So .... PO!!

[MAD-3R]

I got home today to find my Marauder back home. Some friends had it towed for me, so the lot monkeys wouldn't be able to damadge it or anything. I go to do an inspection just to make sure that there arn't to many new scratches or dings, and i notice a white plastic bag by the house. I look inside, and low and behold, my torque converter. Ok, not a problem. they told me they weren't going to install it back in. I pop the trunk, and to my wonderous eye's should appear, but my oil pan, my valve covers, my headers with cats still on, and basicly my entire top end. I go and pop the hood, and there's the block. With all the wires and hoses just dangleing. In a box in the trunk are all the bolts and pieces, and my pullies, my plugs, AND MY COMPUTER!!! Just throughn in the box.

Yes, I have pictures.

My wife has called the dealer and has informed them of this, and the owner was there. Hope to hear something soon.

[SergntMac]

Time to go corporate, Mad. I mean it...NOW!

THIS IN NO WAY TREAT A CUSTOMER AND NOISE SHOULD BE MADE!

[MAD-3R]

She's still on the phone with them, trying to talk to the owner.

[MAD-3R]

Well, the owner blew her off... time to call corprate

[MAD-3R]

Called Corprate, and left my information with a nice gentelman. He will be calling me tomarow about this time. All I want is the engine rebuilt. Keep ya posted.

[Menace]

It makes me sick what these imbeciles have done to you and your car. @$$%^*es

[RCSignals]

There's no call for that. They had agreed to reassemble it for you I thought. That's just terrible.
I wounder if contacting the State AG consumer department mught be good too?

[UncleLar]

How about it LML or Logan?Would it be prudent to post the dealerships business name and location so others can direct their business elsewhere and avoid getting their cars serviced there?

[the fat bastid]

i might have missed something in this ordeal so please fill me if my info is wrong.

last i remeber they said they where gonna charge you to reassemble it. you said blow and where gonna get it home yourself. how else would all that come home? not to flame, just wondering

[Bigdogjim]

Mad: Your a better man than me!!! I would have taken the dealership apart brick-by-brick..... :mad: :fire:
Let us know what the higher-up say about this.. Also RC has a point and a good one. File a complant with the State AG consumer. They WILL investagte the complaint..

[Directedby]

This is terrible.

Boy, Frod/Mercury sure know how to treat their customers.

[cyclone03]

Really there's no reason to reasseble a broken motor.
On the otherhand if all those engine parts in the trunk soiled ANY part of the interior that should be compensated.

They did take it apart without your permission,there discretion,right?
They should put it back like it was without you compensating them.Good luck.
I'm sure your better off with it apart anyway,that way whatever shop you take it too knows what it needs.

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by Directedby
pic of the first marauder

LOL!

But I think that's actually the first CVPI, with the Street Appearance Package...

[merc406]

Originally posted by MAD-3R
I got home today to find my Marauder back home. Some friends had it towed for me,



Wow! Any Dealer that would let a 30 some thousand dollar car off their premises, or any one of their customer's cars with no owner present to prove ownership, leads me to believe your better off having it back home in safe hands.

[BlackHole]

Hope it all comes together but with morons like this I wouldn't hold my breath to long you might go blue.

[MAD-3R]

We had arranged for the tow with the dealer's knowledge, and we were told that the mechanich was "staying late to put it back together. As for better to get it worked on, I was more then likely going to have to ship it, so this is going to make it much more difficult to get it crated up.

[jgc61sr2002]

Mad - I hope that you will get satifaction from Ford Motor Company. Please keep us posted. Good Luck. John:mad2:

[JohnnyB]

I'd write a ton of nasty letters to Ford and complain about the dealer. Then I'd demand a new car....

[MAD-3R's Wife]

We have called Mercury. They will call back Tuesday night.

The thing that makes ME so mad is the owner of the dealership call me "irrational" when I told him that I had expected just the drive shaft in the trunk.

The Service manager had told me that they would put the engine back in and the transmission to hold the engine in but since it wouldn't run any way they wouldn't put the drive shaft back in.

When I brought all this up to the General Manager, he said that talked to the Service Manager and that I had been told that it wouldn't all be put back together....They wouldn't believe me when I told my half of the story.

When I asked to speak with the owner, I was put on hold for 10-15 minutes and the owner started the conversation by being belligerent. When I attempted to tell my story he said that I was not being rational. That is when I raised my voice and hung up on him.

I thought I was being rational to ask for the same car back that I gave them in the first place. Especially since I didn't athorize them to pull the engine.

