Another Ford GT Recall
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 8,504
From: Ohio
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
Originally Posted by 94LightningGal
Well, according to BON (yes I know), Steve Saleen just went into the SSV facility and cleaned house........ due to the problems. Ford is very unhappy. Saleen had hoped that a good job on the GT would lead to other very small production niche vehicles coming his way.
The GT is completely hand built at the SSV facility. FMC does not have anywhere that they could do this type of handbuilding, which includes machining and everything. There are a great deal of brand new processes being used.......... and alot of others that have not been around for very long.
The Z06 engine, while being hand assembled (as is the Cobra motor) should not have these types of problems. All the casting, and machining will be done at large facilities, with the finished product arriving to be assembled. This will eliminate much of the human error factor. The Corvette also has the advantage that it is an existing product, even if many of the pieces are changed for the Z06. This is completely unlike the GT, which is a completely brand new car, from the ground up.
As for the recall(s). According to someone working at the facility that is making the replacement arms for the GT (they are billet steel made to look like the cast pieces so that all of the suspension components match). 35 customers cars have been refitted so far (out of the 114 that were in customer hands). Ford has been sending enclosed transports to these owners house to pick up the cars, then bringing them into the repair facility. While there, the cars are inspected to see if they are affected by any other issues, and will be repaired at the same time. He said Ford is replacing all of the control arms, just in case. He also said that this will cost Ford about $5000 per car.
I think they are more than handling this right, and so do other exotic/supercar owners.
I think we have to look at this in perspective. When most of us spend $30K on a vehicle, we think we have dropped a large chunk of change, and we have expectations of that vehicle......... accordingly. When someone drops $150-250K on a supercar, for most of them, it is a pittance............ something akin to us dropping $30 going out to eat. Thus, their expectations are different. They also understand the indiosyncracies of supercars, so they don't blink an eye. I saw a picture of Ben Affleck standing next to his brand new $168,000 Bentley (had bought it 3 days earlier), that had broke down and left him stranded (it was being towed). He looked like he didn't have a care in the world.
Perspective
The GT is completely hand built at the SSV facility. FMC does not have anywhere that they could do this type of handbuilding, which includes machining and everything. There are a great deal of brand new processes being used.......... and alot of others that have not been around for very long.
The Z06 engine, while being hand assembled (as is the Cobra motor) should not have these types of problems. All the casting, and machining will be done at large facilities, with the finished product arriving to be assembled. This will eliminate much of the human error factor. The Corvette also has the advantage that it is an existing product, even if many of the pieces are changed for the Z06. This is completely unlike the GT, which is a completely brand new car, from the ground up.
As for the recall(s). According to someone working at the facility that is making the replacement arms for the GT (they are billet steel made to look like the cast pieces so that all of the suspension components match). 35 customers cars have been refitted so far (out of the 114 that were in customer hands). Ford has been sending enclosed transports to these owners house to pick up the cars, then bringing them into the repair facility. While there, the cars are inspected to see if they are affected by any other issues, and will be repaired at the same time. He said Ford is replacing all of the control arms, just in case. He also said that this will cost Ford about $5000 per car.
I think they are more than handling this right, and so do other exotic/supercar owners.
I think we have to look at this in perspective. When most of us spend $30K on a vehicle, we think we have dropped a large chunk of change, and we have expectations of that vehicle......... accordingly. When someone drops $150-250K on a supercar, for most of them, it is a pittance............ something akin to us dropping $30 going out to eat. Thus, their expectations are different. They also understand the indiosyncracies of supercars, so they don't blink an eye. I saw a picture of Ben Affleck standing next to his brand new $168,000 Bentley (had bought it 3 days earlier), that had broke down and left him stranded (it was being towed). He looked like he didn't have a care in the world.
Perspective
I applaude Ford for taking care of the issues, and doing it in a customer-friendly fashion (pick up, etc)
However, that still isn't an excuse for them having SO MANY issues on the car, and implimeting a really lame fix on this one.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 195
From: In a meeting
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
Originally Posted by Chris 96 WS6
I knew I wouldn't be able to scroll all the way through this thread before the Ford Fanboys (or fangals) came in to defend their brand and make excuses.
I don't care if its hand built or not, for ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS it should not have as many recalls and problems as that article lists.
