I'd like to work with Park Cities Ford as they are closest. Anyone have any info on a good Ford dealer or info on the bad ones?
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I'd like to work with Park Cities Ford as they are closest. Anyone have any info on a good Ford dealer or info on the bad ones?
I had good luck with Sam Pack's in Carrollton. Worked with their internet manager.
I've had good dealings with North Central Ford and Town East Ford.
We are looking at buying a new truck. So far, the people that handle the credit union sales at North Central Ford have been extremely helpful at providing information and pricing. Look at one stealership and buy from the credit union sales at another.
I'm less concerned about the sales team and more concerned about the service department. Have you had service done at North Central or Town East?
Your already envisioning service department issues? I take it your thinking about another Mustache.Quote:
Originally Posted by MoonieGT
From my last experience with a Ford under warranty this is a wise move I spent far more time in the service department than I did actually leasing that lemon of an SUV.
Five Star in North Richland Hills would eventually fix it but a couple of times a call to the Ford Regional offices was required to motivate them to fix it. But rest assured they weren't serious issues mainly just transmission failures and electrical stuff. My personal favorite was mysterious electrical gremlins that would shut the SUV off when you least expected it to shut off. Got to see a lot more of the roadside attractions in Texas that way! ;-)
That said I'm back in a Ford albeit a 20 year old Ranger so this proves Former Ford owners are too stupid to hold a grudge! ::Banana::
Actually, I'm taking a hard look at a Fiesta ST. Read a million reviews and I've done a few test drives. Fun little car with great gas mileage. However, I'm afraid of Ford's service department. I bought my Subaru from Sewell, and they are the epitome of awesome service in my experience. Should any issue arise with the Ford... I'm concerned that it will be a street fight to get things fixed.
Avoid Anation at all cost... They make Pboys seem competent.
From my experiece it will be a street fight but I enjoy exacerbating situations. It gives me purpose! ;-)Quote:
Originally Posted by MoonieGT
Been thinking about getting Evil KK a Fiesta ST it is a cute little car, but currently the kid wants to keep the Miata* which works even better for me.
*Subject to change without notice. ;-)
I agree 100% about the quality of the Sewell experience. Leasing my wife's Subaru from Sewell has been almost enjoyable, and she actually enjoys the facility when she is there for scheduled (free) maintenance. Cookies, wifi, kids area, free beverages, comfy chairs and couches. Even something as simple as a free car wash leaves a strong favorable impression. We will almost certainly be getting another Subie from them, but we will stick with Sewell even if we change brands. Wish they had a Mazda franchise.
i can also vouch for the Mini of Dallas experience. If you're thinking FiST, it's at least worth looking at either of the 2014 Coopers, base or S. They are all turbo now, with BMW motors, and are similar in size and price to the Ford. Killer maint package included, and are one of the best lease vehicles out there, as they have super high residuals. I might not want to own it after the 4/50k warranty period, but dealing with Ford might make the fist only slightly more desirable in the long term.
Im only at 12k, but I have had zero issues with the Mini, and it has 20+ auto cross events and two mild track days under its belt. 27 mpg driving exclusively inside the loop in Dallas, with a lead foot. I got 36mpg on a trip to Corpus, via the 85mph toll road.
Glad to hear you've had a positive Mini experience. The few people I've know with them have had some headaches. I've been scared to consider them. But having Sewell as a dealer for one could be a game changer for them. Sewell has a Ford dealership... In Midland. Too far for service?
I had good service experience with Mini of Plano. The sales people were tools, but that's the norm imo. As for the car itself, it's the only wrong wheel drive car I'd buy again; second only to my LS pwrd Miata as the most fun I've had in a car.Quote:
Originally Posted by OZMDD
That is funny you say that... Driftdevil's S.O. just spent $800 on a new electrical harness for the transmission of her just out of warranty '13 Mustache.Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
It's funny. The Mini base is not particularly fast by any standard, but every person who has driven it at an autox has been pretty amazed at how well it handles, and the interior is roomier and nicer than people expect. I'm really happy with its practicality and as a DD. Besides having a favorable pax, it's actually a blast to autox, as you drive it at 10/10. At the track it's probably faster than it seems, but it's still a pretty major snooze.
For right around $20k, I don't see much else that ticks all the same boxes. Mazda3 is close, but a lot heavier and weaker residuals.
The Fiesta ST sounds like the most fun of the bunch based on all the rave reviews, but it's not as nice as the Mini and won't hold value as well. The Fiesta is also very nicely equipped with recaros and nav at $24k. A copper S will cost $4-5k more with similar options right? Even the non-s cooper will be several $k more with some options.
