Watchdog tonight - Focus stalling
Discussion
Dont know if anyone saw it tonight, but it is really pi55ing me off at the moment (yes, I guess I am mister angry at the moment!). Anyway, they are running a 'campaign' against Ford at the moment, singling out the Focus and the stalling problem they seem to have.
This week they dug up a couple who lost control of their Focus going down a steep hill when the engine stalled. Rolled several times and wrote the car off. Watchdog - or rather that supercilious prick Nicky Campbell - wants to take Ford to task about this and is claiming that the Focus is dangerous..... anyway, lots of dramatic pictures and explanation on how dangerous it really is......
Well, knock me down with a feather here, but I am more than willing to be corrected here - surely when a power assisted brake and steering car looses power it looses the assistance. It doesnt actually loose all steering and brakes.... just the assistance. In fact I had an old Polo that suffered bad stalling problems (my fault) which did mean that it was alarming at best and yes ever-so-slightly dangerous.... but life threatening - no not really....
Anyway, long story short - Nicky 'supercilious tw@t' Campbell gets the MD for Ford in and gives him a right roasting insisting that they have to re-call all Focuses (Focii?) to correct the problem. MD states that even after the Watchdog programme last week they have 276 known customer problems. What the stuff is Nicky 'arrogant tit' Campbell on about - is Ford really going to re-call, what 1 - 2 million Focuses / Focii just for 276 cars...??? I think not.
One interesting point though - MD for Ford has obviously consulted with his engineers on this, states that the power brakes will retain brake efficiency even when the engine stalls as the vacuum pressure will assist for the first couple of presses on the brakes....which, is actually correct - cos I remember now! So, let me get this right - Watchdog want to make a manufacturer culpable for this knowing that it isnt actually that dangerous and that the brakes do actually get assistance for the first few presses....
What next? Taking Vauxhall to court because they sell cars that might be in an accident in 10 years time. Or being available to be stolen by a joy rider.... What on earth is this country coming too.... I mean, the BBC is our STATE / NATIONAL TV station - we pay money (£116) for the privilege to watch that arrogant tw@t on our screens drumming up issues and problems that are pretty insignificant just to get ratings....
Fcuk this - which is the best country to move to that isnt infected by this lowest type of human life? Any suggestions? (obviously not the USA where this behaviour is rampant).
The sooner that Watchdog is removed from our TV screens the better. And to think that people consider the BBC one of the best broadcasters in the world - not according to me....
Cheers,
Paul
This week they dug up a couple who lost control of their Focus going down a steep hill when the engine stalled. Rolled several times and wrote the car off. Watchdog - or rather that supercilious prick Nicky Campbell - wants to take Ford to task about this and is claiming that the Focus is dangerous..... anyway, lots of dramatic pictures and explanation on how dangerous it really is......
Well, knock me down with a feather here, but I am more than willing to be corrected here - surely when a power assisted brake and steering car looses power it looses the assistance. It doesnt actually loose all steering and brakes.... just the assistance. In fact I had an old Polo that suffered bad stalling problems (my fault) which did mean that it was alarming at best and yes ever-so-slightly dangerous.... but life threatening - no not really....
Anyway, long story short - Nicky 'supercilious tw@t' Campbell gets the MD for Ford in and gives him a right roasting insisting that they have to re-call all Focuses (Focii?) to correct the problem. MD states that even after the Watchdog programme last week they have 276 known customer problems. What the stuff is Nicky 'arrogant tit' Campbell on about - is Ford really going to re-call, what 1 - 2 million Focuses / Focii just for 276 cars...??? I think not.
One interesting point though - MD for Ford has obviously consulted with his engineers on this, states that the power brakes will retain brake efficiency even when the engine stalls as the vacuum pressure will assist for the first couple of presses on the brakes....which, is actually correct - cos I remember now! So, let me get this right - Watchdog want to make a manufacturer culpable for this knowing that it isnt actually that dangerous and that the brakes do actually get assistance for the first few presses....
