SUBJECT: FORD FAIRLANE, 2000 - Front End Bottoms (22/02/2006)

• "When turning into a driveway the passenger's side bottoms and hits the mudguard with a loud BANG. Ford says they have put spacers in to stop this problem but it still occurs and the warranty is nearly over!" R Graham, Sydney, NSW
  

SUBJECT: LAND ROVER DISCOVERY, 1994 - Never Go to Richard Sweet Wholesale Cars (21/02/2006) *DEALER*

• "I have bought a Landrover from this dealer and mind you I'm not the only one to have this problem but he seems to advertise vehicles with all these extras. But they don't work or don't have them so when purchasing from this dealer please make sure that everything the advertisement says that the car has is really there and working. When I have tried to have these problems repaired he has hung up on me, turned his phone off and still to this day we have never had anything repaired by him that he promised" S Bowe, Brisbane, QLD

SUBJECT: FORD FAIRLANE, 1995 - Criminal overcharging by Ford - airflow sensor (20/02/2006)

• "The airflow sensor on my 302 V8 decided to stop working once the engine got hot. Cleaning the simple unit and testing the connections made no difference so I took it off the alloy housing and went along to Dominelli Ford (from whom I originally purchased the car) and was told that it was only available as a kit item (sensor+housing) for $1,800. Now given that the housing is 100% ok and that the sensor must cost at maximum $50 to manufacture, I would have expected that the maximum price for this matchbox-sized unit would be $150. How Ford can justify charging $1,800 needs to be investigated by either the NRMA or Trade Practices. Given I had the gearbox on my Mercedes 180E fully rebuilt by Tynan motors 6 years ago for $3,000 (parts & labour) the $1,800 Ford slug is absolute theft." A Yeremeyev, Caringbah, NSW

SUBJECT: FORD FOCUS, 2005 - Back window - none in Australia (20/02/2006)

• "None in Australia, could take up to three weeks. I can't drive my new car" G Walton, Townsville QLD

SUBJECT: FORD FALCON GLi, 2002 - My Rude Experience with Ford (20/02/2006)

• "I purchased my 2002 Model Ford Falcon GLi in 2002, all had been reasonably fine until last month the alternator went. As I am still paying off this vehicle I believe Ford has a responsibility to provide and fit the car with a new alternator. Of Course Ford Mt Druitt had wiped their hands of their problem and decided not to come to the party claiming once the vehicle is out of warranty and over 150,000 km's it is not their responsibility. As I am the assistant manager at Kmart Mt Druitt, I believe the level of customer service provided by Ford was not adequate. Ford has a duty to help their customers as much as possible. Since the National Manager of Ford Australia has not returned any of my many phone calls and letters I've had a gut full and I'm now going to pursue my complaint with 'A Current Affairs'. My Advise: Buy HOLDEN ! " B Tightass, Mt Druitt, NSW

SUBJECT: LAND ROVER DISCOVERY TD5, 2000 - Oil Pump Failure Leading to Engine Melt Down - Known Problem (17/02/2006)

• "My 2000 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 TD5 recently suffered a serious engine melt-down as a consequence of oil pump failure. The problem was a bolt holding the drive sprocket onto the shaft driving the pump. The consequence of this was total engine replacement at a cost of over $14,000. It appears that this is not an unheard of problem with a number of similar cases reported in the UK. In fact it made it to the TV programme Watchdog, where a number of cases were reported. A UK firm of solicitors, Irwin Mitchell, Holborn, also have a page on their website related to this issue.
• Land Rover Australia's response to this has been shockingly deficient. Both General Manager, Mr Steve Morten, and Customer Care Manager, Mr Paul McMahon, have been unwilling to investigate the issue. The engine failure is one issue and it is the responsibility of Land Rover to investigate. Even more of a concern though, is Land Rover's "couldn't care less" response.
• I am fully aware of Land Rover's poor reputation for reliability in Australia. Even the latest Series 3 has been known to break down whilst being test driven by the motoring journalists. From my experience, this reputation appears to be fully justified. It's no wonder they have lost so much market share. For further information, do a net search using the key words." R Hazell, Adelaide, SA

SUBJECT: FORD BA FALCON, 2004 - Issue after Issue with my near new 2004 BA Falcon - Has any one had similar issues? (17/02/2006)

• "I purchased a near new (11 months old) 2004 BA Futura. Almost from day one I had the following issues.
  1. Rough engine idle in traffic
  2. When doing a cold start it runs like a dog for a few minute
  3. Steering shudder when turning at low speeds (Driveways)
  4. Front brake pad rattle when driving over pot holes and reflectors
  5. Squeaky doors and windows
• All major items! Well I can say that after taking the car to Ford 5 times ... the brake issue and squeaks in the doors are fixed. As for the rest ... even worse! Has any one had similar issues as above? The engine idle issue really ***** me, they have replaced pulley systems, power steering hoses, air filter (charged me for it) and wasted heaps of my time." N Churchill, Sydney, NSW 0437 135779