I'll read up on Mini's...
And the Fiesta has rear doors. I don't have the kids in my car too often, but it's nice to have 4 doors...
Weird twist of fate. A friend just stopped by that had been given a 2014 Cooper Hardtop 4-Door as a demo loaner because she's thinking of buying one. I was skeptical of it because it had the 1.5L 3 cyl, but the power was decent and felt peppy enough. The interior was nice and quirky fun. That particular car had the automatic transmission, which was surprisingly good. It was one of the best "manual mode" autos I've tried. They even had it set up so that pulling the shift back went up a gear.
So anyway, maybe a Mini?
Autonation in Frisco was so so when I was acquiring my FFE. I've not had to service it yet (since Feb), knock on wood. Grapevine Ford has sponsored the dfw mustang board for a long time....
I'll (third?) Sewell. I've bought 4 cars from their network and the purchase and service was always fantastic. Too bad they don't have other brands.
My Focus ST was purchased through Town East Ford, and all of the service has been completed there. No complaints. Waiting room is pretty basic, but I generally walk a few blocks to the s
Starbucks and read while they work on the car....
Yes, options will crank up mini prices very quickly. It is a BMW. I felt that the standard features were sufficient with only the sport suspension and e-diff options. Ediff is standard now (DTC.) Sport seats were already in my car, so I ended up with them, but they are quite good. My car stickered at $22k, and a comparable S should have been around $25k.
A fresh mini is a wonderful thing, they well until around 60k+ miles. Then suffer from many of the common bmw cooling and electrical gremlins. If the interior size works for your needs, you will really enjoy it. I've owned 2, and have always missed them when they were sold.
You win Oz. Test drove a base and an S with manuals this afternoon. I think I'm sold. Both cars were fun, but I think I'd opt for the S for the smoothness and the extra bit of low-end grunt. Mpgs hardly suffer for the extra bit of oomph, and in any event the STI averages around 17 in mixed driving... So it will be a massive improvement.
Good for you! The twin scroll turbo on the 14 S is pretty fantastic. I'm jealous. Bring it out to an autox sometime.
Picked up a Cooper S tonight. I can't believe how much torque this thing makes down low. Peak torque starts at 1250! I think at that rpm it's making 100 lb ft more than the STI was. This thing just wants to go. I think it's going to be just what I was looking for in a DD.
You dump the STI??
I did. It was a great car, but I came to realize that it is kind of pointless on the street. The limits are too high to enjoy it safely on the street. It wasn't good at having fun at sane speeds.
North Central Ford service was okay when I had my '13 GT. It was good service just a bit slow for my tastes, but they were honest and did decent work. Of course I never really had any issues with the car except with rear tire life. Now I'm back in an Audi as my DD. I won't even bother comparing Ford or Mazda service to Audi service..... Audi service is 1st class. Drop car off, get nice loaner and don't worry about it. Bring back loaner at your convenience and pick up your car when you are ready. I typically drop of my Audi at lunch one day and pick it up the next.
I'm going to miss Audi service, but I've decided for the price of my Audi I can have a nice 4 door Jeep and another '11 to '14 GT to play with. It will probably happen in a year or so.
Congrats! I'm gonna have to get a drive in it sometime. Glad it's as fun as advertised.
Did you get the new gen with the BMW motor or the last of the old gen?Quote:
Originally Posted by MoonieGT
+1, they love to eat water pumps and leak from everywhere at 50-60K miles. At least the old Peugeot motor ones, but of course they surrender...they are French after all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Webspoke
It's the new BMW motor. I am a bit concerned about the reputation that Mini's have. However, this dealer has excellent service and free loan cars. Hopefully I won't see them very often...
So far, with 20 miles on the clock in trouble free. ;)
The motor in the mini is from the BMW 320 so it should be pretty solid.Quote:
Originally Posted by MoonieGT
I am aware of that too, but we never had much trouble with our Countryman in the three years we owned it. Lucky, I guess?Quote:
Originally Posted by MoonieGT
I think people just expect it to be a Honda/Toyota. German/European cars are built with maint in-mind. It seems to be considered normal to have service and wear, where Aisan cars are built with the "set it and forget it" mindset. That appears to be changing, but I believe a lot of the bad reputation is caused by people who don't deal with issues promptly, and the undeniable truth that euro cars are more expensive to service. Under 50K though, they seem pretty invincible.
Pic for proof:Attachment 6675
I like it. But, when are you going to paint it GREEN?
It would look great in green...
That's one ugly Fiesta... :-)
The blue and black looks great! Gabkwong's winning blue miata would look great with black wheels.