The Stig A.D.I.
Corporal
- 400
- 0
- 16
we're due back to Blighty in about a week so, in true 'coming back from Germany' fashion, I ordered a new car. I decided on a ford focus (we're going to start our own driving school 'on the side' when we get sorted back in Blighty & the focus is ideal both for teaching in and as a second family car) anyway, I digress...
I flew over about three weeks ago & collected the car from a dealership in Kent; the car was ready, complete with all the optional extras and I was very pleased with it. There were no problems on the journey home and it's been fine, until last week!
Mrs Stig was revesing into a space at a local supermarket, very slow speed, etc. but when she came to brake, the pedal just hit the floor, no pressure whatsoever. She told me about it & I took it out for a check drive - the brakes worked fine right up until I wanted to stop on my driveway, then exactly the same thing happens & I end up yanking up the handbrake to stop before hitting the garage door...
So, I called the local Ford dealer and took it down that afternoon; typically, the mechanic couldn't find any problems during his test drive, however, took our word for it and contacted Ford Germany for advice. They were very twitchy (naturally) and arranged for the mechanic to fit a new main brake cylinder and to have the original sent to their lab via courier.
Obviously, I'm expecting a replacement car for the duration, but no - this would have been possible if I'd called Ford to collect it from my house, but as I took it down there myself (and saved them a job) I'm not covered by the Ford Assistance Cover Warranty.
Four days later and I get a call to say it's ready to collect; I go down there and the receptionist hands me the keys and points across the parking area where I can see the car. Immediately I walk out of the office (bearing in mind it's just after 5pm), she locks the door and puts the 'Closed' sign up. Anyway, I get to the car and do the cursory walk-around - immediately spot a scratch of about 10cm long above the rear wheel arch, but on closer inspection, I see that not only is this a scratch, but it's been bodged too! Whoever was responsible has obviosly taken it to a painter 'friend' and tried to cover up the damage with, what I am told by our pro-sprayer at work, is a common method using a kit comprising of wire wool and filler!!!
It's been re-sprayed and finished, but the actual scratch is so deep that I spotted it straight away!
Cue me speeding round to the front of the dealership and banging on the door. Receptionist answers (with Boss in tow) and protests their collective innocence and suggests that this must have happened before I actually collected the car from the original dealership in the UK!!! The owner/manager also jumps on the defensive and produces some car polish and starts merrily buffing away at it, then suggests that 'you can hardly see it anyway'! I'm speeechless! He then tells me to come back on Monday morning and we'll go together to his spray shop in a neighbouring village and talk to the sprayer & 'see what he thinks' - WTF!!!
To top it all, I drive out of the dealership, brake for the junction and the pedal has about five inches of travel before there's any evidence of slowing down (versus the one inch prior to it being 'worked on'). I can see that the cylinder has indeed been changed, but it's obviously not been properly bled-through - what a fekkin nightmare!
Not only have I bought a lemon, but then some to55er goes and runs a tool trolley (or something) down the side and tries to cover it up!!!
So, I'm taking it in tomorrow & fully expecting this sprayer of his to shake his head and suggest that this is a 'factory' issue, or some other old b0ll0cks!
Anyway, any advice would be much appreciated (bearing in mind that I've already considered all manner of nasty comebacks..)
Over to you... :S
I flew over about three weeks ago & collected the car from a dealership in Kent; the car was ready, complete with all the optional extras and I was very pleased with it. There were no problems on the journey home and it's been fine, until last week!
Mrs Stig was revesing into a space at a local supermarket, very slow speed, etc. but when she came to brake, the pedal just hit the floor, no pressure whatsoever. She told me about it & I took it out for a check drive - the brakes worked fine right up until I wanted to stop on my driveway, then exactly the same thing happens & I end up yanking up the handbrake to stop before hitting the garage door...
So, I called the local Ford dealer and took it down that afternoon; typically, the mechanic couldn't find any problems during his test drive, however, took our word for it and contacted Ford Germany for advice. They were very twitchy (naturally) and arranged for the mechanic to fit a new main brake cylinder and to have the original sent to their lab via courier.
Obviously, I'm expecting a replacement car for the duration, but no - this would have been possible if I'd called Ford to collect it from my house, but as I took it down there myself (and saved them a job) I'm not covered by the Ford Assistance Cover Warranty.
Four days later and I get a call to say it's ready to collect; I go down there and the receptionist hands me the keys and points across the parking area where I can see the car. Immediately I walk out of the office (bearing in mind it's just after 5pm), she locks the door and puts the 'Closed' sign up. Anyway, I get to the car and do the cursory walk-around - immediately spot a scratch of about 10cm long above the rear wheel arch, but on closer inspection, I see that not only is this a scratch, but it's been bodged too! Whoever was responsible has obviosly taken it to a painter 'friend' and tried to cover up the damage with, what I am told by our pro-sprayer at work, is a common method using a kit comprising of wire wool and filler!!!
It's been re-sprayed and finished, but the actual scratch is so deep that I spotted it straight away!
Cue me speeding round to the front of the dealership and banging on the door. Receptionist answers (with Boss in tow) and protests their collective innocence and suggests that this must have happened before I actually collected the car from the original dealership in the UK!!! The owner/manager also jumps on the defensive and produces some car polish and starts merrily buffing away at it, then suggests that 'you can hardly see it anyway'! I'm speeechless! He then tells me to come back on Monday morning and we'll go together to his spray shop in a neighbouring village and talk to the sprayer & 'see what he thinks' - WTF!!!
To top it all, I drive out of the dealership, brake for the junction and the pedal has about five inches of travel before there's any evidence of slowing down (versus the one inch prior to it being 'worked on'). I can see that the cylinder has indeed been changed, but it's obviously not been properly bled-through - what a fekkin nightmare!
Not only have I bought a lemon, but then some to55er goes and runs a tool trolley (or something) down the side and tries to cover it up!!!
So, I'm taking it in tomorrow & fully expecting this sprayer of his to shake his head and suggest that this is a 'factory' issue, or some other old b0ll0cks!
Anyway, any advice would be much appreciated (bearing in mind that I've already considered all manner of nasty comebacks..)
Over to you... :S
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