PortlandRL

I'm in Orange County this week because my mom needed to have a minor operation so we flew in and rented a car. Initially I was ecstatic because we got a brand-new 2011 Fiesta SEL, complete with heated leather seats, SYNC, and satellite radio. The car had only 16 miles on it and even had a few pieces of transit plastic still on the outside. The car wasn't quick but drove nice and was quiet and comfortable.

Only a day later, the transmission made an ominous grinding noise while on Pacific Coast Highway but didn't come back. But by the next day, it was grinding with every 3rd to 4th upshift and would occasionally slip on the 2nd-to-3rd. Finally, today it started grinding in every gear so I returned the car to the rental agency and they gave me a Corolla instead. It may not have the leather, steering wheel controls or satellite radio but at least it drives without making awful noises.

I've always been a big Ford fan but a brand new car having the transmission crap out at under a hundred miles gives me reason for pause. Are they pushing things too quickly and sacrificing QC for sales figures?

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

At least it was only a rental.

speedemon90

They have been doing better in reliability surveys

maybe you just got unlucky and got a bad one.

pttl

Hmmm... was the tranny made in China?

charliemike

It sucks and I would be disappointed but this is what happens with Chinese crap.

stogie1020

What's up with you not having luck with cars lately?

On the other hand, I hope your mom is OK.

Ken1997TL

That sucks, I've been following Ford's tremendous improvements over the years. As a former Ford stockholder, I wish them well.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

as said sometimes not all transmissions are built right the first time, some vehicles do get bad parts
and considering it was only 16 miles on the car, it's not like it had even been driven for a length of time

S A CHO

For the love of God, stop touching new vehicles!

Seriously though, sounds like that thing was doomed from the start...

Aman

Yeouch, with that little mileage I don't think there's really any excuse. I hope Ford gets it fixed. Hate to see them come so far and then get dragged down again.

How's the Corolla?

PortlandRL

The Fiesta was quieter and the seats were far more comfortable than those in the Corolla but other than that, I prefer the Corolla.

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

You are not welcome in my car.

dallison

stay away from the porsche boxsters in the future please.

NCTL05

iTrader: (9)

OP...was it an automatic? Honestly, tho, I heard the manual tranny's are made by getrag. Same company that made tranny's for the VR4 3000GT. And you'd be lucky to get 30k miles in that car without the syncros going bad to the point you can't get into gear. But I don't know who manufactures the automatic tranny's.

007Acura

I was thinking the same thing lol



Hope all is well with your mother.

Brandon24pdx

They could do more with that car. First of all the sedan is awful looking, but the hatchback is a little better. If they'd offer the 2-door hatch with something better than 116 hp it would maybe get my attention.

Aman

I think the problem (if you can call it that) with the Fiesta is that it seems like more than it is. No matter how you twist it, this is Ford's lowest offering, but the amount of features they pack into it make you think it isn't. This car is supposed to compete with cars like the Yaris

TL Tech 18

A Ford will always be a Ford. Fiesta's are a good economy car. You get what you pay for. Not always a bad thing ..... I looked into buying a 2011 Tauras SHO ... but the dealer didn't want to budge on the price. As always, domestic auto makers have a little success, and they become scam artist all over again ! Guess they will never learn ...... Buy American my ass .....
I'll buy whatever I choose.

TL= Residual Value ......

Shoofin

Me thinks it's not the car, it might be the driver..

S A CHO

Holy blanket statement Batman....

One dealer didn't want to move on the price of one car and they're all scam artists?

Best Buy didn't want to give me an LED TV for half price, I hate Samsung

05TLdcc

fixed for your stupidity.




You like your TL, we get it. But in reality, Ford is making one of the best vehicles on the market right now in almost any category. To say that a Ford will always be a Ford is like saying that since Acura now has an ugly design, it will always be an ugly design.

Eat before you talk, son.

Brandon24pdx

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/20/s...s-big-brother/

I'd definitely consider "downgrading" to one of these. Conspicuous consumption is so 2005 anyway.

TL Tech 18

Ok

Aman

Some things aren't worth the effort.

05TLdcc

Apparently.

mrmako

Didn't Ford have issues with the manuals put into Mustangs? Hence the Chinese comments? I'm not a Ford guy, so it's Greek to me.

PortlandRL

Man I think I've picked up on my dad's bad Carma. The Corolla's trunk release is broken.

Aman

Oh my God man...

PortlandRL

I know. Ten bucks says I get home and my car's transmission takes a shit.

pttl

Getrag designed, Chinese built manuals are somewhat problematic. As with anything online...you hear the horror stories first. However, it doesn't seem right that there is still no answer or permanent fix for the problems.

Many feel that it is due to poor labor practices in the Chinese factories.

IMO Ford does not need ANY bad business practices now that they seem to be designing seriously good cars. I hope they move the tranny work out of China.

TL Tech 18

There is a FORD Forum for those interested ......

Aman

What's wrong with this forum?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^plus this is car talk.

pttl

Apparently if it doesn't have anything to do with a 4G TL his attention span wanes.

KillerG

nobody talk about cars here ok.

Brandon24pdx

Cars are gay

is300eater

...so, how do I find out if my 06' Fusion was made in China or has a Chinese made tranny?

Brandon24pdx

We need a blanket to put over his cage

Moog-Type-S

Everyone stay out of this thread before you get the OP's horrible karma!!!

S A CHO