Pete A

Trying to see who makes the seat!!!!!!!

Particularly the 2nd hand sales guys. Really bad. You are best to form a relationship with them once you can see they are decent and they know they can't bullsh*t you. I have had such a relationship with my dealer and I've bought 5 new cars off them over abour 10 years. When I walk in there they are respectiful as I know them all. This might be the exception, but I don't think so. There are others out there.

My son bought his 09G6ET from Titan and I was there when the negotiation was taking place. The negotiation was fine and we had to be hard on them as the tyres were almost bald etc etc. Anyway we negotatioed a spare and 4 tyres, cheap as they were but the package he got was pretty good. However I just didn't like their attitude at all, they were continually arogant. Anyway when we got the car home we found the underside of the car infested with redback spiders. Quite disturbing. When the dealership was contacted they basically said spray the car and pretty much dismissed it. It ewnded up we had to fumidate the whole car to be sure. Anyway now 2 years on the car is fine but their attitude was less than average. There are good Ford dealers out there. Unfortunately there are some lemons as well. In your case I would have walked out immediately they started insulting me. There are pleanty of great Turbos out there. Be patient. I would never recommend Titan Ford to anyone. Worth driving a bit more to get a good one.

Dealer told me to watch out around middle of the year.

Mine has hardly any play. If it's working OK and doesn't get any worse, it's probably OK.

I've never said there should be no SUV's, or 4X$. Buy one if you need one. I used to use the good old trailer for the hard work. My point is many buy them and don't use them for what they were intended. Like owning a 6T and not doing track days!!!!!! I've never worked out limited eddition marketing or whatever you call it. It seems to be, and they state , that they need to keep certain cars to certain price brackets and that's why they limit inclusions on some models. I really don't believe that. I told my dealer that because Ford have not put a DSG gearbox in the Focus ST they are forcing me into Renault or Merc for a hot hatch. Can't work it out. I told them I would pay more money, but I wanted a DSG gearbox! The RS was a weapn and they should have brought more here. I actually think it was overpriced, but I don't think they had trouble selling them all. Getting parts might be a problem later though. But all the manufacturers make similar stupid decisions.

Probably 80% of the SUV's on the road will never see dirt!

Absolutely true, but it won't save Expensive Daewoo either.

If you look at all the "reports" inuendo and other forums discussing this topic, the one fact exists is that the buying public have changed their habits. Personally I think they are mad because this paralysing shift to SUV vehicles just don't make sense. They are expensive to run and maintain and clog the roads. The peak "mum taking the little darlings to school" looks like there are only SUV's on the road. So if you want to ditch your Falcon or Commodom for a smaller cheaper car to run, then that's your choice. It's something I'm half seriously(I said half) looking at myself from an 6T to a Focus XT for example. But it's not becasue the 6T is bad at all! Both Ford and Expensive Daewoo make a very decent local large car, and in most cases up to world standard. It's volume and cost. If the volume goes down the cost has to go down. In my industry we've streamlined the number of products we produce or created a common platform to provide products. This lowers the overall cost significantly. The auto industry is in exactly the same situation with them all talking about "global platforms" Ford id probably leading that initiative and Expensive Daewoo will also follow - they have to. Unless you can create a boutique Marque product that demands a very high price, localised mmanufaturing will be a thing of the past. The days are numbered for the locally produced cars, Ford, Expensive Daewoo and Toyota. It's just a matter of time. I would hope that all these manufacturers will recognise the excellence we have here in the industry and reutilise that tallent in their global platforms. That way the industry can be in a stronger position because they are producing for the world martket - not jut a local market of very limited growth potential. As for what will replace Falcon. I've bought my wife a Focus Titanium a year back, and I cannot speak more highly of this vehicle. If this s a sample of what will be a "global platform car" from Ford, I say bring it on! Replacements for the FPV? I've already told my dealer that if they decide to bring the Mustang out here, sign me up! No questions asked. But I think they will also look at an "Australianised Fusion SVO or whatever it's called" as a potential replacement for Falcon. Let's wait and see. I would be very surprised if any of local production survive the global push. Having said all that I hope the Falcon does survive. This 6T I have is the finest car I've ever driven, and I've driven a lot. Cheers.

I really don't know why people watch those morons. There's just no point to the whole thing.