SUBJECT: NISSAN MAXIMA S, 2000 - Cracks in dash - Is this something I can pursue as a claim through Nissan? (16/02/2006)

• "I've seen other posts with the same problem but I'm not sure of where to find the answer. Yes - 2000 Model Nissan Maxima with cracks developing in the dash. One crack is about 12cm and is right in the centre of the dash on the driver side. I always use a screen to keep the sun out when the car is parked outside. I've taken great care with this vehicle. Is this something I can pursue as a claim through Nissan? The local dealer didn't want to know about it and gave me the phone number or a vinyl / leather repair shop." I Bader, Keysborough, VIC

SUBJECT: HONDA ACCORD LUXURY, 2005 - Shattered Dreams - Honda is living off its legacy (16/02/2006)

• "Honda Accord Luxury - 2005. Cost A$50,000. Traveled 8,000 Kilometers. If potential Honda Accord buyer's think they are purchasing a quality Honda product of yesteryear they will be sadly disappointed. The Thailand sourced vehicles are not manufactured to the same standard regardless of what Honda may say in their advertisements.
• Potential buyers should look for:
  Doors that are poorly aligned with the body,
  Doors that are hard to close,
  Drive train vibration through the steering wheel and body,
  Leather steering wheels with warped components, and poor fitting interior panels around the transmission tunnel.
• I am very disappointed with the overall quality of my Honda Accord. The overall level of fit and finish is very poor. In addition, the level of road noise and vibration transmitted through the vehicle is totally unacceptable. Honda is living off its past legacy.
• Buy another one - NO WAY. Should you - NEVER!
  My vehicle was delivered with a component rattling inside the FRH door. In addition, the same door required considerably more force to close it securely. During the first service I requested both faults to be rectified. The dealer blamed the company who tinted the windows for the loose component. The dealer stated that the force required to close the door was normal as the door seals on Honda vehicles are tight. I then asked to have the other three changed to match the now good one. Dealer solution: move the door further out of alignment.
• A couple of months after purchase a roughly triangular shaped plastic panel located where the front passenger's right leg would come in contact with the centre console - RHD vehicle - came adrift. Boy was I pleased I paid the premium by purchasing a Honda. I would put it back on and it would come adrift again. The fit of the panel on the other side is just as poor. However the panel has an extra screw which prevents it from coming adrift. A closer inspection by me revealed that it was a design/manufacturing fault. I knew a Honda dealer could not fix the problem. I informed Honda Australia of the problem. Honda Australia thanked me for informing them of the problem and basically said - good bye.
• On the next service I informed the dealer of the problem with the plastic panel. I was informed by the service staff that the problem had been rectified by replacing a missing pin. Further investigation by me at a later date revealed that staff had drilled an additional hole into the console to enable the panel to be moved to the rear of the vehicle approximately three millimeters. Basically, the dealership unashamedly lied to me to protect the brand. " T Krol, Algester, QLD
  

SUBJECT: NISSAN PATROL 3.0 TURBO DIESEL, 2000 - Broken Chassis - a total expense of several thousands of dollars (15/02/2006)

• "I purchased my Nissan Patrol vehicle brand new back in the November of the year 2000 for $50 000. As I travel from 60 to 70 thousand kilometers per year I was advised by a Nissan dealer representative that I would probably never wear it out with the vehicle being a diesel. I had traveled 100,000 kilometers in the first 18 months, so from here on I was outside of warranty. It was at this point on that the problems began.
• At 2 year old the chassis (right-hand rear corner) snapped off, which put my suspension unit through my brake lines, which caused brake failure while towing my aluminum boat (which you would expect to be able to tow with a small car!) My local Nissan dealership named the section of the chassis without even looking at the car and told me that he had a Nissan Patrol of the same model with the same problem the previous month, then he virtually told me to take my vehicle to a panel beater. Then the right-hand side suspension sagged badly ($1500), the air-conditioning unit underneath the dashboard was required to be replaced, at an expense of $750 (it was later found to be faulty from production), the alignment of the front-end had to have pins fitted above and below the hubs to allow the vehicle to travel straight (at an expense of $400).
• The most recent problem that I have experienced with my vehicle has been a cracked head ($4375). During the course of my ownership of this vehicle I have experienced more problems with this vehicle than is necessary to list. These problems amass to a total expense of several thousands of dollars and the only reason why I keep this (in my opinion) heap of **** is that it is only worth $15 000 as a trade in." G Beckett, Blue Mountains, NSW

