FamiliaGTRAe

G'day mine has been adjusted twice, and had the surround on the lever itself refitted numerous times. It appears to work and I haven't had any problem with it holding on steep ground. That said there is a loud clunk if you pull the handbrake on too fast (all the way from off to a long way up) 15800 km's Cameron

G'day, I have some good news, Im getting my car back! Its all been fiddled with, and it has allegedly been repaired. So as soon as a big Toll Truck leaves Melbourne (thanks all you guys out there watching them lay big sets up and down Sydney Road Campbellfield ), and arrives at my dealer I'll have my Phantom back! Next thing is to see if it really has been fixed, and what's actually been done to it. Then I can tell all you lot what they've done and why! What I have gleaned so far, is that because the Auxillary input is a unterminated signal and is used with a floating input (by which I took them to mean a portable audio device) it can and does pick up ambient electrical interference generated by the car. THey have fitted an inline Ford part (unknown at this time) amplifier to increase the gain / noise floor of the system. I.e. Instead of the whine being from 4 - 20 volume levels its now 24 - 40. Personally I'm not sure if this really is a fix or just a shuffling of the problem so I that can't hear it on the standard stereo, proof is in the pudding! Have to wait until I get it back! The inline amplifier was fitted to the aux wiring loom. Cameron

On behalf of my brother Thank you all! Yes we are speaking, No I'm not sure if he's coming back to the site for the moment...... (since I have the network access password and he doesn't :lol: ) Cameron

In the Fairmont that I am driving presently, There is no Clock in the TFT screen at all, the only clock is the analogue clock above the screen. Cameron

G'day, In my Fuel Injected VFR 800, the first and only batch of Optimax went into my bike, It soon developed a bad misfire jsut before the Vtec Point, and was returned to the service shop, and they fixed the bike by quote "Cleaning your injectors and fuel system out, you used optimax didn't you, Don't do it again, optimax has detergents in it that are unique to Shell. THank you please come again!" I.e. No charge, done under warranty, so I'm not sure why id be spun that if at least part of it wasn't true! (well knowing my luck with motorised vehicles and servicing, I spose I shouldn't ask) Cameron

Yeah watch it!!! :lol: Or else I might send you my Ford Hoodoo your way! Then who'd be laughin, on the bright side this means I get to see how much slower a Fairmont Ghia is compared to a T! Cameron

Funny that such a thread has come to life in this way! Ahh Family issues! :lol: Basically the problem in my car existed before I even bought the iPod so the fact that the iPod may or may not pre amplify the signal is irrelevant as it does it without anything plugged into the aux socket anyway! To make things really clear........ My car has suffered numerous things, and every fault that has occurred with the car has been fixed by Ford under warranty in a timely and helpful manner, BAR ONE. This issue is the electrical interference through the stereo system of the car, and the dealer has not been able to fix either on their own, or using the technical hotline, nor a personal visit from an engineer, or any TSRB. Therefore the vehicle has been shipped to Melbourne to be fixed. I want to make clear that I do not blame the dealership, they can only work within the rules and warranty regulations set by Ford, I understand this, and want all the members here to understand that the reason for the delay and my on going problems is not any Sydney Dealer, but Ford Australia Head Office and its Customer relationship centre only. THis issue is now dead and buried, and at such time as I receive my car back from Ford Australian from Melbourne. I will inform the members here, and tell them what they actually did to my car, so those members with a similar problem can return to their chosen dealer and get their cars fixed. Mods could you please close this thread, I will post updated information within another thread at such time as I get my car back. Yours the Lab rat! Cameron

Oh just in case anyone is worried, I fully understand that Ford is presently has my car in Melbourne for the purpose of fixing it, that at least I appreciate this somewhat extraordinary measure. Oh by the way if any of you Melbournites happen to see a Phantom XR with NSW plates being hammered around be sure to let me know won't you ? Cameron

