General => Lounge => Topic started by: Scott D on July 05, 2010, 07:49:34 PM
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Scott D on July 05, 2010, 07:49:34 PM
So, a dude in a Mustang t-shirt sees me and the wife's ankle-biters getting into the 'underbird where we had dinner, tonight.
"Hey man, that's the cleanest Cougar I've seen!"
WTF????
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: 88turbo on July 05, 2010, 08:29:20 PM
this is when I would walk back to one of the bird emblems, point and say its a THUNDERBIRD!
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Scott D on July 05, 2010, 09:24:59 PM
I thought it was bad when folks called my '86 Cougar a T-Bird. Now I just feel there's no hope for humanity, anymore :(
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Beau on July 05, 2010, 09:25:14 PM
I'd have replied: "Nice bellybutton..."
Meaning that Mustang's are a bit like a bellybutton...everyone has one, lol.
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Scott D on July 05, 2010, 09:27:59 PM
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;327403
Meaning that Mustang's are a bit like a bellybutton...everyone has one, lol.
My wife's 7 y/o already calls 'stangs "belly button cars." This as we're eating and he comments about the '05-ish model sitting out front .....ahhh ....it's karma, now I understand :rollin:
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Watchdevil on July 06, 2010, 12:17:21 AM
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;327403
I'd have replied: "Nice bellybutton..."
Meaning that Mustang's are a bit like a bellybutton...everyone has one, lol.
Like A-holes... :rollin:
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Watchdevil on July 06, 2010, 12:19:52 AM
Quote from: 88turbo;327383
this is when I would walk back to one of the bird emblems, point and say its a THUNDERBIRD!
You have to be stooopid to confuse a Bird with a Cat! I mean the first thing I would look at is the roof and quarter window profile, though I am smart enough to know either one front or back by grille and light designs.
I can't wait to hear what some idiots might say about my car. One glance at the dash and they say might say "nice Mustang... " LOL
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Haystack on July 06, 2010, 01:23:44 AM
with the 87 cougar clip on my 87 bird, I get alot of both. My 1 year old likes to play with the cat head in the gril and meow to it.
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: LittleAngel1198 on July 06, 2010, 08:34:11 AM
Theyh do look very similar and for someone not familiar with these cars, they may not notice the differences right away. I know I have seen t-birds from far away and had to look close to see if it was a bird or a cat. They are just very similar in design. Not everyone looks for the symbols on them either to distinguish which is which... it could have just been an honest mistake. At least you were complimented on your car, regardless of what he thought it was.... I think that's the important thing.
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Watchdevil on July 06, 2010, 11:42:34 AM
Quote from: Haystack;327436
with the 87 cougar clip on my 87 bird, I get alot of both.
Hey I would like to see what that looks like!
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: bhazard on July 06, 2010, 11:51:41 AM
The festiva guys have a lot of that problem.
"Nice Metro" "Nice Yugo" and of course....
"FIESTA"
A guy on the festiva board had this experience recently.
"So, the town a few miles up the road is having their annual 4th of July shindig. Tonight was the parade. I'm in my 89, backed off the edge of the road, watching the parade.
Oh, God the muscle cars. Thought I was going to have to tie on a bib. 67, 68, 69, 70 Chevelles, 69 Elcamino, The General Lee, many old trucks from the 40s and 50s.
Anyway, back on topic. As I'm watching, I can kind of hear a little bit of the conversation in the car next to me. It was basically, " Ask him" "I'm not asking him, you ask him" "No, you ask" Finally, the husband leans out of his car, and asks me...Wait for it....
Is that one of them new Fiestas?
Just when that was finally starting to die down, Ford had to go and revive it."
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Haystack on July 06, 2010, 09:27:37 PM
Quote from: Watchdevil;327463
Hey I would like to see what that looks like!
Looks like a cat in the front, bird from the side, Not much to look at though.
Like I said, not much to look at, but how many people can about total there car on friday, and drive it to work on monday for a 150 mile commute, and fix it for free?
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Haystack on July 06, 2010, 09:30:21 PM
The bumper sag is because the header panel was already damaged, obviously, and nothing under where the headlights mount was there to attach it to. I've done alittle bit here and there to make it fit better, But the car drives straight and dosen't rattle. Front end is just temporary until I can get a new front end on there anyways. I also forgot to put one of the turn signals in. I put it back in before leaving the parking lot.