SUBJECT: FORD BA XLS UTE, 2003 - Rust Beyond Belief at 2 Years Old - Has anybody had the same treatment from Ford (14/02/2006)

• "Ford warranty sucks. My pride and joy has rust (major) from bumper to bumper, roof to floor. What does Ford want to do? give it a coat of paint and say not our problem. I'm in the mids of setting up a legal and media frontal. Has anybody had the same treatment from Ford. Love to hear from you. I will send pics of Fords wonderful paint work and rust for all who wish to see. Contact Mick..mickportland@hotmail.com Ford spys ... please ref: complaint #400853
• Safe motoring??? Enjoy the experience of buying a NEW FORD ... Do not ask for any warranty. Sorry do I sound upset, spend $38K+, have it rust out in 2 years ... I'm livered." M Krause, Portland VIC 0418 347142

SUBJECT: FORD FALCON XR6 BA II, 2004 - Cumberland Ford damaged my paintwork during repair (13/02/2006)

• "I took my near new Ford XR6 BA Series 2 Falcon 12/04 to this dealership for warranty repairs yesterday morning. It was purchased on Thursday 10/2. The paintwork on the car was perfect and not scratched or gouged ANYWHERE. I had taken photos yesterday of the bonnet and the rear and an overall view showing the bonnet as well. The car was stored overnight in our garage. The centre console including the LCD control screen and radio and air conditioning didn't work. I had an inkling it was the fuse. However, I decided to take to the dealer for a proper diagnoses. They mechanic drives the car into the workshop out of my view, my wife and I wait in the customer waiting room for the repair to be completed.
• The same mechanic drives our vehicle out and now it has a noticeable scratch on the bonnet which wasn't there before. It has a gouge then a long scratch down the bonnet towards the bumper about 10 cm long. When I pointed this out to the mechanic he denied everything and claimed it was already there and was covered by dust, therefore I wouldn't have seen it before. The fact is I could see it plain as day! I was also told because I had bought it from an Auction that the damage was caused by them. However it wasn't because both my wife and I checked the overall condition and no scratch on the bonnet was visible as it had just been washed. I have photos of the car that show it didn't have dust covering it. The car was unmarked at the time I drove to this dealership. Their attitude is appalling. I have written a letter of complaint together with links to all my photos showing no scratch on the bonnet yesterday afternoon.
• The service manager is giving me the same story about the dust covering it up so they are all covering one another. I am not getting very far with them. They have damaged my near new car and are being obstructive and inflexible. I wouldn't go back there again giving their reckless and careless attitude." M Luning, Plumpton NSW
  

SUBJECT: LAND ROVER FREELANDER, 1998 - Nice car pity about the engine - head gasket; engine is a total waste of time (11/02/2006)

• "After replacing the head gasket on my Freelander numerous times with no permanant fix around except buying a new engine I finally gave up and got rid of it, which is a real pity beacause I really like the look and feel of it. If any car deserves an engine swap its this one because the engine is a total waste of time which keeps blowing head gaskets and Landrover just bury their head in the sand over it" C Abbott, Matraville NSW

SUBJECT: KIA MENTOR SLX, 1999 - Brakes (10/02/2006)

• "I recently drove a new Kia and it's hand brake had to be cranked all the way although it worked. However this contradicts what the manual says so Kia motors had better do a recall and the Ford dealers in Frankston had better make sure they stop doing dodgy road worthy's. As for the brakes in general, if you experience brake shudder change to a better pad material." G Farrow, Langwarrin VIC

SUBJECT: NISSAN X-TRAIL, 2004 - Engine rattle under load - we may have been better off with our other candidate a Honda CRV (09/02/2006)

• "I have covered 25000 km's from new and this is my 4th Nissan. (2 Skylines, a Maxima, and The X-trail). We have always serviced this vehicle through the local dealer and had nothing but quality service so the dealer is not a problem. Twice we have counseled the dealer service supervisor regarding an engine rattle under load and the advice is that the noise is standard on this model (it sounds like pre-ignition on heavy acceleration). The effect stems from the catalytic converter being of thin metal and too close to the exhaust manifold causing the exhaust gases to vibrate the converter casing.
• It is a disappointment that a new vehicle would exhibit this effect considering the company claims extensive pre-release testing and development and yet miss such a problem. It seems we have to live with the noise and if this is the case this will be our last Nissan. Yes we test drove the vehicle prior to purchase and now in hindsight feel we may have been better off with our other candidate a Honda CRV." G Reid, NSW 02 65544164

SUBJECT: NISSAN X-TRAIL, 2005 - 5 seats? - technically 4 and a half seats! (09/02/2006)

