new 6/02/02
Morning Fellow SHO'ers,
As an owner of a '97 SHO, I diligently keep tabs on what is happening with the
body count and the remedies for the cams. While I applaud all those leading the
charge, I suspect that it will be all for nothing. Let me explain
First of all, I think Ford has no plans to fix our cars.
Ford is a company that is driven by profit, pure and simple. Stockholder returns
are more important to Ford than us. We can send emails till our fingers are raw
and Ford will wait us out by doing the typical corporate shuffle. It has already
begun with the meeting this past week, then the request for cams. During the
"discovery" time, Ford will assess their "liability" and the
probability of repairs using both original warranty and ESP history. Bean
counters rule you know.
Since warranty repairs are not beneficial to the dealer, we can expect little
help from them. In fact, having our cars in the shop waiting for repairs give
them ample to time to encourage us to buy a different car from them. Loyal Ford
owners will not be discouraged by the cams fiasco just as we have not been by
the history of breakage of Ford transmissions. Better for Ford to give us a
check toward a new Ford car thus increasing sales (profit) for Ford and the
dealers.
Our cars are almost 4 to 8 models years old, an eternity in car years especially
considering a total of 1.17% were SHO' during the 4 year production run. How
many of these actually went to real customers and not to Ford employees via
executive leases to help Ford fulfill the contract with Yamaha? The average car
is traded every 35 months I read somewhere. End of warranty and Ford is off the
hook.
The recent increase in cam costs is just a hint as to their concern about us. A
400% increase helps to offset cost of warranty repairs and also keeps parts on
the shelf to insure they keep the Feds happy regarding the 7-year rule. Plus as
an owner, it would be a tough decision to spend $5000 on a car that is worth
$8960 (trade in value, KBB). It really is a no brainier as to whether it is
better to fix or trade. Better to trade the car NOW and count our blessing.
I ask SHO owners I see in SE Michigan if they have had trouble with their car
and if they know about V8SHO.com. I have yet to hear anyone acknowledge trouble
or V8SHO.
Of the 230 SHO on the list, 131 submitted information, which is great. Will Ford
see this as a reinforcement of their belief that the cams are not a major
problem? Granted the list may not be up to date as owners have wrecked or traded
cars but combined with Ford's internal data and the current number of SHO's on
the road via state's vehicle registrations, I think the decision to stonewall is
inevitable. I hope I am proven wrong.
1FALP54N2VA200526
Bob Schuler
Raschuler51@yahoo.com
1FALP54N2VA200526
Morning Kathy,
I am the owner of a 97 SHO purchased in May of '98 that currently has 41000
miles on it. While I have not been the victim of the cam failures, I am
concerned that it will be just a matter of time.
What I am asking for is a recall to replace the 4 cams with an improved part
whether it be a new design or pinned cams by Vadim. I check V8SHO.com weekly for
updates.
In lieu of immediate repair by Ford, they can either extend my warranty via the
ESP program or issue a Ford Owner Loyalty Check that will be combined with a
trade in value that is based on a motor that is running.
Thanks for your time Kathy,
Bob Schuler