Enough was enough

[Gymrat]

I did love the Ghost Stang. But in the 22 months I had her I had to have the lip of the hood repainted twice. Most Ford models have had this problem since 2004. There are 2 class action lawsuits going on. They use aluminum hoods and the hoods somehow get contaminated with iron. Theory is it is from the machines that stamp them into shape. This causes them to act like batteries using the paint as the electrolyte. The paint starts bubbling, you get it fixed and it happens again, and again, until the warranty runs out then you buy an aftermarket hood.

4 months after I bought the car I started getting a "service brakes" light. I took it to the dealership and found out the master cylinder was leaking. They kept my car for a week while waiting for the part. I drove off and the brakes felt mushy. I took it back and they said they couldn't let me drive the car home because the new master cylinder was leaking faster than the old one. From there on out I was really apprehensive about going to Colorado. I felt like this part could go at any time.

Last April I got a recall notice. It seems my Mustang has one of those air bags that when deployed the mechanism can explode sending metal shrapnel into the driver. This has been a known problem for 10 years, yet Ford continued to use these air bags. So now I am apprehensive about my brakes and worried about bumping into something every time I drive my car.

I loved that car but I was hoping this car would last me the rest of my life.

I was at the GM dealership getting the oil changed in my Buick yesterday. I thought I would sit in one of the 2016 Camaros. I test drove a 14 before I bought my mustang. I couldn't get the seat up high enough to see over the instrument panel. The thing was heavy and unresponsive. But the 16s have been redesigned. They are considerably smaller cars. A dealer saw me looking at it. He came over and let me in. I couldn't see over the instrument panel. He said wait a minute and started raising the seat up. Up and up it went. And BOOM! I could see over the tach and speedometer just fine.

I took it for a drive. I figured I wasn't ready to trade just yet but it was something to do during my oil change. This was a 335 HP V6 with a manual transmission. 30 more ponies than my Mustang in a trimmed down car that weight 200lbs less. 3:27 gearing as opposed to my Mustang's 2.73. Upgraded suspension for better handling with a limited slip differential. It was like driving a Vette.

When the test drive was over I told him I wasn't interested at this time. Then his boss came out. I told him I wasn't interested, he offered me 16000 for my Mustang. I said no. He said "what do you want for it" I said 19,000. Every time I told him I wasn't interested he sweetened the deal. Before I left he had met my request for 19 grand (I paid 24 grand for it almost 2 years ago) and came down 2 grand on the price of the Camaro. I told him I wanted to sleep on it. He started pushing for a decision when his boss walked up. His boss said "give me the offer you wrote up for him". Then he told me if I want to think about it go home and think about it. He said the car might sell before I make a decision, but then he said, but that isn't likely. He said they weren't going to pressure me.

Next morning I get a call from my salesman's boss. He tells me he will knock another $1500 off the price of the car. I don't know if that was a sales tactic or what...but if it was, it freaking worked.

I took these by the lake earlier this evening.

[alb]

There ya go!

[Gymrat]

There ya go!

I haven't named her yet.

[mashani]

It is pretty. Will be interesting to see what you think when you take it out on the track.

[Pudge]

Very pretty ride.

It does make you scratch your head a bit why they tried so hard to move that car. I would assume those particular models sell themselves.

[Inkleg]

Sweet ride!

[RickBeer]

Everyone's experience with cars is dramatically affected by how dealers handle you (every brand has good and bad dealers) and mechanical issues experienced. What matters at the end is whether you're really happy.

Online forums about vehicles are full of people posting issues, leading one to conclude defects are widespread and manufacturers are screwing consumers right and left. A small fraction of owners post on auto forums, and the majority are complaining. Read any forum and you will never buy that vehicle. Every brand has issues, and none of them continue known problems of any magnitude for years - they cannot. Except when they do, like GM and faulty ignitions, or Ford and exploding Pintos. Suppliers have issues and some of them are parts used by multiple brands, such as an airbag. That said, when your vehicle has issues they are very real.

I do have to comment on your airbag comment. If one reviews the list of KNOWN models with issues, you do find Mustangs 2005-2014 on it. That does NOT mean Ford knew about any issue with them for ten years. On the list also is the 2015 Camaro...

The number of recalled vehicles is close to 30 million across 14 different automakers (22 brands). The majority have not yet been repaired... Not even 8 million have been repaired. Some likely due to parts availability, some to neglectful owners, some due to dealer queues.

There are an additional 85 million potentially defective airbags installed. Takata has been given until 2019 to show which are defective. That is 1 out of every 3 cars on the road. 1 of 3 that Borg members own too...

http://www.safercar.gov/rs/takata/index.html

[Beer-lord]

Sounds like you got a good deal. I hate dealing with buying cars. Even no pressure is too much pressure most of the time.
Enjoy the ride!

[RickBeer]

I hate it too. Bought our 2010 Fusion Hybrid during the Cash for Clunkers deal. Pressure from dealer wasn't on pricing (we were using X-Plan), it was on two things. First, most dealers had at most one on the lot. Ours had two come in on a truck. Second, Cash for Clunkers lasted about 4 days due to demand. Got a call "you have to come down before end of day, if this thing ends we can't give that deal, it's out of our control, government thing". Bought the F-150 with X-Plan, which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND to anyone buying a Ford. No negotiating, price is printed on invoice, you get nearly all rebates (not "Recent College Grad"), you get max of $100 paperwork fee, and Ford audits the sale. If you don't know a Ford employee, or your company isn't a "partner" (Best Buy is for example), then you can join things like the American Quarterhorse Association and wait 60 days and be eligible. Or some school alumni associations. X-Plan is very close to invoice pricing, then minus rebates. You only negotiate a trade-in.

