I HATE FORD

[ufcrusher]

I bought a new Ford Probe GT back in 1996 which decided to blow up on me over a year and a half ago. I was told by both Ford's mechanics and my insurance company that it was the tensile strength in the engine which caused the problem. However, Ford wouldnt cover the car because I was over my mileage (51,000 miles) and claimed they didnt have to. My insurance said it was a manufacturing defect and not their responsibility. The cheapest I could get it repaired for was over $6000 and that was at the dealers cost. (The dealer is a friend of a friend of the family) Plus I still owed money on the car so it was not worth fixing it at the time. A few weeks ago, a friend of mine calls in a favor from a wrecker, to get a "new used" engine for my car and have it swapped out. My friend has used this guy a lot and had no problems. I am quoted a total price of $2000 plus tax for everything, so i go for it. So far:
1) They shipped the wrong year motor
2) they shipped a Mazada MX-6 motor, which is the same block but everything else is different
3) They discovered that my Y-pipe has been destroyed when the engine went, so I need that plus a bunch of other parts.
4) they tacked on another 400 in labor
5) They told me that my catalytic converter was plugged and that is what likely caused the explosion in the first place.

So I went back to Ford, because if the Catalytic converter caused it, then it would have all been covered. I am told that they are going to charge me to look at it, but that they would guarantee that the Catalytic converter could not cause it.

I have no idea what to do. So far this $2000 is fast approaching $3500 and rising. If I bring it to Ford they are going to charge me $500 just to determine if that is the cause.

G-d do I hate Ford.

[theHNIC]

FORD


FIX
OR
REPAIR
DAILY

OR

FOUND
ON
ROAD
DEAD

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/9756/images/pissford.gif

j/k


Stick with chevy.

[giambona]

Stick with foreign cars.

[ufcrusher]

Well figuring that the Probe and Mazda MX-6 are the same car and came off the same line with slight stylistic and finishing features...it should have been ok. But thanks for that WONDERFUL insight.

[coleslaw]

Hey, I've had my Escort for almost 5 years now and, disregarding regular oil-changes, gas, and stereo equipment, I haven't spent a dime on my car! :D

[att]

hey, all these companies are in it for the money, so you might as well forget about your ford experience and move on. you are not going to have the same experience twice, even if you buy another ford, that all could happen with a car from honda just as easily.

[ufcrusher]

ATT, its true that the chances of it happening again are slim, but at the same time...the entire experience has left a really bad taste in my mouth. The previous Ford that was owned by my family was a 1976 Mustang Mach III. My mom bought it, drove it 16 miles and had it die. Gets it towed back in to the ford dealership, supposedly repaired, drives it another 16 miles and has it die again. At that point, the Mustang was taken back for good, and no one bought a Ford until my Probe. So, in terms of bad luck with the cars, Ford has struck out. This is not to say that we havent had trouble with other cars, but for the most part, the other companies were far nicer in taking care of the problem. We have owned a
GMC Jimmy - no problems
Chevy Suburban - no problems
Chevy Nova - nothing but routine wear and tear
Chevy Astro - needed a new engine, but was covered by Chevy Chevy Lumina van - no problems
Mercedes 560SL, 300TD, 300SL - never any problems
BMW 318I - other than fishtailing nothing
Volvo - 240DL, S70 - no problems
MGB - Someone slashed my top but other than that nothing

That being said, Ford has had a really sh*tty record for me and my family, which I am not willing to try again. They lost a customer for life, and I always loved Mustangs...if only I had fit into them.

[att]

you could have ripped out the front seat and driven from the back, mustangs have somfortable back seats.

[Grimm]

My parents had a Ford pick-up truck that hardly ever had a problem with it. It was a reliable workhorse. They drove it all over California. I don't remember the model but it was manufactured sometime in the 40s or 50's so not all their stuff is bad.

Then again I would never buy a Ford.

[att]

we had a ford truck that ran forever too. their trucks far outperform their cars. i believe the f150 is the number one selling automobile in the united states, maybe in american history.