Your BIG MOUTH

I bought a 2004 ford Explorer from Advantage Ford in Stuart Florida in
Dec. of 2003, $31,000.00. I took it back for transmission problems at
14000 miles took it back again for transmission problems at 40000
miles, the second time Advantage ford charged me $300.00, Now I am
haveing more transmission problems at 80000 miles and they chaged me
$100.00 to diagnose the problem and want to charge me $1,400.00 to fix
the problem. My ABS light is coming on. My check engine light is
coming on. My tire sensor sounder is coming on. I only have 80000
miles on this car. My first Ford and my last. No wonder Americans
are buying Japanese and German cars. NO QUALITY IN FORD!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ronnie
Fort Pierce Florida

Your letter makes no sense.

Man, this is really messed up. I don't even get it. So, your not
buying a ford again, so be it. Move on and buy your GM. Some people.

I too am in the market for a new vehicle. I was considering the Ford
Escape hybrid version, but after the experience a friend had with his
new 500, I'll stick with Honda. He's had the car less than 2 years
and just as it went over the 36K mark, he's had massive engine trouble
and been in the repair shop almost monthly. And the tires on the car
had to be replaced before 15K. Another friend bought a Ford minivan
and had nothing but problems. Now I've had great experiences with
Ford vehicles in the 70's and 80's, but I've heard nothing good about
Ford in the following decades. I've had my current Honda for almost
10 years, and my previous Honda for 8. I've only had one major repair
in that time. I'd like to buy from an American automaker, but these
companies are behind the times. If Sync is the best innovation Ford
can come up with, as opposed to Honda's hydrogen engine, I'll stick
with Honda.

i have the ford taurus sho. awesome car, except for the switches in
the doors keep going out and leaving the overhead light on. now i've
tried to fix it (at 200 bucks a pop, its not an cheap fix!!) 3 times,
the dealer told me to pull the relay switch cause he felt sorry for me
repeatedly spending money. now its happening with my husbands f150.
scary thought wouldn't you say??? beginning to see a pattern? happened
to my inlaws windstar. they finally got rid of it. i know we can't be
the only ones out there with this problem. is there any other die hard
ford fans that are experiencing this?

the new recalls that have just been put out on the 2003 Escape!

I happened to have owned one of the 2002 Explorer Sport Tracs involved
in the first recall, and my new (to me) car after that (in fall '07)
was the '03 Escape. I'll be sure to post a warning the next time I buy
a car so people know to wait for the recall. ;)

Oh, and Ford fixes recalled parts free of charge. Unless, I guess,
you're Homer Simpson? I'm still not sure what the OP is getting at.

I have an 03 Escape.

Maybe your parents owned Fords while you were growing up. Speak for
yourself. We had Volvos.

I once got cut off and practically hit by the same 500.
Now as a joke my friends and call it five hundreding when someone cuts
you off.

I had to read your letter 3 times just to understand what you were
talking about. My EX was one of the crazy Ford Taurus nuts. I'm sure
he is equally as upset as you.

Personally, I don't see what the big deal is.

I understand where your anger is coming from, we all buy cars and the
companies change names of a model we buy, and it makes us think our
purchase was not appreciated, our choice is being made fun of. But you
state it's an excellent vehicle, you've proudly owned it for three
years.

You say "we buy cars out of want, not need", and it may be
the case for you, but most people buy cars to meet their
transportation needs. I want to drive a Ferrarri, but I neither need
one nor can afford it.

When purchasing any big ticket item, it's best not to rely on impulse,
especially when cars are concerned.

I don't get it. Why would someone care what some executive thought of
their car? As long as it wasn't relating to defects or safety issues,
why would one care?

If I buy a car, it's because I like the looks/feel of it, and it's
within my price range. I don't give a flying you-know-what what
someone else thinks of it.

By your own admission, Lynette, you've never had any problems with the
car for the 3 years that you've owned it. But now, you're willing to
switch to GM because of some comment made by a Ford executive?

Like I said, I just don't get it.

What a nut.

Uh... I have no clue what you are talking about. Can someone help me
out who actually understands?

*shrug*

resale is a tricky issue. I belive you can go online to calculate
your car's resale value.

I think that's what you were talking about...

Here is what this person is talking about. I decided to do a search
and came up with this CNN story. Link for those that would like to
read and a little bit of the story.


http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/29/autos/bc.ford.homersimpson.ap/index.ht
m?postversion=2008012916

Ford exec: Taurus like Homer Simpson
Ford executives takes shots at one of their own, vow to make next
Taurus more like Superman.
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Homer Simpson (left) and a 2008 Ford Taurus



DETROIT (AP) -- "D'oh!" What was Ford thinking?