[Gymrat]

Very pretty ride.

It does make you scratch your head a bit why they tried so hard to move that car. I would assume those particular models sell themselves.

Only 2 things that come to my mind.
1. It's a manual transmission. Those have not been selling very well the past several years. Not even in sporty cars. They are no longer even making them an option on a number of cars and even trucks. While I was there doing the deal they told me it would be a little bit before they could get it in to get it cleaned up because they were looking for someone who could drive a stick. And this is at a freaking car dealership!
2. They are trying to reach some kind of quota.

[Gymrat]

I hate it too. Bought our 2010 Fusion Hybrid during the Cash for Clunkers deal. Pressure from dealer wasn't on pricing (we were using X-Plan), it was on two things. First, most dealers had at most one on the lot. Ours had two come in on a truck. Second, Cash for Clunkers lasted about 4 days due to demand. Got a call "you have to come down before end of day, if this thing ends we can't give that deal, it's out of our control, government thing". Bought the F-150 with X-Plan, which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND to anyone buying a Ford. No negotiating, price is printed on invoice, you get nearly all rebates (not "Recent College Grad"), you get max of $100 paperwork fee, and Ford audits the sale. If you don't know a Ford employee, or your company isn't a "partner" (Best Buy is for example), then you can join things like the American Quarterhorse Association and wait 60 days and be eligible. Or some school alumni associations. X-Plan is very close to invoice pricing, then minus rebates. You only negotiate a trade-in.

When I bought my Mustang I used the X plan AND I got the $4000 rebate they were offering at the time. That was 6 grand they knocked off the 30 grand window sticker price.

[Gymrat]

Everyone's experience with cars is dramatically affected by how dealers handle you (every brand has good and bad dealers) and mechanical issues experienced. What matters at the end is whether you're really happy.

Online forums about vehicles are full of people posting issues, leading one to conclude defects are widespread and manufacturers are screwing consumers right and left. A small fraction of owners post on auto forums, and the majority are complaining. Read any forum and you will never buy that vehicle. Every brand has issues, and none of them continue known problems of any magnitude for years - they cannot. Except when they do, like GM and faulty ignitions, or Ford and exploding Pintos. Suppliers have issues and some of them are parts used by multiple brands, such as an airbag. That said, when your vehicle has issues they are very real.

I do have to comment on your airbag comment. If one reviews the list of KNOWN models with issues, you do find Mustangs 2005-2014 on it. That does NOT mean Ford knew about any issue with them for ten years. On the list also is the 2015 Camaro...

The number of recalled vehicles is close to 30 million across 14 different automakers (22 brands). The majority have not yet been repaired... Not even 8 million have been repaired. Some likely due to parts availability, some to neglectful owners, some due to dealer queues.

There are an additional 85 million potentially defective airbags installed. Takata has been given until 2019 to show which are defective. That is 1 out of every 3 cars on the road. 1 of 3 that Borg members own too...

http://www.safercar.gov/rs/takata/index.html

The first air bags started injuring people in 2004. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/busin ... .html?_r=0

I am very aware of the magnitude of the recall. That was the final reason I just wanted to get out from under the car. It will take them years to repair these cars.

My car was built in May of 2014. This picture was taken November of 2014.



That is how fast galvanization took affect on my hood. Last February I had it repaired again. I just resigned myself to the fact that in a few years I was going to buy an aftermarket hood. Which after painting and installation would run me around $1200. I was going to buy a Shelby hood

As you said bottom line is was I happy with the car. After the second time I had my master cylinder replaced I always had this perception that it was an inferior part. Especially since years ago I did quite a bit of shade tree mechanic work. I replaced a couple of master cylinders. They were made of heavy metal. The one on the Mustang was made of the same type of plastic they use for windshield washer reservoirs.

Beyond those issues I loved the car. But with all the problems it had I had to wonder how much I would be spending on it when it was out of warranty.

Possibly all new cars are crap now. My Firebird was 12 years old, I had it for 7 years before I traded it. In 7 years I had to replace the serpentine belt. My Lesebra is 17 years old, I have had it 4 years now. In 4 years I have replaced a battery and a water pump.

If my Camaro starts having reoccurring issues the first 2 years I own it I will consider selling it and buying an old project car. I had really hoped I could buy a brand new car that I always dreamed of having but never could, also have a daily driver so the new one could live in the garage, and keep it for the rest of my life. Possibly too much attention to technological conveniences, and too many cheap Chinese parts has drastically reduced the reliability of today's modern vehicles.

[BlackDuck]

That is a nice looking car for sure.

[TonyKZ1]

Nice Camaro for sure, congrats!

[RickBeer]

The point I was trying to make is that it's highly likely that your 2016 Camaro also contains a defective air bag, and that GM put the same airbag parts into a Camaro a year after you bought your Mustang. Cars are still being produced and repaired today with Takata airbags and Takata is not sure of any fix resolving the problem. It's mostly an issue in humid climates.