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jcthorne

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Posts posted by jcthorne

  1. One of the unfortunate realities of this recall is that the fix is only temporary, basicly resetting the clock. The new airbags are of the same design as the originals. NHTSA now admits that many will have to be recalled again once (if) a real solution is found.

     

    Also at this point, its likely that Takata will fail and leave the burden to the auto companies.

     

    NHTSA also admits that the option to have the cars bought back essentially does not exist due to the numbers.

     

    Could you imagine Ford trying to buy back GTs?

  2. There is already some sort of partnership or working trade agreement between Ford Parts and Amazon.com. The last several orders I have placed for Motorcraft or Ford parts through amazon were shipped directly from a Ford warehouse in amazon packaging and invoicing. As there is a large Ford parts warehouse here in Houston, I usually get these parts next day. Wish the whole ford parts catalog was available this way.

     

    I do agree the online fordparts.com site and lookup engine needs work. Perhaps they should get some help from amazon on doing lookups.

  3. J Mays seemed like Jekyll and Hyde wrapped into one person. He crapped it on such lemon designs (to my eyes and the marketplace) as the 500, the MKS, and the Thunderbird. He also oversaw (at least allowed, without ruining) successful designs like the new Fusion, the MKZ, and the F150.

    And the Ford GT.

  4. Ok, so its obviously an Escape with a split wing grille. Will be interesting to see the price premium for the Lincoln over the Escape Titanium and what is included for the premium price. If the MKZ is any indication, $10k for 'not much thanks'. The styling alone is not $10k better and Lincoln has a LONG way to go in the service department. Just figure using a local Ford dealer and normal Ford service. Not that bad but no upgrade either.

    • Like 1
  5. Just a tidbit of info for other Escape owners that may find themselves in a similar situation. Enterprise had a large number of Escapes in their fleet and they do insurance rentals. You do not have to take the rental car the at fault driver's insurance wants you to accept. You are entitled to a rental of like type to what has been removed from service. Getting them to foot the bill for an Escape from Enterprise will not be a big stretch. They have them at our local Ford dealer for service rentals all the time.

  6. That works within the same model but it doesn't necessarily translate across models. Nobody went to a Ford dealer looking for a Ford GT and left with a Mustang GT.

    Actually quite a few folks went to Ford dealers to look AT a Ford GT and ended up buying something else. It generated considerable dealership traffic in its day.

     

    I would wager that most actual Ford GT clients did not go to a dealer to browse and decided to take home a GT.

  7. Having grown up and getting my license when 50's and especially 60's cars were still on the road, my early automobile developmental years were influenced by super sized interiors (like the back seat in Jeff Olson's 1959 Electra 6 window), fins, over the top styling and chrome, so needless to say I like chrome. When I saw the tailgate accent on the SEL's I didn't car for it, it seemed like an after thought and out of place considering the amount of chrome on the rest of the car.

    I'm also glad I got a 2013, not because of the tailgate, but because many of the features on my car are now packages or options. To deck out a 2014 Titanium with the standard features on the 2013, less $875 for leather, it costs around $300 more.

     

     

    The 2014 is not available with the upgraded sport seats at any price. Would have been a deal breaker for us as the flat slabs used for the standard seats just do not provide sufficient back support for my wife to drive.

    • Like 1
  8. Ford claims to have provided chipped keys since the mid nineties but as the article is for F-250 pickups, its mis leading. The Superduty trucks did not get chipped keys until much later, 2005? I know my 2002 does not have it and one of the reasons the F-250 is much higher in theft rate than the 150.

     

    I am pretty careful where I park my F250. They are known theft targets in this part of Texas. Especially nice examples with the 7.3 which are hard to find.

  9. I completely disagree. My wifes Explorer Sport had a lifetime average of 15mpg out of its 4.0l V6 and it was a 2WD. The Escape is 2.0L FAR better performance, better interior room etc and its AWD and it gets 23 day in day out in the city.

     

    15 vs 23 was a big step up and the performace increase along with it. The engines have come a LONG way.

  10. I looked at it from a different perspective. We bought an ESP with 0ded and first day rental coverage. Now my wife has no fear of going to the dealer and just letting them fix it. She never fears she has to 'haggle' with a service writer any more. So far it has actually worked out pretty well except one time the Enterprise agent tried to pull a fast one and upcharge her for the rental. Dealership stepped in and fixed it and it has never happened again.

     

    She drops the car off in the morning and they give her a rental. Pick it up when done that day or later does not matter. So for me, the $1300 approx. cost of the ESP was well worth it in more ways than just repair cost. Wife has actually gotten to like the folks at the dealer rather than avoid them.

  11. Jcthrone, have you had any success (or time to look) in finding the basic maintenance procedures as of yet? Thanks.

     

    Not quite sure what it is you are looking for but if you are looking for a procedure to perform an oil change you will not find it. Ford assumes a certified mechanic knows an oil change is

     

    A raise vehicle

    B drain oil

    C replace filter

    D refill oil

    E lower vehicle

     

    What the service manual does show is the fastener locations for the belly pan, correct lubricant types, torque spec for the oil filter and refill quantities.

     

    If you are looking for something specific, perhaps I can help you find it.

     

    More elaborate procedures are in full detail, valve lash adjustment for instance.

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