What next? Taking Vauxhall to court because they sell cars that might be in an accident in 10 years time. Or being available to be stolen by a joy rider.... What on earth is this country coming too.... I mean, the BBC is our STATE / NATIONAL TV station - we pay money (£116) for the privilege to watch that arrogant tw@t on our screens drumming up issues and problems that are pretty insignificant just to get ratings....
Fcuk this - which is the best country to move to that isnt infected by this lowest type of human life? Any suggestions? (obviously not the USA where this behaviour is rampant).
The sooner that Watchdog is removed from our TV screens the better. And to think that people consider the BBC one of the best broadcasters in the world - not according to me....
Cheers,
Paul
I don't know, maybe if you had a focus that kept stalling you'd be pi55ed off too. Its maybe not so life and death (NC has a certain arrogant style i admit) but £10k+ on car that keeps stalling is not acceptable IMO.
I thought it was good that the VW bit finally got some air time, as i've been reading it here/elsewhere for ages. I didn't see the end of the article though - did VAG own up, or sidestep like before?? Basically i had to switch over when that dude prince went in to argue with a dealer - that type of TV makes me cringe :0 Its obvious that the dealer wouldn't give a toss...
Join my cause, the less Golf mk4's on the road the better!! Boring, outdated, heavy pile of junk - they (VAG) should be ashamed of themselves for allowing everything after the mk2 to go the way of Elvis!!
I thought it was good that the VW bit finally got some air time, as i've been reading it here/elsewhere for ages. I didn't see the end of the article though - did VAG own up, or sidestep like before?? Basically i had to switch over when that dude prince went in to argue with a dealer - that type of TV makes me cringe :0 Its obvious that the dealer wouldn't give a toss...
Join my cause, the less Golf mk4's on the road the better!! Boring, outdated, heavy pile of junk - they (VAG) should be ashamed of themselves for allowing everything after the mk2 to go the way of Elvis!!
hey what are you doing online bro!?! you said you were gonna phone me tonight...
though your reply did make me chuckle, i was gonna add that although i didn't see it sounds like one of those small stories you see in the sun and other quality titles where they show a picture of a fat couple (bloke usually doesn't work), with unhappy looks on their faces because their son/daughter was acting dangerous and irresponsable and got injured and wants to sue the company or place (for example a supermarket) where this has happened and any bystanders that happened to see it too!!!
though your reply did make me chuckle, i was gonna add that although i didn't see it sounds like one of those small stories you see in the sun and other quality titles where they show a picture of a fat couple (bloke usually doesn't work), with unhappy looks on their faces because their son/daughter was acting dangerous and irresponsable and got injured and wants to sue the company or place (for example a supermarket) where this has happened and any bystanders that happened to see it too!!!
I guess I must have my stupid head on tonight, but how do you stall a car when it is going down a hill? Unless said numpty was driving down the hill with their foot on the clutch.
This week they dug up a couple who lost control of their Focus going down a steep hill when the engine stalled.
Unless it is perhaps an automatic?
...against Ford at the moment, singling out the Focus and the stalling problem they seem to have.
Paul
Ford has had its share of the spotlight here in the US to. The Focus has reportadly had a severe overheating problems which (in certain cases) has caused car fires. Haven't heard the total outcome of it yet.. I think just a "Service Bulletin".
From what I've read... a grand total of 5 (count 'em, FIVE) people wrote to watchdog... and only after the first programme did the other 270-odd issues come to light... fault obviously can't be THAT bad.
From what I gather Ford responded with a statement including the phone number of the customer helpline which was displayed on screen. Since the programme 279 Focus owners have called the Customer Relationship Centre concerning engine stall problems.
These people have all been referred to dealers and a thorough checking process has been set up to ensure all issues are resolved.
Ford have sold more than half a million Focuses in the UK, which underlines that the incidence of this problem is relatively small. However there are a number of reasons that can cause stalling and it has proved hard to resolve the concerns - often intermittent faults - quickly and effectively.
What personally annoys me, is that the people who moaned to Watchdog, didn't even take their cars to the dealers first... seems to be the usual, moan and "I want compensation" type thing.
>> Edited by Podie on Wednesday 12th February 08:19
From what I gather Ford responded with a statement including the phone number of the customer helpline which was displayed on screen. Since the programme 279 Focus owners have called the Customer Relationship Centre concerning engine stall problems.