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: MY83T on July 06, 2010, 09:32:44 PM
i feel your pain.....the same thing just happened to my Torino.....
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: ShowBoy on July 06, 2010, 10:34:20 PM
So one day ---- several years back ---- when I had an '86 Cougar ---- I pulled onto the "Previously Owned" side of a HUGE Ford dealership in Orlando. There were AT LEAST 50 "salespeople" (and I use that term sadly) waiting to pounce ---- and, immediately, one guy about 25-years-old was right beside me.
He said, "Nice-looking Thunderbird."
I thought, but did NOT say, "I'll bet you were selling aluminum siding last week."
He put his arm around me and said, "Man, have I got the car for you!" and pointed over his shoulder.
I said, "Oh yeah, which one is that?"
He responded, "The ... uhhh ... uhhh ..." At this point he looked behind him and named the nearest car to us.
I was so done.
I said, "Thank you very much. I'll just look around."
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Whiteboy on July 07, 2010, 10:19:50 AM
Everyone at my high school thought I had a white mustang when I bought my first tbird. Then they would say "dude, that's a granny car..." Lol not a minute before they thought it was a mustang, any logic?
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: birdman7 on July 07, 2010, 10:30:46 AM
is it me or do stang owners down grade us! i just joined a "all ford club"! 21 mustangs, a ranger, and my lone bird! boys just rolled there eyes! weve got fi v8, climate control, better interior, 10 times better ride and a ...trunk!!:flip:
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: birdman7 on July 07, 2010, 10:41:53 AM
sorry.. im going back to my happy place!!:rollin: just ive owned both and id take a bird or a cougar anytime over a fox hatch mustang i got to shoe horn my a>> into!! slipping back to darkside.. HELP!!:evilgrin:
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: merccougar93 on July 07, 2010, 09:06:02 PM
Yeah, i was talkin with a guy a gas station a lil while back, a few months or so, dude said his wife used to have an '88 that looked just like mine.......i have a 93. Although he seemed pretty high at the time,:mullet: but is still dont see how he can confuse those year models, i just cant
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: 50tbrd88 on July 07, 2010, 09:10:00 PM
Quote from: Scott D;327405
My wife's 7 y/o already calls 'stangs "belly button cars." This as we're eating and he comments about the '05-ish model sitting out front .....ahhh ....it's karma, now I understand :rollin:
Well I guess I have a thunderbird, a bellybutton, and an a-hole. :D
What option does a Ford owner have for an affordable sporty/performance car other than a Mustang these days?
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Scott D on July 08, 2010, 03:01:06 AM
Quote from: 50tbrd88;327639
What option does a Ford owner have for an affordable sporty/performance car other than a Mustang these days?
Well, not to cause a ruckus amongst the forum, but anything Ford has done that was "better" than the Mustang, they've done away with. The Mustang is an awesome car, don't get me wrong, but if another car with the blue oval on it does better, they do away with it. The Mustang is Ford's favorite child, no question.
I'd guaran-ed-tee that if the Fox Thunderbird/Cougar would have come with the same HO 5.0 & 5-speed, it would have stomped Mustang sale something fierce. Same for the MN-12 Cougars and Thunderbirds. Drop a 5-speed behind the MN-12's V-8's & 'stang sales would have suffered.
Aside from the Mustang, Ford doesn't want there to be a choice in their stable (no pun intended) for buyers looking for a pony car with the blue oval on it.
It'd be badassed to bring the Cougar nameplate back, but what kind of vehicle would it go on? We've already got the Fiesta and Focus in the sub-compact class, and that's not where a Cougar should fit in. The Fusion, it's doing an awesome job in the mid-sized (I guess that's what class it's in) cars. The Tortoise, I'd buy one. A Mustang-based Cougar? Wouldn't happen.
The Cougars I was raised with, as many of the members reading this, were luxury coupes. Now THAT is what a Cougar is to me, albeit they just need a little more power :evilgrin: Anyway ...why not a two-door version of the Tortoise with the big cat's name adorning the trunk? Ah, sales of the Mustang to the "hip" kids who are in the beginnings of familydom. Now, even my '86 Cougar had more room in the back seat than any Mustang built after '83, and most, in general. Now, if there were an option to the "sport" of the Mustang for the above mentioned hip kids, where might they go? Insurance would be cheaper, no? More room, no? Drop in the Eco-boost and you're getting into (S-197) GT territory.
