A dealer mechanic's review:

[BillyGman]

I actually had a good time at the SVT Ford dealer yesterday! I took my Trilogy equipped Marauder in for it's semi-annual transmission fluid flush and filter change( I like to keep the fluid in there real fresh because of the increased power and torque the S/Ced engine is puting through it. Two of the mechanics wanted to get a look at the S/Cer, so I popped the hood for them in the parking lot. Since most of the mechanics know that my car is supercharged, they look for excuses to take it out for a drive after the service on it is performed.

I don't mind one guy driving the car, as long as it's the one who worked on it. I like it if the guy working on my car knows what it can do from firsthand knowledge so that he might be encouraged to go the extra mile for me when it comes to making sure everything is done right when he's working on it. I change my own oil, but the transmission fluid and filter I have done at this dealer.

I heard my car being started, and being driven off the lift. So I went to the bay door to catch the mechanic on the way out of the parking lot.He's in his middle to late 30's. I stopped him and told him that he can get on it, and go WOT, and that I didn't mind him doing that, but that he MUST click off the overdrive button first, because it's a strain on the overdrive when it downshifts into the lower gear at WOT IF the O/D button is on, and that it's a nice and smoth downshift even at WOT, if he clicks off the O/D first.

So after he returns, he rolls down the window and yells out to me...."This is the most impressive car I've ever driven!!" and I gave another mechanic a copy of my DVD burnout. So then him and three other mechanic decided to stop what they were doing to watch my vid on the DVD player they had there. It was funny to see 4 or 5 of their mechanics flocking around my car, and then around the screen to watch that video.

So then they said.."Hey the assistant service manager has to see this vid, he will LUV it. So by the time I was ready to leave, the assistent service manager ended giving me $30 off of the price he had previously quoted to me for the service.:D So overall, a good day at the dealer.

[Bradley G]

We should be treated, like the Marauders that we are!:sunshine:
Good move with the vid,You can bet all the techs will know who you are now!

[BillyGman]

We should be treated, like the Marauders that we are!:sunshine:
Good move with the vid,You can bet all the techs will know who you are now!Yes Brad, that was my hopes. That they do. There's alwys the human factor when going to the dealer. And I've had some bad experiences in the past with more than one dealer as many of others have had, and most of it was due to a simple lack of concern for my car on the mechanic's part.

So my approach this time was to show them that my car stands out in some way, and to get them to consider my car above many of the others that they work on in some way. And now that I've told that one mechanic that I don't mind him getting into the gas pedal when he drives my car as long as he turns off the overdrive first ( because in reality he's going to hit the go pedal anyway just as soon as he gets it into another neighborhood. but atleast now he will hopefully avoid destroying my overdrive), I will insist that it's only him that works on my car during future visits to that dealer. The only problem with that might be that many dealers are such a revolving door that you often see all new faces every time you go there.:mad: So it can be difficult to build a working relationship with any one mechanic. :rolleyes:

[Tallboy]

Hey, Billy-was this the same place you bought the car, a few towns up Route 8?

[Sully008]

I know how you feel about bringing my car in for service, Billy. I may not be S/C'd (yet:D) but I'm very anal about who drives my car, and for what reason. Outside of family, there aren't too many people I trust. I'm lucky that one of my best friend's is a Ford Senior Tech, and he is the ONLY person I will give the keys up to when it's in for service. He makes sure that my car's booked under his name when I make an appointment.

I'll bet you the next time you bring your car in for service, that mechanic will be dying to work on it again, just to hammer the go pedal!

[Merc-O-matic]

BillyG nice to hear that the "pros" who deal with our cars
have some respect for them. Thanks for sharing that story.

Gotta Love It! :rasta:

[BillyGman]

Hey, Billy-was this the same place you bought the car, a few towns up Route 8?If you mean Paul's place in Ansonia, no it wasn't. It's another one, because they're an SVT dealer, and because the service manager told me that as long as I throw some money at them a couple times a year, he will do his best to be on my side IF a warantee isue arises, despite my car being supercharged. I know that talk is cheap, but for what it's worth, he told me that in the event of a warantee claim of some kind, unless it can be proven, and it was obvious that the S/Cer caused the problem in question, he would back me up as long as I gave him business. So that was atleast good to hear. That's why I bring it there.

However, with 34,000 miles now on it's clock, the warantee is about to run out soon anyway, so that will no longer be a factor for me.I only wish that I had a good friend who was a dealer mechanic. That would be great!!!

[thePunisher]

billy i would think your waranty would have run out already by time? i can check your in service date if you give me your vin. sometimes dealers will give a good will after warranty adjustment to loyal customers. but usually a deductible is involved. my dealer can do anything an svt dealer can. especially tranny services ;) but no seriously take it where you please...but dont think an svt dealer has to work on your car.......if you need help just give me a hollar.

[Bradley G]

I hear ya on the revolving door!
Seem like dealers will place a higher value on money, than keeping good people(employees).
I hope you are able to develop a comfortable relationship, with a certain Mechanic and facility.


Yes Brad, that was my hopes. That they do. There's alwys the human factor when going to the dealer. And I've had some bad experiences in the past with more than one dealer as many of others have had, and most of it was due to a simple lack of concern for my car on the mechanic's part.