Yeah thought of that, 1 . Dealers Rep + me on a walk around and mark down on a damage sheet. 2 . Digital Camera Pictures of the paintwork, wheels, windscreen, interior and dashboard. 3 . Truckie + Dealers Rep + me, with another walk around and mark down on a damage sheet, which was then photo copied and handed to me! Two marks on Front lower spoiler, 1.5cm long each, (damn car park blocks) Not visible unless you lie down and run your hand under the lip of the spoiler, one scuffed left rear wheel, small scratch along surface on inch, and a small 2 inch light scratch in the bootlid right where the high mount stop lamp is in the rear window. That's it, Its all about having proof for my own protection I guess! Cameron

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, Mine differ's from his in this matter, so be it! At no stage should cars with an endemic indication of faults be permitted to remain as such, this applies to Ford Holden, Maserati, Foden, and International Harvester, or whoever wants to build a car, bus truck, plane boat scooter or whatever!. You build the car and sell it, it should be your (the company and its authorised representatives) responsibility to take whatever steps it takes to repair the car, and keep the customer happy. I thought that is what a customer service charter is all about! Cameron

Yeah I know he won't read it because he comes over to my place to use My 2nd computer on my Internet network to post ! :lol: Cameron

G'day Guys, Yes Its me! Yes I know what my brother thinks, and yes he does work for Ford, and yes I do get myself worked up over the car and the problems I've had with it, and I do ignore some of the things that he says (but what brothers do not) Firstly the problem with the audio / electrical system on my car existed from the DAY I PICKED THE CAR UP. It existed before I bought the iPod, it exists whether the iPod is plugged in or not, it exists if the stereo is simply switched on! 2nd, No the dealer my brother works for is not the dealer to whom the vehicle is taken, that dealer that services my car is the dealership from which I purchased the car in August 2003. If people look back to this Thread RIGHT HERE, I can certainly tell you that my loyalty to one brand can and is being altered by the treatment that I have and am continuing to receive. Personally my brothers phrasing Is crap because it is only because the car doesn't work as sold and ordered that it is being sent down. I.e stuff me the owner because I've already forked out my cash, thereby wasting my money on the car in the first place. As the customer I don't care how much money Ford wastes stuffing around, what I want is EXACTLY WHAT I ORDERED, WAITED FOR, AND PAID A LARGE SUM OF MONEY FOR. I don't want to know that this has cost Ford Australia $xxxx dollars or $yyyy dollars, why would I care? Also to quote this If I wanted a car to drive from A to B I could have bought a $500 car, if I wanted to drive fast in a 6cyl turbo car I could have bought a skyline or VL Late model camira and spent money on it to perform simliarly to a Falcon for less money, but most importantly, I spent $15000 dollars more than a Base Falcon XR6 Turbo to improve the cars ability to "RUN" ie the Premium Brakes, Wheels, Leather, Pollen Filter, and of course the Premium Audio and Aux Input! If I'd spent $45000 as opposed to $60610, I would have gotten a car at the very least that would have saved me $15000 and couldn't have the problem mine has simply because it wouldn't have the options that are causing the problem in mine! Its Pretty simple, you get crap, and crap customer service, you either don't buy the product again, and don't use the service department, or you choose to take it. I may support Ford, and I like seeing Ford's win races as much as the next bloke, but I am under no Illusion at all that Most of my past cars (mostly Lasers and 323's) are built by Mazda (part of Ford anyway technically) and unlike my XR has surpassed it in all areas apart from Outright horsepower and passenger capacity and towing. In this age it is so easy to simply buy what you like, and if you think that I won't do it, and will have my name on the waiting list for another Ford in 5 Years time, well Ford Australia had better come up with something fast. Update: My XR is in Melbourne, no information on its expected (or possible) repair and return, and It left the dealership on the back of a small Izusu 6 tonner truck on its own. However it probably went to a Toll Loading yard with others! Cameron

White you say? Here I was being led to believe that the undercoat on Falcons was the grand ol HgAg? Have I been misled? Oh the Humanity! Seriously though, I have a Phantom, and I use a Car Bra for Highway or country driving, and check the car during its once a week car wash! Nip the problem in the bud as it were! Cameron

