It truly was interesting when I went back to Jones West Ford and picked up my truck.
My service advisor refused to call in for authorization from my extended warranty provider (Quality) because they don't deal with them. He said Quality owes them $100,000 and he wouldn't call. Well, can't get the coverage if they won't call and get authorization first. So I'm (temporarily hopefully) out $550 for the repair and $2000 for the extended warranty.
I’m not very happy, but I felt I had little choice. It wasn’t serious stuff that needed to be fixed. It was the emissions system. The truck would have driven fine. I could have waited and fought it beforehand, but I didn’t want that hassle either. I got it fixed because I don’t want to be a smoggy person. I might not be firmly standing in the global-warming-is-going-to-kill-us-all camp, but the least I can do is drive a vehicle that doesn’t emit more greenhouse gasses than normal because I haven’t maintained it. So, the repair had to be done.
Still, I have news for Ford Motor Company. Allowing multiple vendors to cover Ford extended warranties will factor heavily into my next vehicle purchase. All that means though is I won't purchase another long term warranty. I did when I bought this truck because I was living in a land-locked rural Alaskan community where car repairs are astronomically priced. There was a Ford mechanic in my town, but Dodge owners had to fly a mechanic out to work on their trucks. It was a remote corner of the planet and the added protection seemed a good idea at the time.
Speaking of Dodge....
My coworker went on and on about how wonderful her Dodge is, and I just smiled and didn’t tell her that all I hear is blah-blah-blah-blah-blah (like Charlie Brown’s adults). I've heard it all before. If Dodge was so much better, they wouldn't have a service department, would they? And, if I know that the Dodge service department irritates people too. A handful of years back one of the Iditarod winners was coming into Nome for his second win. Part of the purse includes a new Dodge truck. He said something like: “Oh, great, now I have two trucks that are famous for $1000 repairs.”
The bright side of this whole matter is that I can't afford a Ferrari. Can you imagine the bill the Ferrari mechanic would have handed me!
Maybe I should write an auto salesman or car mechanic hero. Could be some fun conflict to resolve.
My service advisor refused to call in for authorization from my extended warranty provider (Quality) because they don't deal with them. He said Quality owes them $100,000 and he wouldn't call. Well, can't get the coverage if they won't call and get authorization first. So I'm (temporarily hopefully) out $550 for the repair and $2000 for the extended warranty.
I’m not very happy, but I felt I had little choice. It wasn’t serious stuff that needed to be fixed. It was the emissions system. The truck would have driven fine. I could have waited and fought it beforehand, but I didn’t want that hassle either. I got it fixed because I don’t want to be a smoggy person. I might not be firmly standing in the global-warming-is-going-to-kill-us-all camp, but the least I can do is drive a vehicle that doesn’t emit more greenhouse gasses than normal because I haven’t maintained it. So, the repair had to be done.
Still, I have news for Ford Motor Company. Allowing multiple vendors to cover Ford extended warranties will factor heavily into my next vehicle purchase. All that means though is I won't purchase another long term warranty. I did when I bought this truck because I was living in a land-locked rural Alaskan community where car repairs are astronomically priced. There was a Ford mechanic in my town, but Dodge owners had to fly a mechanic out to work on their trucks. It was a remote corner of the planet and the added protection seemed a good idea at the time.
Speaking of Dodge....
My coworker went on and on about how wonderful her Dodge is, and I just smiled and didn’t tell her that all I hear is blah-blah-blah-blah-blah (like Charlie Brown’s adults). I've heard it all before. If Dodge was so much better, they wouldn't have a service department, would they? And, if I know that the Dodge service department irritates people too. A handful of years back one of the Iditarod winners was coming into Nome for his second win. Part of the purse includes a new Dodge truck. He said something like: “Oh, great, now I have two trucks that are famous for $1000 repairs.”
The bright side of this whole matter is that I can't afford a Ferrari. Can you imagine the bill the Ferrari mechanic would have handed me!
Maybe I should write an auto salesman or car mechanic hero. Could be some fun conflict to resolve.
The Iditarod is barbaric. For the facts, visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition website, http://www.helpsleddogs.org
ReplyDeleteFerraris are nice but not worth the mechanical trouble. *sheesh*
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain hun. Recently, someone for some unknown reason pushed our car through our fence with their own car (I'm guessing they were drunk). We now have scratches from towing it out and a dented bumper. Just can't afford to get it fixed.
Oh for crying out loud! Hit your car and pushed it through a fence. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteI have never owned a car from a American automaker. My father bought Buicks every few years and they screwed him royally with poor service and broken promises.
ReplyDeleteUntil recently I always drove a Saab. When GM bought them and turned the 9 series into elaborate Chevys, I bought an Audi.
My younger brother has been leasing GM and Ford cars for years through work. When he changed jobs and was required to purchase his own vehicle, he bought a Toyota.
Here is the difference between GM and Audi. I wrote GM about my concerns and got a form letter telling me that, while they couldn't answer my letter directly, I should rest assured that my comments were taken seriously. When I wrote Audi I got a follow up call from a customer care representative with not only an answer, but help in making arrangements with a local dealer to address my concern.
The only thing sadder than the performance of GM and Ford is the fact that people keep purchasing their vehicles.
My recommendation is that you trade in your Ford for a Toyota truck.