Quality issues on UK S550’s

[Gloucesternige]

I have been looking at UK vs US mustangs and I get the feeling that our cars are pretty poor quality wise.

My panel fit is dire, there is sealant wrapped around the edges of the bonnet and boot lid. There are interior panels that don’t fit correctly and swirl marks everywhere. The car just seems to be built with a “that’ll do” attitude. Do you think they allocate poor panels to RHD cars only??

Add these issues to a UK network of dealers who are incapable and/ or incompetent and we are stuck with a pretty shit deal all round.

Yes I’m on a rant, but please guys, tell us all what you think of your pride and joy. The build quality of my RS is a million times better, but it doesn’t have the character of the GT and certainly doesn’t give as many smiles when driving it. I think Ford USA are not on the ball with build quality?

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[tooley]

I've been fortunate so far in that I've only had minor issues. Paintwork was good and panel gaps pretty even too. Piece of interior trim fell off when I was driving with the windows open, the odd rattle but generally ok.

The problem I think is that every part on every car made today is designed to a minimum cost. I guess Ford just don't build much, if any, tolerance into them so stuff breaks. It's all too close to the wire for my liking. Feels like you're waiting for the other shoe to drop at any time. I never get the solid feeling you get with some other makes. In a £35 k car. I can tell myself that it's the only 2+2 v8 coupe for anything like the price so corners need to be cut but frankly that doesn't cut it at £48k. At that money it needs to be bombproof and it just isn't.

Keep all the fancy tech, your digi dash, your magnaride, your active exhaust and just give me a last hurrah with a simple big n/a V8, analogue dials and a solid build at an affordable price. Modders can mod, and boring old farts like me cann just enjoy it as it is. That was always the mustang ethos and Ford has forgotten that.

 

[hinch]

i think the build quality is shit across the board not just unique to RHD the swirl marks are purely because you let your dealer dirty sandpaper sponge monkeys wash it.

the customer service of the uk dealer network is because ford is a budget brand over here aimed for the masses and they're just not used to selling high value cars where the owners have an expectation of a certain level of service.

Thing is though the mustang isn't a high value car in the states its a budget car the number of people i see even on here like "i've just learn't to drive and picked up a 2016 v8" now over here you're lucky if you can get a 1 litre clio having just passed let alone afford to us what is a 40k car I know its changing a little with the more modern cars but you only have to read the yank forums to see them going nuts at the mustang now being over $40k dollars and yet to us we're now pushing 50k for a specced up one.

The UK doesn't have the general expectation of customer service you get in the states in general and ford dealers are all typical franchised brand all they wanna do is shift units don't give a fuck once the car is off the forecourt. If you want good customer service buy a top end car from an exclusive brand not a budget car from a budget brand.

Basically like it or lump it really.

 

[wack]

i think the build quality is shit across the board not just unique to RHD the swirl marks are purely because you let your dealer dirty sandpaper sponge monkeys wash it.

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That's why I'm waiting 2 weeks for a new shadow edition to be sent over from Belgium, I could've been in one bank holiday weekend but I'd no idea how many people had been in the drivers seat or who'd been washing it and with what.

 

[Gloucesternige]

That's why I'm waiting 2 weeks for a new shadow edition to be sent over from Belgium, I could've been in one bank holiday weekend but I'd no idea how many people had been in the drivers seat or who'd been washing it and with what.

I’m not so sure this will be the case? I’ve had two Mustangs now and they both have had localised areas of swirl marks. I wonder if it’s something to do with paint correction at the factory?

 

[W111BOB]

I’m not so sure this will be the case? I’ve had two Mustangs now and they both have had localised areas of swirl marks. I wonder if it’s something to do with paint correction at the factory?

Paint correction! at the factory? Que? if anyone corrected any paint at the factory then the dealer sure managed to screw it up for me! (but I guess that even the dealer couldnt manage an eyelash under the paint surface in the middle of the bonnet!

Hinch is right - we all have Fords and that means the service of a ship 'em out and forget 'em sales and service dealership.

apart from the paint issues - yes there are a couple of panels that could align better -

but I have had Porsches, BMWs, Lotus's and various other high end cars - but the Mustang still has a class and quality all of its own - IMHO of course!

 

[marks]

I don't have any issues with mine, of course there's going to be minor issues with fitment etc but it's a Ford not a Ferrari.

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