Driveline Shunt with our GT.

[HSE2]

A conversation with a disgruntled HSV owner..........true story.

Was at the local Shell garage yesterday and was walking back to my car after paying the bill when I spies a VY HSV Clubbie next to the fox, guy asks me if the 'fox' is mine (chest puffs out, start to strut), "yep" I says to which this guy says he is selling his "heap of Sh!t" (his words) for a BA GT. He reckons he has scrubbed two sets of rear tyres since new and the handling and back end of his car is cr@p!! He was one very unhappy chappie. Of course I gave glowing reports on the GT as well as the brake squeal problem I have got (Ford fix.........soon!! ).

He asked me about the difference in the GT and the GT-P, and has decided to go the GT as he could'nt justify the extra for the P and does'nt plan on doing a lot of track work.

So there you go, whatever car you choose there is always the risk of a lemon! Although that does'nt justify Ford's customer service (or lack there of) when you have a genuine issue.

The VY clubbie in our fold is hard on tyres too, but generally speaking if it is only tyres that are the problem I wouldn't go as far as calling it crap.

The Expensive Daewoo chassis is harder on tyres and that is before the IRS is taken into account with chamber movement or lack there of. The Holden’s have diff trouble brake trouble and engine trouble just like FPV has had. What makes it worse from the Ford point of view is that they were sitting back watching the HSV dramas only to repeat the same mistakes. In some ways it isn’t surprising given where the componentry is soured from.

The problem with this issue is that it isn't consistent. It’s a genuine lottery.

A problem can't be normal for a model while ever there remains a reasonable high percentage of variance with said problem between examples of the same model.

Ultimately this is a Ford problem. Ford foots the bill for all warranty claims. If I was having this problem with the BA and was being told the same thing I would be requesting other examples to prove what was being said was correct.

I have driven enough to know that the difference between good examples and bad examples is huge and noticeable but sometimes the dealers need to be confronted with the evidence. (They already know)

The fact is any dealership has the power to try and rectify consumer concerns. This is a known flaw and as such trying to help the customer shouldn't raise red flags.

Edited 09/05/04 11:39 PM by HSE2

[turbotom]

Hi there Mondie.

You have every right to be absolutely ropeable about the lack of a satisfactory solution.

Ford obviously can't solve the issue within their specific warranty budget allocation.

There are too many units out there with problems, and maybe they have NOT got a fix for it, and the obvious path they have taken is to state they are within spec. If they were to say otherwise, or to repair only a few, then a precedent is established which makes it more difficult for them to deny responsibility.

I'm no lawyer, but maybe there is one amongst us on the forum.

If there are enough individuals with the same problem, who have not been satisfied by FORD, then maybe there is an option for a class action against Ford.

Nobody should accept a driveline shunt as exagerated as some of our members have in a new vehicle built these days. It is purely a poorly engineered driveline which is causing all these woes, and until Ford gets a serious bout of concern that it may cost them MORE to NOT fix the problem (eg loss of class action, bad publicity, loss of future sales etc etc ) then they will continue to supply this inferior driveline and call it acceptable.

There are other problems affecting a lot of us (eg brake shudder) but they seem to be easier to rectify than this issue.

Hope things work out for you Mondie, but I'd agree, if I was in your position (as I was 25 years ago when I bought my previous new Ford * note) I'd be shopping elsewhere.

*note: I had issues with a brand new XB Falcon and swore I'd NEVER, EVER buy another Ford. Last year, I bought the BA ute. my first Ford product for over 25 years. So far it's been good. small issues, dealt with under warranty without problem. But I'd hate to have the problems you have Mondie, 'cause it would have definitely made me forget about them FOREVER!

Maybe we should be encouraging everyone who orders a new BA to stipulate in their contracts, that they will only purchase after they have test driven their new car. If enough people start pushing for a clause in their purchase contract, Ford WILL Notice.

Once again, hope you can find a suitable solution.

cheers

tom

[BA_Turbs]

Maybe we should be encouraging everyone who orders a new BA to stipulate in their contracts, that they will only purchase after they have test driven their new car. If enough people start pushing for a clause in their purchase contract, Ford WILL Notice.

Interesting theory. I wonder how you would go trying that at a dealer...

[Mondie]

Hi there Mondie.

You have every right to be absolutely ropeable about the lack of a satisfactory solution.

Ford obviously can't solve the issue within their specific warranty budget allocation.

There are too many units out there with problems, and maybe they have NOT got a fix for it, and the obvious path they have taken is to state they are within spec. If they were to say otherwise, or to repair only a few, then a precedent is established which makes it more difficult for them to deny responsibility.

