[Villages Kahuna]

If you don't think the U.S. car makers--Ford at least-- are on the cutting edge of technology, check out this You Tube link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW-MhoLImqg[/SIZE]"]

It makes me want to go back to the city just to find parallel parking spots.

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

If you don't think the U.S. car makers--Ford at least-- are on the cutting edge of technology, check out this You Tube link...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW-MhoLImqg
It makes me want to go back to the city just to find parallel parking spots.

Cutting edge???
Available on the Lexus LS460 since the 2007 model, maybe Ford leased the system from Toyota.

[Packer Fan]

Originally Posted by KayakerNC

Cutting edge???
Available on the Lexus LS460 since the 2007 model, maybe Ford leased the system from Toyota.

Sorry, this is like saying that Planes are the same as space ships. The Lexus system is very primitive. The Ford system actually parks the car with no help. I heard a show on the radio about it, said it was amazing.

BTW- nobody has anything like the SYNC system but Ford - my wife has one in her Lincoln - amazing.
They are becoming the tech leaders.

[NJblue]

I'm sorry, but Ford lost my business when I had an ongoing problem with my AC system which left me without AC on long highway trips but which could not be duplicated at the dealership. After trying several dealerships to resolve the issue to no avail, I tried calling Ford directly. When I explained to the person in customer support that several dealerships could not replicate the problem, I received the following direct quote from the rep: "Well, if the dealerships can not replicate your problem, then as far as Ford is concerned, you have no problem." I immediately went to the Toyota dealership and bought a Highlander.

So, whether they have cutting edge technology or not, until they get their customer service easier to deal with and more customer friendly, they are doomed for the dustbin of American companies along with Woolworths, American Motors and any number of other large companies that have gone belly up as far as I'm concerned. It's a pity since other then this problem with the AC I really liked my Escape.

[tony]

Good grief! Here's me apparently coming to the defense of a huge company.

If the car wouldn't break for the mechanic, he has nothing to fix unless he has seen the exact problem on another vehicle. Then he could try what he used on the other car. If that were to be expensive, then I can understand the reluctance to try to fix it.

The telephone rep, though, should be smart enough to explain this, and he should have moved you up the line to some air conditioning service or engineering guy to try to identify it.

How do I know this?

I went through a similar scenario with Jeep concerning my transmission. Its fixed, but I am still suspicious of the repair. We'll see.

I don't know that American car companies have the monopoly on that time of treatment.

[Villages Kahuna]

I had a similar problem with my wife's 1995 Mustang convertible. The "Check Engine" light kept coming on, but when I brought it into the dealer and turned off the engine, it would go out and not come back on. The dealer service rep--Key Scales Ford right here in Leesburg--told me to drive it around and see if it would come back on. Then he told me to come back without turning off the engine so they could check it. He explained that in older cars like mine, the engine computer didn't have a memory like the models of the last few years, so they had to check the computer while the problem was actually evident. He was a very knowledgeable guy.

Maybe NJBlue got a less experienced mechanic and phone rep than I was fortunate enough to find. It's easy to do, but try not to kill a whole company because of a couple less than knowledgeable reps.

And even though I root for Da Bears, Packer Fan was right. The new Ford parking system is several generations ahead of anything available on the market until now. Look at the video link I provided in my original post and you'll see.

[JohnN]

yeah, parallel parking, cup holders, warmed seats, yeah.

I want quality, something that is reliable and lasts as transportation.
I want value, affordable and really good mileage.
I shouldn't need customer service if it's good out of the box, but when it needs help. I want that too.

I've owned many a GM, Ford and Dodge,
now it's Asian, sorry guys, just how it is. My Camry runs and runs and runs and runs, at 33mpg

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by Packer Fan

Sorry, this is like saying that Planes are the same as space ships. The Lexus system is very primitive. The Ford system actually parks the car with no help. I heard a show on the radio about it, said it was amazing. BTW- nobody has anything like the SYNC system but Ford - my wife has one in her Lincoln - amazing.
They are becoming the tech leaders.

Since I parallel park my car without the aid of any automated system, I must be REALLY primitive. When the day comes when I need a computer to park, I'll be turning in my keys.

[NJblue]

Maybe NJBlue got a less experienced mechanic and phone rep than I was fortunate enough to find. It's easy to do, but try not to kill a whole company because of a couple less than knowledgeable reps.

I'm not talking a single mechanic; I had been to three different dealerships and dealt with their service managers. The problem with my AC was that even if it was not working as I drove it into the dealership and even if I left the engine idle while I went in, as soon as the car was no longer in gear and at highway speed (above 50 MPH) the AC would come back nice and cold - hence it was impossible to EVER replicate the problem at the dealership unless it had a test track where you could maintain highway speed. It was not ignorance that I was dealing with - it was the feeling that they didn't believe me when I said I was having the problem. This feeling of disbelief went all the way to Ford HQ with their customer support. When I get treated like this by Toyota, I may consider a Ford again. Until then, I'm very happy with Toyota.

[Sgt Mac]

NJBlue and TOTVer,
I bought a new Ford the salesman was waving good by and the back bumper
fell off he said that I must have done something yes I bought a Ford but that was the last one
I have had Toyota and Honda ever since and now I tell the Ford Dealer
he must have done something when he asked me why I no longer buy nor send
people to him

Da Sgt
ps Happy New Years