Bad problem but a good ending.

[RF Cobra]

New Cobra owner (2004 Redfire on 6/21/04) and had my first problem. Got stuck with dead battery and had the car taken back to the dealer. I tried to make the service writer understand that the alternator was the problem. I had a Thunderbird that had the same problem with 3 different alternators. However, he was more concerned with going to lunch and just had a guy change the battery while he took off for lunch. Before leaving I gave them a warning that I would not be very kind if I had the same problem again. I took the car and then exactly one week later on 7/6 guess what...battery is practically dead and car barely starts. I decide to drive the car back to Greensboro...while going through W-S on I-40 we hear ping, ping, ping under the car and then POP! and the car starts pulling to left. I pulled off on the left shoulder and walked around the car. Sure enough, the right rear chrome wheel was sitting on a very flat brand new tire. I called Ford and made them send a flatbed under the warranty coverage and had them take the car the rest of the way to Greensboro.

By the time we got there I was really ticked and gave them the following instructions: 1. Replace the alternator. 2. replace the flat tire. 3. I'm not paying for the tire. My point with the tire was that it would not have been flat if the car had been fixed right the first time because my drive to work does not include driving on I-40 where it got punctured. We got the usual pat answers and I left in a slightly slower Focus loaner not quite sure what they would do. BTW: my wife works in management for them and I was trying not to do anything that would come back to haunt her.

The new tire finally arrived and I got the car back today! I didn't ask about any charges before going to pick it up. I got there a little late, but since the cashier knows us she went back in and got my key and the ticket. I glanced down the ticket... Replace alternator.....Warranty, N/C..... Replace tire.......WARRANTY, N/C. Apparently after some thought they agreed with my reasoning and wanted to make things right. (I also think that while I was firm in my requests, I tried not to act like a jerk or worse about it which helped)

Also, when I went to get my car, they had parked it in an out of the way area and had nothing else parked anywhere close to it to keep it safe from dents/dings.

So I have to give them a thumbs up for what they did the second time around. I believe everyone makes mistakes and they should be given the opportunity to correct them because it is how they handle correcting those mistakes that shows their true character. In this case I think they did an excellent job of trying correct the situation and my hat is off to them.

Besides, where else am I going to be able to buy Cobras on Ford's A/D plan?

[cobrabitn]

If you live in Clemmons, wouldn't Parkway Ford be closer to you or even Ceiner Woods? Glad you had good results though. I agree with you on being firm but polite. It got me a 5 year extended warranty with my 99 Cobra (now sold).

[RF Cobra]

Originally Posted by cobrabitn

If you live in Clemmons, wouldn't Parkway Ford be closer to you or even Ceiner Woods? Glad you had good results though. I agree with you on being firm but polite. It got me a 5 year extended warranty with my 99 Cobra (now sold).

I took the Tbird to Parkway once for a tune up once in 1990, went to pick it up and they gave me an invoice for $900.00+ Then I noticed they rotated the tires which were staggered sizes (done by the previous owner)... an '88 Tbird Sport looks kinda funny with little tires on back and big ones up front. I have bought 3 vehicles from Parkway since then, and have bought numerous parts over the years, but I have always been leary of their service department. I will give them credit though, Parkway seems to be making a honest effort to do a good job now. They fixed one of our F-700 dump trucks and the service was excellent. Mainly though, I feel like I have a better working relationship with Bob Dunn since my wife works there which makes it easier for me to chat with the people in upper management who are usually always "unavailable" at most places when you have a problem. In a round about way giving them business helps add to my wife's job security.

Plus, the drive can be fun when your tires aren't getting punctured by unidentified metal objects.

[nckissfan]

sounds like a rough time, but I am glad you got it worked out

[RF Cobra]

Originally Posted by nckissfan

sounds like a rough time, but I am glad you got it worked out

Thanks, maybe now things around here will settle down long enough that I can fill out the application to join the club...

[nckissfan]

Originally Posted by RF Cobra

Thanks, maybe now things around here will settle down long enough that I can fill out the application to join the club...

well, what are you waiting on.....Christmas? I am going to be moving up your way in a couple of months.

[RF Cobra]

Originally Posted by nckissfan

well, what are you waiting on.....Christmas? I am going to be moving up your way in a couple of months.

LOL... I want to go to the Parkway show so I better not wait that long!

Part of my reasoning for getting the Cobra, we also drove a STi, was that the clubs 5th anniversary was the same weekend we were in the NC mountains about a hour away from Pigeon Forge. I referred to it as a sign etc. Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to go over to the car show though.

We've just been through a lot this year...everytime we recover from something, something else bad happens. The Cobra replaced our Aerostar, which got totalled after our Taurus was almost totalled 2 months prior, and several other bad things that have happened this year.

[cobrabitn]

Wow, you have had bad problems!

I will say this about Parkway Ford, they are the best dealer we have ever dealt with as a club.

[nckissfan]

wow, that is rough. Well, at least you have a nice Cobra now.

[johnbasf]

I live very close to you. sign up!!!

[RF Cobra]

Originally Posted by johnbasf

I live very close to you. sign up!!!

Yeah, I live on the Lewisville side of Clemmons by 421. I've been reading some of your other threads and kept thinking how I'd love to see that race car of yours...then I read the posts about what happened.

I hope that the rest of the year goes better for both of us!

[RF Cobra]

Originally Posted by cobrabitn

Wow, you have had bad problems!

I will say this about Parkway Ford, they are the best dealer we have ever dealt with as a club.

Overall I like them, just real leary about their service department. I know several people that work/have worked there and they are all good people. They even offered to sell me a Cobra for the same deal I could get at Bob Dunn even though Parkway wont sell them to their employees at that price when I stopped to look at the different color options.

Allright, I just washed the car, now I gotta go print out and complete the application form so I can get it in the mail tomorrow.