I'm no lawyer, but maybe there is one amongst us on the forum.

If there are enough individuals with the same problem, who have not been satisfied by FORD, then maybe there is an option for a class action against Ford.

Nobody should accept a driveline shunt as exagerated as some of our members have in a new vehicle built these days. It is purely a poorly engineered driveline which is causing all these woes, and until Ford gets a serious bout of concern that it may cost them MORE to NOT fix the problem (eg loss of class action, bad publicity, loss of future sales etc etc ) then they will continue to supply this inferior driveline and call it acceptable.

There are other problems affecting a lot of us (eg brake shudder) but they seem to be easier to rectify than this issue.

Hope things work out for you Mondie, but I'd agree, if I was in your position (as I was 25 years ago when I bought my previous new Ford * note) I'd be shopping elsewhere.

*note: I had issues with a brand new XB Falcon and swore I'd NEVER, EVER buy another Ford. Last year, I bought the BA ute. my first Ford product for over 25 years. So far it's been good. small issues, dealt with under warranty without problem. But I'd hate to have the problems you have Mondie, 'cause it would have definitely made me forget about them FOREVER!

Maybe we should be encouraging everyone who orders a new BA to stipulate in their contracts, that they will only purchase after they have test driven their new car. If enough people start pushing for a clause in their purchase contract, Ford WILL Notice.

Once again, hope you can find a suitable solution.

cheers

tom

Tom, thanks for the reply, l agree 100% with everything you have said.

There is no doubt Ford have to treat this issue as a "non issue" as much as they can. The liability they must be exposed to for all the sub standard BA's and even AU's would be huge. All 3 senior techs who have driven the car agree its normal as far as Ford is concerned, but unacceptable in their opinion. l want Ford to either;

- repair the car

- replace the car with an auto or manual that doesnt have shunt

- give me my money back

The car is a POS to drive around town,and is getting worse. Now l have more fun belting around in an 11 year old flogged out twincab Hilux ute with 250000km under its belt.

l will give Ford/FPV a few weeks to kick this around. My next step will be to contact the Dept of Fair Trading. l have heard they can be difficlult to get action from, but l have plenty of time and evidence to support my case (this site should contain a significant amount of evidence in itself) Speaking to a lawyer is a last resort but getting a group of people together to share costs wouldnt be hard IMO.

As you have suggested, l highly recommend anyone taking delivery of a manual BA has a test drive before handing over the cheque, although in my case the shunt was only subtle for the first few thousand km.

Cheers Simon

[ZAP]

I have warned my dealer that I will be spending about 1 hour inspecting and testing the car before I accept delivery.

I will not be too fussed if there are minor problems, but I will not accept the car if it has a shunt.

They know that I will be looking for this problem and the poor paint, but I am hoping it will not be an issue.

[mercturbo]

I have warned my dealer that I will be spending about 1 hour inspecting and testing the car before I accept delivery.

I will not be too fussed if there are minor problems, but I will not accept the car if it has a shunt.

They know that I will be looking for this problem and the poor paint, but I am hoping it will not be an issue.

How did they react when you said this?

[Mondie]

Wow, this thread has had 1000 hits.

Still no action though

Anybody want to buy a POS?

[HSE2]

For a fleeting moment I considered canceling my intended purchase and buy the Gt in the showroom at my local dealership. Possible the nicest GT I have come across and had the perfect list of options for me.

I came home and read this thread and promptly wiped any such thoughts from my mind.

That’s one missed sale because of this issue. Mondies problem just cost Ford 67k in the here and now. Keep going and it will cost them alot more in the not too distant future.

Edited 12/05/04 01:29 AM by HSE2

[Mondie]

Well, l just got the call from FPV l knew l was always going to get.

"They are working on the problem, there is nothing they can do at this time, its a characteristic of the driveline in these cars, the fix could be a few months away, your file will remain on top and we will call you when the fix is available, we will keep in touch blah blah"

So who has experience in dealing with the Office of Fair Trading?

l am pissed off.

[Mondie]

For a fleeting moment I considered canceling my intended purchase and buy the Gt in the showroom at my local dealership. Possible the nicest GT I have come across and had the perfect list of options for me.

I came home and read this thread and promptly wiped any such thoughts from my mind.

That’s one missed sale because of this issue. Mondies problem just cost Ford 67k in the here and now. Keep going and it will cost them alot more in the not too distant future.

Good stuff mate, that's one less POS on the road.

l know how much of a car enthusiast you are and believe me, the car would have done nothing but annoyed the hell out of you.