Althouse: The Ford experience.

February 29, 2024

The Ford experience.

Meade texts from the service waiting room:

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51 comments:

Meade said...: They have everything: massage chair, espresso, in-house service lab greeter…; 2/29/24, 10:03 AM
jaydub said...: ….everything except a quality product.; 2/29/24, 10:25 AM
rehajm said...: Ask if they have a heated windshield for a Defender- I'll come pick it up. A long shot I know as the brands aren't really connected anymore...; 2/29/24, 10:31 AM
Meade said...: Sorry, rehajm, they say they don’t.; 2/29/24, 10:47 AM
Rafe said...: “ ….everything except a quality product.”

Never owned anything but Fords, and never had a significant issue with one prior to hitting 300K miles…; 2/29/24, 10:49 AM
Rafe said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/29/24, 11:02 AM
Chest Rockwell said...: My current car is a Ford, bought new in 2014. Had a recall for it 4 years in, due to an overheating engine. Ford's solution was to add a sensor to the coolant to let me know when it was low. They installed the fix a year late, and a year after that, post warranty, the engine block cracked. Ford wouldn't cover the cost of course, so I had a new one put in for 6K. The dealership threw in a new turbo as a conciliation.

My next car is going to be a Hyundai.

Cool dog though. Retrievers are the best breed!; 2/29/24, 11:03 AM
Enigma said...: Dogs are dogs and every kind human is an owner. Replace the D.C. workforce with dogs please.

What? No stale coffee in a Styrofoam cup? Fancy K-cups now??? Were there cone-shaped paper water cups at least? They dumped the stiff upright chairs with one short leg? They dumped the greasy old sofas?; 2/29/24, 11:05 AM
rehajm said...: Thanks for asking Meade...

...that dog's a shill. I bet they didn't ask...seems okay with the arrangement, I guess. Meade is new favorite no doubt...; 2/29/24, 11:05 AM
Kevin said...: ..that dog's a shill.

If he keeps leading you to the showroom floor, you know the fix is in.; 2/29/24, 11:21 AM
Rusty said...: Meade said...
They have everything: massage chair, espresso, in-house service lab greeter…
That's great, but can anybody in the shop actualy fix anything?
(I'd stop by just to hang out with the dog); 2/29/24, 11:24 AM
Skeptical Voter said...: I buy new cars and keep them for about ten years. I've had a 95 Ford Explorer and a 2013 Ford Flex. Each has been fairly reliable, but each has had a problem or two that they shouldn't have. Not quite like the Chevy Tahoe I had that needed a new rear axle at 120,000 miles--and which had a bolt drop out of the steering wheel assembly leaving me no steering. Fortunately, that happened at a stop sign, rather than on the freeway at 70 mph--in which case I wouldn't be here to write this comment.

Dealerships do vary in the quality of service and waiting rooms they offer. The local Ford dealership is okay. It could use a Labrador Retriever greeter--which it doesn't have.
But on quality issues? I just replaced the Flex--with a new Subaru Outback. Reports of quality problems with the current Ford Explorer helped me make that decision.; 2/29/24, 11:28 AM
Big Mike said...: Ford — and the rest of the US automakers — have lost me as a customer by removing sedans from their lineups. For the first time since the 1970s I will be buying a foreign make when my car gives up (though as a septuagenarian I recognize thst my body might give out before my car does),; 2/29/24, 11:30 AM
Joe Smith said...: Cute dog.

A dealership dog.

Reminds me of winery dogs in Napa Valley.; 2/29/24, 11:37 AM
Joe Smith said...: 'They have everything: massage chair, espresso, in-house service lab greeter…'

Actually, once they diagnose your car, the dog comes out to give you the lab results...; 2/29/24, 11:39 AM
Mr Wibble said...: 13/10 bestest service.; 2/29/24, 11:48 AM
Yukon Cornelius said...: Be sure to stick around for when the cat with the Chevy collar stops by. Those Ford vs. Chevy arguments are always amusing.; 2/29/24, 11:51 AM
Heartless Aztec said...: Wallet support dawg, there to commiserate and help take the take the sting out of the $125 an hour labor costs.; 2/29/24, 11:59 AM
Tina Trent said...: I just got my fourth serious recall on a Kia Sorrento. Someone snapped the door handle off trying to break into it; now the spark plugs can burst into flames, so we have to park it 150 feet from the house until they can acquire non-exploding spark plugs (October, they say); the engine can also spontaneously explode, so they installed a chip that yells "danger, danger" and you have 40 seconds before the car stops moving (imagine that in North Georgia traffic).

