Unbelievable

[PAVEDRVR]

Gents
Got the call that my car was ready for pickup after 3 weeks at the dealer for paint defects that I pointed out at initial delivery. I made multiple calls to the sales agent and the body shop manager and was assured that all was well and that I would be completely satisfied with the new paint job. Drove out with the wife for the 300!! (internet buy) mile round trip journey to the dealer to pick up the black 300A and restart my happy first time driving experience with a Mercury product. What I saw was pathetic.. The car looked worse that when I dropped it off for repair. Of the 6 areas that were to be worked on 3 hadn't been touched at all. As I walked around it got worse and worse. More than 20!!! areas where it looks like a piece dirt was painted over, the rear quarter panels looked as if paint had dribbled down and left to dry. The grille had two 2 inch marks that were raised up and felt like a burr that would stick to your socks in a country field. The absolute worse was the inside of the trunk lid where there were numerous bare metal spots along the inside edge and where you could literally cut your finger with all the jagged bits along the entire underside closest to the rear window.
Needless to say I refused to accept such poor quality work on a brand new car. I don't know whether I am more shocked at the quality control or the fact that this was car was presented to me for my acceptance. Got all the players (save body shop, it being the weekend) out and made numerous grease pencil markings of defects. Have been assured that it will be fixed to my satisfaction and flat bedded out to my home for inspection or I'll get my money back. We'll see.
Sorry about the long rant but I am still in awe that such substandard work is being presented as acceptable and I haven't had enough Coors (leaded!) to take my mind off of it.
Cheers
Pete

[nexstar7]

i had them try to take a slight scuff mark and the dealer screw it up. we should just start sending letters out all at the same time to bog them up , maybe they'll get he message. might even close down there mechanical shops. they start to loose there jobs

[Petrograde]

Hey Pete,
That is not a long rant. You are totally justified anyway. I'm sorry to hear about your paint probs, look at the bright side. In the end, you should have a better quality paint job than most of us!

I can't wait to accumulate enough dings and money to pay a professional to repaint my baby!

Welcome to the site!

Tom

[PhastPhil]

Pete, maybe you should try to get the dealer to dedcut the amount it would cost to repair the paint from your purchase price. Then go take the car to a shop of your likeing. Sounds like it needs a total repaint to be done properly. Otherwise get your money back and go somewhere else! Be prepared for a battle with the dealer. They are hoping you'lll get tired of dealing with the situation and give up and take the car.
Good Luck,
Phil

[marchyde]

Pete,
Same story for me although I really wanted my MM. After 6 weeks of having the MM and only 2 weeks of driving it, I love the car but still am not satisfied with the paint. They are going to paint it again but my advise is not to accept the MM until you are completly satisfied. That is my brain speaking, my gut says take the MM, you will love it. Good Luck.

[sailsmen]

Get your money back! Buy another MM. I am very satisfied with my paint.

It is a little thin and soft compared to other cars I have owned, however it is virtually blemish free with no orange peel.

[JohnE]

My car had trash embeded in the left rear quarter panel. I noticed this the day after taking it, because it was dark when I picked it up. The dealer tried to buff them out, with no luck. Dealer wound up taking the paint off and repainting the entrire area.

I regret that to this day. The quality of the paint in that area is not as good as factory. There are many micro pits in the paint. But after bieng w/o my new car for 4 weeks, I really wanted this over.

[JohnnyB]

Dealers/Ford don't care about you. It's all about "movin em out".

[Bigdogjim]

PAVEDRVR:
It is real shame that you got to go through this to buy a NEW car.

I have been compaining about my clearcoat for 9 months and now they are going to wet sand the car and re-shoot it!!

If there are other Marauders in the area then ask them to swap cars?

I have already seen $4,000. rebates on '04!

[jgc61sr2002]

Pete - Forget that MM it will never be right. You wont be happy. Go for another with good quality paint. IMHO.:(

[Bowman9]

Pete - good luck in your fight, dealers are a pain in the *** when it comes to any kind of warranty work. But like "jgc61sr2002" said you might be better off finding another car with better paint.

Again good luck.

[gonzo50]

Originally posted by jgc61sr2002
Pete - Forget that MM it will never be right. You wont be happy. Go for another with good quality paint. IMHO.:(
I agree with jgc61sr2002, shop around for a better quality car, you have a choice of black, silver, DTR, and maybe even blue in colors. It's ashame how some dealers try to convince you that it's quality work when in fact they:nono: wouldn't even accept it if they were in your shoes.