Belittling your product probably isn't a great marketing tool, but two
top Ford Motor Co. executives recently criticized the looks of the new
Taurus sedan, with one comparing it to doofus cartoon character Homer
Simpson.

While speaking in Detroit this month, CEO Alan Mulally and Derrick
Kuzak, head of global product development, took shots at the current
Taurus, with Kuzak likening its looks to the portly, balding,
doughnut-devouring Simpson.

During a speech to industry insiders, Mulally hinted that a new,
nicer-looking Taurus is coming in the next year or so, adding a crack
about the current car.

"The new Taurus that you're going

i think i speak for a lot of people when i say-- what in the hell are
you talking about? i don't get this letter at all.

Doh...Homer is my hero...so I guess I will have to switch to Ford for
the opposite reason you are switching to GM.

Wow, what a way to cut your nose off to spite your face. All over a
little comment.

Good luck with your GM. I'd rather push a push my Ford than drive a GM
anyday.

The ONLY person that should be upset about this is Homer J. Simpson.
(or Matt Groening)

And Homer should be peeved that (1) Ford compared him to a Ford, and
(2) Lynette is a Flanders lover who thinks Homer isn't worthy of
Ford.

Stupid Flanders.

but I didnt get this letter AT ALL, Lynette.

So basically, Ford poked fun at their OWN CREATION and you are going
to swear them off for life over that??

Just as an FYI, if you love your car, thats all that matters. Ford
calling the 500 a Homer Simpson car is not going to cost you dearly in
resale value. Driving it off the dealer's lot already did that for
you.

And there has ALWAYS been the "Homer" car in Ford's lineup.
The Contour, the Tempo, the Granada, the Maverick. Every generation
has had its inexpensive, reliable, albeit ugly car.

But that is CERTAINLY no reason for this rant.

In the grand scheme of things, instead of shooting off your own big
mouth over something this trivial, why dont you try being grateful
that your 500 runs and by your own admission has been relatively
problem free?

I know plenty of people with Chryslers and GM products that would
trade you for that running Five Hundred ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!

They renamed the car a year ago from 500 to Taurus in a effort to
invigorate poor sales. Perhaps they thought that using the name of a
successful model from the past would work. It didn't.

When I think of a Ford Taurus, and imagine the driver, Homer Simpson
fits right into the picture. After all, he is a beloved father
figure.

Now I see why so many people on here react the way they do to letters.
I am tempted to go over to the Dark Side myself.

This letter made me giggle.

"As far as I am concerned there is no FORD MOTOR COMPANY."

Thats it, they are OFF THE FAMILY TREE!! They are DEAD in your eyes!

Don't buy GM though, if you value your sanity. (I'm a
"proud" owner of a crapalier... save yourself the headache,
please)

Anyway, back to the point, I don't even really understand the quote.
What is "the homer simpson of cars" supposed to mean
anyway???

"We have never had problems with the 500 and it was classified as
one of the safest cars on the road. We have owned this car for 3 plus
years and we always like the looks and comfort it has. QUALITY
also."

So a stupid comment negates all of this? You decide that a car that
you LOVE, that is comfortable and is up to your standards as far as
quality goes, is complete crap because of a stupid comment that ford
made?

I think its kind of funny myself. They made a mistake with the car and
are poking fun at themselves.

Your letter cracked me up! Thanks

I looked this up. They actually made the comment about the 2007
Taurus which is a renamed Ford 500 with some minor changes. They plan
to do a further remodel on this car which should greatly improve it.
Most dealers that they interviewed did not think the comment will
effect sales which were already tanking on both the Taurus and the
500.

So, to the OP, this comment was not even about your model year since
you say you owned it for 3 yrs.

Remember the Edsel?

I stand behind my letter regardless of what others post. It says alot
about a company when their own speak trash of a vehicle they produce.

So let me get this straight, you are going to base your next vehicle
purchase on one comment made by someone at Ford. That makes no sense
at all!

BTW, I wouldn't mention the Ford Pinto, that car was a disaster.

Huh? Are you writing this letter because someone at Ford made a
comment about the "500/Taurus" being "the Homer Simpson
of cars"?

Why in the world would you be so upset that Ford (their CEO and head
of development) would make a job about THEIR OWN cars?

Is it because you're now ashamed to own this car?

I simply don't understand why an adult person would be so upset about
this.

Can you explain it to me?

I'll send the "head honchos" at Ford a box of Kleenex to dry their
their tears.