• "Okay, don't get me wrong, I love my new X-Trail! My husband and I bought it:
  a) because we currently have 2 kids under 3 and another on the way, so we need room in the boot for the 3-wheel pram AND groceries when shopping, and
  b)every month we travel to our parents' place (150km away), and stay overnight, so need the boot space for suitcases and pram and shopping items ... So, of course the selling point for us was boot space ... BUT it has only just dawned on us that in a few months we need to replace our new X-Trail because there really aren't 3 rear seats! There is no way in the world we could fit a newborn capsule, a 12 month old car seat, and a 3yr old's full booster seat! So what was the point? Oh yeah - the boot space. Hardly makes up for technically 4 and a half seats! " R Mooney, QLD

SUBJECT: HOLDEN HSV GTS, 2003 - Approx 100 Defects! - its appalling that someone can receive such service (08/02/2006)

• "My car has had an appalling list of repairs since purchased new almost 3 years ago. The vehicle is a 2003 HSV (Holden) VY GTS Sedan which cost $98,000. Since the first day the vehicle has had problems and now has around 100 warranty defects listed in Holden's repair records. To this day the car is not how it should be. Some of the more major problems to have occurred are:
  - 2 lots of broken valve springs, totally disabling the car from running.
  - Gearbox has been replaced (with an older version, inferior to the original) and this one is worse than the original in its operation, it appears to have bearing issues and is hitting on something when changing gears.
  - The engine has a permanent misfire and runs very rough. Holden have attempted to disguise this by increasing the idle speed of the engine while modifying the tacho to show standard revs!! While this has stopped the engine almost stalling whenever you take your foot off the accelerator, it is still obviously misfiring.
  - Most likely due to the misfire the car suffers from constant vibration.
  - The car is running excessively rich and out of tune in general.
  - Steering rack is leaking fluid and the pair of rubber boots that form part of the steering are split due to heat from the exhaust (poor design).
• Holden have instructed their dealers NOT to make any repairs to the vehicle even though it is still under warranty. I have three independent reports detailing the problems with the car. I am currently engaged in the process of taking Holden and HSV to the CTTT (Consumer Trade and Tenancy Tribunal) but as part of the negotiation process the representative of Holden has stated there is nothing wrong with the car. He believes there is a small disturbance in the suspension and is causing some vibration, that is all. How this would cause vibration when the car is standing still remains somewhat of a mystery!
• I think that its appalling that someone can receive such service from a company that advertises itself as 'Holden means a great deal to Australians'; particularly as a long time owner/supporter of the brand and this is their premium (most expensive ever sold) model." Z Mihocevic, Sydney NSW
  

SUBJECT: HOLDEN ASTRA, 2000 - Dont ever buy an Astra! (07/02/2006)

• "Dont ever buy an Astra. I've had problem after problem. First I've had 6 new starter motors and the car has to be towed to Holden every time and it nearly burns my car down every time because it keeps running. I've had to get new brakes, new rear window cables, new ignition, cruise control that decreases. I also get little stuff like brake lights that keep blowing! The car is now up to 97,000km and I'm very worried about the belt snapping - all I need. And Holden isn't very helpful. I have to fight to have the car fixed immediately and then they just expect me to pay for their fault.
• Trust me don't ever buy one - you will regret it so much!" M James, NSW

SUBJECT: HOLDEN VECTRA / ASTRA, 2001/2002 - Great GMH Cars - not a thing went wrong during the four years *GOOD NEWS* (07/02/2006)

• "In 2001 I bought a 2.6 litre Holden Vectra CD hatchback. To date it has done 95,000km without a single problem. Of the several cars I have owned, this is the best by far. In 2002, my wife bought an Astra Equipe. Having reluctantly traded it in recently on a Ford BA Mk2 for towing purposes, we hope the BA performs as well as the Astra did. Like the Vectra, not a thing went wrong during the four years we owned it." F Youngberg, Port Macquarie
  NSW

• "Recently I changed from the dealer to another service provider for budgetary reasons and found that the oil that had been used by a dealer in SA was a Magnatec 10w30. I checked through the system dealer service manager who told me that the oil had to be fully synthetic and quoted TXT softec 5w30 and SP. Both are only purchased through trade. However when I checked through Castrol they told me that the oil used by SA dealer was not on the list as it did not meet the specifications laid down for the TD5 engine. The required spec is ACEA B1+B3 being the B3 is the diesel performance rating of high performance long drain. Checking on the Magnetec it does not reach B3 spec and therefore is not recommended. Whilst the Qld dealer uses the correct oil the SA dealer has not and I have now been running an inadequate oil while doing some fairly heavy towing.
• Landrover Australia are circling the subject and quoting their books as saying the oil is right even though the sheet they sent me did not have the 10w30 on it.
  The whole episode has been a game of shovel board going back and forth between the dealer and LR Aust without any resolution. I am finding they are leaving all the running around to me in the hope I will tire and stop.
• This has been a good vehicle but without sufficient back up and support it is worthless and I have other stories as to the agents used interstate in Darwin and Broome whose service in the customer field is non existent. I want to make a protest and look to writing my story up fully and posting it to national magazines and newspapers. Has anyone else had the problem with the oil issue." C Varney, Burpengary QLD
  

