How Good Are Ford Dealers

[dave_m]

Be honest here based on any experiences you have had.

 

There must be some good Dealerships out there :rolleyes:

[Andrew T]

I've voted good.

 

Although on cost grounds I only use a main agent when there is no alternative, I've been pleased with the service I've received. On one occasion I'd booked the Gal

[dave_m]

Names of dealers and locations would be handy to help people find an honest reliable dealer :)

[Andrew T]

This shining example of a competent Ford dealership is Rufus Carr in Clitheroe, Lancs tel 01200 422173.

[galaxychap]

my local dealer is crap hendy fords cosham they left a rag on the exhaust while working under car,dirty seats greasy steering wheel would never use them again i now go to fleet repair centre formally ford repair centre in havant

[dave_m]

the reason i started this topic is because of the poor levels of service I have received from the dealers i have used.

 

the first problem was to do with the cooling system, the car would occasionally lose some coolant and heaters would go cold at idle and heat again when rpm increased. I asked the dealer to check the cooling system when it was serviced and they told me all was o.k.

 

A couple of weeks later it done it again and this time car overheated and i took it back to the dealer again, they replaced the thermostat,checked the waterpump checked the system for leaks and returned the car to me, telling me they think its all sorted.

 

drove it 30 miles home and this time severely overheated right to top of scale.

 

took it back to them they replaced the waterpump as they said this was faulty. got car back and same happened again.

 

They then informed me that the Head Gasket had gone and that the cylinder head was dameged and needed replacing as they cannot skim them.

 

Ended up with a bill for about

[Andrew T]

Taking the thermostat out is a classic bodgers trick used to sell a car with dodgy head!

 

Possibly they removed it because they found the problem persisted after the Gasket was changed. If the head really has been replaced that would eliminate the possibility of a cracked head. Does it use any coolant now ?

 

 

Sounds like it's time to involve trading standards.

[dave_m]

Head has definately been replaced, i checked this thoroughly and the date on it is 2004 and the car is a 2001 so the did change it, car is all good now i have fitted a thermostat.

 

i'll see what the service manager has to say about the missing thermostat,

[vRS Binz]

Excerpt from a letter written to my main dealer, relates to a 2.3 Zetec 51 plate.

 

11th November 2005 (Mileage 40722) My vehicle was booked into your dealership, for the above mentioned service, and to look at 2 additional faults, bad squeak from under the bonnet and a steering problem.

 

During the day I was informed that the windscreen wipers, an indicator light, front brake pads all required replacing and that the squeak had been traced to a leaking union on the power steering pump that had contaminated the auxillary drive belt and this too would require replacing. I agreed to proceed with the work providing that it was completed on that day.

 

I travelled down to the dealers at 16:30 to collect my car to find that it wasn

[GSMGuy]

Ford? Sorry NEVER again...

 

 

Mike

[seatkid]

I am not allowed to participate in polls like this as my comments are often misinterpreted.

 

 

"Soon be Easter again...."

[Guest MATT]

i put average.

 

the dealership as a whole is not so good. i have bought two cars from Bristol street motors (in Newcastle) both ford Galaxy's.

 

i think there sales department are cocky gits.

 

when i bought my 1st galaxy (a T reg 2.3 manual, it was either an LX or a zetec) the test drive was very short, and the engine seemed ok.

 

so i bought it, and after two days, it wouldn't start :angry: anyway - a new battery sorted that, and the car was very good.

 

BUT they were supposed to have valeted the whole car - and i think there valeter must be blind, it was filthy, so i complained, and they said they would do it again, took it in, and it was still dirty. so in the end, i took it to Joe soaps, who did a brilliant job.

 

the actual service mechanics seem very good at their jobs, very professional, but the admin department, are useless! like i had a MOT done, the mechanic phoned me to say it had passed, i got to the service reception, she give me back my documents, missing the new MOT certificate. when i later found out, they said i would have to pay for another MOT, but after much negotiations, i got another FREE MOT.

 

then about 2 years later, i took it in, and did a part exchange for the one ive got now, a X reg, MKII TDI Automatic Zetec. there were a few problems that i asked the sales man to get fixed before i bought it. he said "no problem sir", i dont believe he even asked the repair men to look at it!

 

then i ordered some new trim, they got the wrong bits, then the wrong colour etc.

 

then i recently got my galaxy serviced, again, the mechanic that did it, was very good, but the admin let them down - no courtesy car - and had to go back in to have an exhaust fitted, now this is confusing, the mechanic phoned me to say it needed it, but the admin said it was all ready to go???? <lack of communication maybe???>

 

but overall, this is the last car i will buy from them, next time im going to Fords of Wisford. i might still get my car serviced at Bristol street tho.

 

MATT