You could have six Ford 500's for the price of this one car, or you could own a nice 3br, 2ba home with 2 car garage almost anywhere in the South or Midwest. You could send a kid to Yale or Harvard for this kind of money, recalls for shade-tree fixes to crank oil leaks and major suspension parts replacements should not happen.
Do hand bult Ferraris have these kinds of quality issues? Nope, not to this scale. Get it right or don't sell it, it is an embarrassment, and I'd be just as embarrassed if this level of incompetence pops up after C6 Z06s start hitting the streets, but then again I don't expect the same level of fit and quality on a $75,000 car as a $150,000 car, but granted those expectations would still
be extremely high.
I'm beginning to think Ford rushed this car out way too fast in an attempt to create a product the company and its loyalists would rally around. As a result they botched what is supposedly their #1 job.
I don't care if its hand built or not, for ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS it should not have as many recalls and problems as that article lists.
You could have six Ford 500's for the price of this one car, or you could own a nice 3br, 2ba home with 2 car garage almost anywhere in the South or Midwest. You could send a kid to Yale or Harvard for this kind of money, recalls for shade-tree fixes to crank oil leaks and major suspension parts replacements should not happen.
Do hand bult Ferraris have these kinds of quality issues? Nope, not to this scale. Get it right or don't sell it, it is an embarrassment, and I'd be just as embarrassed if this level of incompetence pops up after C6 Z06s start hitting the streets, but then again I don't expect the same level of fit and quality on a $75,000 car as a $150,000 car, but granted those expectations would still
be extremely high.
I'm beginning to think Ford rushed this car out way too fast in an attempt to create a product the company and its loyalists would rally around. As a result they botched what is supposedly their #1 job.
And yes, Ferraris and Lambos have these issues. Often. But then, who would you know who is old enough and rich enough to afford one? Yeah, I thought so.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
Originally Posted by PacerX
Ford:
Fixing our $150,000 car into $40,000 Corvette quality, one recall at a time.
Fixing our $150,000 car into $40,000 Corvette quality, one recall at a time.
http://www.automotive.com/2005/49/ch...lls/15234.html
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Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,801
From: Nashville, TN
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
Originally Posted by quick
I am not a "Ford Fanboy"--look at my signature, dumba$$--but I am an American and I do not want Ford or GM (Chrysler is already gone) screwed by Toy-effing-yota and the friggin Japs, the Koreans or the Huns. I'd buy any bag of bolts assembled in Ohio or Michigan by a US-owned co using US designers and US parts before I start doing jumping jacks and signing the Toyota fight song. In short, I do not gloat when a great American institution like Ford is having issues. It is not in the long-term best interest of my nation for Ford to fail, which is a bit more important than whether some redneck putz like you wears a smelly T-shirt with a bowtie on it or with a Ford oval on it. Capeche?
And yes, Ferraris and Lambos have these issues. Often. But then, who would you know who is old enough and rich enough to afford one? Yeah, I thought so.
And yes, Ferraris and Lambos have these issues. Often. But then, who would you know who is old enough and rich enough to afford one? Yeah, I thought so.
Last edited by Chris 96 WS6; Mar 2, 2005 at 02:56 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,178
From: Payson, AZ USA
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
Originally Posted by quick
I am not a "Ford Fanboy"--look at my signature, dumba$$--but I am an American and I do not want Ford or GM (Chrysler is already gone) screwed by Toy-effing-yota and the friggin Japs, the Koreans or the Huns. I'd buy any bag of bolts assembled in Ohio or Michigan by a US-owned co using US designers and US parts before I start doing jumping jacks and signing the Toyota fight song. In short, I do not gloat when a great American institution like Ford is having issues. It is not in the long-term best interest of my nation for Ford to fail, which is a bit more important than whether some redneck putz like you wears a smelly T-shirt with a bowtie on it or with a Ford oval on it. Capeche?
And yes, Ferraris and Lambos have these issues. Often. But then, who would you know who is old enough and rich enough to afford one? Yeah, I thought so.
And yes, Ferraris and Lambos have these issues. Often. But then, who would you know who is old enough and rich enough to afford one? Yeah, I thought so.