• "I booked in my brand new Forester with the dealership servive center, Zupps on the Gold Coast, from where I purchased the vehicle. The car's first service was due, my Forester is running brillantly no problems at all. Anyway I dropped the car in and upon picking it up later that day, I thought I'll just check the oil and well, you guessed it nothing had changed, still the same brown oil. By this time the service team had gone home (after a hard days work?) and I discussed this matter with the sales manager. He checked the fresh oil of a show room Forester then he checked my oil. He confrimed what I already knew. This matter is still pending. But Zupps have picked the guy to bluff, 10 years in the automotive trade (engine reconditioning) I will get my 160 dollars worth ..." F Spegel, Gold Coast QLD

• "I have a very low km Vectra 2.6 I bought 18 months ago. It now only has 50,000klm and has developed a small coolant leak which I just checked out after a lot of trouble getting to the leak. The good news is it's simply a leak at the oil cooler; there is no gasket and the cooler has not been fitted correctly. The bad news is it is so hard to get to they had to remove the cylinder heads. Total cost of repair is now $2000, including lots of gaskets, a new timing belt, thermostat and water pump. Thanks Holden! Great Job!
• Fuel economy is poor around town, car overheats in hot weather, brakes poor, rattles badly, power steering squeaks. Not a car to last." M Edmundson, Brisbane QLD

• "You will recall some years back that the Shell Oil company had to pay millions in compensation when their diesel fuel destroyed seals in diesel injector pumps. Well it could be on again. The Rockhampton to Mackay area in Queensland is having a rush on leaking diesel injector pumps; some reconditioning / repairing specialists are booked for several weeks and some months (Ford Transit).
• It would be interesting to know if others are having problems." B Smith, Mackay QLD

SUBJECT: FORD FOCUS LX, 2002 - "Alternator" None in the country! No ETA! No Loan Car! - City Ford - *GOOD NEWS - PROBLEM SOLVED* (04/02/2006)

• PROBLEM SOLVED: "City Ford, to their credit, resolved the issue last night (Friday Feb 3, 2006) by supplying a Loan Car until a new alternator becomes available. It turns out the service manager, was not aware of the situation and as soon as he learn't of the problem rang us to apologise and immediately organised a loan vehicle restoring our faith in City Ford and their service department. It appears the troops weren't communicating up the line and were adopting standard policy regardless of the obvious inconvenience to an owner when there is no ETA for a critical part. Our thanks to Bob Reid, Service Manager at City Ford for solving the problem immediately he became aware of it." B Robinson, Sydney NSW
• ORIGINAL POSTING: "This will definitely be the last "FORD" we will ever buy. The vehicle has had "alternator" or electrical problems since new. Turn on the air con and the engine stops. City Ford kept saying it was an ECU problem and would reset and send us on our way. After three goes and no joy we had to drive the car and not use the air con for fear of breaking down somewhere. Finally, even when not using the air, the car died in a local shopping centre. $155 for a new battery (after 37,000 ks) and we take the 'December 2002 delivered FORD FOCUS LX' back to City Ford with a report that the Alternator wasn't charging the battery at the required level to maintain a charge, something that we suspected all along.
• After 9 days we are no closer to learning when an alternator will arrive in Australia. Can you believe there are none anywhere in Australia and there is no ETA? AND No Loan Car AND refuse to take an alternator from another car sitting in a lot or holding yard somewhere. In other words we couldn't give a **** about the inconvenience we are causing you and your family. FORD Customer Relations Centre (CRC) said it is up to City Ford to help us with a loan car or a solution. City Ford says it is up to CRC to come up with a solution??? Buck passing at it's best.
• Having met Geoff Polites, when he was Dealer Principal at City Ford, before taking over as Ford Australia President and then on to greater heights with Ford in Europe I am damn sure he would be absolutely appalled with City Ford's and CRC's attitude to this issue.
• This is not an isolated case. City Ford and CRC are treating another owner with the same problem exactly the same way. They have no idea when we will get our cars back nor do they apparently give a rats. If you're thinking of buying a Ford, think again. Published February 2nd 2006 and will continue to be published across every motoring forum I can get to until we get the car back, which incidentally we will sell immediately and buy a new car which will of course will not be a FORD product." B Robinson, Sydney NSW

SUBJECT: TOYOTA CAMRY, 2002 - Bullet Proof Car *GOOD NEWS* (31/01/2006)

• "If you want world class comfort, reliability, quiteness ...There is only one world called Toyota. To be even more precise Camry V6 will offer you a jet aircraft comfort and feel of traveling. You can run this car trouble free of motoring. Top number one brand in Japan. In terms of reliability and derivability it is even better than BMW 5 series.The only different is what you paid for and brand." T Cheung, Sydney NSW

SUBJECT: FORD BA FALCON DEDICATED LPG, 2004 - Engine pings and stalls - Has anyone had same problem?

