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        General >> Problems >> Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
        
(Message started by: Vince on May 7^th, 2006, 7:56pm)

Title: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by Vince on May 7^th, 2006, 7:56pm

I have only owned my Scorpio for five weeks, and out of those five weeks I have only driven it for one week.....

I finally ran out of patience on thursday, went back to the dealer from whence it came, and told him that since he had not repaired the gearbox within a reasonable time (11 days) I was rejecting the vehicle.

So now I am chasing him for the £2500 :o purchase price- which I will get back from him even if it involves a trip to the County Court.

For the last two days I have been looking at Craig's motor on eBay with a view to paying the full asking price. This having gone, and with there being nothing else worth looking at I am about to buy a Rover 800.

I looked at a dozen Scorpios before this one- every single one had autobox issues, the one I bought seemed fine until required to reverse uphill........ it couldn't do it.

"A fine car let down by an appallingly poorly-engineered gearbox" would have to be my verdict on the Scorpio. And autobox problems seem to be a VERY common thread here.................................

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by Kjetil S on May 7^th, 2006, 8:14pm

Why not get a manual? The MT75 seems to be a lot more reliable than the A4LDE.

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by craig on May 7^th, 2006, 8:26pm

vince...
why didn't you email me and make yourself known to me.. ???

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by lonesomecajun on May 7^th, 2006, 8:37pm

I have a nice VOLVO 850 for sale at the mo , its on ebay have a look.

Get ready craig is about to say something ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by Vince on May 7^th, 2006, 9:10pm

on 05/07/06 at 20:26:36, craig wrote:

vince...
why didn't you email me and make yourself known to me.. ???

Well, me and thee have done business as you know.....

For the last four days I have been at my oldest mate's place in Aberdeenshire.... I explained my problems and we looked for a replacement car- I didn't even know yours was for sale but when I saw "Craig" and "Glastonbury" on eBay I put 2 and 2 together......

I flew back today, looked in vain for the ad on eBay, then came here to see that it had gone.

Fair play to the buyer, who saw what I saw and jumped in first. An overnight trip on a bus from Glasgow means he deserves the prize..... with hindsight I would have acted more quickly.

:( :( :(

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by sector-9 on May 7^th, 2006, 9:23pm

Well I've had two Rover 800s and I think they've been good cars. However, they aren't without their faults too - in particular the 2.5 V6 engines were common for head gaskets (seems to have been fixed in the 75 though) and timing belts change is apparently a nightmare. The 2.0 engine is very good but does seep oil from the rocker cover in the front corner above the gearbox. Manual gearboxes on the 2.0 are a weak point with diff bearings collapsing, whereas the auto changes gear at awkward times and is no good for towing anything heavy. Steering racks on all models are prone for trouble and so are front ABS sensors and rear calipers. They're also no better on fuel than the Scorpio and the suspension is best described as a compromise.

Having said that, bodywork is usually rust-free, mine were very reliable, and electrical goodies are top-notch even on the base models (full closure alarm/central locking, back-off windows & sunroof, etc.) Just don't expect as many toys as the scorp! I'd still consider another myself when I get rid of my scorpio.

The diesel 800 uses the same engine as the diesel scorpio.

Darren

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by Vince on May 7^th, 2006, 9:35pm

on 05/07/06 at 21:23:30, sector-9 wrote:

Well I've had two Rover 800s and I think they've been good cars.

The 2.0 engine is very good but does seep oil from the rocker cover in the front corner above the gearbox.

Cheers Darren I have phoned the owner and guess what? The rocker gasket is leaking exactly where you said! But this is a pretty minor fault I reckon compared to a gearbox.

I would still buy a good Scorpio if I could, but I just can't find one.

:'( :'( :'(

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by lonesomecajun on May 7^th, 2006, 9:43pm

ive just noticed nick on the other site is selling his scorpio 2.9 estate , Just thought i would let you know .

Hope you get one soon

mrs l

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by mr._floppy on May 7^th, 2006, 10:06pm

It only highlights the extreme necessity for a comprehensive and long test drive when purchasing a ( especially automatic ) 2nd hand car. I know many sellers will be put off by this but genuine ones with nothing to hide won't.

I've a feeling that many newbies on this board with complex and serious Scorpio problems bought them at car auctions, E-Bay or from small local ads where time and opportunity for a close inspection is limited.
Prospective buyers should be aware the Scorpio is a complicated and Hi -Tech vehicle , it's not a Ford Escort and I honestly do wonder if it's folly to buy an auto example with a mileage in excess of 100K for £500 and expect to have trouble free motoring . :-/

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by cossie_al on May 7^th, 2006, 10:12pm

vince,
I have a 24valve saloon that I may part with, it failed its test on a flexi break pipe and emisions I have a pair of cats un fitted but it does have a sound gearbox and a ffsh with invoices pm me your phone number if interested

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by jonnycab on May 7^th, 2006, 10:24pm

The A4LDE auto-box is a very fine box. They are used on alot of London black cabs.
I'm just about to have my gearbox oil changed & the guy thats doing it recommends an oil change every 40,000 miles. So if you buy a Scorpio with 100,000 miles (reasonable mileage) with service history, the chances are that the gearbox oil has never been changed. Ford state that the gearbox oil should never need changing. That is obviously within their warantee period, after that it's down to the owner.
I made the mistake of not checking the gearbox oil when I bought my latest Scorpio, thats why I'm having the oil changed soon, as it is light brown & I get a turbine noise when pulling off. The filter obviously needs changing as does the oil.

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by david_molloy on May 7^th, 2006, 11:14pm

Hello All

Personally dont think it is just the car itself - although there are faults.
My take is that they have not been maintained properly from new.
My experiences to date with a few FMD's indicate that no one knows much about them. Indeed they want to avoid them. Logical to assume that not top notch knowledge & these were the ones who were supposed to maintain car to Ford specs.
Looks like low mileage ones are the best bet - not from the mileage issue but the maintanance ones.
I,ve sorted minor items at next to no cost to avoided future major ones.
Not rocket science but common sense with a bit of logic & ingenuity.

david

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by Baz on May 7^th, 2006, 11:27pm

I bought my two off EBay and sold my previous one there. It is just a matter of being careful. Granted my silver one only had 58k on the clock, but I would still buy off ebay if I got to see it before bidding or if I knew the seller and his/her feedback was OK

If you do get the 800 Vince and do need any parts, there are 5 in my mates yard at the moment. The latest one came in on Friday so still complete

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by Bren_K30 on May 7^th, 2006, 11:29pm

Vince
sent you a pm

Bren

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by PeteB on May 8^th, 2006, 8:39am

Have to say I love my Manual Box have an 04 suzuki aswell and the scorps box is so much smoother :)

Pete

Title: Re: Bye bye, Ford Scorpio!
Post by sector-9 on May 8^th, 2006, 11:14pm

At risk of being lynched at Harewood next month ( ;)) I have to say I've found post 1990 Rovers to be better built cars than the Fords of the same era. Don't get me wrong, I started driving with a Ford and I've had many Fords since then - I was kind of forced into a Rover 414SLi (L93) but ever since then I've had Rover. The only reason I bought this scorpio and sold my 800 is because it was a diesel and incredibly cheap (due to electrical faults).

All my Rovers (apart from the 620SLDi which rusted & fell apart around me) have been good cars but the Scorpio has a much better ride and more interior room - especially for those in the back. Also it doesn't look quite so dated in or out. However, you can buy a late nineties 2.0i auto Rover Sterling for less than a grand, though it won't be any better specced than a Scorpio Ghia with leather...

Darren