[gja]

The quality AND quantity of paint on the cars is pathetic. When I have mine for 3 years, or so, I intend on having it stripped to the BARE METAL. Then shot with Imron. This is quite possibly the toughest finish in the world. It is not paint, really. It is urethane with pigment blended in, and as such is nearly chip-proof. I had this a my RX-7, which was a stone-magnet in the front bib and header area. Prior to the Imron I had so many chips it disgusted me to even look at my car. After I could just about throw pebbles at the car and they would leave no marks.
Downside?.......$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$

[PAVEDRVR]

All
Thanks for the advice and support. I really enjoy the car and thought (and still do) that it would be a keeper. I've always wanted to own a four door muscle car and have been a fan of the style since I was a kid. As a long time Ford owner I felt that the Marauder was the answer. I really do want this to work out but I will definitely hold out for an acceptable fix. I am not looking for perfection, I went into this purchase knowing that, thanks to the site, but I do want a vehicle that looks as good as it drives. I do love that Marauder ride.

[Patrick]

First welcome!!! I hope you get all of this resolved! Thier are so many knowledgeable people here to help with all your questions!!

[2003_MM_FYRE49]

Pete,

I too had hugh issues with my paint at delivery. It took three 160 mile round trips to get it fixed, with the end result being a complete paint job. The paint itself looks good, but the mickey mouse body shop that my selling dealer used cut corners like not painting the door jambs. That is my next battle that I have to take care of. Once that is fixed I won't be darkening this dealers doorstep again.

Tim :fire: 49

[joflewbyu2]

Being in the car business, I can tell you that the value of the car will drop from a current trade value of approx. $22,000 to $19,000 for a repaint - no matter how well of a job was done. i would never accept a repainted new car. repainting a bumper cover off the car is a different story. same with a trunk lid or hood. masking the car off will always show tape marks. the 2 different depths must meet somewhere. legally here in Florida, they have to disclose damage of $600 or 3% of MSRP (whichever is more) if they sell the car as "new". used is buyer beware. states do differ from one to another in their laws.

[capt512]

Pete,
Hold out and hang tuff with the dealers. I agree with the others.
If you take this one just because you really want it I think you'll be sorry later.Forget any kind of help from the dealer once you take delivery unless your really lucky.
Most of these dealers could care less once they've got your money.
Good Luck,
Mike

[Dr Caleb]

Originally posted by capt512
Pete,
Hold out and hang tuff with the dealers. I agree with the others.
If you take this one just because you really want it I think you'll be sorry later.Forget any kind of help from the dealer once you take delivery unless your really lucky.
Most of these dealers could care less once they've got your money.
Good Luck,
Mike

In the future, avoid these dealers.

FLM will start becoming a better company when they realize I don't stop being a customer once I drive my car off the lot.

Years ago I used to laugh at the forgien cars, because the were little hunks of tin that just happened to run. Now I look at them, and they are just built better, and run for longer.

Nothing against my car, all in all, it's great. It's just not as good as some of the competition. I was just hoping for Mercury to stand behind me once I bought it. Hearing stories like this all too often, I wonder if they will when my time comes.

I just turned 10,000 km, so it's time for it's first service (3rd oil change, first 2 I did). When I booked the appointment they asked "For the Grand Marquis?..." and I just flinched. "Would you like the tires rotated"... and I'm having a baaaaad feeling...

[yorks]

Originally posted by Dr Caleb
When I booked the appointment they asked "For the Grand Marquis?..." and I just flinched. "Would you like the tires rotated"... and I'm having a baaaaad feeling...
I had the same experience almost exactly with my selling dealer at the 5,000 km service. They were going to use 5W30 for my oil change before I questioned it. They refused to acknowledge my car as anything other than a GM. Needless to say I changed dealers for my 10,000 km service ( My new dealer did rotate the tires - side to side as per owners manual, p209 ).

[DEW34]

pete i made the mistake of agreeing to buy a new mm for my wife that had been painted and what a Big mistake that was . when igot the car it was full of swril marks from buffing she drove the car for a week and sent it back for some minor work afew bulbs and a gauge was acting up they kept the car for aweek would never give us a straight answer to what was wrong mywife demanded to see the car ,<shaking head>
one of the expert body guys decided to take the swrill marks out with a dirty pad on the buffer they scratched the car so bad the wife went crazy in the show room , garage ,parking lott ,every office in the building she called ford she called Lm she called owners of the dealership holman they wanted to paint it again i told them no way unless they are going to strip it to bare metal to make a really long storie short they got most of the scratches out gave me 3800$ and paid for the extended warrenty never again will i makke that mistake
mike