That said, I don't think anyone has said anything as an excuse for problems............... just as an understanding of them. Noone is ever happy about problems.......... as I'm sure the C6 Vette owners aren't. However, until that post, I didn't even know this problem existed................ as, unlike the GT issues, it hasn't been plastered all over every publication in existance.
My feeling has always been, if vehicles are having problems, they should all be reported. It shouldn't be pick and choose based on who is on the "hate list of the month (or in Fords case, hate list since the Firestone fiasco)." There are still many people today who did not know about all of the BMW's burning to a crisp in peoples driveways and garages (they recalled pretty much all of them). As a matter of fact, one automotive publication even wrote a big article questioning why NOONE was reporting this. They boiled it down to plain and simple media bias. Did these people who paid $30K-$100K for their BMW deserve to have them burn any more or less than the people who paid $150-250K for their GT to have issues................ HELL NO.
The difference is, and always has been, in the reporting.
If you think that GM is beat over the head in reporting any more than Ford is, is letting your bias show. They both, unfairly in my opinion, get the sh*t beat out of them in the press............... as if the press would be in their glee if they both went under. I just get tired of it, and I know others do to.
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Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 3,252
From: Knoxville, TN
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
I am car enthusiast first, but have no problem admitting my Ford bias (in most areas - not all). However, from my "little man's" perspective, these recalls are pretty embarrasing to Ford.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,808
From: FL/MI
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
Originally Posted by Bob Cosby
I am car enthusiast first, but have no problem admitting my Ford bias (in most areas - not all). However, from my "little man's" perspective, these recalls are pretty embarrasing to Ford.
I did my Ferrari thing with a 365 GTB/4 ages ago. It was an eye opener in a number of respects. At the end of the day I came away feeling very good with my GM loyalty.
I have respecy for Ferrari as being a racing team that builds street cars to pay the bills. The racer in me appreciates that in no small way.
In the final analysis, GM and Ford kick the exotic company's on many fronts..including dependable performance.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,870
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
Originally Posted by Bob Cosby
I am car enthusiast first, but have no problem admitting my Ford bias (in most areas - not all). However, from my "little man's" perspective, these recalls are pretty embarrasing to Ford.
Expecting a brand new car that's being built from the ground up for the first time EVER and whos complex production methods are ALL-NEW to a company to not have ANY problems in its first year of production? Not making an excuse for them (they are at fault), but they'll have bugs to sort out on the first batch of cars and i expect even more bugs to show up in the coming months. A first effort is never a perfect effort.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 8,504
From: Ohio
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
Originally Posted by Gold_Rush
Expecting a brand new car that's being built from the ground up for the first time EVER and whos complex production methods are ALL-NEW to a company to not have ANY problems in its first year of production?.
I think it's the fact that there have been so many problems on a six figure MSRP car, and this latest fix is totally "back-yard mechanic".
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,870
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
Originally Posted by Darth Xed
I don't think most of us are getting on Ford because they are having problems with the new car...
I think it's the fact that there have been so many problems on a six figure MSRP car, and this latest fix is totally "back-yard mechanic".
I think it's the fact that there have been so many problems on a six figure MSRP car, and this latest fix is totally "back-yard mechanic".
Latest fix definitly sounds out there, but i guess it works.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 195
From: In a meeting
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
Originally Posted by 94LightningGal
LOL quick. I think some people need to spend more time on the Ferrari forums (I do, and am a regular poster). I do things like that to gain perspective. Ferraris have tons of problems, and many of the Ferrari never fixes from one generation to another. They have to be forced into recalls, and even then do so grudgingly. Believe me, the people who buy Ferraris, and all exotics, do so for the love of the car........... not because of a love of their manufacturer.
That said, I don't think anyone has said anything as an excuse for problems............... just as an understanding of them. Noone is ever happy about problems.......... as I'm sure the C6 Vette owners aren't. However, until that post, I didn't even know this problem existed................ as, unlike the GT issues, it hasn't been plastered all over every publication in existance.
My feeling has always been, if vehicles are having problems, they should all be reported. It shouldn't be pick and choose based on who is on the "hate list of the month (or in Fords case, hate list since the Firestone fiasco)." There are still many people today who did not know about all of the BMW's burning to a crisp in peoples driveways and garages (they recalled pretty much all of them). As a matter of fact, one automotive publication even wrote a big article questioning why NOONE was reporting this. They boiled it down to plain and simple media bias. Did these people who paid $30K-$100K for their BMW deserve to have them burn any more or less than the people who paid $150-250K for their GT to have issues................ HELL NO.
