In general I have the utmost respect for all serious performance cars, even if they are oftentimes considered archrivals... Up until recently I truly believed that the 03/04 blown Cobras for straightline performance to be the modern day Supra or even Grand National. However after browsing SVTperformance.com many of these cars have serious or catastrophic problems.

Trust me as a moderator of this forum, I know how vocal owners who experience problems can be. We definately have our share of legimate warranty gripes/denials, clutch and to a much smaller extent transmission woes, and yes the squeaks and rattles.

20 minutes later after browsing the terminator section I came across (and not be searching) these threads:

Total underbody Rust (yes I know we had some bumper rusts on our Evos but nowhere near these examples):
http://www.svtperformance.com/forums...d.php?t=137133

Engine tick:
http://svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21801

Tranny play/IRS failures:
http://svtperformance.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=145295
http://svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97934

Tons o' examples of lemon cars:
http://svtperformance.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=144497

I used to be a Ford man before turning to the dark side-- but I really wonder about QA over at the big oval-- I know Mitsubishi isn't exactly impeccable, but most of the more serious offenses (not issuing recalls, denying coverups) -- took place in Japan. Here in the US of A, the 0 down, 0% financing, regardless of credit score is the action MMNA is most guilty of

In the late 80s to early 90s-- Ford continued to make the poorly designed 3.8OHV engines, which in every incarnation-- Taurus, Thunderbird, V6 Stang, Windstar, ate headgaskets like Kristey Alley on Hamburgers.

Mid to late 90s-- Firestone tires, need I say more?

Mid 90s-- Saving a few dollars (literally) and not using reinforced steel beems in roof supports on SUVs, while the Japanese and Europeans put safety as a higher priority-- http://www.rolloverlawyer.com/explorer/Default.htm

Late 90s-- Ford Taurus SHO 3.4 V8 Engine-- Nearly 80% failure rate that Ford has refused to rectify due to limited production. www.v8sho.com. I can personally relate to this, my first car was a 97 SHO-- ticking noise that lead to a slipping camshaft sprocket-- leading to extensive and or catastrophic engine failures.

2000+-- Ford Focus-- most recalled automobile in history (albeit cute and fun to drive)

Now the Cobras????

 

that's why I'll never buy a ford

 

Read through some of them. Nice to see that Ford likes to void warranties instead of fixing problems, kinda sounds familiar.... hrm....

 

That kind of sucks. I am considering trading my Evo in for a Cobra next summer, but this gives me something more to think about.

 

Haven't had a problem yet and I have 18,000 hard driven miles.

 

good post, and it does feel good to see that ford is treating them the same way as mitsu treats us. maybe its financal problems?

 

And now the DND (Do not deliver-- very serious & rarely issued in the world of cars):

http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosins...utos-37905.htm

on the $140,000 Ford GT. Quality is job #1 arrgh.

I can't wait until GT owners figure out that the 5.4L engine is shared with several versions of the F150-- the very same engine which seems to leak oil , or experience a cracked head during the warranty period in many cases!

http://www.f150online.com/forums/arc...ic/5613-1.html

 

i did not know this about ford. good thread .

 

"If it cracks, it could cause the wheel to become unstable"

freaking geniuses working there.

 

The problem with Ford,Dodge and GM is the Corprate America Mentality,It is all about the
$$$$$$$$$$$$,no longer about making quality products.Be the 1st one out with something different and rake in the $$$$$$$$$$,who cares about R&D,that cost too much $$$$$
Just put something out there and the consumer will buy.Why do you think that the big 3 are now as follows 1st GM, 2nd TOYOTA,3rd Ford,and lastly 4th Chrysler.Thats right Toyota is ahead of Ford and Chrysler,sad,but true.Lets not even try to compare Gross Profits over the last year as that is not even a contest.The reason Toyota has climbed to #2 is they build quality and stand behind their product,although they are starting to take on the Corprate America mentality as well.

 

I'm not saying that I will ever get a ford myself, but my dad had a F350 for about three years, put about 120,000 miles on it and it ran perfectly, last week he just traded it in to "down size" to a F250. He loves his Ford trucks, and they havn't caused him any problems.

 

I have an interesting story with Ford trucks. Two, actually.

One is my Grandpa's. He has an '03 F250 with the 6.0 liter turbodiesel. Once, he was towing his trailer, and an intercooler hose blew off. He was down in Arizona and had to rig the thing to get it to a dealer. Then, he it happened again months later. The hose had supposedly been fixed, and he was just driving up a canyon not even towing anything, and the same damned hose blew off again. Finally, Ford just replaced all the intercooler hosing all together.

Another truck story. This one was my cousins, and it was probably his fault. He had an exhaust and chip on his '03 or '04 F350 with the 6.0 engine. He ended up melting something inside, and had to take it to Ford. He told them what happened, and they replaced the entire engine, even with the modifications left on there.

I don't think this would necessarily deter me from buying a Ford (actually, I own one right now), especially a Cobra, but its something to consider. At least some of the dealers take care of their customers over in Ford-land.

 

Quick update-- $150,000 might buy you a Ford GT, but apparently for those that have had it delivered already, as per the recall for suspension (or in the case of pre-delivery a DND) Ford is only allowing a Focus rental during the repair period. You would think that buying a premier car from Ford would entitle you to at a least a Jag rental (or maybe a Range Rover) for warranty/recall work.

Quality is job #1.

 

A focus rental?!?! I got a cavalier when I had my Evo at the dealership for the cooling recall.

 

Astrocreep: The difference between an Evo and GT is huge in both price and prestige. The demographics of the average Ford GT buyer is basically the upper crust of affluent society with a starting price of $150,000. Even if it was my second or third car, I'd expect a Range Rover or S Type R Jag from Ford if their premier auto was recalled/delayed. My Evo was $27,000, so a $14,000 Cav rental isn't that much of a deviation.