So my approach this time was to show them that my car stands out in some way, and to get them to consider my car above many of the others that they work on in some way. And now that I've told that one mechanic that I don't mind him getting into the gas pedal when he drives my car as long as he turns off the overdrive first ( because in reality he's going to hit the go pedal anyway just as soon as he gets it into another neighborhood. but atleast now he will hopefully avoid destroying my overdrive), I will insist that it's only him that works on my car during future visits to that dealer. The only problem with that might be that many dealers are such a revolving door that you often see all new faces every time you go there.:mad: So it can be difficult to build a working relationship with any one mechanic. :rolleyes:

[Tallboy]

If you mean Paul's place in Ansonia, no it wasn't. It's another one, because they're an SVT dealer, and because the service manager told me that as long as I throw some money at them a couple times a year, he will do his best to be on my side IF a warantee isue arises, despite my car being supercharged. I know that talk is cheap, but for what it's worth, he told me that in the event of a warantee claim of some kind, unless it can be proven, and it was obvious that the S/Cer caused the problem in question, he would back me up as long as I gave him business. So that was atleast good to hear. That's why I bring it there.

However, with 34,000 miles now on it's clock, the warantee is about to run out soon anyway, so that will no longer be a factor for me.I only wish that I had a good friend who was a dealer mechanic. That would be great!!!

Nah, I knew it wasn't Healey Ford. I figured you were taking it to the same dealer that's on your rear license plate frame. You're right about having a dealer wrench as a good friend. It's kinda nice... :burnout:

[BillyGman]

billy i would think your waranty would have run out already by time?Now I'm gonna feel real dumb if I'm wrong about this, but, uhmmm....... isn't the warantee 3 years/36,000 miles? I believe that's what it is. I bought the car in May 03, so I have another 1,800 miles, and it's up. my dealer can do anything an svt dealer can. especially tranny services ;) but no seriously take it where you please...but dont think an svt dealer has to work on your car.......if you need help just give me a hollar.Thanks. I appreciate that, and I might be taking you up on that in the spring time when I'll be getting the transmission flushed and filled again. I decided on an SVT dealer because I figured that they might be more used to servicing S/Ced and high HP vehicles like Cobras and Lightnings than a non-SVT dealer would. But then again, in the case of a mere transmission fluid change, none of that matters anyway as you've indicated.

[BillyGman]

Nah, I knew it wasn't Healey Ford. I figured you were taking it to the same dealer that's on your rear license plate frame. Nope...they ticked me off when I had to bring it back twice during the first week that I owned it, to fix the leak inthe A/C. it required a hose replacement, however, the first time that i went there with the problem (the second day I owned the car:rolleyes: ) they told me that a freon charge was all that was needed, and that the manufacture never put freon in the system in the first place. i was very skeptical about that, but since I couldn't prove them wrong, I took the car and drove off. Then on the following day all the freon had leaked out again because of a leak in the hose, so I had to go back again. 2 strikes, they're out.

[RVT04]

[QUOTE=BillyGman]I actually had a good time at the SVT Ford dealer yesterday! I took my Trilogy equipped Marauder in for it's semi-annual transmission fluid flush and filter change( I like to keep the fluid in there real fresh because of the increased power and torque the S/Ced engine is puting through it. Two of the mechanics wanted to get a look at the S/Cer, so I popped the hood for them in the parking lot. Since most of the mechanics know that my car is supercharged, they look for excuses to take it out for a drive after the service on it is performed.

I don't mind one guy driving the car, as long as it's the one who worked on it. I like it if the guy working on my car knows what it can do from firsthand knowledge so that he might be encouraged to go the extra mile for me when it comes to making sure everything is done right when he's working on it. I change my own oil, but the transmission fluid and filter I have done at this dealer.

I heard my car being started, and being driven off the lift. So I went to the bay door to catch the mechanic on the way out of the parking lot.He's in his middle to late 30's. I stopped him and told him that he can get on it, and go WOT, and that I didn't mind him doing that, but that he MUST click off the overdrive button first, because it's a strain on the overdrive when it downshifts into the lower gear at WOT IF the O/D button is on, and that it's a nice and smoth downshift even at WOT, if he clicks off the O/D first.

So after he returns, he rolls down the window and yells out to me...."This is the most impressive car I've ever driven!!" and I gave another mechanic a copy of my DVD burnout. So then him and three other mechanic decided to stop what they were doing to watch my vid on the DVD player they had there. It was funny to see 4 or 5 of their mechanics flocking around my car, and then around the screen to watch that video.

So then they said.."Hey the assistant service manager has to see this vid, he will LUV it. So by the time I was ready to leave, the assistent service manager ended giving me $30 off of the price he had previously quoted to me for the service.:D So overall, a good day at the dealer.[/QUOTE

yep a good day at the dealer is better than a bad day any time
we are fortunate here in d/fw to have a good performance oriented dealer and excellent staff
i am talking about John Eagle and many mm owners will already know the story of the broken out of town tranny swap during mvI
the guys at John Eagle really do care about our mm's and go the extra mile every time
i did not buy either one of our mm's there but that is the only place i will take them for service
p.s. loved the burnouts and would pay for a copy on dvd
pm me if you feel obliging

[BillyGman]

[QUOTE=RVT04p.s. loved the burnouts and would pay for a copy on dvd
pm me if you feel obliging[/QUOTE]Just send me yur name and mailing address, and I'll burn a DVD for you. I never charge anyone for them though. This is just for fun, and for LUV of our Marauders. ;)