Ford Risks everything (literally) to save company

[Donnyj]

Why do you continue to twist my words around? Nowhere did I say that people lie or are stupid. As far as your situation all I can say is I'm glad no one was hurt. What else you want me to do? All I was doing was actually offering some advice to anyone reading that most, mind you I said most, of these incidents come from a simple thing as a floormat being stuck under the pedal. Nothing more, nothing less. My position has nothing to do with trying to make a liar out of a customer. Really I take offense to that. My job is to make sure the vehicle is repaired and everyone who operates the vehicle is safe. In my opinion that is a large responsibility. I surely don't need someone who has never walked in my shoes try to form some false opinion about me and who I am.

As far as not buying another Ford product, well all I can say is I hope someday you might. A much better product than what they are given credit for. I surely can't erase your bad experience of many years ago. Just be careful of your computer though, I just read somewhere where a computer malfunctioned and burnt down a house. If I was you I would get rid of your computer now. Just to be safe

You also mentioned "Former Ford dealer employee" Do you know something I don't?

 

[Dusty]

Donny...... I believe that this is one customer that Ford can very well do without. Some people can't ever be satisfied, and it appears from his comments, that he is soured on Ford beyond any comprehensible and rational thought. When that happens, it is best for all concerned to give their business to some other car manufacturer. If they are pleased with that manufacturer, all will be well. If not, then that manufacturer will be no better off than Ford, and he will be sour on them. The only lucky thing here is that there are enough automobile manufacturers in the world that he will still be able to buy a vehicle from one of them and still not run out of choices before his numbered days are up.
Dusty

 

[HGM]

Donny...... I believe that this is one customer that Ford can very well do without. Some people can't ever be satisfied, and it appears from his comments, that he is soured on Ford beyond any comprehensible and rational thought. When that happens, it is best for all concerned to give their business to some other car manufacturer. If they are pleased with that manufacturer, all will be well. If not, then that manufacturer will be no better off than Ford, and he will be sour on them. The only lucky thing here is that there are enough automobile manufacturers in the world that he will still be able to buy a vehicle from one of them and still not run out of choices before his numbered days are up.
Dusty

Dusty,
Although you make a valid point, thats partially why Ford(as well as GM and Chrysler) is where it is.. There is truth in the history that some American products had problems in the late 70's and a good portion of the 80's.. The people that were lost to Toyota and Honda(among others) in that timeframe remain to this day convinced that their product is superior to any American product.. That is simply a false belief that is so firmly ingrained that the American companies are struggling to keep up while trying to pay union debts agreed to many years ago when they could do no wrong and Toyota and Honda were not threats.. I can see Alans perspective and dislike for poor customer service regarding a product he had trouble with.. Being closely involved with this industry I can say beyond a doubt that his feelings are unfounded for todays company and its products, but I wouldnt blame him for holding a grudge.. I would just like to see everyone give the American car companies in general a fair chance against the overseas competitors and compare apples to apples(fresh ones, not 20yr old ones ).. Most people who dislike American cars would be surprised how far they have come in the last 20, or even 10yrs if they would just drive them..

 

[cp1969]

Yeah, but...what is an 'American' car company? One that has headquarters here and assembly plants in Canada and Mexico, or one that builds cars here and has headquarters overseas? Which one, in the end, returns more money to the economy of the US?

 

[HGM]

Yeah, but...what is an 'American' car company? One that has headquarters here and assembly plants in Canada and Mexico, or one that builds cars here and has headquarters overseas? Which one, in the end, returns more money to the economy of the US?

Unfortunatly your right... The unions have made it so the companies cannot afford to continue assebley here. There is no doubt in my mind that there is still a much larger percentage of money kept here with what we know as the Big 3 rather than the imports.. They're playing a shell game to get people believing that if you buy a Toyota you are helping the US economy, it eases their minds...

 

[Alan L.]

Donny...... I believe that this is one customer that Ford can very well do without. Some people can't ever be satisfied, and it appears from his comments, that he is soured on Ford beyond any comprehensible and rational thought. When that happens, it is best for all concerned to give their business to some other car manufacturer. If they are pleased with that manufacturer, all will be well. If not, then that manufacturer will be no better off than Ford, and he will be sour on them. The only lucky thing here is that there are enough automobile manufacturers in the world that he will still be able to buy a vehicle from one of them and still not run out of choices before his numbered days are up.
Dusty

Well, Dusty, and Donnie I sincerely hope that no product you use ever malfunctions in a dangerous fashion. When you have first hand knowledge of the malfunction, and you report it, then when you are deemed by the manufacturer to have been responsible somehow, and "a customer they can do without and soured on the company beyond any rational thought", then you'll know where I'm coming from.

What would be irrational would be to have a manufacturer steal from you, which is what Ford did, and then go buy one of their products in your lifetime.

I posted a story I believed relevant to the possible failure of Ford, and Donnie feels the need to provide the company line that such things just can't happen. Imagine yourself in a social setting, telling a story about something that happened to you, and having someone who has no knowledge of the incident basically state that its unlikely that it really happened as you told it, that you must have been at fault. Its not pleasant, let me tell you.

Any time someone has an honest story about a product failure, and then a poster that works for a dealer says "Yea customers say this and say that and its all BS", other readers tend to believe it. There is a certain amount of credibility attached to someone who "sees this all the time", thus your post is very damaging. My integrity on this board has been called into question, and I am pretty much powerless to change that.

