XR6 Brand New - dies at 250klm

FORD ZD 351 · 27-08-2009, 08:52 PM

After enjoying his V8 Au Ute from new for 10 years my father in law took delivery of a new XR6 Ute last week - on Gas. Today, it starts to lose power so he drives straight to Ford. It has a huge backfire in the car park. This dealer runs a service dept until midnight on weekdays but wont look at this BRAND NEW Ute until Monday. He had to demand a ute to drive home .. they were not eager to offer one.
Can anyone beleive this ?? The car has done 250 klms.

sarrge2001 · 27-08-2009, 10:24 PM

Not particularly good service i'll agree but breaking down after 250km - yeah i'd be unhappy but that is what warranty is for

**ebxr8240** · 27-08-2009, 10:40 PM

Sometimes you just cannot help bad luck !!!
It happens...

sbcb · 28-08-2009, 06:55 AM

Bad luck and bad service, what a combo!!

I6DOHC · 28-08-2009, 07:57 AM

Don't want to get on my high horse or anything, but this is the fundamental issue with ford lagging behind in the sales. The backup service after the car is sold can sometimes be a joke...and what's happened to your father in law is a case in point. They've sold him the car...and from the dealers point of view it's "Bewdy, job done'.

Instead of trying to wiggle out of any duty of care when the brand new car has malfunctioned, they've done their best to fob him off whereas if they'd actually just rolled over and gave him a courtesy vehicle & booked it straight in to be fixed..the goodwill and inherent advertising would have been priceless (as I'm sure anyone who had this kind of service would tell just about everyone they know...as they will when they get shat on).

Yellow_Festiva · 28-08-2009, 09:00 AM

That's bad news. Will be curious to know what the problem was.

How far will a car go with no / very low oil? Then again, there would be a warning light for that.

ltd · 28-08-2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FORD ZD 351

After enjoying his V8 Au Ute from new for 10 years my father in law took delivery of a new XR6 Ute last week - on Gas. Today, it starts to lose power so he drives straight to Ford. It has a huge backfire in the car park. This dealer runs a service dept until midnight on weekdays but wont look at this BRAND NEW Ute until Monday. He had to demand a ute to drive home .. they were not eager to offer one.
Can anyone beleive this ?? The car has done 250 klms.

Should have taken it back to the sales rep who he bought it from, and shove it in his face. Then they probably would have given him a demo atleast to drive home.

LTDterri · 28-08-2009, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I6DOHC

Don't want to get on my high horse or anything, but this is the fundamental issue with ford lagging behind in the sales. The backup service after the car is sold can sometimes be a joke...and what's happened to your father in law is a case in point. They've sold him the car...and from the dealers point of view it's "Bewdy, job done'.

Instead of trying to wiggle out of any duty of care when the brand new car has malfunctioned, they've done their best to fob him off whereas if they'd actually just rolled over and gave him a courtesy vehicle & booked it straight in to be fixed..the goodwill and inherent advertising would have been priceless (as I'm sure anyone who had this kind of service would tell just about everyone they know...as they will when they get shat on).

I could'nt agree more, Just purchased a new small car for the wife, I was going to get a Focus because it's a Ford and Ive mostly owned only Fords, but my wife reminded me of of all the BS the Ford Dealerships have given me with my Territory and BA which has now gone and we went elsewhere. Dont worry I didn't go to Holden.
ZD I hope the father in law has no further issues because I can almost guarantee the crap service he will get from the dealership will stay with him always.

FORD ZD 351 · 28-08-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd

Should have taken it back to the sales rep who he bought it from, and shove it in his face. Then they probably would have given him a demo atleast to drive home.

He did take the car back ... to the very same place it was bought from only a week earlier. You'd think that would make a difference.

The car's not even RED and Ford still wont look after him ....

FORD ZD 351 · 28-08-2009, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

That's bad news. Will be curious to know what the problem was.

How far will a car go with no / very low oil? Then again, there would be a warning light for that.

My money is on an issue with the E-gas system. I guess we wait till Monday to find out.

**PepeLePew** · 28-08-2009, 10:58 AM

I took my old SS to a Holden dealer for a simple service one day past. Drove it two blocks after picking it up and it stopped dead.

Rang the service department and was told to call roadside assistance.