The difference is, and always has been, in the reporting.
If you think that GM is beat over the head in reporting any more than Ford is, is letting your bias show. They both, unfairly in my opinion, get the sh*t beat out of them in the press............... as if the press would be in their glee if they both went under. I just get tired of it, and I know others do to.
That said, I don't think anyone has said anything as an excuse for problems............... just as an understanding of them. Noone is ever happy about problems.......... as I'm sure the C6 Vette owners aren't. However, until that post, I didn't even know this problem existed................ as, unlike the GT issues, it hasn't been plastered all over every publication in existance.
My feeling has always been, if vehicles are having problems, they should all be reported. It shouldn't be pick and choose based on who is on the "hate list of the month (or in Fords case, hate list since the Firestone fiasco)." There are still many people today who did not know about all of the BMW's burning to a crisp in peoples driveways and garages (they recalled pretty much all of them). As a matter of fact, one automotive publication even wrote a big article questioning why NOONE was reporting this. They boiled it down to plain and simple media bias. Did these people who paid $30K-$100K for their BMW deserve to have them burn any more or less than the people who paid $150-250K for their GT to have issues................ HELL NO.
The difference is, and always has been, in the reporting.
If you think that GM is beat over the head in reporting any more than Ford is, is letting your bias show. They both, unfairly in my opinion, get the sh*t beat out of them in the press............... as if the press would be in their glee if they both went under. I just get tired of it, and I know others do to.
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,579
From: The Land of Pleasant Living
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
Originally Posted by PacerX
Last I checked, Z06 motors were lined up to be built right here in the Detroit area and the cars are being assembled in Bowling Green.
And let's get one thing straight, Sparky...
Just because Ford can't build a fart in a windstorm in the US as far as a flagship performance vehicle goes, that doesn't mean everyone sucks.
It only means that FORD sucks.
And let's get one thing straight, Sparky...
Just because Ford can't build a fart in a windstorm in the US as far as a flagship performance vehicle goes, that doesn't mean everyone sucks.
It only means that FORD sucks.
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Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,887
From: northeast Miss.
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
If I paid 150K for a Ford, Ferrari's quality woes really wouldn't matter to me.... That is the cheapest cop-out excuse I have heard for an automaker to be overgrinding crankshafts.
Also... this lil problem has nothing to do with engines being hand built. Its back in the machine shop area where the cranks are made.
Also... this lil problem has nothing to do with engines being hand built. Its back in the machine shop area where the cranks are made.
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26
Re: Another Ford GT Recall
Ford does have a long way to go in building a flagship sports car of the quality of the Corvette (Corvette not perfect but close). Ford has some really innovative ideas and I wish they could make something around 50k to compete with the vette on every level. I really do and would buy one if it bested the vette. (and if I could find $50,000). The GT40 is really on a whole other level from the vette. No matter what you say most of the GT40 owners have to feel a little doubt about the quality of the car they have bought. I don't buy that these people have so much money they just smile 
and say hey its ok my new $150,000 car has serious recall issues. You just keep it as long as you want. More like 
WTF. Just because problems may be spread across the spectrum of supercar brands doesn't mean its acceptable no matter who or what brand it is. But hey what the heck. I'll never be able to afford a Ferrari, GT40, Lamborghini, or anything close. Yes Chevy has had its problems also. Any 4th gen Camaro owner knows that. And yes Screw Chevy too for not doing research first. Come on Ford people, pick the post apart. Show your bias. And one more thing. In my opinion the 302 is probably the toughest motor ever put in an affordable sports car.
and say hey its ok my new $150,000 car has serious recall issues. You just keep it as long as you want. More like WTF. Just because problems may be spread across the spectrum of supercar brands doesn't mean its acceptable no matter who or what brand it is. But hey what the heck. I'll never be able to afford a Ferrari, GT40, Lamborghini, or anything close. Yes Chevy has had its problems also. Any 4th gen Camaro owner knows that. And yes Screw Chevy too for not doing research first. Come on Ford people, pick the post apart. Show your bias. And one more thing. In my opinion the 302 is probably the toughest motor ever put in an affordable sports car.
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