What to expect when you buy a Ford Fiesta

Expect that in two years, at 11,600 miles, you’ll have a transmission problem. Expect:

• That when bringing your car to the dealership of purchase, it will die within a block of the destination.
• That you’ll run to the dealership, ask for assistance with the tow, and they’ll tell you to do it yourself. “We’re busy.”
• That when they have your car, they will not call you with an update.
• That you’ll call six hours later, explain you have a transmission problem, and be told there are three other cars ahead of yours, and they won’t look at it today. “We’re busy.”
• That they will not call you the next day.
• That you’ll call the next day, at 1 p.m., then again at 2 p.m., and finally get a call back. “I’m the Fiesta with the transmission problem,” you’ll say. They will reply, “Yes, we looked at it, you have a transmission problem.”

Expect that you will be told they will not fix your car for another week. “We have lots of problems ahead of yours; we’re busy.” Expect:

• That when you ask for any sort of help with a transitional car, since they are “so busy,” and too busy to fix your car for a week, you’ll be promised a mere $20 stipend a day towards a rental. A rental at a specific location near their shop. “We’ll put it in the system so they’re expecting you.”
• That when you get to the rental agency, there is nothing in the system, so you charge the whole thing to your credit card.
• That the car from the rental agency is on empty. Well, they told you this, didn’t they? You just didn’t realize, until after you’d pulled away, you have exactly three miles worth of gas with which to find a gas station in an area with which you’re entirely unfamiliar.
• Expect to hyperventilate. Over the whole bloody experience, but most of all, the immediate problem. Where can you find a gas station?

In short, expect that when you buy a Ford Fiesta, new, and pay for it in cash, that two years later at 11,600 miles, when your transmission breaks down one block from the dealership where you bought the car, you’ll get neither assistance, effort, interest, or your car.

In short, expect nothing.

I realize, in the grand scheme of life, my car floats somewhere in the bottom-feeder category. Still, this whole experience has crawled under my skin (can you tell?).

What Ford and Star Ford in Glendale can expect from me: This story; posted to every place I can think of, including my blog, Facebook, Yelp, and any email address I can find at the corporate office. I don’t expect corporate to care, of course. I’m past expectations, and am working my way towards worst-case scenarios.

For my blogger friends -- those who comment and those who prefer to just read -- who have followed this story, thank you. You have no idea how much I've appreciated your support.