• "My Ford BA dedicated LPG taxi has pinged since new. Also stalls occasionally mainly when braking. Very dangerous. Been all over Sydney trying to fix. Ford technician says never come across a dedicated LPG engine pinging. Has anyone had same problem?. Can make cab stall every time by putting gear in neutral once a speed of 60kph is reached. Also be aware all 4 brake hoses split one after each other; and a common problem is radiator collapse causing water in gearbox" P Coulton, Sydney NSW, 0409 225129

SUBJECT: FORD FOCUS 2006 / DEALERS - Ford dealer turned me off buying - their customer relations and service leaves a lot to be desired

• "I had my heart set on buying a new Ford Focus recently. I visited a Ford dealer in Dalby and met with a very rude, abrupt, snappy, and at times offensive dealer. The dealer started by telling us he was under a lot of pressure to meet deadlines so had no time for us. He then sat down and spent about the next 15 minutes whinging and whining about his job and the state of the car industry, and virtually accused us of being farmers out to waste his time with conversations about the weather and cows. The joke was on him, because we are not farmers and live in a town. He would offer us nothing for our trade ins and refused to even look at them. He then said that if we buy a car off him and then take it to Southern Cross Ford in Toowoomba, the Toowoomba dealership will "not want to know us and will not give us the time of day". This immediately got us wondering about the service side of buying a Ford and how potentially poor that service must be. He would not shake our hands and did not even introduce himself. We still have no idea who he even was. He would not communicate, and, judging by what he had told us, not to mention his attitude, it appeared that all Ford dealers must be in competition and do not communicate with another either.
• It soon became evident that we were getting nowhere with this dealer, so we walked out and decided to check out the nearby Toyota dealer. Here we got just the opposite reception: very kind, friendly, professional service, a thorough inspection of a vehicle and a test drive, and a very good deal on our trade ins. We got to meet all the other members of the staff in a very stress-free and pleasant environment. They also mentioned that we had no need to return to Dalby for follow up services, as these can be done at the Toyota dealer in Oakey, where we live. We left a deposit on a new Corolla that day, which was a far cry from the "buy it today or get out" attitude of the Ford dealer. Ford may make good cars, but their customer relations and service leaves a lot to be desired. Even the Toowoomba Ford dealer would only scratch a figure on the back of a business card when I requested a full written quotation." I Menkins, QLD,
  

SUBJECT: NISSAN X-TRAIL ST, 2004 - "Rattle" when accelerating

• "We were very pleased to have purchased our X-Trail and have have enjoyed it immensely. The Service Manager has gone out of his way to be of service to us and ready to listen to any query that we have had (especially given that we are in the country; 100+ km, one way). However one problem that we have not been able to solve is this persistent "rattle" that occurs every time that you accelerate, especially when the engine is cold. On two occasions we have been given a car for a week so that they can check it out. Last time we actually had another Nissan X-Trail so as to be able to compare 'noises!'. Ours has done just over 30,000 km while the loan vehicle has done over 50,000 km. In the comparison I am led to believe that the "Rattle" is part of the Nissan trademark, with the loan vehicle still being much quieter than OUR X-Trail. My concern is that it is symptomatic of a problem that will rear it's head once it is out of warranty. Again the Service Manager is doing all he can (but he's human!). Any answers/comment/similar experiences ??" F Moran, WA