So I called up Kia international and asked that if the spark plugs blew up simultaneously with the engine blowing up, would I get two new engines?

I just got a letter in the mail saying they ran it up legal and no, I would only get one new engine.

At least they're easy to steal. On the down side, they're worth nothing if someone manages to steal it.

But the popcorn machine and massage chairs at the dealership are both excellent. They're intended to prevent us from strangling them to death.; 2/29/24, 12:02 PM
ALP said...: Dayum I have NEVER had the pleasure of dog companionship while getting my car worked on. Fuck you Honda!; 2/29/24, 12:06 PM
Yancey Ward said...: As soon as they replace the transmission, that dog will be as good as new.; 2/29/24, 12:07 PM
The Vault Dweller said...: That's a good Doggo.; 2/29/24, 12:17 PM
Narr said...: At last, a post I can comment on.

I'm for dogs.; 2/29/24, 12:19 PM
The Vault Dweller said...: I have a friend that bought a Bronco a couple years ago. He really likes it, but there have been a couple problems. It is convertible between a hard-top and a soft-top and was missing a trim piece used for one of the converted states. Also, one of the rear windows motor seemed to have a problem as it rolled up at like a third the speed of the others and even stopped rolling up completely. But there were no serious issues so far.; 2/29/24, 12:22 PM
retail lawyer said...: What a nice collar. Roxy wants one!; 2/29/24, 12:36 PM
PM said...: Initially scanned this post and absorbed: Meade - service - dog.
Glad you're okay.; 2/29/24, 1:12 PM
iowan2 said...: My tire/Mechanic shop has cats. Lots, 7-10 cats. Couple of small dogs and a cockatoo. It does help the time pass. But with a tablet or phone, waiting rooms are much more tolerable. `

I think a retriever or Lab would be excellent customer service.; 2/29/24, 1:38 PM
Big Mike said...: And I’m especially pissed at Ford for building the ugliest EV SUV in the history of the known universe, and calling it a Mustang!; 2/29/24, 1:39 PM
Tina Trent said...: I would happily trade a coffee, pet affection, and massage chair and being forced to watch The View for a car that might blow up at any time, though, where I live, I do thoroughly enjoy an bunch of old coots talking back at The View.

I like old coots. I'm already nihilistic about driving around here. Our county and state police keep things under control. It's good to live in a functional place, though I'm fleeing to even norther North Georgia soon.

I want a Hacienda. That's the Sicilian in me. Medieval windows. I'm great with a bow and arrow but suck at shooting guns. I can still pour boiling oil over the sides.

Or just give them the keys to the Kia.; 2/29/24, 1:45 PM
ga6 said...: Own and drive two Ford products: the new one a 1999 Lincoln Town Car; the old one, the summer car a 1989 Ford LTD Crown Vic.; 2/29/24, 2:13 PM
Iman said...: FixedOrRepairedDaily

FoundOnRoadDead; 2/29/24, 2:20 PM
Iman said...: Blown head gaskets were their special features on 3.8L engines.; 2/29/24, 2:22 PM
R C Belaire said...: I spent 30 years in Ford Research (engines, mostly) and continue to drive their products (pension, mostly). They can be very good, or in my experience, simply OK with a number of caveats. The problem is that powertrains in late-model vehicles are almost impossible to work on without significant troubleshooting skills and a garage full of equipment that barely existed 25 years ago.; 2/29/24, 3:06 PM
William50 said...: "My next car is going to be a Hyundai."
----------
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.; 2/29/24, 3:09 PM
Howard said...: Now do Pontiac, Iman; 2/29/24, 3:11 PM
Aggie said...: My last truck I ordered from the factory with the options I wanted (heavy duty everything etc). That one lasted me 27 years, but I finally sucked it up last year when the list of 'obsolete' critical parts moved it into the category where you're starting to devote too much time just tracking down parts. So I ordered another one, nothing fancy, but even heavier duty. It's got a nice, big, thirsty big block in it, and I have to say, trucks have come a long way over this time. It's no luxury model, it's a work truck, but my wife says it rides better than her Platinum Sequoia, and I agree with her. Fun to drive, ton of power. And a drinking problem too, but that's the curse of towing equipment trailers. The guys at the dealership freaked out when I gave them the sticker from my 27 year-old truck, with my name on it 'Made For X X'.

I hope the dealership didn't extract too much Dane-Geld from you, Meade.; 2/29/24, 3:49 PM
Joe Smith said...: 'And I’m especially pissed at Ford for building the ugliest EV SUV in the history of the known universe, and calling it a Mustang!'

