Broken Dark Horse

[Ewags81]

Today was my day....... BIG shout out to the delivery driver. THANK YOU for taking such great care

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[MCS]

Wait, today was your day to take delivery? Cause I would be like "Over to you Ford Dealership, this would be part of your PDI" lol

 

[Ewags81]

Yeah kind of heartbroken. I won't pay for a 2025. And this one just isn't so special anymore. Even if they discount it when it's fixed. It's still fixed.

 

[MAT1955]

@Ewags81 ...... correct me here - I don't see any paint damage. Is anything broken? Does this section just snap back on or are nuts/bolts involved. Not trying to minimize or ask a dumba$$ question but I have watched a ton of videos of the Mustang assembly lines and thought I have seen the robot arm deliver the entire front at an angle then the line worker hooks it on and then snaps it into place. The car looks awesome so I can't think of something easy you could ask the dealer for as compensation. How about asking for a comp extended warranty and any future parts you purchase you get at dealer's price less 10%. BTW love the space grey seats. If this is mostly cosmetic you will (I believe) forget about this 10 minutes after you rip through your first turn or when you need to hose your driveway off after all your buddies drool all over it. Just sayin'

 

[Ewags81]

Man I wish. But everything that the front bumper is attached to moved in some way. If you get close and underneath it's worse than it looks. Like the air intakes just wobble around in there, the bumper mounting tabs on the fenders are bent down, the wheel well splash guard is clean ripped in half if that helps paint a picture. You can move the entire front end around pretty good if you grab that driver side.

 

[MAT1955]

@Ewags81. There's still plenty of hope for a 100% full recovery. The front air snorkels just abut the front end and are loosely attached to the grille area of my 2024GT and therefore have some movement - they have to as they are attached to the engine and must be somewhat independent. . Some bent clips and even the ripped splash guard are IMO all cosmetic..... IF the metal frame pieces like the main front metal side members and front metal "box" aren't damaged and I bet they aren't. I believe (and hope) your Mustang will be 100% corrected to OEM. Of course I'd be pi$$ed too. I was pi$$ed about the front fender holes and the fact that after two months when the convertible top was coming up it ripped a big piece of the plastic boot well loose and sounded like the whole thing was wrecked. It's great now. I honestly think your Mustang can be perfectly restored and if you don't sue the dealership they will likely be so grateful that you can negotiate some goodies from them. Most dealerships have a lot of "good will" customer options available to them to keep you happy so you don't escalate to Ford Corporate - remember every dealer wants a 5 star rating even on an oil change. I think you're driving this bus.

 

[Loucas]

That's preposterous. I would be all over the dealer and the transpo company about this. Totally unacceptable. Sorry that it happened to you.

 

[Kitulu]

@Ewags81. There's still plenty of hope for a 100% full recovery. The front air snorkels just abut the front end and are loosely attached to the grille area of my 2024GT and therefore have some movement - they have to as they are attached to the engine and must be somewhat independent. . Some bent clips and even the ripped splash guard are IMO all cosmetic..... IF the metal frame pieces like the main front metal side members and front metal "box" aren't damaged and I bet they aren't. I believe (and hope) your Mustang will be 100% corrected to OEM. Of course I'd be pi$$ed too. I was pi$$ed about the front fender holes and the fact that after two months when the convertible top was coming up it ripped a big piece of the plastic boot well loose and sounded like the whole thing was wrecked. It's great now. I honestly think your Mustang can be perfectly restored and if you don't sue the dealership they will likely be so grateful that you can negotiate some goodies from them. Most dealerships have a lot of "good will" customer options available to them to keep you happy so you don't escalate to Ford Corporate - remember every dealer wants a 5 star rating even on an oil change. I think you're driving this bus.

This plus one. As long as there is no structural damage, all of what is in the picture can easily be fixed. The car shouldn't be totaled for that.

When I went to pick up my GT, the detail guy discovered a spot of "hangar rash" on the driver's door. It looked like someone had opened a door on an adjacent car and dented in the driver's door, and chipped the paint on mine. The dealership bent over backwards to fix it.

1) I drove the car out to the dealership (about 45 minutes away) and exchanged it for a loaner so their "dent and paint guy" could fix the car. He called in sick, and we had to reschedule for the following week. I drove back out after work and picked up my freshly-detailed car.

2) The dealership sent a driver to where I work (hour and a half away) to pick up my car to take it to the dealership to have the dent fixed. They were able to fix the dent, but their paint guy said that the paint chip was beyond his skill set. They used a color correction paint pen as a temporary measure and returned the car to me before I had to leave work the same day.

3) The dealership sent a driver with a loaner truck to swap for my car when they scheduled a different paint guy to fix the paint. They picked it up on Monday, and returned it on Friday. You can't even tell that there was damage and paint correction done, at all.

 

[Skye]

OP, sorry this happened.

I'm interested in what's seen and documented during the tear down and inspection. I'd expect the dealer to provide to you photos with their write-up.

We'll never know what happened. Maybe it was a genuine accident involving something else. Maybe someone was delinquent in their duties. Maybe someone was stealing another vehicle and brush-passed this one.

The dealer and Ford will file a claim with the carriers.

As to any formal reporting, the vehicle has no title. It hasn't been sold yet. Nothing will show in CarFax.

I can't speak as to if something will show in Ford's Oasis (warranty actions due to parts failure). It's shipping damage. I believe that will make a difference and lean toward nothing showing in Oasis either. Others with experience can clarify.

