I for one am very anxious to hear of aftermarket products and accessories becoming available for the 2002 Bird. If anyone hears of any, or has actual experiences to share, please post the info here, or on a new string dedicated to the specific product. Perhaps you could create a tech article to show the installation, including pics.

Specifically, what is the status of:

Soft boot cover?
Rub protection for the hard top?
Aftermarket seat heaters?
Bras, regular and clear?
Performance chips?
Exhaust?
Filters?

I know much of this is available on another site, but many members here don't use that site anymore. I think this site membership will grow as it's database is increased. :thumbsup::wavey:

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Chris
2002 Thunderbird Premium
Blue/Blue/Partial Accent
"The view through the porthole is great!"

Although this is not an aftermarket accessory, strictly speaking, many are having difficulty finding luggage to fit the NewBird's shallow trunk. We found a great set, available in Black, Bright Blue, and Plum.

The luggage accessories are really quite neat, but it is unlikely you would use them all at the same time,as they use up a goodly portion of the bag's interior. But they do give you some flexibility. They include...

1 -shirt/suit hanger & bag that folds up inside and hangs from a strap in the bag, and have soft tubes to keep the shirts from wrinkling. Once folded up, they hide behind a flap with Velcro which is on the back side of the lid.
2 - toiletries holder, that is a flat panel with pouches, etc. and is the same dimensions as the bottom of the bag.
3 - Bag that stores two plastic bags for dirty laundry, wet bathing suits, etc.
We use a separate hanging bag, as well as a bag that hangs on the bathroom door for bath stuff, so these items, although neat, were not a key reason for buying the bags. We liked the size a well as the color (something a little different than most). Also, the bags are very well constructed, with collapsing pull handles sturdy enough for bags twice this size.
4 - Combination lock for each bag
5 - Free monogramming which you can see on the bags.

In the trunk, there is room under the bags to lay a small flat item (perhaps 1" thick) in the top of the spare tire well lid that is concave.
There is also enough room over the top of the luggage to lay a hanging clothes bag with a few items in it. The area under the boot is still available as well as one wheel well area.

We got them at Bentley's Luggage at our local mall, and the tag says "El Portal". I think we paid $100/ea for the larger, and $39 for the smaller on a special sale (I think larger are normally $120/ea (sign said retail was $249 which is always unrealistic for luggage). The larger bag measures about 14" wide, and 20" tall (excluding the feet and handle).

Attached Images

 

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Chris
2002 Thunderbird Premium
Blue/Blue/Partial Accent
"The view through the porthole is great!"

:smokin: TBIRD02, I'm sure that you have seen what I have done to mine or what little I have done but I will post pics of these things sometime today or tommorow so the others can see and say what they think. Really, I don't care what they think because it IS MY BIRD.

By the way, nice luggage.

__________________
Live Long and Prosper

Recieved the soft boot on Friday and it fits nicely. Not as good looking as the stock boot but one heck of a lot smaller package. I will still use the stock boot around town but on trip with luggage it is the only way to go.

Joe - where did you get it, and what did it cost? Can you post a pic please? I am anxious to get one.

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Chris
2002 Thunderbird Premium
Blue/Blue/Partial Accent
"The view through the porthole is great!"

BTW, guys and gals-I have developed quite a list of Vendors for aftermarket parts for the 89-97 and the 02-beyond birds. I'll be using advertising fees from these companies to put together the US Thunderbird Association Magazine-I am now using a local college's English/Writing dept to help me put together the first issue. With any luck, we'll be on the regular newsstands by January 1st, 2003-and the name came from a comment by RTBRD-"Portholes.":thumbsup:

TBird02, they are available at TBirdSolutions.com . I think they sold out of their first run but a second is in process right now.

Thanks RTBRD - great site. I like the lift, anyone else have one of those yet? Says can be stored in the lift!

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Chris
2002 Thunderbird Premium
Blue/Blue/Partial Accent
"The view through the porthole is great!"

TBird02, I am not aware of anyone getting one of these hoists as of yet. I know of 2 or 3 others that people have purchased. If you need the manufactures of these others let me know and I will look them up.

RTBRD-

I already have the addys here:

www.removabletops.com

www.eztop.com

www.topcaplift.com

:thumbsup:

:wavey: I have the top cap elect. hoist if anyone has any questions on it. Just don't make them hard questions.

__________________
Live Long and Prosper

As I recall, you can't store the top in that hoist. Is that correct, and if so, how satisfied are you with having to "double handle" the top?

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Chris
2002 Thunderbird Premium
Blue/Blue/Partial Accent
"The view through the porthole is great!"

TBird02 No you can't store it on there even thou they say you can. I don't know of any hoist that you could keep your hard top on for any length of time. They all have there draw backs on that point. As far as taking the top off, I do that with the hoist but only for a few days. If I'm going to let it off for any length of time I will either use the hoist and set it on the floor and lift it to set it on the stand or just lift the top off and put it on the stand.

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Live Long and Prosper

Gobird - are you happy with it otherwise? my wife can't handle her half of the hardtop and I would like to have the top-on option more often, so I am going to have to buy a lift. (after the second kid leaves for college and I decide if I can spend any money on myself!):smokin:

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2002 Neiman Marcus T-Bird

:smokin: Yes I am satisfied with the hoist I have. If you have more questions on this hoist I can let you know as far as installing it and just how it works.

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Live Long and Prosper