These people have all been referred to dealers and a thorough checking process has been set up to ensure all issues are resolved.
Ford have sold more than half a million Focuses in the UK, which underlines that the incidence of this problem is relatively small. However there are a number of reasons that can cause stalling and it has proved hard to resolve the concerns - often intermittent faults - quickly and effectively.
What personally annoys me, is that the people who moaned to Watchdog, didn't even take their cars to the dealers first... seems to be the usual, moan and "I want compensation" type thing.
>> Edited by Podie on Wednesday 12th February 08:19
- it's just like the "ambulance-chaser" adverts on the telly!! 
compared to older Fords (and all Vectras 
- pardon my swearing). 
Eric Mc said: Which would you prefer - a society where businesses are not called into question now and then or a society where businesses can get away with what they like?
I'm sure elsewhere on PH you will find people complaining aBout "Rip Off Britain".
You can't have it both ways.
I don't see Ford dodging any responsibility, do you? They have agreed that there is an issue that needs to be rectified, and are dealing with every person who has phoned the CRC.
My point was that people are happy to complain, but always go to the wrong people. If you have an issue, you take it up with the person (or organisation) in question first... not run off to Watchdog and wonder why your car hasn't been fixed!
The point I'm making is that these consumer programmes do have a part to play in a relatively open society. They don't always get it right, which may be the case with the Focus issue. In fact, on quite a few occasions they've had to publish and air retractions regarding accusations made.But I'd much rather they existed than didn't.I admit that some of the presenters can come across as smug and supercillious, particularly Nicki Campbell and Anne Robinson (one of his predecessors on Watchdog).
If anyone is old enough to remember, the programme began life as a consumer feature in the old "Nationwide" programme in the late 1970s and was presented by Hugh Scully. It became a programme in its own right when "Nationwide" ceased.
In my opinion, there should be MORE consumer type programmes on telly. It's interesting to see that there are no longer any such shows on ITV. Fears of losing even more advertisers has probably played a part in this situation. And, of course, there never have been on any of Murdoch's channels (as far as I know). At least, the BBC being "Ad Free" is less inhibited in its criticisms of certain business practices.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 12th February 09:20
If anyone is old enough to remember, the programme began life as a consumer feature in the old "Nationwide" programme in the late 1970s and was presented by Hugh Scully. It became a programme in its own right when "Nationwide" ceased.
In my opinion, there should be MORE consumer type programmes on telly. It's interesting to see that there are no longer any such shows on ITV. Fears of losing even more advertisers has probably played a part in this situation. And, of course, there never have been on any of Murdoch's channels (as far as I know). At least, the BBC being "Ad Free" is less inhibited in its criticisms of certain business practices.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 12th February 09:20
Eric Mc said: The point I'm making is that these consumer programmes do have a part to play in a relatively open society. They don't always get it right, which may be the case with the Focus issue. In fact, on quite a few occasions they've had to publish and air retractions regarding accusations made.But I'd much rather they existed than didn't.
Eric Mc, I see your point, that the public has a right to know etc etc. However, as with all these things retractions are never going to fully solve the problem. Mud, as they say, sticks.
It doesn't matter if it's people or organisations, accusations made against them stick... and people have a habit of never forgetting them... but retractions are always small and often overlooked.
IMHO there is a place for the consumer watchdog... however, people should use the process in place first to take up their issues. Ford have customer care lines and an extensive dealer network... and all complaints are logged. Problems will be dealt with, and in my personal experience they always have been.
Having used the mechanisms in place to no avail, THAT is then the time to bring in the watchdog...
Didn't watchdog do a piece about the saxo lifting the back wheel under extremely tight cornering?
Ummm... that's the anti-roll-bar doing it's thing, stopping the chassis from rolling!!
Interesting thing about the states also - I never knew they had 91 RON unleaded... most UK cars would pink themselves into oblivion running on that stuff!
Ummm... that's the anti-roll-bar doing it's thing, stopping the chassis from rolling!!
Interesting thing about the states also - I never knew they had 91 RON unleaded... most UK cars would pink themselves into oblivion running on that stuff!
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