G'day, I'm pretty sure that the M3 is a coupe or Convertible in recent models, If you are thinking 4door sedan M series then you are thinking M5, and that's still not a bad way to think! Current model is a V8, previous versions came with a in line six! All go hard! You could always go for the BMW M "Breadvan" (M Z3) Cameron

LOL Im not sure that earning points for 360's and two wheels, and cool air is quite what the Licenseing authorities are looking for! Better yet Cool Overtake, and Great Drafting! Fun either way! Cameron

Anyone got an XBOX with Project Gotham Racing 2? Currently Im just doing donuts in an Enzo because I can! Best of all its not my car, not my tyres and the risks of me killing someone is very very minimal! PLus I've always secretly wanted to lay a large set down the end of George St SYdney, this way I can! Cameron

Thanks for your comments, I guess that when it comes to cars it is all personal, what bothers me may not bother the next person, but this doesn't change the point that the car has an acknowledged problem and audible one too, and its simply taken 7 months to get absolutely nowhere. The facts are that the car still isn't fixed. THe other issues that I've had have been fixed in a timely fashion a'la 8 hours to do, the rest of the time its been coz of this one audio problem! I am sure that some of you would realise that being told "This will definately fix your problem, just book the car in and we will get it done for you" by happy chirpy mechanics are one thing, but after the 16th time I get VERY tired of it. It isn't the mechanics fault per se, its what they are being directed to do and by whom that is the problem! I am awaiting a response in writing from both Ford Melbourne, and the NSW Deparment of Fair Trading, Consumer Tenancy Tribunal. I will see what they have to say about it then. The main thing I am angry about is that fact that I don't have my car has led me to miss one XR cruise, one planned holiday away (modified plans) and I still haven't been given a precise date for the return of my car. Makes things very hard when I have University course and study and trips and most of all the Cruise I've been attempting to plan since the Marulan / Batemans Bay cruise of last year! Happy Motoring, *hands you all a big piece of wood to touch* Cameron

I agree with rowlan! Cameron Avoid Ken whereever possible, and don't take the Lamingtons!

Bought Brand new, after 3.5 month wait August 21st 2003 Cameron

Offshore is the Paler Blue on the Fairmont Ghia I've been given to drive around in while my car is off on its adventure. Not a Bad luxury car colour IMHO. Cameron

G'day Saleen, The car has (will) been fixed, I just don't know when I will get it back! And I will say it again, I choose not to attempt to sell it on the website. Cameron

In the case of the dealer they've rung the "liason" person within the Ford CRC and again not mentioning names but the breakdown appears to me to be solely within the Ford CRC. I am aware that five phone calls were made between the dealer and the liason since Thursday, three of which were made in my presence in the dealership. My reasons for selling the car aren't necessarily because the vehicle can't be fixed. It is now simply because I can no longer trust Ford Motor Company to service and maintain my motor vehicle. I have probably created such a poor reputation amongst Ford and its agents that I doubt that another dealer would like to deal with me! (Time for a rego change perhaps :banghead: ) The old saying is if you don't like the service take your custom elsewhere, well in this case the problem is Ford Head office, therefore :banghead: . I am pretty sure that the car will be returned fixed, because it is wrong, and it very annoying for me because I paid additional money ontop of base price for the Factory options for the stereo, and even that doesn't come close in sound quality and performance of aftermarket systems I have had previously. However I dislike intensly being told by the dealer representative and the Ford CRC that the problem is "just the stereo" and the vehicle still drives perfectly and is able to be driven. As a side light I placed five paper signs in the windows of my car prior to giving it to the dealer 18 days ago which read..... COST: $60,000, Ford Can't Fix it, and won't replace or refund. The dealer's representative removed them from my car without my permission which I pointed out in my meeting yesterday to them. The only response I could get from him was that it was slander and inferred that it was the dealership that was at fault. I pointed out that what was written on the signs was true, and I agree that whilst it is sitting on his property that inference could be drawn (but not really an issue when the car has been sitting up the back of the lot for the last 18days where noone can see it anyway) I then pointed out that there was nothing he could do if I chose to park my car legally on the roadway outside the dealership, and that same inference would be drawn, and in fact would be worse for not being in the dealership itself. The response to that was "I dono't want to argue this with you any longer" This is the part of the attitude and responses which bring me to actively dislike the car and Ford, they start a discussion or bring an issue up, and when rebutted or proven to be wrong its "Oh I don't want to talk about this anymore" :banghead: The final point is that as I've mentioned before in other threads, the people in the dealership have no real responsibility towards a customer, I've made it clear that a replacement vehicle would have kept me happy. I am sure lots of people would like that too, however according to what I've been told Not even the dealer principle has the ability nor the authority to provide a customer of their dealership with a replacement car, and then chase the cost up with head office. It all has to be done via the Ford CRC, and the less said about them the better. It has been alleged in my presence that the Ford CRC isn't even a dircet part of Ford and is simply like all other call centres being a sub contractor to Ford with a smattering of Real Ford employees within the centre in case they need to take over a issue. This would explain the confusion some call centre operators have over simply issues like the CDr's and what options are available and what Diffs the turbos have and so forth. THey don't actually know the product (most o them) they are simply reading from a FAQ guide! Since November 2003 I've kept a record of discussions with Ford and its representatives and this A4 word document with 12 point writing is presently up to 7 pages with more to come. Proof will be in the pudding, if I get 50k so be it, if not so be that too. But as I said before I have no intention of posting it for sale here on the website. Sorry for the soapbox rant for listening Cameron

