Reliable Ford Dealers

[Big Boy]

I realise that this is probably an oxymoron, but I've fallen out with the Ford Dealership in Hua Hin for the last time today.

I'd been into the dealership last week and booked my car in for its 10,000Km service. There had also been a slight mishap with the rear bumper (barely visible unless you know where to look), and I'd asked them to fit a new bumper as well. No problem, my car was booked in for 10am 30 Apr 2013. Estimated cost - 20,000 Baht.

I now know that I'll be in hospital on the 29th and 30th - IMHO a reasonable reason to push the date back by a day or two. I went back to to the dealership to put the date back a couple of days. They were not pleased, and demanded 10,000 Baht off me there and then to change my date.

I rarely see red, but when I do it's either because I'm talking to a Frenchman, or the Ford Dealership in Hua Hin.

Apart from the fact I didn't have that much cash on me anyway, I rudely told them what they could do with their garage.

I now need to find a reliable Ford dealer. Can anybody please recommend a Ford Dealership within reasonable driving distance of Hua Hin? I know where the other Dealerships are, but are there any that offer reasonable customer relations/service?

[Frank Hovis]

Fairly sure there isn't one in Cha-am and I've not seen one in Pranburi either so Petchaburi would be the closest for a dealership, it's a long way to go for an oil change.
Nothing stopping you taking it to the Mazda dealer along the road they are the same platform aren't they ?

[PeteC]

Send off the story BB to Ford HQ either in Bangkok or Rayong, not sure where they are but their web site will have it. A complaint letter from a non-Thai will perk up their ears and eyes. Pete

[Big Boy]

Fairly sure there isn't one in Cha-am and I've not seen one in Pranburi either so Petchaburi would be the closest for a dealership, it's a long way to go for an oil change.
Nothing stopping you taking it to the Mazda dealer along the road they are the same platform aren't they ?

There's definitely a dealer just to the South of Pranburi.

The one in Petchaburi looks quite good.

Unfortunately, the exam question that I'm looking to be answered is, "Does anybody know of a reliable Ford Dealership?"

[Big Boy]

Send off the story BB to Ford HQ either in Bangkok or Rayong, not sure where they are but their web site will have it. A complaint letter from a non-Thai will perk up their ears and eyes. Pete

I definitely will this time, and I'll probably include everything else that I've mentioned in the past.

[Nereus]

Send off the story BB to Ford HQ either in Bangkok or Rayong, not sure where they are but their web site will have it. A complaint letter from a non-Thai will perk up their ears and eyes. Pete

The problem with that is: it has very little chance of getting to the right people. I had a similar problem several years ago with the then Land Rover dealer in Bangkok. The response from the importer was a flowery reply thanking me for my letter!
A second letter from a lawyer DID get some result, with the dealer concerned being told by the distributor words to the effect that: if they wished to remain a dealer, that they WOULD take care of both the car, and the customer.

While the car is under warranty you are obliged to have it serviced by an authorised dealer, or risk losing any claim if there is a problem.

I have to admire your patience, Big Boy. I would have had a lawyer on to them long ago. Just out of curiosity: just what was the 20,000 Baht quote for? Not a rear bumper surely?

[Big Boy]

Rear bumper + service.

[Dannie Boy]

Fairly sure there isn't one in Cha-am and I've not seen one in Pranburi either so Petchaburi would be the closest for a dealership, it's a long way to go for an oil change.
Nothing stopping you taking it to the Mazda dealer along the road they are the same platform aren't they ?

There's definitely a dealer just to the South of Pranburi.

The one in Petchaburi looks quite good.

Unfortunately, the exam question that I'm looking to be answered is, "Does anybody know of a reliable Ford Dealership?"

It would be helpful if somebody has any knowledge of other service centres, but reading your various threads about Ford in HH, it would be difficult to find another service centre as bad, so wherever the nearest one is would be worth trying as a one-off.

[Big Boy]

I can't disagree with DB, but it would be even better if somebody had a positive experience to share about a Ford Dealer. Or am I venturing into cloud cuckooland again?

[ken.p]

Hi BB,
Sorry to hear your problems with Ford Huahin seem to be continuing.
Ford Huahin & Ford Pranburi are the same company.
Good Luck.
Ken

[Big Boy]

Ford Huahin & Ford Pranburi are the same company.

Thanks, that's upsetting, and narrows down the options

Maybe that's why they are so bad - you buy their cars, and there's no local alternative.

[Dannie Boy]

Same company but different staff at the two branches, so still might be worth trying as an alternative?

[russ]

Rear bumper + service.

My friend in pattaya had a new bumper on a ford ranger 7000 bht and last service 2200 hua hin fords prices seem a bit high


He uses the ford dealership in south pattaya bit far to drive for a service

[usual suspect]

BB you have my sympathies..as you know we both feel the same way about HH Ford.
I was in there this week for a plastic T-connector that fits on the underside of the bonnet to feed each washer..( reckon the car-valet folk have caught it with the power-washer lance & snapped it)..well,after farting around on the computer for a good half hour they finally said they had'nt got one, would have to order one (a full half hr to work that out?).. & it would be 380B..380B??.. Forget it.
Went back towards town thinking where can I get 1 on these things..saw a shop doing batteries n stuff, pulled up, showed the item to the kid, 5 mins later I had my new T-piece..20B..that's more like it.
When I had my thrust-bearing done in BKK, the guys at the engine-bay showed me the state of my gearbox oil..it was sh**e!..When I told them the Ranger had just had it's 160,000Km service only 1 week ago the lads pointed-out that no way had the dealer changed this g/box oil as stated on the major service work-sheet (& had charged me for it!). So all you Ford owners out there, please remember that when you're sat in their courtesy-room, enjoying their (not-so-free) coffee, waiting for the service to be done..how about taking your chair out to the service bay & sit there in the corner to monitor what they do (or not do).
As a final note HH Ford wanted 2,500B for a new door-window motor, when again I thought sod that, & took the car elsewhere, the cost of the repair was 100B..it only needed the main connector-plug pushing harder together, & the window has worked ever since..!

[usual suspect]

p.s. BB.. a mate of mine took his Toyota to Petchaburi every time for 3 yrs 'cos of the reputation HH Toyota has!