So I love my daughter.
Four yrs ago we went in to reputable(?)or so I thought dealership at Rodman Ford buying her a brand-new, zero miles Ford Explorer Sport
SUV setting me back about $55K including top of the line 100K extended warranty zero deductible, necessary part of investment.
Here the keys sweetie, please drive safely and most of all don't kill anybody, ok.
Crazy, you say oh, I agree but will touch on that some other time, he-he.
Everything pretty smooth for awhile as expected, then in 2016 shifter lever on console developed a mechanical glitch not engaging gears unless you went back & forth couple of times. OK we're golden with the extd warr I'm thinking and not sure if I'm the only one who hates it when term ends unused, but awfully glad it's there if something major goes wrong..
Sorry, this isn't covered under your warranty, service rep goes. You've got to be kidding, 2 yr old car's just got over 40K this shouldn't be happening I'm protesting, upon deaf ears, however.
While not the kiss of death, I felt let down by both Ford and Rodman for not standing up and so we left.
Couple more yrs went by and about a mo ago daughter, who's the only driver starts hearing some grinding noise coming from underside front.
So, we take the car to our local shop as we always do for oil changes & tire rotates and the tech there goes gee, guys you gotta problem with rack & pinion gear, I'd strongly advise you to bring it to dealer as this is pretty unusual at only 67K and might be covered, it's also big bucks, he warned.
Monday April 23 after having said our prayers, we head out for Foxboro and after talking to Dylan at service desk explaining what local tech said about abnormal malfunction of both rack & pinion and also shifter, SUV is surrendered to their hands. Will call you tomorrow guys, Dylan goes.
Tomorrow comes and true nuff Dylan calls, OK, rack & pinion is covered not the shifter however, additionally, you need front & rear rotors & pads plus tires all around and all that comes to $2375 incl the shifter.
Something's not right here, Ford outfitting this vehicle w/sub-standard components and how do I know that wasn't the same case w/shifter, my response.
Dylan standing his ground but seeing I also was adamant takes off for couple mins to "consult" and comes back saying "I was able to bring it down to $2175" Hey pal, I can goto Costco & get top of the line Michelin LTXs for $800 not the inferior Hankook rubber trash and not sure if you guys heard of Auto Zone get complete set of rotors & pads including the shifter, dealer item, all for $1500 or less, how about $2000 even, I backed down so daughter could have her kids shuttle back.
Sorry, no can do, he goes.
W/faint bitter aftertaste same as in 2016 hey, that's just in as many trips made to Rodman service, try to convince myself I'm just terrible to deal with I tell the kid go ahead, just take care of rack & pinion & let me know when ready, piling kids & Bailey the boxer in my old faithful Chevy Astro.
Got the green light Saturday and while on the way down I had a one-sided mental conversation with the almighty on how I was let down twice at the hands of RF and also trying to convince him/her that to err is only human right, despite experience suffered those people still believe in you oh dear God and love you, just sometimes with all due respect we all screw up but please, see to it there's an amicable end to this saga.
Arrival was after 3pm and Dylan gone we ask the young lady there for car's keys as we're running late;
Oh, there's a final bill for diagnostics she goes, bringing a bill for $275.
WHAT??? exasperated I exclaimed, I explained to Dylan exactly the reason vehicle was brought here to begin with, also mentioning defective shifter documented in 2016, so there should be NO diagnosis done, period. seeing I was breathing fire at that point the poor young lady leaves to "consult" returning with an executioner, or so it seemed.
Look he goes, we're able to cut that to $129.51 and that's the best we can possibly do w/such attitude as if he's trying to fling a bug off his shoulder.
As daughter knows #1 it's the principal of the matter and #2 been on this planet for some time now and have dealt w/more car dealers than I can remember knowing all their techniques, looks at me saying not worth it dad c'mon let's go.
Although am not quite done with Ford, they've built some great cars that I've had the pleasure of driving & owing in the past, I am completely & totally done with Rodman Ford. read more