Had a ticking tail-shaft on my BAII that happened after the tranny was replaced.. Very evident when under load. They replaced it as well. Luckily under warranty.

Chck the sub connector hasn't come out of the back of the amp. It is a separate connector.

I like my Galaxy because, I can print from it to any network printer, it's an identidied device on my home network for file interchange,I can work with files that are not just music, pictures, or video. I can control where my files come and go from. I can hook into my office networks. It works really good in my XR6T. No issues at all. Apple works good with Apple. full stop. If you have Macbooks, iPads and all that get an iPhone. It makes sense. If you work in the real world of business and needing to interface with just about anything, then Android is the way to go. IMO anyway. I think they are both good devices, just get the one that gives you the flexibility you need. Wife has a Galaxy 1. had it for a couple years and has worked well. She got an iPad a years ago and now her phone needs replacing. I told her without hesitation to get an iPhone. It makes sense.

I went from XR8 to 6T. Never, ever, regretted it

Plugs?

Yes. Car manufacturers get rid of investments (other car badges they own) regularly. WIth the global downturn which Toyota is in just as much trouble as the other biggies, there is no such thing as a safe investment. In the end even if the co-operative works, it's still a Toyota and Japaese cars design dates very quickly. It's not that good looking to start with.

Still looks like a Toyota. Mechanically it may be a great car, Subaru. At $40K will put it against the new Focus ST, GTi etc. Still looks like a Toyota. I'm more interested how and why Toyota and Subaru can create a co-operative car? What happens when the relationship fails?

Brother bought new 535 2 years ago. Had it 6 months. sold it. Lot's a niggly problems, elecetrics, oil leaks, nothing major at that point and he wasn't willing to wait for the big problems to start.. Probably could be classified as a lemon. Bought a Mec and has had no problems with it and that's probably close to 18 months now. He confirmed what lot's have said. When you pay that sort of dough ofr a car, you expect better. I also think that Beammers are way too common. But that's just a different observation. Have a mate who had an M series for a couple of years. On the F3 it caught fire and burnt to the ground. Had a court battle for another year against BMW (he eventually won) who said "their cars don't catch fire" and so the problem was caused by the owner. The courts didn't see it that way and eventually he got an out of court settlement. He's now driving an Alpha! The arrogance of BMW was amazing.

I'm talking about the ST based on the 2L Ecco boost engine. ~$40K base price rumoured. Not the 5pot Volvo dinosaur engine. The wife's Titanium is a lot bigger inside than you would think. But certainly smaller. Don't need a Falcon any more, the kids are all grown and gone! The Ecco boost will have significantly better fuel ecconomy I would think.

http://www.ford.com/cars/focus/focusst/

My FG6T is a great car and I've been real happy with it. Dream to drive. HEAPS of grunt. Coming up to 4 years old and due for replacement I've been looking very closely at the Focus ST scheduled to arrive in OZ late Q3. Man this machine is an absolute weapon. The wife has a Titanium and I am imensely impressed with the build quality and features. When you add a ballsy engine to it, I really am attracted to it over the 6T. Have booked the first test drive with the dealer when it arrives. AT $40 -45K rumoured price, this could be the way to go. The FG II doesn't give me any great improvement over the FG I. Another option is a Phoon or GS but at 20K more is it a real option? I guess the test drive will be the key. One way or the other this ST looks like a real winner. Some good promos on Utube.

I had a similar problem with my BAII. Ford mechanic took it for a drive. Told me what it was as soon as the problem came up. Had it fixed the next day. Tail shaft balance.

To be honest I've been turned off the V8 racing over recent months/years. Just too boring with over-regulation and the lack of brand loyalty. It's clear that the best drivers and teams win the races and has little to do with the cars themselves or the technology in them. I watched it yesterday and it was some of the best racing I've ever seen. 3 guys at the tope of their game but even the action back in the pack was good. Looks like Ford and Expensive Daewoo now have pretty much equal packages now, and If they could get back to this stuff reliably, I'd probably watch it again reliably. It was GREAT!

I still see them. But about 2:1 6T's would be my guess. There's 2or 3 unmarked 6T's that patrol the M2 I see often in the work zones.

So what does disconnecting the battery (for any reason) do? Doesn't it reset all sorts of computer stuff in the car? I've got a good quality charger and have never boothered disconnecting a terminal. What changes when you remove a terminal?