With lot of regret I have to pen down the problems with my Ford Ikon and my advice to people planning to buy a car, Not to go for a Ford.
I had bought my car from Sundaram Ford on March 2002 .
While buying unluckily I bought all the marketing talk the sales people gave, that the spare parts are cheaper, the car has no problems etc. They promised a car stereo and many other things My problem started the day I bought the car. On the delivery day they said the car stereo is not available but they can fit an alternate one, but I have to pay some amount ( I donot remember but it was a couple of thousands). As it was almost the delivery day, I agreed.
Suddenly after a few days I get a mail from Ford India that there may be some problem with the fuel delivery pipe ( I donot exactly remember) and I need to get the car rechecked.So my problems were on.
Till last year I did the servicing and the charges were around RS 1000. But there were general issues which always happened:
1) I always ask the car to be delivered the same day, which never happens, it always takes 2 days but while taking the car they promise to deliver the same day.
2) When the car comes back from servicing I always see a lot of oil and grease marks on the body and I need to get it rewashed by my watchman (That too after the car has come back from servicing).
3) Sometimes they break the remote lock key chain, some times they break the service book, sometimes they break the door mat screw.
These problems happen but I never bothered to take it up as I did not want to waste my time on such issues and hear all teh excuses under the sun.
Within 1 year my stereo had problems, I asked them to repair it. They (Sundaram Ford) always comes back saying that it has to be sent to Chennai and I have to pay RS 600 (courier charges) + repair cost. I always keep deffering it as it seems very expensive.
On January 28th 2005 I sent my car for servicing, and I was charged Rs 4040 for servicing + replacing the oil filter + replacing the coolant can.
Car was taken for 40, 000 kms servicing although my car has run only 8000 kms.
When I reason out the cost they always come back to the low running of the car.
Although the kms run is less but I daily travel 10 kms (to and from to office).
Now within one month of servicing I see that the exhaust pipe is completely rusted
and I called the service center, they said they had seen it but though not to replace it.
The replacement cost is Rs 7000 (approx). Following is the reasons I hear, when I tell them that no other make car has such issues:
1) It has the latest catalytic converter which converts gases into water and the water deposited rusts the pipe.
2) As my running is less the water doesnot evaporate, (Is running 10 kms a day not sufficient).
3) All cars have this issue, which on arguing they say no other Ford car has this issue.
They start contradicting them selves.
4) The model of Ford Ikon I have has only one stage of exhaust. The new ones are three stages, which would be cheaper to replace, as in my case the entire part has to be replaced.
How on earth can anyone buying a car look into these hidden aspects.
5) Other C segment cars (when I talk to them that other make cars never has these problems) do not have these technology of catalytic conversion. Which translates that either other car makers are not giving correct info to customers or Ford is extra advanced People having cars of other makes in humid and salty climates like Chennai and Mumbai do not have rusting issues, but my car in a dry and hot climate with little rain like Hyderabad, has such rusting issues. I donot buy their excuses on these.
Finally, in one month I will spend more than Rs 10, 000 on my car.
It seems to me, following is the norm followed by Ford to swindle the customer:
1) Lower the price of car but increase the spare parts and servicing.
2) Lower the price of the car but use substandard parts.
My advice to people, be careful when buying any Ford car.