'03 Gas Guzzler & Hood Problems

[IRON MACHINE]

Spoke to my salesman today and he said two things I thought I would pass on:
1) I ordered my '03 on A plan, and expected to pay the A plan price plus the gas guzzler tax. My salesman said that the gas guzzler tax may be a regional thing - he is gonna check tomorrow morning to see if it applies in this area. Anyone else heard about this? Granted, he does not sell many vehicles that get the tax, so he may be wrong, but its worth checking (and at least he's honest).
2) Contrary to what I've seen on some boards, there is a hold on all '03 production. He said they produced about 65 cars, and found serious hood fitting/clearance problems. They've put the rest on hold, and kept the 65 from being shipped until they correct the hood problems. He was told "two weeks" until it started again.
Just passing on info for everyone's benefit. I can't vouch for it on personal knowledge.

 

[Undy]

Gas guzzler tax is a federal mandate, thus not regionalized.. This being said I'd be very suspicious of his "hood hold" info too. He doesn't seem to be a very well informed individual in this area, at least on regards to the gas guzzler issue.

 

[VintagePorscheG]

Just talked to Matt this am and this is a FALSE R
UMOR!!!!

"PRODUCTION IS RUNNING!" .... Matt at SVT


:burn:

 

[Yellow Horse]

There will be pic's. out early next week on all the rumor crap will finally end :beer: . If there were a fitment problem it would have shown up and been corrected months ago.

 

[VintagePorscheG]

I saw pics on here... I followed a link at the end of a post on 03pics and there were pics of cobras being built in dearborn...

If you cant find it email me and I will send to you

 

[IRON MACHINE]

Well, your right about gas guzzler, as I found out today. My salesman called and also gave me A plan pricing, which I'll post here for others to compare (hopefully nobody is being overcharged - some A plan dealers mark up the A plan). Coupe price is 29,395, plus the $1,000 gas tax, and the delivery fee. However, I still would not write off the hood thing - he said there was a conference call this morning where again, they stated the production was temporarily on hold, but they should get it back up the end of the week. He has not reason to make this up (maybe he's getting misinformed). Additionally, I called a different dealer in another city where my wife bought her car and chatted with the salesman. He also said the Cobra's were on temporary hold, but he wasn't sure why. Even if it's true, it's not that big a deal - I'd rather have them get it right before shipping it out, and a few weeks won't matter in the long run anyway.

 

[tommylightning]

Originally posted by IRON MACHINE
My salesman called and also gave me A plan pricing, which I'll post here for others to compare (hopefully nobody is being overcharged - some A plan dealers mark up the A plan).

A-Plan customer is supposed to get a copy of the invoice, it's a rule of the program. Any dealer that is stupid enough to try and cheat A-Plan should be closed down or at least stripped of A-Plan privaleges.

 

[IRON MACHINE]

You are absolutely right - make sure you get an original invoice NOT a copy. Dealers will occasionally give you the copy with their own additional stuff added in.

 

[VintagePorscheG]

In my experience, when I call SVT, they don't lie. All information that I have received from them as been 100% accurate.

On this issue Matt was clear,

"That is completely false, production is running"

:bash:

 

[sndmixer]

I spoke with VOPC yesterday (Tues) reagrding my car.


"It was built last Thursday, and should be at your dealership the week of May 20th."

TIFWIW.

 

[VintagePorscheG]

LA is a longass way to drive a truck full of Cobra's - I would want an army escort if I were that truck driver- did they tell you where the truck driver will be sleeping or what road he was taking...

(just kidding)

 

[eddy z]

sandmixer.... when you called the orderline update... did they care you were not a salesperson??? or did you play it off that you were?? also, I just have my vin number. isthat ll the info i would need??

 

[Yellow Horse]

sndmixer, I have your 03 Cobra brother, number 166, coming right behind you. I was starting to wonder about the delay rumors but I know I will get it next week now. My dealer told me several days ago when he told me the 5/20 delivery that it might come a few days earlier. Man, if it shows up this Friday I'll be on cloud nine. Just got in my Bassani pipes and Baer rotors. I'm dying to start modding .

 

[sndmixer]

RE: VOPC..... no, I didn't lie or do anything dishonest... this was the conversation.

"VOPC (after the voice prompts), how can I help you?"

"I want to check the status of an order."

"What is the dealer code?" Gave the dealer code

"What is your name?" Gave her my real name

"What is the order number?" They didn't ask for the VIN #, I assume because the order numbers and dealer numbers are intertwined.

"Okay, the car was built on May 9th, and it should be at your dealership the week of May 20th. Is there anything else you need...."

That was that.....

 

[03Cobra]

What is the phone number for VOCP?

I wanna call - also where did you get the dealer code -- I have the order number but not the code -- do I need to call the dealer or is there another way.

Thanks

 

[sndmixer]

All the info was on my DORA, which I got from the dealer (printed Dealer Order Receipt). I got the vin from the dealer, also, but didn't need it.

 

[Undy]

Be careful in using the VOPC!

This was a response to a previous thread that I posted....

Be careful if you use the VOPC automated tracking number. I used it to find out the status of my 2001 Lightning in October of 2000. Some brain dead individual from another forum asked me for the number and the procedure for using it. I told him to use the automated response system and not to talk to anybody live. To make a long story short..... the idiot elected to talk to a person and when they confronted him with how he got the number he dimed on me!! He gave them my web site, phone number and email address. I got a phone call from corporate Ford threatening legal action if I ever gave out the phone number again. Needless to say I never gave the number out again. I'm not really convinced Ford could do anything but why take a chance. Just remember everyone on the other end of your keyboard doesn't necessarily have your best interests in mind....


__________________
Yellow 03 Cobra coupe
(ordered 3/8/02)

 

[eddy z]

sndmixer..thanks for the info... I need to contact my dealer for the info. as I only have the vin # the order ticket that i filled out theday I ordered the car, and a letter saying thank you for your order ad will call you when it arrives deal... what is the last 3 numbers in your vin??? Mine is 096.. Should I assume my car is number 96 on the production line???

 

[eddy z]

sndmixer...scratch your vin... I see your last 3 numbers are 165 in your vin... so is it safe to say that my car is truly number 96 and produced last week like yours was?? wow, if that is the cse, next week, i should be getting that call.. too bad i will be out of town...

 

[03Cobra]

Sounds like the Ford person got a bit annoyed

No doubt a result of an abusive person calling.

As for the legitimacy of the legal threats, I think they are silly. In my experience as a corporate litigator, there is no chance of legal action whatsoever because of various factors, the least of which is that Ford suffered no damage.

What is the detriment to Ford for even an annoying phone call from a Ford cutomer who is anxious about getting their Ford product. Worse case, it wasted a minute or two of a Ford Reps time, best case, they have a happy, excited customer looking to get some information on the car for which they are paying a handsome sum.

Sorry about your experience, and your point is correct -- you never know who is on the other end of a keyboard, but no harm, no foul here.