Finally Happy With My Car

[Guest TRACK]

I have been a bit quiet here lately, basically because my frustration levels had grown to dangerous proportions and I had come to the conclusion that my car was never going to be fixed.

Well basically I was right, about 3 weeks ago I picked my car up from the dealer for the 27th time after it received yet another gearbox and diff. Finally everything was working as it should, except for the flatspots in the engine, rough idle etc. etc.

For those of you that know the history with my car know that I have been somewhat frustrated by the latest Ford product.

I can now honestly say I am very happy with my XR6T now, because I DON'T HAVE IT ANY MORE!!! The T is goooone and some serious V10 Munich muscle now graces my garage. 373KW (stock) with a 7 speed sequential gearbox wrapped in Black shinny metal is much nicer, especially when everything works as it should.

The funny thing is, for the 2 days before I picked up my new beast, my car would jump out of 2nd gear on anything more than 2/3rds throttle, so I guess there new gearbox wasn't much good. The car was being wholesaled, and I really pitty the person who ends up with it. It had 86,000km on it, my advice would be to steer well clear of it.

For the record here is the history for my now gooone car:

1. 15 week wait – Quoted 4 - 6 weeks, as a result incurred the additional 1.5% price increase after signing contracts, due to Ford’s non-delivery by June 03. (This is not a defect, but not a good start)

2. Resprayed bonnet, faulty paint

3. Retinted 4 windows – scratches

4. Loose steering rack

5. Exhaust rattle

6. Squealing brakes – Machined rotors – kept squealing though

7. Sunroof rattles – still does, not as bad though

8. Back fire – blew off a number of inlet hoses

9. Replaced drivers side air bag assembly and wiring harness

10. Drivers door lock rattles – still does

11. Flat spots – still does

12. Over boost causing limp mode

13. Rough idle – still does

14. Stalls

15. Notchy power delivery – still does

16. Inconsistent power delivery – still does

17. Faulty handbrake. Scraping noise / will not hold in reverse – attempted to be fixed approx. 6 times

18. Heavy drive line clunk (2nd to 3rd change) – still does

19. Excessive / loose driveline – backlash – still does

20. Replaced gearbox – 5th gear crunching

21. Replaced fuel pump

22. Replaced waste gate

23. Bi-passed turbo boost solenoid

24. Replaced turbo boost solenoid

25. Hydraulic lifter type noise when cold

26. Replaced turbo

27. Replaced water pump

28. Replaced driver door locking mechanism – still rattles

29. Replaced brake pads – TSB on squealing premium brakes

30. Replaced broken trim while being serviced

31. Clunk on full lock – Re-adjust steering rack

32. Grumble from rear end – Diff chatter

33. Engine re-flash LOTS of times

34. Air leak around turbo somewhere

35. Replaced turbo again

36. Replaced oxygen sensor

37. Diff whine around 95km/hr - Replaced

38. Clutch shudder on light take off – replaced

39. Flywheel machined

40. Paint flaking off intercooler cover - replaced

41. Rattle under the front passenger seat

42. Gear knob dull with loose rotating leather surround – replaced

43. Sticky stuff left on rear window, after Ford covered up the sign

44. Air leak around turbo somewhere – Again – Removed and resealed

45. Oil leak from turbo – Removed and sealed

46. Gear cluster pack rattle from gearbox - still

47. Rattle in drivers door lock – Again

48. Tail shaft vibration at above 50km/hr - Rebalanced

49. Diff whine around 95km/hr – Again (2nd diff) – 3rd diff ordered

50. Excessive driveline clunk – Again

51. Severe air leak from turbo – Again. Removed and resealed again (5th time the turbo has been removed) (3rd turbo on car)

52. Boot light failure - Still

53. Exhaust rattle under boot – Still

54. 5th gear crunching at 120km/hr + (again).

55. Idle hunts, 200 – 1,200rpm (again)

56. Diff replaced (3rd) hand built grade 10 diff

57. Gearbox rebuilt, 5th gear mesh set

58. Boot latch replaced

59. Boot light switch replaced

60. Boot light wiring harness replaced

61. Throttle body removed and cleaned – Didn’t fix the idle hunting

62. Jumping out of 2nd gear on 2/3rds throttle

63. ….

Ford really need to have a good hard look at themselves. Even the motoring journos have woken up to them and prefer the dark side products.

It's been good chatting with you guys from time to time, but cya later.

Regards

Track

[FPVPSI]

so new M5...very nice, I thought there was a monster waiting list (2007) on those babies...must have got in nice and early!

Anyways good luck with you new monster and when u get the chance post some pics...

[Guest TRACK]

Black is best, but a bugger to keep lean!

Yes I did get in early, it's been on order for quite some time!

It's an interesting concept to lay down substantial deposit money on something you can't drive yet. I got to drive one about 4 weeks before I was able to pick it up!

Seriously fun. Check out the link below.

M5 Video link

[DBOSS]

Make fcukn awesome car and vid

CYA JEFF

[Cro]

Track, good on ya mate

If you need anyone to detail it for you, and even run it in, just let me know

[JoeG]

Awesome car....simply superb!! I just want one!!!

What's it like on the juice though?? Premium only??

[bugster70]

Wow, I'm so envious.

Money no object, that's the car that'd be in my garage too mate! Great vid too, that guy could drive!! Good luck with the M5 Track, thanks for posting that vid!

[slikxr6t]

Good to hear TRACK! You must be stoked with the M5 after all the trouble you had with your T. Enjoy! Great vid too.

[ColinT]

I hope you were honest when you traded it in and told the dealer what a lemon it was.

I guess we can wait for a new member to the forum to start complaining.

Nice looking new car, but then again don't remember seeing any ugly BMW's.

The video clip is fantastic.

Edited 07/10/05 01:07 AM by ColinT

[mattyc]

Logical step from an Falcon T to an M5? How'd you manage that financially?