 

[jcmseven]

I hope that Ford makes it. My family (parents, grandparents, etc.) have owned Ford cars since I was but a wee tot. In all those years, I can think of only one "lemon" my parents owned of the Ford Motor Company lineage. I have had great luck with my Ford Trucks and intend on getting a new diesel pickup when the new ones come out (provided I can stomach the price). I would say that FoMoCo and the other big three are mainly in trouble due to their inefficient labor practices, as well as there inherantly poor consumer marketing stance. I do not see this fact changing anytime soon, although they seem to be trying. My wife and I own and have owned some Honda products also, and one Toyota. My wife currently drives an MDX (her second) which has proven to be a very nice car, albeit pricey. I can say in our personal experience that although our Acura vehicles have been nice and have offered good service, I would not trade any of them personally for my Ford diesel pickup. The one nicety I wish Ford would improve upon, at least here, is the "service experience." It is very difficult to not have a demo or loaner when your vehicle is in for service and I have had some pick up and delivery problems when my truck has been in for routine service. I believe that to be a function of the dealer here, not necessarily the company, but many times the little things matter, especially as vehicles (trucks!) reach luxury car prices. My pickup has been such a nice and reliable truck, though, it has proven a minimal inconvenience for me.

John M

 

[Alan L.]

Dusty,
Although you make a valid point, thats partially why Ford(as well as GM and Chrysler) is where it is.. There is truth in the history that some American products had problems in the late 70's and a good portion of the 80's.. The people that were lost to Toyota and Honda(among others) in that timeframe remain to this day convinced that their product is superior to any American product.. That is simply a false belief that is so firmly ingrained that the American companies are struggling to keep up while trying to pay union debts agreed to many years ago when they could do no wrong and Toyota and Honda were not threats.. I can see Alans perspective and dislike for poor customer service regarding a product he had trouble with.. Being closely involved with this industry I can say beyond a doubt that his feelings are unfounded for todays company and its products, but I wouldnt blame him for holding a grudge.. I would just like to see everyone give the American car companies in general a fair chance against the overseas competitors and compare apples to apples(fresh ones, not 20yr old ones ).. Most people who dislike American cars would be surprised how far they have come in the last 20, or even 10yrs if they would just drive them..

I like the quality of the GM trucks I have owned. I still own a 2001 GMC Yukon with 110K miles and has never seen the shop. My 2003 GMC pickup was also very reliable when I traded it for a Honda Accord for economy reasons. I think the GM cars might be OK quality wise, just not something I would like to own. As for Fords, I don't know as I won't darken the door of a Ford dealer.

Thats not altogether true, as I did test drive a new Ford F150 in 2003 before I bought the GMC pickup. I preferred the ride of the GMC and the old saying "fool me once..." came to mind.

The biggest reason I tend not to buy an American car is resale. Quality might be a wrong perception, but resale value is readily determinable, and there is a big difference between the resale of a Ford Focus and a Honda Civic. Trucks are a different story.

I'm all for buying American, but I have to look after my own situation.

 

[Alan L.]

I have re-read this entire thread and I don't like the tone, my own included. Lets drop it. I have an incident in my past that I can't put aside, but its not of interest on this board. Lets act like I didn't post it and go on to more productive subject matter.

 

[Dusty]

Well, Dusty, and Donnie I sincerely hope that no product you use ever malfunctions in a dangerous fashion. When you have first hand knowledge of the malfunction, and you report it, then when you are deemed by the manufacturer to have been responsible somehow, and "a customer they can do without and soured on the company beyond any rational thought", then you'll know where I'm coming from.

What would be irrational would be to have a manufacturer steal from you, which is what Ford did, and then go buy one of their products in your lifetime.

I posted a story I believed relevant to the possible failure of Ford, and Donnie feels the need to provide the company line that such things just can't happen. Imagine yourself in a social setting, telling a story about something that happened to you, and having someone who has no knowledge of the incident basically state that its unlikely that it really happened as you told it, that you must have been at fault. Its not pleasant, let me tell you.

Any time someone has an honest story about a product failure, and then a poster that works for a dealer says "Yea customers say this and say that and its all BS", other readers tend to believe it. There is a certain amount of credibility attached to someone who "sees this all the time", thus your post is very damaging. My integrity on this board has been called into question, and I am pretty much powerless to change that.

In the late 1960's, I also owned a Datsun. It was a very economical car as far as fuel mileage was concerned, but it rusted away in less than two years. It also wasn't the most reliable car. Today, the Datsun is known as Nissan. They now make great cars and have done so for more than a decade or two. I didn't hold a grudge against them for there early performance failures. Possibly it is time for you to do the same thing. Forgive Ford for the past failures, and go on with life. There is no sense in going to your grave holding grudges. Life is too short, whether it be a automobile company or a old time friend that offended you a while ago. My roommate from college died last year, and I didn't learn of this for a few months. We were very close for many years, but as we both got older, family and grandchildren took over and our friendship wained. Too this day, I am saddened that I didn't make that call every couple of weeks. Time just flew by without notice. Now it is too late. I know that a car company isn't in the same as a old friend, but I sense that if you hold a grudge against a car company, what happens when it is a friend that said the wrong thing. Hopefully you won't hold that grudge like you have with Ford for so long.
Dusty