[martyo]

Originally posted by MAD-3R's Wife
Especially since I didn't athorize them to pull the engine.


Key words.....IMHO.

Where is the estimate that they had yo sign at the beginning? I think that the burden is on them.

[MAD-3R]

I'll have to double check, but I don't believe I signed ANYTHING.

My biggest concerns are for:
1. the trunk carpet with all the sharp edges
2. the hoses and accesorys hanging and not mounted.
3. the computer that was put in a box with no protection.
3. in the same box as the computer, all the sparkplugs, my pullies, and a double handfull of miscalanious bolts and nuts, with no order as to where they go.

[LincMercLover]

If all your hoses are just dangling, then does this mean the AC lines too? If so, then they owe you a charge up! Just something else to think about.

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by MAD-3R
I'll have to double check, but I don't believe I signed ANYTHING.

My biggest concerns are for:
1. the trunk carpet with all the sharp edges
2. the hoses and accesorys hanging and not mounted.
3. the computer that was put in a box with no protection.
3. in the same box as the computer, all the sparkplugs, my pullies, and a double handfull of miscalanious bolts and nuts, with no order as to where they go.

4. what may be missing now, like failed parts that may have caused the motor to seize, and made LM responsible for the repair.

I agree with many here that on the surface, there is not much sense in restoring a failed motor. OTOH, it makes perfect sense, and should have been carried out as promised. Think about it, imagine yourself in Mad's shoes.

To reassemble the motor would have left Mad with a whole car he could transport elsewhere for repairs, either as a whole car, or, just to pull and crate the motor and send that out for rebuild. Now what does he have to work with? I think this is the dealer's revenge. Mad turned them down on the repair, and they say "well, you're on your own, you figure it out." That's a repair scam older than me.

I don't think Mad expected them to refil fluids, tighten bolts to spec, or even connect the wires. Just put the parts back where they belong so everything can be accounted for, and found where it should be by the next mechanic in line.

Moreover, and perhaps more important too, the dealer made a promise they did not keep, and they do not explain why. Instead, they turn to the "you are not being rational" section of the customer service manual, another poor but time-honored response.

Rather than negotiate options, perhaps a reasonable split on the repair bill, or, a low cost repair financing plan, or even a reasonable trade in on another MM, new or used, the Dealer just throws everything in the trunk, and washes his hands.

I've been a LM customer for over 20 years, and somewhere up stream, I do not believe LM/FMC would find this event pleasing to them, no matter what the cause of the engine failure, and it's time for Mad to swim up stream.

Most of us here have been very supportive of Mad, and on his behalf, I thank you. One of two of us have not, and I've stayed mute on the jokes and puns. Shame on you. Mad has been quite the gentleman throughout the disappointing developments, I wonder how you will fare when it's your turn. Anyone of us could be in Mad's shoes any day now, think about it.

All my life, I have worked in service industries, waiting on, or, providing service to others. Sometimes that service came to provide 5 to 15 years in jail, but the service was always my best effort. This dealer was wrong to treat Mad this way, and someday, someone will explain that to them.

I'm done...

[tetsu]

Holy crap. What a nightmare!

Mad & Wife, my thoughts go out to you and your poor Marauder.

Johnny

[Fourth Horseman]

Originally posted by Directedby
This is terrible.

Boy, Frod/Mercury sure know how to treat their customers.

Warning: here comes the rant!

Don't mean to sound negative, I do love my Marauder, but this will probably be the last Ford product I ever own.

Quality has been going down the toilet worse and worse with each new Ford product I buy. With all the little glitches and problems I've had with the Marauder I just don't have any confidence in this company anymore.

Their delearship service people don't know what a Marauder is. They try to put regular Grand Marquis parts on instead of Marauder parts... now this BS with MAD.

It just all adds up until I've lost all confidence in Ford. I plan on keeping my Marauder forever, but once it comes time to get a second car I'm going to give my money to General Motors. I see no reason to continue to reward Ford's lack of interest in quality control and customer service.

Sorry for the rant. Thanks for listening.

[WolfeBros]

I too am outraged at the treatment that Mad & his wife have received at the hands of this dealer and service dept. Everything they have done will make it so much tougher on the next mechanic that has to work on this. They know they had Mad under a barrel and all they did was twist the knife.

As a LM customer since 1972 I will be glad to lend my support to my associate MAD-3r in any way I can to help him get the service and respect that he deserves as a customer and get this car back on the road where it belongs. :mad2:

:censor: Bastages
:uzi:

I would be more than happy to contribute to a fund that
A: gets your car fixed or
B: gets you an attorney or
C: all of the above

If they want to dance........lets dance:fire:

[sailsmen]

I have had amazing success with the Better Business Bureau. You can usually find them on line.