The Thunderbird name? Remember when it was a two-seat 'vette killer? Now the GT500 is supposed to be the 'vette's competition. How about a two-seat D2C-based (maybe a lighter chassis) sporty convertable? I can see Thunderbird on the 5.0 & optional 5.4L handing some Corvettes their ass. But, that would kill the GT500 & variants there of. So, I don't guess it would matter what "we" think, huh?
The Mustang is the favored child of Ford Motor Company. Just like people thought "Cougar" when you said "Mercury," people think "Mustang" when you say "Ford." Do I blame them for wanting to be so productive of their bread and butter? Not really. Do I think they are severely limiting their options to the blue oval loyal? Most definitely.
Anyway, I hope all of that made sense. I just got home from 15 hours of driving, today, and 18 yesterday. I'm ready for bed :)
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: V8Demon on July 08, 2010, 02:45:02 PM
Quote from: 50tbrd88;327639
Well I guess I have a thunderbird, a bellybutton, and an a-hole. :D
What option does a Ford owner have for an affordable sporty/performance car other than a Mustang these days?
Ford Taurus SHO for one.
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: bhazard on July 08, 2010, 03:07:55 PM
SHO's are hardly affordable. They're huge, too.
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Scott D on July 08, 2010, 05:12:36 PM
Quote from: bhazard;327698
SHO's are hardly affordable. They're huge, too.
And they're 4-door. I don't want a 4-door
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: 50tbrd88 on July 08, 2010, 09:00:07 PM
Quote from: Scott D;327666
Well, not to cause a ruckus amongst the forum, but anything Ford has done that was "better" than the Mustang, they've done away with. The Mustang is an awesome car, don't get me wrong, but if another car with the blue oval on it does better, they do away with it. The Mustang is Ford's favorite child, no question.
I'd guaran-ed-tee that if the Fox Thunderbird/Cougar would have come with the same HO 5.0 & 5-speed, it would have stomped Mustang sale something fierce. Same for the MN-12 Cougars and Thunderbirds. Drop a 5-speed behind the MN-12's V-8's & 'stang sales would have suffered.
Aside from the Mustang, Ford doesn't want there to be a choice in their stable (no pun intended) for buyers looking for a pony car with the blue oval on it.
It'd be badassed to bring the Cougar nameplate back, but what kind of vehicle would it go on? We've already got the Fiesta and Focus in the sub-compact class, and that's not where a Cougar should fit in. The Fusion, it's doing an awesome job in the mid-sized (I guess that's what class it's in) cars. The Tortoise, I'd buy one. A Mustang-based Cougar? Wouldn't happen.
The Cougars I was raised with, as many of the members reading this, were luxury coupes. Now THAT is what a Cougar is to me, albeit they just need a little more power :evilgrin: Anyway ...why not a two-door version of the Tortoise with the big cat's name adorning the trunk? Ah, sales of the Mustang to the "hip" kids who are in the beginnings of familydom. Now, even my '86 Cougar had more room in the back seat than any Mustang built after '83, and most, in general. Now, if there were an option to the "sport" of the Mustang for the above mentioned hip kids, where might they go? Insurance would be cheaper, no? More room, no? Drop in the Eco-boost and you're getting into (S-197) GT territory.
The Thunderbird name? Remember when it was a two-seat 'vette killer? Now the GT500 is supposed to be the 'vette's competition. How about a two-seat D2C-based (maybe a lighter chassis) sporty convertable? I can see Thunderbird on the 5.0 & optional 5.4L handing some Corvettes their ass. But, that would kill the GT500 & variants there of. So, I don't guess it would matter what "we" think, huh?
The Mustang is the favored child of Ford Motor Company. Just like people thought "Cougar" when you said "Mercury," people think "Mustang" when you say "Ford." Do I blame them for wanting to be so productive of their bread and butter? Not really. Do I think they are severely limiting their options to the blue oval loyal? Most definitely.
Anyway, I hope all of that made sense. I just got home from 15 hours of driving, today, and 18 yesterday. I'm ready for bed :)
I'm sorry pal but I disagree with you on many points. When I hear Ford I don't think "Mustang". I think about the many great cars and trucks that Ford has created over the years and about some of the good Ford cars/trucks I have owned. I think you are just jelous that the Mustang gets more attention, which I agree it does.
