehicle I went to look at through Auto Trader was at Edmonton. A 2003 yellow and white Thunderbird which was being sold through an auction yard. The manager of the yard had the courtesy though of telling me up front that the Thunderbird was a rebuilt vehicle.

The third Thunderbird I look at was being sold also on Auto Trader but after meeting the owner (in Edmonton) I asked for the VIN number and did an accident records check at my own expense (think it was $49.00). The Thunderbird came back as being originally sold from a dealer in Arizona, USA. No accidents or major repairs. The only obvious defects was some road rash on the left rear panel where the bird had backed into something or someone got to close and their was a slight gouge in the right front lower bumper. Got the vehicle for $17,000.00.

When I got it back to British Columbia it was required to go through an inspection before it could be registered and insured in B.C. The mechanic I took it to told me it needed new brakes, brake drums, tie rods and suggested tires. To us that was not a real issue, at least the vehicle had not been in a major accident and rebuilt from the ground up. Personally I think out of province vehicle inspections are a rip off. For some reason ball joints are a favorite gimmick repair during vehicle inspections. but then too I am not a mechanic. We had had the left rear panel and front bumper repaired and repainted.The inspection repairs were $3000.00 and another $800.00 for paint work. Plus Pam bought new tires all around for about $1000.00. So from our end this T-Bird cost us $22,800.00 but due primarily to the low mileage considering the year the appraised value is $24500.00 for insurance purposes. So in a sense the cost has evened out.

I think your on the right path of trying to find someone to look the T-Bird over. If Chad says he recommends the Ford Dealer then I would go with Chad's recommendation. If your going to have the dealership check for previous damage or rebuilt status have them also look at the brakes and suspension including the ever favorite "ball joints." This way you know what you may be expecting if you buy the T-Bird and it has to go through an inspection in Ontario. If you can get the VIN number of the T-Bird do an CarProof check from home. This is a link for CarProof but you may have to check for CarProof Alberta. https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&u act=8&ved=0ahUKEwiOmbaG9pXXAhWoxVQKHdwbAZ0QFghRMAQ &url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.carproof.com%2F&usg=AOvVaw2 o7SiLwe7g2b-GrxmfrOLw

P.S. Very few vehicle owners will tell you the "whole" story of what a vehicle has been through.

Ray

Pictures of Pam's Bird attached.

zoeysparents

Thanks for the info.
There is a Car Fax report for the car on the Auto Trader site. It shows everything is clean
The car only has 33,000 km`s on it .They have said it cost 300+ to safety it.....so at this stage who knows. It will have to be saftied again and e-tested when it gets to Ontario. I was quoted $1050 for transportation by train. They will deliver it to Edmonton.
All in all its getting costly.
What are your thoughts about the Bird in general. Are they a satisfying car? Nice drivers, handlers and performers. They are an attractive car and hopefully will keep their value somewhat better than a lot of cars because there aren't anymore.
I sold a very clean 2000 Mustang ....now I have a bit of sellers remorse. My thought was to look for a good T Bird or maybe a Lightning if I could find one that wasn't abused. There aren't a whole lot of either on the market right now. I may have to wait for Spring and pay bigger bucks with the nice weather.
Thanks again.

Ray Spencer

Our story begins with our dissatisfaction with the Okanagan Mustang Association. While we have an interest in Mustangs and have two of them the group in the Okanagan area is very lethargic. My view of a auto club is that you get together and do things such as a cruise perhaps to an overnight location that has a few interesting attractions and drive back the next day with a large group of Mustangs on the road. The Mustang group in the Kelowna area wanted none of that. All they wanted to do was get together for monthly meetings which turned out to be bitch sessions and nothing really ever got resolved.

So from this I asked the Okanagan Thunderbirds if they would mind having a Mustang join there group. They had no problem with it having the view that their clubs was open to all Fords. The club and its members are also very engaged with activities and cruises. So we joined them and after about 6 months Pam decided she wanted a Thunderbird. They are really not for me as I am a Mustang guy. While I have driven the Thunderbird I have found that if your a tall person that is 6 feet and over you cannot adjust the driver seat low enough to see adequately out the front windshield. Thus when you approach a traffic light you are either slightly ducking under the top window frame or looking over it when the top is down. Pam is about 5'5 so for her the Thunderbird is quite comfortable. The 2002 does have a 3.7L V8 and is quite peppy and does handle very well.

zoeysparents

I certainly cant complain about the Durham Region Mustang club here...they are very active. It is possible to be on the road 7 days a week with cruises, show and such. They are a fun group. I just like a change of cars about every 2 years. If I could find a low mileage Mustang in the 1989-2003 range I would possibly try it.
Thanks for the comments.

Ray Spencer

No problem.