Fixed it myself and drove off and never went back. Im sure you will have a similar service experience, and enjoy the services of a alternate dealer.

Fev · 28-08-2009, 11:06 AM

Atleast it didnt backfire with some cyclists around! (sorry..)

Good luck with getting the problems sorted out - breaking down after 250km's has to be very unlucky

mr smith · 28-08-2009, 11:38 AM

Not surprised by the bad Ford service, they really need to lift their game.

As a comparison I had to take my wifes Mitsubishi Colt in yesterday for a small knock in the L/H front. Car has 50K on the clock,four years old (5/10 warranty) and serviced at an independent workshop.
Fixed no questions and they performed a recall as well.

Made the Evo X in the showroom that much more tempting than an F6.

**PepeLePew** · 28-08-2009, 11:52 AM

Im not convinced brand purchase decisions can be made on these parameters. Some brands DO stand out for having exceptional service, however buy your Ford from any dealer, service it at the RIGHT dealer, and you're fine.

No better or worse than most mainstream brands.

Ford ZD 351 I do hope your FIL gets sorted. Its incidents like these that give Ford dealers a bad wrap, something others do not deserve.

csv8 · 28-08-2009, 11:58 AM

Why don't FORD do something about the service departments ? surely they must be aware of the problem ??
I have dealt with Metro Ford for 10 years and have had no problems with their sales/service/spare parts departments. They aren't the most conveinient dealer for me,but their service from them over the years, keeps me going back to them.

Busted · 28-08-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FORD ZD 351

After enjoying his V8 Au Ute from new for 10 years my father in law took delivery of a new XR6 Ute last week - on Gas. Today, it starts to lose power so he drives straight to Ford. It has a huge backfire in the car park. This dealer runs a service dept until midnight on weekdays but wont look at this BRAND NEW Ute until Monday. He had to demand a ute to drive home .. they were not eager to offer one.
Can anyone beleive this ?? The car has done 250 klms.

Very poor form.

BLUEYBA · 28-08-2009, 12:15 PM

would contacting Ford customer service and complaing help in anyway? Maybe after the dealer fixes the car first

Joe5619 · 28-08-2009, 02:11 PM

Bad luck: Yes

Bad service: NO!!

You can't except people to just be free & spare cars around just for you.. I little understand is needed before you get shittie

DanielXR8 · 28-08-2009, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Why don't FORD do something about the service departments ? surely they must be aware of the problem ??
I have dealt with Metro Ford for 10 years and have had no problems with their sales/service/spare parts departments. They aren't the most conveinient dealer for me,but their service from them over the years, keeps me going back to them.

I can only imagine the franshise agreements have Fords hands tied and they don't have the cash for the legal fight in getting rid of the current dealer network. My wife worked at Mazda and she assured me from personal experience, that the woes we had with one regional Ford dealer would have been the end game for him if he had been a Mazda franshise. Two dealers had lost their franshises in the time she worked for them. One for dodgy servicing.

Fords answer? In a nutshell go elsewhere. Great when you have to drive hundred of k's to the next indifferent dealer. The bloody best bit was a letter to say the matter was resolved. Umm no it wasn't. Sure was though when we bought the next car, which had no blue badge on it. I just wasn't prepared to take the grief again.

We have one Ford left. Moved and took it to another dealer. Asked for warranty work and was knocked back politely. I'm sure if I had jumped up and down, rang Ford Customer Service, saw a solicitor etc, it would have been done under warranty, as others on here already have had similar warranty work approved and done, but thats not my responsibility to do that - I'm the customer, the one ultimately who pays the bills. Said fine and will not replace that car with a Ford either as the new dealer just failed their first test.

Honestly Ford need to do whatever it takes to overhaul the dealer network. I have maintained for a long time now (even before my own run in) that the dealer network will kill the Ford brand in Australia - irrespective of how good the cars may be. You hear one story after another, year after year about the dealer network and nothing changes.

I keep an eye on these forums to see what troubles to expect with my last Ford and the (vain) hope that there will be news on here of a dealer overhaul, as I quite like the new FG Falcon. Still waiting for Ford to show by example that I should have enough faith in them to put my cash down....

ch33z1l · 28-08-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Bad luck: Yes

Bad service: NO!!

