The Thunderbird has plenty of amenities to go with its expensive rear-drive chassis and Jaguar engine. Leather, 6-disc Audiophile CD changer, dual-zone climate controls, steering wheel radio and cruise controls, automatic headlights, garage door opener, dual power seats, power softtop, side air bags, glow-in-the-dark emergency trunk release for kids, 17-inch wheels, antilock brakes, and traction control are among the luxuries standard on the Deluxe model. The only real options are to add manual-shift ability to the automatic for $130 (which mysteriously drops EPA city mileage by 1 MPG), a soft top boot for $125, and a black steering wheel and shifter for $295. The $1,045 higher Thunderbird Premium adds heated seats and thick-spoke chrome wheels. It also opens the door to a hardtop roof with a glass rear window for $2,500, plus a few more aesthetic enhancement packages.
You may recall that the most recent car to wear the Thunderbird name had a starting price of 18 grand in 1997. It is now $38,500. Pretty hefty price for a roof removal, wouldn't you say?
The thing is, all roadsters are gas-powered toys with the same abilities - barely room enough for two humans plus a Coke can in the trunk - which invites a smorgasbord of comparisons. At the Thunderbird's price point sits Porsche Boxster and Mercedes SLK350, which were faster, nimbler, more efficient, more prestigious, and more enjoyable even before their impressive 2005 redesigns. Most of those qualities hold true for the BMW Z4 and Nissan 350Z, which also cost thousands less. There's also the BMW 325CiC, which adds the immense usefulness of a back seat to the mix.
But let's say foreign cars are out of the question, eight cylinders are mandatory, and whatever you drive has to be a historical icon. Narrow it down all you like; the Thunderbird still ain't safe. The Corvette's mark on culture runs at least as deep (just replace Beach Boys and George Lucas with Prince and Mark Hamill), it blows the T-bird out of the sky with an extra 120 horsepower, and drives better at any speed. Vettes cost more, but wouldn't you rather spend 50 grand on substance than 40 on style?
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