Lots around here. They're not bad looking.

But using the iconic Mustang name was idiotic...; 2/29/24, 3:52 PM
Chest Rockwell said...: "Out of the frying pan and into the fire."

Well, not great, but they do come with 10 year drivetrain warranties.; 2/29/24, 4:08 PM
BG said...: LOL, Meade! I looked at the photo of the dog putting its head on you. I went, "Aw.." and my Charlie (yellow lab) came over to me and did the same thing.; 2/29/24, 4:18 PM
BG said...: My first car was a 1966 Mustang convertible when it was five years old. Right out of high school. Cool car for a nerdy girl that I was. Too bad it wasn't rust proofed. I loved that car. Drove Fords until I went Black Friday shopping and got a better deal on a used 2005 Nissan Altima. Drove that baby 250,000 miles and it already had 49,000 on it. I do have a soft spot for Ford Explorers. The first one we bought was from hubby's brother and it came pre-rolled. (Inexperienced niece and winter roads.) Drove that for many years. Hubby prefers to look for ones before a certain year (2010?) something like that because it is still on a truck frame rather than a car frame. (Or something like that.) He's willing to put up with the piddly stuff because he can fix it himself.; 2/29/24, 4:26 PM
Jim at said...: ….everything except a quality product.

My '95 F-150 XLT begs to differ. I'll never need another truck.; 2/29/24, 6:58 PM
PM said...: My 2002 Tacoma just passed 250,000 miles. Bought it used w/12,000 on it.; 2/29/24, 7:53 PM
Jay Vogt said...: . . . . putting aside the Mustang SUV for a moment, Ford does put together fairly reliable, pretty damn nice looking cars and trucks. I've owned a few. And I've had some "F" stock for about a decade. It's flat. However, the family must really rely on those dividends - because profit or loss, they pop them out.; 2/29/24, 8:52 PM
Mutaman said...: Enigma said...

"Dogs are dogs and every kind human is an owner."

Trump has never had a dog. Says a lot. Even that asshole in Germany had Blondie.; 3/1/24, 12:05 AM
Iman said...: Mutt*man has “had” dogs. Of that, there is no doubt.; 3/1/24, 7:46 AM
EAB said...: No massage chair at my Subaru dealer. Gonna have to talk to them about that. As well as getting a dog. They do have a couple of big TVs, so there’s a choice. I could avoid the one on MSNBC or the like and watch some ESPN show that wasn’t horrible. Good coffee (espresso an choice) and snacks. Took them awhile to replace all the Aaron Rodgers stuff with Jordan Love, but that’s complete. I love that place. They do good work and are just the nicest folks. Had to borrow an Outback a couple of times during the first 18 mos of owning my Forester…glitchy electronics, which is a Subaru thing.; 3/1/24, 8:03 AM
Curious George said...: Middleton Ford...where I got my F-150. They had a great deal on one coming off a short term lease so it was worth the trip from Milwaukee. Never been back.; 3/1/24, 9:27 AM
Saint Croix said...: I brought my Golden (first dog) to the Jeep place where I was replacing my CJ-7 with a Jeep Cherokee. I only had a soft-top for the CJ and I was afraid my new puppy would push the door open. So I switched from my fun Jeep to an SUV, not nearly as cool.

While I'm talking to the salesman, my dog is behind us. And he's chewing on the guy's office wall. I don't know what that wall was made out of, but it was weaker than my dog's teeth. And we turn around and there's a hunk of his wall missing.

"Oh my God," I said, "I'm so sorry."

"No problem," he said. "Don't worry about it."

Salesmen are so nice!

(Especially before the sale is made).; 3/1/24, 12:47 PM
Saint Croix said...: I brought my Golden (first dog) to the Jeep place where I was replacing my CJ-7 with a Jeep Cherokee. I only had a soft-top for the CJ and I was afraid my new puppy would push the door open. So I switched from my fun Jeep to an SUV, not nearly as cool.

While I'm talking to the salesman, my dog is behind us. And he's chewing on the guy's office wall. I don't know what that wall was made out of, but it was weaker than my dog's teeth. And we turn around and there's a hunk of his wall missing.

"Oh my God," I said, "I'm so sorry."

"No problem," he said. "Don't worry about it."

Salesmen are so nice!

(Especially before the sale is made).; 3/1/24, 12:49 PM
SweatBee said...: Looks like the waiting room of a place where they know you're going to have to be there often for long periods of time.; 3/1/24, 2:04 PM
walter said...: To be fair, it would be very odd if it was wearing a Toyota collar.; 3/3/24, 12:38 AM