Ferrari Mailing List: Re: OH CRAP!!! RE: My Car Ownership History...

[Dave Craig (dave.craig]

I totally agree that reliability varies across each marque and also within
each model.  As Dennis pointed out a few days ago, there are still cars
being made on Friday afternoons and Monday mornings.  But the variations are
small compared to the general reliability of an exotic.  

Getting back to the original theme of this e-mail chain, what is acceptable
for an exotic in terms of reliability and maintenance is considered horrific
and totally unacceptable for the average car buyer.  

For most people, in the first 100,000 miles of its life, a car should only
need: tires once, brakes maybe once, oil change ten times or less, air
filter change two or three times, windshield wiper changed a few times, add
washer fluid, and maybe an automatic trans service.  Anything else is
considered extreme.  

So, I do believe that Ford, GM, Daimler Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi,
and others put reliability as a primary design goal.  Because no one would
buy a Honda if it broke down every 5K-10K miles or if it needed its engine
removed every 30K to change the timing belt(s).  Now, sometimes the designs
fall short of their goals or parts get swapped without the expressed
approval of the design engineers.  Then bad things happen.

Someone blamed poor reliability on Fords poor corporate performance.  I
actually think that Ford is hurting because Ford makes ugly boring cars.
Yes, there are a few exceptions: the Mustang and its derivatives, trucks,
and the GT.  Have you looked at the Fusion, the Focus, the 500, the Crown
Vic (ya, everyone has seen the insides of one of these), the Freestar
minivan, the Edge, the Freestyle, and the Escape; YUCK!  The Explorer and
the Expedition are descent SUVs but the public still remembers the Firestone
explode-a-tire fiasco.  Ford needs to get retro and they are just starting
to figure this out: the GT and the Mustang.  I am worried that it is too
late for Ford, most automobiles have a 5 year design cycle (from concept to
manufacturing).  They better have some cool cars in the pipeline.  Look at
Dodges car line up.  Very retro.      

We just bought a Dodge Magnum SXT and I totally expect it to last and be
reliable up to 150K and I expect it to die before it gets to 200K miles.
Will it last this long, my Dodge pickup truck did and my Mercury Cougar XR7
did.  The pickup has had one problem (change the catalytic converter every
80K) in 175K miles, and the Cougar's problems have been: cracked intake
manifold (plastic), catalytic converter (it has 3 of them), TPS, and O2
sensors in 165K miles.  Both the pickup and the Cougar still get driven
regularly.  The pickup's front suspension is starting to get a little bit
sloppy and the Cougar appears to be down on power (it might be time for cats
again; I will have to check into that).

And to answer your question, yes, a late model Trans Am.  It was a blast to
drive. 

Dave 



-----Original Message-----
From: LS [mailto:lashdeep [at] yahoo.com] 
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 8:48 AM
To: Dave Craig
Cc: 'The FerrariList'
Subject: RE: OH CRAP!!! RE: [Ferrari] My Car Ownership History...

I think the thing to remember is that you can't generalize a marque with
regards to reliability. It used to be that a company would share a handful
of drivetrain and electrical parts across different platforms. Nowadays,
everything is outsourced and cars are made as partnerships with other
brands. Japanese competition has forced a lot of cost cutting and other
efficiency improving measures.

This means that within each marque, reliability and durability can vary
across different models.

Would I buy any new Ford product? A truck or Mustang, maybe. I'd pass on
most of the other Ford models.

The Nissan V8 engine has had some problems, but their V series V6 is one
of the most reliable engines in the world as is their KA series 4 cyl.


BTW- The GT500 uses the 8.8 rear which can take up to 1000bhp easily. Who
has driven a modern live axled car that was setup properly????

