UK Customers

[davkd]

Those we my thoughts as well. The replay I had from Hannah when I queried the 5-10 weeks from Antwerp was :-

"So we allow 7 to 10 weeks at Antwerp to allow for all the quality controls that need take place and any updates etc that need doing."

I didn't bother saying that surely the best place to do QC would the factory itself where rectifications could be made if necessary. Quire clearly, there are production issues. 7-10 weeks to QC a car? What the hell are they doing? Dismantling it and rebuilding it 10 times?

My personal opinion is that they are working on fixes to the issues but they haven't been resolved yet. They are giving them selves the 7-10 week buffer" to solve the issues in a way that can be rectified more locally so that we don't have to wait even longer for our cars.

Starting to think that I may wait a year until all the issues are resolved.

I’m leaning more towards being positive.

I feel excited that us ‘adopters’ will be some of the first to champion the brand in the UK.

I know Ford’s have been poor on some issues but I think the 5-10 weeks is to make sure the cars are 100% before they are delivered to us.

I would imagine it’s not as easy to reintroduce cars into the production line in the factory, ergo, doesn’t really matter where they are QC’d. Also, they won’t want to interrupt production.

My urge to be one of the first far outweighs any concerns.

Hope this doesn’t come back to bite me though. ??

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[SteveUk]

The factory builds cars and isn't a fix/repair centre. Especially as a lot of issues have been found long after some of these cars have been built.

Recommended viewing is obviously gung ho!

 

[jongodfrey]

It won't take 5 - 10 weeks to QC "a" car. But if they have 300 - 400 arrive they are going to want to do them ALL before they ship them to dealers/customers which will take a longer time scale. We have no idea what the problems are, apart from what our US friends have reported. Sounds like some things are software related, easy(ish) fix with an update. Some things could be hardware related, so replace component or update. One US member had to have a rear motor replacement because they found a short in it. That is more of a major issue. Even if they have identified all of the issues they then have to get any parts etc delivered to Antwerp. Now some of these could be on the ships that our cars are on or they could be coming in from elsewhere. Cars that were built later might be ok but they are saying the delay "just in case". For me personally, while the extra wait really sucks and is inconvenient, at least I know that the car I eventually get will be as trouble free as they can make it. My dealer is 30 miles away so I really don't want to have to keep going back and forth to get issues resolved.

My gut feel is they are using the shipping time to update probably software in addition to various QC checks such as torque settings etc. This way they reduce the over all time as they make better use of the time at sea. There's a chance they might replace parts and fly them over but software is a time sponge... I live it every day! ;-)

 

[Spensaf]

It won't take 5 - 10 weeks to QC "a" car. But if they have 300 - 400 arrive they are going to want to do them ALL before they ship them to dealers/customers which will take a longer time scale. We have no idea what the problems are, apart from what our US friends have reported. Sounds like some things are software related, easy(ish) fix with an update. Some things could be hardware related, so replace component or update. One US member had to have a rear motor replacement because they found a short in it. That is more of a major issue. Even if they have identified all of the issues they then have to get any parts etc delivered to Antwerp. Now some of these could be on the ships that our cars are on or they could be coming in from elsewhere. Cars that were built later might be ok but they are saying the delay "just in case". For me personally, while the extra wait really sucks and is inconvenient, at least I know that the car I eventually get will be as trouble free as they can make it. My dealer is 30 miles away so I really don't want to have to keep going back and forth to get issues resolved.

I get what you are saying on the QC, but surely they won't wait for the complete batch to be finished before releasing. If I was running a business that had a very eager customer base, once, say a batch of 10 had passed the controls, I'd want to get them out, onto the roads which would inevitably lead to more orders especially as we know that cancellations have been commonplace. That also ignores the cash flow implications of an additional 4-7 weeks negative can flow implications. To hold onto 3/400 cars until all of them have passed doesn't fit rightly with me. If they said 2-10 weeks, maybe I would think that depended on where my car was situated in the QC queue, but 7 weeks as the best case implies (to me) that there are more issues than they care to disclose. One things for sure, Ford US have not been truthful with us in many areas of this process so I wouldn't be surprised if there were more curve balls around the corner.

 

[portlandg]

I get what you are saying on the QC, but surely they won't wait for the complete batch to be finished before releasing. If I was running a business that had a very eager customer base, once, say a batch of 10 had passed the controls, I'd want to get them out, onto the roads which would inevitably lead to more orders especially as we know that cancellations have been commonplace. That also ignores the cash flow implications of an additional 4-7 weeks negative can flow implications. To hold onto 3/400 cars until all of them have passed doesn't fit rightly with me. If they said 2-10 weeks, maybe I would think that depended on where my car was situated in the QC queue, but 7 weeks as the best case implies (to me) that there are more issues than they care to disclose. One things for sure, Ford US have not been truthful with us in many areas of this process so I wouldn't be surprised if there were more curve balls around the corner.