SUBJECT: JAGUAR SOVEREIGN, 1986 - Jaguar quality built to last *GOOD NEWS*

• "We have recently purchased a 1986 Jaguar XJ6 sovereign, the same car you hear people say are unreliable etc. After reading the complaints about near new Holdens and Fords I can only tell you that these Series 3 XJ6 Jaguars were very well made and built to last. Our jaguar is 20 years old and has travelled 163,000 km's and the seats, the carpet, the chrome and the mechanicals are like new! You can feel the build quality in its suspension (it is fully independent). The engine, the transmission, the body, the brakes (all ventilated discs) etc etc all of which are still the original items! (we have full service history). This car has required a head light bulb, an exhaust system, tyres and batteries, petrol and oil! .... if the engine were to require a complete rebuild including the starter/alternator/radiator etc it would cost about $4500 (including labour etc). That's a 4.2 twin cam 6 cylinder fuel injected motor! and the cost of a rebuilt transmission is about $1600! This car
  features a trip computer/ cruise control/ sunroof/ air con/ elec mirrors/ rear reading lights/ alloy wheels/ burl walnut dashboard/ on doors/arm rest safety lights/ tinted windows/ all leather interior/ central locking/ front and rear fog lights/ and a 16 piece Jaguar toolkit. All these items are factory made by Jaguar in coventry England. I don't think Holdens and Fords have these items now ... never mind 20 years ago. All the new cars now look the same; no chrome, no proper bumpers all have the plastic dashboard etc and seem to have problems. Our 1986 Sovereign cost us $13,000. And if driven 15,000 to 20,000km will cost about $1200 to $1500 per year to service. A brand new Jaguar XJ6 is over $150,000! Yes we are happy with this car ...we call her "Bessie"." P Cross, VIC
  

SUBJECT: FORD XR6 TURBO, 2003 - Brakes making a scraping noise

• "I own a 2003 XR6 Turbo. This car has had numerous brake problems since I have owned it. Every time it goes in for a service it has to have the Front discs machined because of a shudder. The brakes also always make a scraping noise and after taking it back in again have been told the rear rotors have to be replaced next service. I have complained many times about the scraping noise and the Ford Dealership has always adjusted the hand brake. The car is going out of warranty at the end of Jan 2006 and as the service advisor said to me, the discs are a serviceable item so I will have to pay for them I can't understand why these would need replacing when the car has only done 54,000 kms. I also live in the country so mainly does country KM's. I have today ed Ford Australia to let them know, so we will see what comes out of that." K Bennell , VIC

SUBJECT: NISSAN NAVARA TWIN CAB, 2003 / SUBARU FORESTER - Generally happy - never ever take it to a dealer for service

• "Bought my Nissan new in Feb. 03. It got used every day carting tools around paddocks and doing Highway runs up to the 40000km mark; then as general transport since then; trips Interstate and off road through high country NSW/Vic. Apart from lazy servicing and dealers that lie to me it's been problem free. I have 65000km on it now and it hasn't been near Nissan dealer since the 20000Km service. That's the one where they forgot to change the oil and filter - but I didn't forget to pay for the service. I had similar issues with Subaru dealer locally. Bought a new Forester and it was delivered to me in dire need of engine, gearbox and diff oil. What is it with these people?
• My solution for the Nissan, the same as the Forester - use the best quality oils and filters; change more regularly than required; change the cam belts at least 10% short of the 'due date'; drive smoothly and never never ever take it to a dealer for service. After 178000km my Subie hasn't missed a beat (I had to change the rear brake pads the other day - front are half worn), and the dealer hasn't had another cent out of me. Nissan are getting the same treatment. I love the Nissan, and the Subaru - both superbly built and brilliantly engineered. But as I said after buying the Subie 'The dealer has convinced me never to buy another one'. I wonder what the Hilux is like?? Toyota - uuuuurrrrrgh, what a feeling. I had to work hard to get a price out of them. They don't return phone calls. They had a purchase order for nearly 10 weeks and I still got 'Maybe next week'. Toyotas aren't THAT good. Do they want to sell these things or what? This was the principal reason for buying the Nissan.
• What exactly does the MTA do in the industry? Are they just another cost that gets passed along to us? The biggest problems appear to relate to dealers and their ethics. I'm an electrician with extensive electro mechanical background and I work for a company that services the top end of the market (homes in the $3/4 to 1 Mil range) and specialised commercial work. We do the best we can and pick our clients. I'm on bloody good money and I work for it. My Boss would have a fit if I pulled some of the stunts I've seen from car dealerships. I'd be looking for a new job in a heartbeat. There's a lesson here somewhere ... oh that's it - 'STANDARDS, WORKMANSHIP, MERCHANTABLE QUALITY'" A Usher, ACT

SUBJECT: HOLDEN BARINA, 2001 - air bag didn't deploy

• "Like another complaint regarding this car, I bought a 3dr XC Barina from auctions damaged from front, and the air-bag hadn't deployed. Strange but I guess saved me money. But a concern." Mohammad, NSW

SUBJECT: HOLDEN CREWMAN, 2003 - Rear axle Noise

• "I purchased this motor vehicle in December 2003. To date I have travelled 52,000 klms and the vehicle has been serviced as set out by Holden. Since the purchase the vehicle has spent approx. two - three months in the dealers and manufacturing workshops in an attempt to repair noises omitting from the rear axle assembly unit. A total of eight to ten rear axle assembly units have been fitted to this vehicle within the last two years. The last rear axle asssembly unit was fitted by the manufacturer of the differential where it spent approx. six weeks in an attempt to rectify the differential noises.
• A prototype noise damping device was also fitted to the rear springs on the passengers side to assist in the noise reduction. The noise is still emitting from the rear axle assembly. Holden have since road tested the vehicle and is unable to complete any further work on the differential.
• I have taken Holden, Motor Dealership and the differential manufacturer to Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal. The matter is yet to be heard." J Sullings, NSW

SUBJECT: HYUNDAI GETZ, 2004 - "fix it right first time" ... better still don't cause it!