LS

--- Dave Craig <dave.craig [at] sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Lash,
> 
> No worries.  And nice burnout video!
> 
> It is interesting that everyone is still bashing Ford and your green
> Mustang
> seams Bullet proof.  Oh, there is a pun in there somewhere.  Obviously
> Ford
> has reliability as a high design goal.  
> 
> Combining different e-mails, my belief is that Ford probably didn't put
> the
> IRS in the Shelby due to the 500hp and not because of cost issues.  It
> wouldn't surprise me at all if this rear end turns out to be some
> derivative
> of the old nodular 9".  Now that was a rear end that couldn't be
> destroyed.
> 
> Dave Craig
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: LS [mailto:lashdeep [at] yahoo.com] 
> Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 10:07 PM
> To: Dave Craig
> Cc: 'The FerrariList'
> Subject: OH CRAP!!! RE: [Ferrari] My Car Ownership History...
> 
> Dave, my ownership history below was actually for my one owner, dealer
> serviced, 67k original mile BMW 540i. I just put "Mustang" in the
> description to see what kind of replies I'd get based on prior knowledge
> of what type of car was being discussed.
> 
> Funny, most people said to keep it even though it was a heap. And that's
> how I feel about the BMW/Audi/VW cars I've had. I have enjoyed them
> regardless of how much work/repairs they've required. In fact, I like my
> B5 Audi more than the 540, even though I think it has more known problem
> areas...though most are very inexpensive to correct.
> 
> FYI-1997 Mustang Ownership Record (2 entries):
> 
> 223 Miles- Intermittent Foglight switch (dealer chimp installation screw
> up) 
> 
> 73xxx miles- ABS Light On, Code 63, Bad Ground at Bosch ABS Module,
> unscrewed, cleaned, re-attached $0
> 
> That's it...original clutch, water pump, radiator, not one drop of
> leaking
> fluid ever, original control arms and everything else save for
> consumables.
> 
> http://www.exhaust.tv/mustang/
> 
> My "Service Folder" for it has a bunch of receipts for aftermarket
> upgrades...not one repair of any sort after 10 yrs of ownership. I will
> never sell it.
> 
> My top 3 most reliable cars I've owned for at least 36 mos.
> 
> 1. 1997 Mustang Cobra (tie) 2 documented "issues"
> 1. 1990 Nissan 240SX (tie) 2 documented "issues"
> 2. 1976 Ferrari 308  3 "issues" (rebuilt cooling fan, bad set of points,
> A/C line split)
> 
> LS
> 
> 
> 
> --- Dave Craig <dave.craig [at] sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> 
> > Lash,
> > 
> > It appears you are having similar problems to what I had in my last
> > TransAm.
> > I loved that car and felt invincible in it.  I drove it like it was
> > stolen
> > every single day.  I am the first to admit, I was very very hard on
> that
> > car.  I eventually sold the car at 60K miles because of issues; I felt
> > like
> > it was having a major breakdown every month.  I have missed that car
> > more
> > than any other car I have ever owned, I truly regret selling it.  
> > 
> > So, my advice is, if you really love the car, just keep fixing it or
> you
> > will regret it.  However, another option is to trade it for a similar
> > car
> > with lower mileage.  Or better yet, upgrade to the new Mustang Shelby
> > GT500.
> > It has to be the best deal out there.  $41,675.00 gets you 500hp.  I
> > know
> > there are a lot on this List that poo-poo domestic cars, but this car
> > can't
> > be touched by any other car manufacturer for similar money.       
> > 
> > Dave Craig
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: LS [mailto:lashdeep [at] yahoo.com] 
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 1:16 PM
> > To: Dave Craig
> > Cc: The FerrariList
> > Subject: [Ferrari] My Car Ownership History...
> > 
> > My 1997 Mustang Cobra service history:
> > 
> > 7,xxx Seat creaking, replaced passenger front seat track ($489)
> > 8,xxx Engine running rough, replaced ECU
> > 8,xxx Engine idling rough, check engine light, replaced ignition coil
> > 11,xxx Replaced right side brake lights
> > 11,xxx Replaced right side brake lights again
> > 17,xxx Transmission clunks when reapplying throttle, service trans
> > 19,xxx Trans clunk is louder, service trans, electronic control button
> 
> > faulty (Mechanics say that trans replacement is inevitable before 80k
> > $2000!!)
> > 20,xxx CD Player won't engage magazine, reset CD player, check wiring
> > 28,xxx replaced *ENGINE* by dealer, knocking, faulty top end and
> sleeves
> > 37,xxx Cooling system leak replaced water pump, broken plastic
> impeller
> > 39,xxx Cooling system leak replaced radiator
> > 43,xxx Vibration and clicking noise above 70mph, replace driveshaft
> > bearing
> > 45,xxx Door trim falling off
> > 46,xxx Radio display dead, replace head unit
> > 48,xxx Steering wheel creaking very, very loudly. Regrease column,
> > monitor
> > noise and fluid level.
> > 
> > What should I do with this thing?? I love it...
> > 
> > LS
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >  
> >
>
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> 
>  
>
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> 



 
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