When, during this whole process, has Ford behaved rationally. Some of us have had cars that were built in December. If you apply your (correct) logic then those cars would have been shipped over weeks ago. Assuming that all of the cars that are on their way (GH + IMM) are going to be subject to these checks then there are 6 six scheduled to leave in April. They could put them on these in dribs and drabs, we will just have to wait and see what transpires. Regarding cash flow, that is not an issue with Ford because it is the dealers that are taking the hit. Once they are put on the ship they become the dealers burden which is why most dealers were chasing customers to confirm their orders. My dealer has had one customer cancel his SR RWD (which is on its way) because of the (lack of ) specs. He is now worried if he can't pass it on.

 

[SashaLondon]

Yes I am miles from Dagenham so want there to be little visits to the dealers after pickup. Also the longer it takes to come the better chance of more issues coming to light they could fix.

 

[SashaLondon]

Also from Antwerp, they won't ship every car individually after they are repaired. They need all UK cars to be ready for shipment together to make it cost-effective I would imagine.
How many cars in the shipment? Then if it takes half a day to a day to repair each one it would be a long process to get it all completed.

 

[SashaLondon]

When, during this whole process, has Ford behaved rationally. Some of us have had cars that were built in December. If you apply your (correct) logic then those cars would have been shipped over weeks ago. Assuming that all of the cars that are on their way (GH + IMM) are going to be subject to these checks then there are 6 six scheduled to leave in April. They could put them on these in dribs and drabs, we will just have to wait and see what transpires. Regarding cash flow, that is not an issue with Ford because it is the dealers that are taking the hit. Once they are put on the ship they become the dealers burden which is why most dealers were chasing customers to confirm their orders. My dealer has had one customer cancel his SR RWD (which is on its way) because of the (lack of ) specs. He is now worried if he can't pass it on.

Im quite sure when they are on the road and the public will see it then he would sell it quickly. I have had lots of people very interested in the car before I receive it and also a mate who is getting one as well.

 

[Hotspur28]

I emailed Ford Concierge today and had a quick repsonse from Hannah who confirmed my car is on MSC Immacolta. So as I thought those with a 22nd March date for Antwerp it will be there slightly later. My estimated date for delivery is a lucky 13th May ?

 

[portlandg]

I emailed Ford Concierge today and had a quick repsonse from Hannah who confirmed my car is on MSC Immacolta. So as I thought those with a 22nd March date for Antwerp it will be there slightly later. My estimated date for delivery is a lucky 13th May ?

That would do me very nicely if mine changed to that date. It's my BIRTHDAY ? ??

 

[Smoothbond]

just heard from Hannah, my baby is on the Immacolata en route to Antwerp with estimated delivery to me in mid may. Fingers Crossed

 

[Berth48]

they must have forgotten that the delivery was for the UK, it takes a little while to put the right hand drive back on ?

 

[Hotspur28]

@portlandg sorry you seem to be the schedule expert. I have tried to search but cannot find any estimate for the MSC IMMACOLATA into Antwerp after it is having its jolly around the East Coast. Have you any idea or do we have to wait for it to leave the US b4 we know? Thanks!

 

[BlackheathDiggs]

I hope not! It’s going to be in Lagos in the 16th April.

I would reply to the email and ask them to check the vessel. Yours may well be gate released and awaiting shipment.

I double checked and had a response today saying that their system definitely shows it on the Gral San Martin.

"Our system is telling us that the ship your vehicle is on, is the Graal San Martin. That is the most recent update we have in our system. That is what we are being told by the department."

So we'll see what happens! I still find it impossible to believe as that ship is heading direct from Zarate in Argentina to Freeport in Texas, and is currently near the Cayman Islands, so is in fact heading towards Veracruz right now!

 

[portlandg]

I double checked and had a response today saying that their system definitely shows it on the Gral San Martin.

"Our system is telling us that the ship your vehicle is on, is the Graal San Martin. That is the most recent update we have in our system. That is what we are being told by the department."

So we'll see what happens! I still find it impossible to believe as that ship is heading direct from Zarate in Argentina to Freeport in Texas, and is currently near the Cayman Islands, so is in fact heading towards Veracruz right now!

She is due into Veracruz on 22nd March according to Grimaldi's scheduling.

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