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Old 03-22-2009, 08:47 PM
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Palm Coast, FL
Cobra Make, Engine: Shelby American CSX 4241 - authentically built
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shelby racer View Post
Based on what I was told by Shelby and my dealer, I was led to believe that the car would be ready with the addition of the drive train and associated parts. I was also told by my dealer when I questioned them as to what I was paying them for since they offered no support before or during the sale, they claimed that it was THEIR responsability to check the car from bumper to bumper when they got it from Las Vegas and before it was handed over to me. When I got the car, the first thing I saw was that the fuel filler hose was not connected and that the hose clamps were loose and just flopping around. When I called them (and also asked why not all the parts had been delivered and installed as promised), their attitude was "oh well" go ahead and sue us. Hmmm - lots of money time and aggrevation for stuff that seemed relatively minor. When I complained to Shelby - all I got from the company was that they are their biggest dealer and that the sell more cars for them than anyone else. Sorry - not anything we can do for you. When I brought my car ) at my time, expense and inconvience they did me a "favor" and fixed the frame and foot box and replaced the up rights (because they knew the ones on the car were defective - although I did not know that yet) and said that they had looked the car over and that I should not have any other problems. I am willing to work on the car and with the the company to resolve small issues, but I have had MULTIPLE major problems - and it keeps happening as new things show up on a car that has been back to vegas and checked. I know from private conversations that I am not they only one with significant issues - and some people have had to get even more help than I have. I there fore STRONGLY disagree that it was my responabaility to check everyone else's work - or the car was GROSSLY misrepresented. I am an average guy who can spin a wrench and cobras can be a little tricky, but I paid waaay more for this car because it was a csx and was represented in a manner contrary to what has turned out to be reality.


I again strongly disagree with your opinion (besides the facts that there are multiple people who had had major issues with their suspension - and many other parts of the car - including more than one suspension failure / breakage). Beakage even after it had been "fixed" by SAI. One of the things that I have discovered that is also really rubbing me the wrong way is that the nylock nut connecting the upright to the upper ball joint was crushed and the nylon retainer was exposed. I assume it was damaged when they removed the nut to replace the upright (by hammering on it...... which scares me that that is obviously what happened by looking at it) which is bad enough, but that any person working on a critical component on a car could reuse a damaged fastener that cost pennies is incomprehensible to me (although I get it that they were just lazy / sloppy). Says a lot about the quality and pride in work of who ever did it. "500 mile service" "alignment" - they could not even be bothered to make sure it was SAFE or deliver everything promised in the contract. I wonder why they are no longer a dealer.


[I}
Now what? I have been contacted by people who SAI has done better support than what I have received May be I should find out how they convinced SAI to step up to the plate? I have a $100,000 car that has had major problems and I don't trust. What is going to happen next? I can't sell it due to its problems. What happens when the next big defect rears its ugly head and I have 1,000 or 2,000 or 3,000 miles. I bought the car and hoped to never have to sell it. It has taken me so long to get it going mainly due to problems with the car and financial constraints. I maxed myself out financially (I don't know if other csx owners did not feel the burden of the cost of their car as much as I did) with this car. Now I am unemployed and it is broken again through another congenital birth defect.[i]

I never said it was your responsibility to check over the car. But part of my point was that you should expect problems with these cars, as they are far from bulletproof.

Also, I am in no way defending Shelby. Their customer service and support is legendary for being one of the worst in the biz. It's only until recent that they have started to swing things around. Notice I said started. That means there are still plenty of people on the short end of customer service, and unfortunately you are one of them.

From the sound of your story, your biggest beef is your dealer. It's unfortunate that they were so bad, and no longer even support the cars. I do agree that Shelby is partially responsible for making sure their dealers are top notch, but it also sounds to me like you might have been able to do more homework on who you were dealing with and what you were paying for before shelling out your hard earned dollars.

As for being an unemployed Cobra owner with no money, join the club. I've been there, and for all purposes I am still there, as I am now just barely paying my monthly bills as they come. If something broke on my Cobra right now, it would sit until I could afford to fix it.

Don't get me wrong John.... I am on your side. I want to see you in your car having fun. If you were local I'd be helping you with it. But the reality is that your dealer is gone and Shelby isn't going to stop what they are doing and fix your car for free.
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Sal Mennella
CSX 4241, KMP 357 - sold and missed, CSX 4819 - cancelled, FFR 5132 - sold

See my car at CSXinfo.net here >> CSX 4241
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