Are Friday cars still a thing?

[Motorpsychology]

Michigan Assembly Plant (MAP) is one of the better ones for me. I've had two Focuses (Foci?) that were built there, before they retooled for the 5G Ranger. Both were trouble free, no unibody sag* (2000) or transmission failure (2013) for mine. My Mariner was built at KCAP and I had problems with the rear window seal (opens separately from the hatch) and the rocker panel doesn't align with the fender so well. The hatch glass seal was replaced under warranty and no problems since.

*some reported the early Y2K builds would "swayback" with age and there would be body panel interference with the door/front fender gap.

Sponsored

 

[Jrel209]

Not sure if it is a union thing, a supply chain thing, or a covid thing, but it is disappointing. Also not sure how widespread the starter failure is, but there is a long thread on these forums and I have confirmed the back order status.

Probably a combination of all things including a company not willing to take a loss and so they lay off workers and over work the remaining ones, quality is bound to drop -imo.

It looks like buying stuff during a pandemic isn't the best thing. I noticed a lot of 'quality' control type concerns in all brands since this thing hit.

 

[WingShot]

My 2021 Tremor was built in June of '21 (a Monday or Tuesday, depending on which date I look at) and it does not have any of those problems. The drivers side door is a little off, but thats it.

 

[Texasota]

I don't think Friday cars are a thing. The engine, transmission, axles, frames, electronic components and all the other supplier parts are built at different times in different states and different countries. A miracle (and victim) of the modern "just in time" supply chain.

 

[9zero1790]

I dont think they are as common as they were. as much as i complain about stuff going wrong i have to say newer cars do seem to be more reliable than say the 80s and 90s cars.
i have a friday gmc sierra sitting in storage lol. the truck was given every possible service and early maintenance with the best quality parts and it was still a turd. by 80k miles it had gone through an ac compressor, a transmission, 2 fuel pumps, 2 regulators, 4 o2 sensors a water pump, head gaskets, a computer and a stack of alternators. about 6 if i remember correctly. it had the extended dealer warranty thrown on as part of the purchase, no joke moritz gmc of fort worth bought me out of the remaining warranty... The truck was never abused, never towed, off road, raced etc. it still looks nearly new in and out other than an inch of dust. it made 120k then the transmission went out again and the ac compressor and i had enough. fixed the transmission drove it about two months and parked it. my nephew saw it as a 2 year old and thought it was cool so i said bubba when your old enough to drive, its all yours! so its storage waiting on him to the right age. maybe its second life after a lot of getting back in shape will be a good one. if not, he will learn how to work on stuff the way i did lol.

 

[Wytchdctr]

The one Honda I owned was built the day after a holiday in Japan and it was the biggest piece of crap I have owned. It was traded in with the engine slamming into the hood when in reverse (3rd rear mount failure.... that was stupid expensive and a broken movement limiter to add a bit of spice), dash flickering from a short, and a transmission that changed it's religion to something that didn't believe in 2nd gear. That was pretty average for it's constant list of faults.

So.. the "Friday car" is still possible even when the engines and other major components are built on other days, IMO.

Hung over workers and maybe still drunk robots can impact the overall vehicle for sure.

 

[gjoyce3]

Quick update on my Ranger - It took three trips and switching dealers, but the starting issue is finally resolved with a new starter. Two trips were requred to change the LED in the door handle and two trips were required to get the crashbar cover installed correctly. At this point, I think I am where I should have been when I bought the vehicle. I like the truck and plan on keeping it for a while, but it has not been a pleasant first cople of months.

 

[Msfitoy]

Quick update on my Ranger - It took three trips and switching dealers, but the starting issue is finally resolved with a new starter. Two trips were requred to change the LED in the door handle and two trips were required to get the crashbar cover installed correctly. At this point, I think I am where I should have been when I bought the vehicle. I like the truck and plan on keeping it for a while, but it has not been a pleasant first cople of months.

Congrats! Appears that you got a starter that was built on a Friday 10 minutes from shift end...

 

[D Fresh]

Quick update on my Ranger - It took three trips and switching dealers, but the starting issue is finally resolved with a new starter. Two trips were requred to change the LED in the door handle and two trips were required to get the crashbar cover installed correctly. At this point, I think I am where I should have been when I bought the vehicle. I like the truck and plan on keeping it for a while, but it has not been a pleasant first cople of months.

Great to hear.

Go drive your truck!

Sponsored