As a follow up My brain suddenly had a recall, and I hope that I haven't read the sentence wrong. They don't mean that the Ingall Family has its very own website do they? Cameron *Now More Confused than ever*

G'day, In Sunday's Sydney Telegraph Cars section there is an article about Russell Ingall, and his car, which happens to be an XR6. But the bit I like best is this bit :-) Pity it doesn't mention the name of the website, but I guess the crew here(and yes that does mean you and your cult Ken ) are making people notice us! Finger's crossed it is us, but if not, it is nice to think it is! Cameron

After 18 days, the car has simply been sitting outside in the weather for that period, the battery (the cars 3rd) had even gone flat!!!! Currently *TOUCH WOOD* nothing else is wrong with it, I've already had everything else delt with. Water Pump, Steering Rack, Misfiring, No Boost, Wheel Bearing, Boost Solenoid etc...... Oh Yeah the Middle Heat Shield on the exhaust has come loose again and is rattling and buzzing all the time, but I almost forgot as I hadn't had the car for 18 days!!!!! But seriously the Radio Problem is the only thing outstanding on the car, and as it is being sent to Ford (I.e where it is presently on the way to) it should come back completely fixed!!! What I have had enough of is the stress, the money and the pure and simple pigheadedness of certain individuals within the Ford Motor Company, and please Note I do not mean ALL, My dealer has been remarkably helpful, and has been the group caught between Melbourne's apparent incompetence and me. I am trying to be realistic with the price of the car, but assuming that it is fixed I'm going to look up redbook for 1 year (the car's 6months 2 weeks old) and then do the percentage on my purchase price. As it has so many extras (including ones I've added after purchase such as the 2300kg towing kit and load levelers + Herrod Springs/camber kit + Fairmont Clock) and all the rest, Im Hoping at least for $50k (save $11k on replacement + 1.5k for the Tow/Springs/Clock) Only guessing no real idea or plan, and personally I would have to think very hard about advertising it here for one of the website members to purchase. I am struggling to EVER recommend any new Ford to any person I know again! Should this come to pass, I will be looking at getting a 1993/4 Familia GTR Evo ii, as my screen name indicates I had previously. Despite being a modified and customised car, (stereo and interior) it proved itself to be immensly more reliable than the Falcon, and infact never failed mechanically or electrically during the period in which I owned it. I did however use a few tyres ....... To sum Up, The concept of the the XR Turbo is a brilliant one, but this concept is being let down by poor quality control, and worse customer service. Unless the membership rules change I intend to remain a member here and enjoy all the benefits that this site has brought to me. Oh btw voy74656 :o :o Cameron