It has worked for me with locally owned companies and large multi nationals.

Basically it gets you in the loop of a companies resources/problem solvers to resolve the issue to your satisfaction. They cannot just blow you off because they are actually required as a member of the BBB to respond to the Better Business Bureau, which has made the complaint on your behalf, and you.

Good Luck!

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by SergntMac
I think this is the dealer's revenge. Mad turned them down on the repair, and they say "well, you're on your own, you figure it out." That's a repair scam older than me.

Bingo.


Rather than negotiate options, perhaps a reasonable split on the repair bill, or, a low cost repair financing plan, or even a reasonable trade in on another MM, new or used, the Dealer just throws everything in the trunk, and washes his hands.

Dealer = What an *********

MAD-3R = :mad:

MAD-3R's Wife = :mad2:

[martyo]

Thanks for the graphics RF! Now I understand completely.

[RF Overlord]

Marty:

I think I hear Joe calling me..."What's that, Joe? You want to change Marty's appointment to 3:00pm on Saturday? Sure thing..."

[martyo]

Ouch. Man you know how to hurt a poor guy who still stuck in the office!!

[Marauderman]

Mad---

One thing that I think has been overlooked --

Having lived in Prince William Ct, VA for 9 years, there used to be what we still have now here in Charlotte-- a local TV station in D.C. that does investagative work on news items just like this

The business can't stand it--cause they are being broadcasted all over as having done so and so and without merit and so on.....stories give VERy BAD PRESS to say the least..in the end usually , the consumer gets what he asked for cause the business does not want anymore bad TV press......we still have two competing stations here that do it...there used to be stations in D.C. that did it--check and see..give them a call...YOUR STORY IS JUST TO GOOD FOR THEM TO PASS UP IN MY OPINION...

Good Luck...Tom

[SaxGuy]

Bad Service from Lincoln Mercury dealers is whats killing sales. I personally think the Marauder is a great car, but bad service from multiple dealers is what made me NOT buy a FOMCO product.

[RCSignals]

SaxGuy there are good and bad Ford/L/M dealers, just as there are good and bad Nissan, etc dealers.
I'd never let a few bad dealers change my mind on an entire car company when the product is otherwise very good. It's not that hard to find another dealer if you have a bad one.
I've had bad service from Chrysler dealers, Honda Dealers, British Leyland dealers, and I was always able to find another dealer who then treated me and my vehicle right.
The worst experience I know of anyone having was by my brother in law from a "Datsun" dealer.

[RCSignals]

The issue is no longer what caused the engine failure, it's this final treatment from the dealer. An agreement was made for the most part to reassemble this engine, and it would seem that the dealer never had any intention of keeping it's word.
This is entirely unacceptable, and Mad has a right to be extremely upset. The entire engine and future rebuild could now be compromised. There is only a mess of parts to work with, if they are even all there.
Any rebuild shop or individual mechanic is not going to pleased looking at a pile of parts that they them-self didn't disassemble.
There's no telling what is wrong, or what is right with the engine at this point.

[SaxGuy]

RC, it wasnt just a few bad dealers that turned me off. When I called the L/M hotline to discuss how I was treated "put a 500 deposit on a car, and they sold the car and wanted to charge me extra for a used car with a roof rack" they (FOMOCO) also treated me poorly. I'm sure there are horrible nissan/honda/BMW/Chevrolet/Pontiac/etc... dealers everywhere, but when a representative for L/M treated me poorly, I decided to go elsewhere. I have been a pro-american car buyer for quite sometime, and so has my family, but when I accidently stubmled into my current car situation, I was and am very pleased. They are also ranked number 1 for customer service "woodfield nissan." Ive said this before, and will say it again, I think the Marauder is a kick @55 car, and I love seeing them on the road, but I'm not going to support a company that treated me poorly by purchasing their product. I'm very stubborn when it comes to that. I also hope that "Mad" gets his car up and on the road very soon. Good luck with it, and I will also support you in any way possible as a fellow performance car fan.

[mdmarauder]

I agree with you RC I've had bad service at all kinds of dealers.

Sax, I can understand you were turned off by Lm's response but that could happan with any brand. I personally could never bring myself to buy a foreign car. No flame intended.

[prchrman]

Have only bought 2 new vehicles in my life...Honda CRV and my Marauder...no contest the Mercury dealer was more polite, honest and overall straight forward than the Honda dealer...never buy another Honda...Honda dealer had a real salesman one up you attitude...