We'll each have different opinions on how to proceed. If it were me, I'd remain engaged and await the write-up, photos and the Dealer's way ahead.

Best Wishes in what ever you decide.

 

[Ewags81]

Skye thank you for the kind words. That is a thousand percent what I'm worried about. Receiving a brand new car, even at a discount, with a damaged history. The general manager at the dealership seems pretty one-sided but the sales manager has been my point of contact since my salesperson left. And he is a car guy and I feel like is on my side. Unless you're really a car guy or gal, this may not hit home. But this car was supposed to go in the garage. Until I had time to polish it, ceramic coat it. And then it wasn't ever going to see rain. Now it's sitting on the lot in the Sun for I don't know how long. Will they fire that thing up in track mode and rev the piss out of it in the body shop? Probably. Will it come back with a couple millimeters of the rear tires burned off? Maybe. These are the things a guy thinks about when his unicorn car sits on the car lot damaged. It's the last of the 2024s. I can't afford a 2025. And I can't go buy another one just like it on the lot anywhere. Where will it go and whose hands will it be in? There will be an insurance claim involved. It was damaged as they drug the front end off of the transport trailer.

 

[Dxm]

It sucks! somebody clipped my 1-year-old car over the weekend. They left a note at least, so now dealing with it.

 

[Skye]

And he is a car guy and I feel like is on my side.

That's good. A good first step. When I picked mine up, I got the same feel from the Salesperson and the other folks (four or five) standing around. They weren't the regular staff, but enthusiasts.

The car sitting out in the open, I'd be concerned if any of the door or trunk seals had been involved. Intake of water. But at least initially, it appears not. For finish, being new, we're coming into the Fall. Temps will be cooler. Less direct Sun. Maybe on a future visit, you'll not only see more of the car, but the Body Shop and people working there.

Your concerns of how the car will be handled are valid. I'd feel same. This goes back to whatever conversations you have and the feel you get for things.

Regarding CarFax, I'm comfortable nothing will show there. Right now, the car has a Certificate of Origin, but no title. For Oasis, someone with experience could provide insight on that.

They've got to fix the vehicle no matter what, before they'd present it to anyone else. From now until then, hopefully they'll give you the feedback you deserve so you can make a proper decision.

Once again, Good Luck.

 

[smurfslayer]

Yeah kind of heartbroken. I won't pay for a 2025. And this one just isn't so special anymore. Even if they discount it when it's fixed. It's still fixed.

Don’t despair...

@Ewags81. There's still plenty of hope for a 100% full recovery. The front air snorkels just abut the front end and are loosely attached to the grille area of my 2024GT and therefore have some movement - they have to as they are attached to the engine and must be somewhat independent. . Some bent clips and even the ripped splash guard are IMO all cosmetic..... IF the metal frame pieces like the main front metal side members and front metal "box" aren't damaged and I bet they aren't. I believe (and hope) your Mustang will be 100% corrected to OEM. Of course I'd be pi$$ed too. I was pi$$ed about the front fender holes and the fact that after two months when the convertible top was coming up it ripped a big piece of the plastic boot well loose and sounded like the whole thing was wrecked. It's great now. I honestly think your Mustang can be perfectly restored and if you don't sue the dealership they will likely be so grateful that you can negotiate some goodies from them. Most dealerships have a lot of "good will" customer options available to them to keep you happy so you don't escalate to Ford Corporate - remember every dealer wants a 5 star rating even on an oil change. I think you're driving this bus.

+2 @MAT1955

nail head, meet mr. Hammer.

so long as the hard parts are undamaged, a good quality body tech will make this as good as new. Just make sure none of the mount points on the metal are straight, undamaged.

I would get @Ford Motor Company engaged / Ford C/S sooner, rather than later and work with the seller to get this straight. Obviously, if they can’t make it right due to damage, you have to move on. But I think this is cosmetic. Just insist on NEW parts for anything implicated. Not nuts, bolts, etc. necessarily, but anything significant.

Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[mwbgxp]

Suggest you not make any decision on accepting this car until you have the benefit of all the information from the pre-repair tear down and a full detailed estimate of the cost of the repair even if the dealer absorbs the cost. Even a well repaired car can suffer Diminished Value after the completed repair.

 

[MAT1955]

@Ewags81 ..... I am well known at the Ford dealership I deal with. I don't gripe about prices, I want the best (full synthetic) etc. for my Mustangs and I tip (reasonably) BUT there is an understanding I "know" vehicles (cars, boats, sleds) and if you mistreat my vehicle I get to claim your first born ...... and that's the best that will happen to you. Seriously, this is what I say at The Ford and GM dealerships where I have vehicles serviced: "I bring my car/truck to you because I trust you. I don't whine about prices, pay for the best parts/service and I tip your techs. My vehicles are my babies and I want them treated like that. Anyone who puts their a$$ in the driver's seat better know that ..... AND..... you all know I can read a scan tool, if you can't guarantee this to me I will gladly go elsewhere." I $hit you not - This is what I have been saying for years. There is a new requirement at the Ford dealership for my Mustang GT - there is a note on my file (and I remind them each time I drop it off) if the 2024 Mustang GT is taken for a "road test" by a tech - the service manager rides shotgun......and she knows I know where she lives. Ha Ha. So far no one has told me to go elsewhere. We all have our own personalities and way of getting our peace of mind - me I'm up-front with my expectations. It has worked so far.

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