You can't except people to just be free & spare cars around just for you.. I little understand is needed before you get shittie

If that's what they advertise as part of the contract, then they are responsible for keeping their end of the bargain. If you can't guarantee the service, then they shouldn't be advertising it.

Fev · 28-08-2009, 03:22 PM

Generally a business is FIRST COME FIRST SERVE though so it's understandable if he cant check the car out until Monday - especially since theres something seriously wrong with it..

**PepeLePew** · 28-08-2009, 03:25 PM

Ah yes, but for a 250km old car a loaner should have been volunteered in fairness....if shouldnt have been necessary to beat them over the head for it

Rodp · 28-08-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

Im not convinced brand purchase decisions can be made on these parameters. Some brands DO stand out for having exceptional service, however buy your Ford from any dealer, service it at the RIGHT dealer, and you're fine.

The right dealer for me was 35km from me and wasn't open on weekends. The dealers 'convenient' for me were awful and had to battle with them to get the smallest warranty job done. My diffuser in my air-con packed it in and two schedules services in a row I was advised, not enough time to look at it, we'll do it next service... then my warranty ran out and they quoted me for repair!! All of a sudden they had plenty of time.

Ease of servicing is a large concern for me because without my car I can't do my job. Compound that with Ford offering the least (by a wide margin) trade on a Ford vehicle means I spend half my time in a Ford and half my time in another brand motor vehicle. An F6 will be under consideration for my next vehicle in a year and the ability to have it serviced to an acceptable level *at my convenience* will be a major factor to me.

Chopped · 28-08-2009, 03:52 PM

Pretty poor. (not just a ford thing though / happens to alot of brands)

$40000 dollars on something that doesn't work !! and then the dealer that sold the car to you were reluctant to give a loaner ?!!!! (name & shame)

LEMON LAW maybe ?

sly_ba · 28-08-2009, 04:24 PM

Sorry to say but I have had many experiences like this with both new and used cars. Never again will I own another ford. Unfortunately FoMoCo's products are let down by dealers who have not got a single brain cell between the lot of them, nor any sense of decency. Phrases such as 'that's within ford tolorences' or 'that is normal, they all do that' are hard wired into their tiny brain. Ford CRC are not worth a pinch of proverbial either.

I welcome the introduction of 'lemon laws'. When the day comes that such legislation is passed I will act pro bono for anyone who has a legitimate claim........

I hope your FIL gets the problem sorted out ASAP mate and can get on with enjoying his new car. There is nothing worse than being back at the dealership every week.....

ltd · 28-08-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FORD ZD 351

He did take the car back ... to the very same place it was bought from only a week earlier. You'd think that would make a difference.

The car's not even RED and Ford still wont look after him ....

No mate, I was referring to the sales rep that sold him the car, not the service advisor. The sales rep has a relationship with them, and most of the time for an inconvenience so close to the sale they try their goodwill with them.

rancidpunx · 28-08-2009, 04:41 PM

Get a big board and a spray can with the car outside the dealership,
"New Fords, This one lasted only 250ks"

A little extreme but im sure it would get their attention.

**PepeLePew** · 28-08-2009, 05:43 PM

OP's FIL takes the car in for one incident, has a genuine issue, ONE genuine, though serious customer service issue....does this necessarily correctly lead to a dealer and or Ford bashing thread?

Mate post up where your FIL is, and like ANY car manufacturer I'm sure you'll get suggestions here as to good dealers who may help him out better in the future.

Rodp · 28-08-2009, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

OP's FIL takes the car in for one incident, has a genuine issue, ONE genuine, though serious customer service issue....does this necessarily correctly lead to a dealer and or Ford bashing thread?

Mate post up where your FIL is, and like ANY car manufacturer I'm sure you'll get suggestions here as to good dealers who may help him out better in the future.

Absolutely!!!

Windsor220 · 28-08-2009, 07:17 PM

What time did you take the car in? You said their service department is open to midnight. Most likely there was no one with the experience available to check out your car at the time so was left for the next day. If it was late then there wouldnt of been any demos or loan cars available because they would have been taken already. Its a crap situation but sometimes with cars thats just the way it is.

Ford isnt the only manufacturer to have issues like this. We have dissatisfied customers all the time where i work(Mitsubishi) and a read over at the Holden forums will tell you they're just the same.