[jgc61sr2002]

DEW34 - Welcome to the site. You make a very valid point. Enjoy you new ride.:D

[jgc61sr2002]

Originally posted by joflewbyu2@aol.
Being in the car business, I can tell you that the value of the car will drop from a current trade value of approx. $22,000 to $19,000 for a repaint - no matter how well of a job was done. i would never accept a repainted new car. repainting a bumper cover off the car is a different story. same with a trunk lid or hood. masking the car off will always show tape marks. the 2 different depths must meet somewhere. legally here in Florida, they have to disclose damage of $600 or 3% of MSRP (whichever is more) if they sell the car as "new". used is buyer beware. states do differ from one to another in their laws. Pete - The above is a very good reason to look for another Marauder.

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by Dr Caleb
When I booked the appointment they asked "For the Grand Marquis?..." and I just flinched. "Would you like the tires rotated"... and I'm having a baaaaad feeling...

LOL...Your comments, Dr Caleb, prompt a recall of my deep memory from way back when I owned my first Marauder.

Sometime last year, I called my dealership for an oil change appointment. Unfortunately, Jim, my forever S/M, was off on vacation, and I got connected to a Napleton family "talking head" service dude, brought in from another of the Napleton dealerships to govern Jim's chair in his absence.

Not wise in my book...Jesse, the Body Shop Mgr. can run this, and run rings around the four eyed out of touch monkey, but I'm not a stockholder...

Fill-In dude asks just about the same question, and in the same tone of voice. I pause, and ask..."You wanna run my slicks on the front? You gay, or, something?"

There was a long long long pause on the phone, I think I listened to the first side of any Enya CD before he came back to ask..."Is ten o'clock okay with you Mr. Mc Carthy?

"Yes, that's fine, thank you. Ahhh, we're not messing with my tires, right?" He said..."No sir, we are not." "Fine, see you at ten."

And at ten, he wasn't there, but Jesse was. "Yo Mac, got your oil here, anything else? Going anywhere?" "No Jess, not today, but, thanks for asking."

In and out in 1/2 an hour, no one turns a wrench on my MM but Don...which is why I have to sometimes wait two days instead of one. But, I like Don's personal touch too.

Jim writes my MM.

Don fixes it.

Jessie watches my paint.

And "Celia" takes my calls.

Nice to have an MM family, eh?

[PAVEDRVR]

Hey all
Thought I'd post an update to my continuing adventures in obtaining my highly sought after (to me) black 300A. Talked with the sales manager yesterday who continued to assure me that I will be completely satisfied with the paint repairs and that all is well. I stressed that the car needs to be 100% and verified personally by him that it is good to go before he even bothers to flat bed it out to my house for my inspection. I also stated that I've been more than patient and cordial but a month in the shop for some scratches is'nt acceptable and I will not hesitate to send it back if I find ONE problem. The sales manager suggested that the rough edges on the trunk were a factory defect. I quickly informed him that I inspected this car top to bottom and that the damage wasn't there when I turned it over to them. Basically I'm tired of this dealership wasting my time. His attitude is really starting to tick me off.
My followup call to the body shop manager today (he didn't return my call to him yesterday) furthur stressed how disappointed I was with their efforts (he had no comment regarding the trunk lid when I brought it up.. wise on his part). He couldn't understand how the car he saw in his shop ended up looking so bad. BS!! I'll be calling all parties again tommorrow to get an update.
No wonder Chrysler will probably be replaced by Toyota next year in the big 3 if American manufacturers have customer service like this.
On a lighter note I received my jacket and my LM customer satisfaction form in the mail today. The jacket is "on time" as my younger friends say.
Cheers
Pete
ps. My wife, who is quite a bit more computer literate than I am, informed me that PAVEDRVR in caps is similiar to yelling at someone. Please accept my apologies, I tried to change it but my computer skills leave alot to be desired. Logan, feel free to change me to PaveDrvr at your convienience.

[DEW34]

pete ,
you want too get their attention call ford or Lm
then call the owner of the dealership, ijust went through
the exact same thing , ford told me its not a mechanical
problem but expressed a great deal of intrest in my problem
with the car , after a manger told my wife it was not his problem!!!!!!! she called the group which owns a handfull
of Lm dealerships here in fl and on up the eastern part of the
US. Holman Lincoln mercury with in afew hours of the calls
we had a v.p from Holman Lm contact us on a friday night about 8 30 pm they bent over backwards to make us happy.
and from what i understand a few people were fired not what we had in mind we just wanted our car to look as good as it did before they serviced it
mike :O)