Shelby GT350 Mustang Owners File New Class Action Lawsuit Against Ford

[Mark114]

Hagens Berman: Shelby GT350 Mustang Owners File New Class Action Lawsuit Against Ford for Fraud and Breach of Warranty Claims Relating to Limp Mode Defect

Class-action lawsuit says owners deserve reparation for Ford knowingly selling so-called “track-ready” cars with defective and dangerous powertrains.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...ng-Owners-File

[LuvMI]

Bummer.

[90503]

Originally Posted by Mark114

Hagens Berman: Shelby GT350 Mustang Owners File New Class Action Lawsuit Against Ford for Fraud and Breach of Warranty Claims Relating to Limp Mode Defect

Class-action lawsuit says owners deserve reparation for Ford knowingly selling so-called “track-ready” cars with defective and dangerous powertrains.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...ng-Owners-File

Sounds like a weak argument...too many variables....If lawsuit is successful could be bad news for all makes, including Camaro....

But, well see....My first inclination is to call it a frivolous shakedown....

[newmoon]

This is the problem with buying a first year run very early in the release. First you typically get hammered on pricing because of the early excitement and limited availibilty, drive the prices up beyond the car's worth, next you are the trial study period for the manufacturer. Unfortunately for these folks who purchased early there will be no quick fix or financial adjustment. They will loose their shirts on resale as the word is now out that these early models have issues which Ford will not cover.

[snizzle]

Originally Posted by newmoon

This is the problem with buying a first year run very early in the release. First you typically get hammered on pricing because of the early excitement and limited availibilty, drive the prices up beyond the car's worth, next you are the trial study period for the manufacturer. Unfortunately for these folks who purchased early there will be no quick fix or financial adjustment. They will loose their shirts on resale as the word is now out that these early models have issues which Ford will not cover.

Agreed. Not to mention all the "fixes" that'll go into the next year or two models. That's why I bought a 2012. The only problem was that I got a Cruze steering wheel :-)

[ChefBorOzzy]

Ehh.. As much as I think that all GT350s should have come with the Track package, I'm not sure they really have a solid case.

[90503]

What you guys mention is the reason I don't think this lawsuit has any merit....

If any up-grade in the following model years, especially for a "track" car, are viewed as an admission of fraud regarding the previous years, then the whole enchilada comes to a screeching halt....No more factory upgrades or improvements and no more track cars will be the result...

[Marty McFlew]

I am totally surprised that Ford would take this attitude.

[Expunge]

When the GT350 first came out you could buy the "base" model for 50K.(which I assume is what this lawsuit is targeting, the first model year)

They had two major packages that you could select for around 7K each and you could not select both.

One was the 'technology' package and the other was essentially a track pack if I remember correctly which added oil cooler, transmission cooler, rear dif cooler and some other stuff. It was pretty obvious to me that if you wanted to hang with a ZL1 on a road track you absolutely needed this package otherwise you were driving a street queen.

I believe in year two of this model, Ford made the track pack standard on the GT350 and raised the base price to 57K after much outcry for the suboptimal setup.

I agree that this case has no merit. There was no deception on Ford's part(poor setup decisions... yes) and the people that bought a base 50K car got exactly what they paid for.

Could or should Ford step up and help out the disgruntled owners with maybe a rebate towards another vehicle.. from a marketing/good will perspective, probably. From a legal standpoint that they were in the wrong, no.

[wakespeak]

I just think its cool so many people are actually using these cars for more than posing, to the point that a lawsuit is started. Reminds me why German cars dominated for so long - they were actually designed to sustain 100+ mph.

[Jeffh81]

Lawyers gonna make a killing

[Expunge]

Originally Posted by wakespeak

Reminds me why German cars dominated for so long - they were actually designed to sustain 100+ mph.

There is a huge difference between driving/cruising fast on a road and driving on a track. 100mph you are not hitting redline or even high RPM's most likely.

On a road track you are constantly redlining and braking for 20 minutes at a time trying to get that best lap time. Those same German cars would have just as many issues as the first year GT350 if you were to drive them aggressively on a road course.

[Zeke.Malvo]

Originally Posted by wakespeak

I just think its cool so many people are actually using these cars for more than posing, to the point that a lawsuit is started. Reminds me why German cars dominated for so long - they were actually designed to sustain 100+ mph.

No even close to being the same.. or true LOL

[90503]

Here's what our friends over on Mustang6, gt350 guys have to say...

http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78931