And I used to do the same in Rover garage, I’m sure we can all come out with stories like this. Mass produced Cars are not built for longevity.
And if you think I’m trying to defend one maker over another, I’m a bigger Rover fan than Ford, but I’m also a realist!

i worked for rover too rust was an understatement not a real problem though as once they went in for repair the fit issues could be put right

the metro tailgate or rover 100 as it was later was an amazing biblical factory screw up every bodyshell was welded and fitted incorrectly

giving 1/8th of an inch ( in best cases ) overhang at one side !!

but then i have worked for a proper car manufacturer that builds cars to last and be reliable

rover / toyota , which one is better ??? there’s only one way to find out !!

figgh , oh hang on we can’t , wonder why not ???

what was that about??

my exact argument is any tv programme is mearely bubble gum for the brain !!

i’d say 99% of what you hear or see on tv and read is to some degree influenced by sales and company sweetners

you don’t think for a minuite clarkson paid even half price for the gt 40

it was worth that for the one road trip on top gear let alone all the other mentions

it is the way the car industry and business works

ferrero rochet gave away a jaguar xj220 to a customer for continued business:eek: at the hieght of production just about the most expensive vehicle built

but i full well realise it is entertainment just as fith gear nearly manages !!

my biggest concern is if they can’t get it right and it is thier every day job !!, what chance does everyone else have ??

this has been the trouble in the uk for many years

we hastily employ university graduates with no real life experience appart from the uni bar and a gap year before they even work

and leave them in charge of people with years of experience

that instantly and rightly so think **** you , you are on your own !!

for those that remember far enough back ( about the time he owned the escort coswoth ) clarkeson was being given sweetners to promote ford from ford !!
so not impartial journalism then , he was even taken through the courts !!

but all this comparing like for like racing against each other is bunk realy ( wichever programme does it )

as so far as i’m aware the speed limit is 70mph on road

and if used as track cars and track cars differ wildly from road cars

for instance my friend is presently building a race car ( the ultima gt ) he’s presently ditched the junk american v8 that a previous build had put in

and in favour has replaced it with a ferrari enzo unit sourced from a masserati but essentialy the same unit ( the prancing horse casting badges confirm it !! ) only the rocker boxes differ !! but before it went in it was stripped and tuned to give more power

well i can’t fault you on that !!! brian johston ac/dc’s lead singer has one ( used as a daily driver )

If you think any car is made for longevity then you are seriously misguided, wouldn’t help all those lovely sales and the companys future.
What you may being mistaken with is that prestige and sports cars from certain manufacturers seem to survive better, but then they are generally looked after better from the start.
My 22 yr old P100 pick-up is in no worse state than Mercs I have had of a similar vintage.
The Focus may not have a cool image (thought ST and RS owners may disagree) but a more harmonised everday car is few and far between.

i used to frequent my friends garage often giving a hand to weld back together ford junk !!

they grace the ramps more than any other vehicle and at an earlier age

both mechanical problems and bodywork

the escort mark three was one of the worst cars ever produced

we sent loads to the scrapyards early mainly due to ford not being ***** to spray paint the bulkhead correctly

which was a major step forward on behind the bumper bodywork that they didn’t paint atall ( out of sight out of mind !! ) pity rust doesn’t know this

also the plate on the mercury is a british age related number plate

these are isued to either imported classics , or british cars that get thier original plates sold to reg plate dealers

done so the nuberplate isn’t a modern plate spoiling the look of the vehicle