• problem resolved - comments removed

SUBJECT: HOLDEN VS COMMODORE UTE, 1998 - after 20 days my new car is not in my name - Pennywise Wholesale Cars *DEALER RESPONSE*

• "Just before Christmas I went to look at purchasing a new work ute for myself. I found one in a yard - Pennywise Wholesale Cars. I told him I would think about it. I came home then rang told him I would purchase the ute the next day. I had about 15 phone calls during that day seeing when I was coming to buy the vehicle. After bending over backwards to sell the car, I paid cash that day and drove away. I've just realised my rego's due so I rang to see if the car is in my name - it wasn't. They didn't care at all they only have 14 days to transfer. We're now going for 23/12/05 to 19/1/06. I think someone should monitor what goes on more in the car game. THEY HAVE NO RESPECT ONCE YOU PAY." P Nielsen, QLD

SUBJECT: NISSAN PULSAR, 2003 - Poor Customer Service - Parramatta Nissan

• "Its funny how car dealers cant get enough of you when you are buying a car but as soon as its all signed sealed and delivered, they don't seem to really care about keeping the customer happy. My experiences include:
• Booked my car for a service at 10am. Upon turning up on time I was abruptly asked why wasn't my car here at 8am. Thankfully after explaining the situation the car was serviced in 3 hours whilst I waited at the local shops. It was just disappointing that their lack of communication meant I was spoken to rudely. And no apology!
• I again booked my car in for its next service thinking my last experience was a one off, someone having a bad day, however ... I was wrong. Two weeks prior I had called to book my car in for 10am and stated I would wait for my car. They said not a problem. They did not state the time it would take to complete the service so I assumed it would be similar to last time (approx 3 hours). As I arrived at Nissan on time, I waited a couple of minutes before finding out my car would not be ready before 4.30pm. I explained that when I booked the car I would be waiting. The service person didn't seem that interested and said he could maybe have the car ready by 3.30. I asked when were they starting working on my car. He said in about half an hour. So I did the quick sums which told me it was going to take 5 hours at best or 6 hours at worst to complete a 30,000 km service. Also that there were 20 other cars ahead of me needing a service. I am not a car expert but
  why would you assume someone would wait around up to 6 hours for their car. Anyway I canceled my service and walked out annoyed and dissatisfied. After that I rang around to find a fairly well known mechanic business to do the same thing, at my home, at the time that suits me, that takes up less of my time and for $50 less. I wont be back to Nissan again, ever!!!" T Smith, NSW

SUBJECT: HOLDEN COMMODORE S, 1994 - Dodgey RWC's

• "I purchased a 1994 Commodore S last week and it has a current roadworthy. I took it to get a wheel alignment today and the mechanic told me that it had been in a recent accident and the front left wheel had buckled, and it shouldn't have received a RWC. Do I have any legal rights in relation to the mechanic that gave it the original RWC? Will I be able to make him pay to get it fixed? please contact me and let me know by thank you" C Fitzgerald, VIC

SUBJECT: NISSAN X-TRAIL, 2002 - Motor Warranty

• "I also had a Nissan X-Trail which began to use copious amounts of oil at about 40,000 km - I returned it to the dealer and after some efforts at trying to fix the problem (to no avail) Nissan replaced the entire motor with a late 2004 engine which has had no futher problems." M Rob, VIC

SUBJECT: HOLDEN COMMODORE VY II, 2003 - noisy rear end

• "General Motors has buried its head in the sand on a known fault with all Commodores from 98 onwards. The grinding sound at the rear end is the handbrake shoe hitting the housing as the wheel turns. Fords have the same problem as it is the same set up. I have taken this to Zupps and they cant fix it. I have an internal G.M memo which says this is a known fault and it has a diagram of the shoe and housing. Also for all those with a manual. G.M doesn't include clutch replacement under their warranty terms and conditions. This is what globalisation is all about. Pay top price for inferior products made in 3rd world countries. It doesn't matter what it is buyers beware. Do your homework and don't believe the advertising spin doctors." M Layt, QLD