For the record, I'm NOT a fan of Fox body Mustangs. They are OK I guess, but I just always liked the T-bird/Cougar platform better. A Mustang has always been the performance car and the T-bird/Cougar has always (for the most part) been more of a sporty luxury coupe. I'm fine with that, but a lot of the buying public apparently was not or we could walk into a Ford dealer and order a new 2011 T-bird right now. Mustang is obviously a formula that works great for Ford, so why would they change anything?
Oh and by the way, your statement about the T-bird once being a 'vette killer...I don't think that ever really happened :D. The Vette had it beat hands down from day one in performance (and I use the term 'performance' loosely, nothing was that fast in the mid-50's). And lets not mention the one from the early 2000's...that one was a complete joke IMHO. Ford could have done something cool and made a car to compete with Vette, but they completely dropped the ball by outfitting the car with that gutless little motor :punchballs:.
And I don't think you are starting a ruckus...everyone is entitled to their opinions. I mean, opinons are like a-holes...and Mustangs as well. Apparently everyone has one.
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Scott D on July 08, 2010, 09:19:39 PM
Quote from: 50tbrd88;327721
Oh and by the way, your statement about the T-bird once being a 'vette killer...I don't think that ever really happened :D. The Vette had it beat hands down from day one in performance (and I use the term 'performance' loosely, nothing was that fast in the mid-50's).
The early models, 55-57, were a direct result of the Corvette. The early Corvette lacked any kind of power to walk with the Thunderbirds. Then they went entirely different directions, although the 1st gen 'birds weren't marketed as sports car, they personal luxury cars in stead.
But ...
I'm pretty ed jealous we don't have the aftermarket the Mustang guys have. Then, again, maybe I'm getting older and am more interested in a personal luxury car with some pep as opposed to the pony car.
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: 50tbrd88 on July 08, 2010, 10:07:37 PM
Quote from: Scott D;327727
The early models, 55-57, were a direct result of the Corvette. The early Corvette lacked any kind of power to walk with the Thunderbirds. Then they went entirely different directions, although the 1st gen 'birds weren't marketed as sports car, they personal luxury cars in stead.
But ...
I'm pretty ed jealous we don't have the aftermarket the Mustang guys have. Then, again, maybe I'm getting older and am more interested in a personal luxury car with some pep as opposed to the pony car.
I was always told that the Vette would run away from the T-bird out on a twisty road...even with the blue flame 6. Not sure if that's true or not. I didn't come around until '82. lol.
I agree on your point about parts, but that's part of the fun of having one of our cars. Its always more of an adventure finding parts, good used parts, etc.
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: Scott D on July 08, 2010, 11:14:03 PM
Quote from: 50tbrd88;327733
I agree on your point about parts, but that's part of the fun of having one of our cars. Its always more of an adventure finding parts, good used parts, etc.
So true, so true. And, I've let it sink in a little bit more that somebody with a 'stang complimented my Cou...eerrr ....Thunderbird, as replied with, earlier :)
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: V8Demon on July 08, 2010, 11:46:40 PM
Quote from: bhazard;327698
SHO's are hardly affordable. They're huge, too.
$37,770 aint that bad at all for what you get. The base GTslides in at just under 30K....
I would venture that insurance on the SHO is less. Gas mileage is comparable -- at least on paper.
All wheel drive and a car you can easily turn the boost up on safely to run 11's......
Gone are the days where decently fast cars are available at basp00get prices. Look at what the prices on the WRX and EVO have bloated to.
Title: You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!!!!
Post by: oldraven on July 09, 2010, 11:08:50 AM
Quote from: Scott D;327727
The early models, 55-57, were a direct result of the Corvette. The early Corvette lacked any kind of power to walk with the Thunderbirds. Then they went entirely different directions, although the 1st gen 'birds weren't marketed as sports car, they personal luxury cars in stead.
But ...
I'm pretty ed jealous we don't have the aftermarket the Mustang guys have. Then, again, maybe I'm getting older and am more interested in a personal luxury car with some pep as opposed to the pony car.
The Corvette also had a fibreglass body, and so didn't need that big (little) V8. The Blue Flame Six was the hottest thing Chevy had at the time. The T-bird may have been a result, but it was a different formula from day one. It was a luxury roadster (in 1955), wearing a lot of steel, made for cruising. I don't think there were any ads for racing a baby-bird. Ford proved twice that the two-seat T-bird is a failed model. Well remembered, but not well received. They had it right with ours. If they want a model, start there.
The nice thing about our foxes is that because of the Mustang guys, we do have a lot of aftermarket. We just have to be a little creative (and more talented than I am) to make some of it work.