Vacuman

Just curious - do Ford state a duration for how long they will support a particular model once production ceases? I vaguely recall it was once quoted as 10 years but that may have been pub talk.

If Joe Blogs bought say, the last of the original Connect vans. At what point would Ford say don't bring it to us for repairs? Or, another example, at what point did Ford say they were now unable to service and maintain Cosworths? Or perhaps they still can and I could drive in and expect a competent repair and maintenance service?

furry

parts supply was always 10 years from end of production of a model

STeve

iTrader: (11)

on average its 10 years but have found many parts from 2003 focus models are only now becoming obsolete which is 13 years, so cars like your gti stan its pot luck, if you fancy a car load of mk6 escort spares pop over and take them all for free before I bin the lot but no cherry picking as I want the lot gone

gcfcos

I know at our local big ford dealers they have a guy who is the "rs specialist". He has a series one turbo as a daily. I know he has the odd Escos in there and the newer rs machines but there standard cars I believe. Wouldn't imagine they'd get involved in modifying cars apart from the usual mountune stuff they can add on?

massivewangers

iTrader: (1)

I went and ordered some bits for my RS2000 the other day and that's 20 years old. Some stuff isn't available but some is.

grcossie

It is 10 years, but on low production models like Cosworth, it`s different

Vacuman

Some great answers chaps, thanks. The reason I ask is that often see low mileage 'one-owner' Escorts (back to Mk3) come up for sale and words like "always Ford serviced". Seemed to me that whilst customer loyalty is great to see, some old dear trucking up to have her 25yr old Ford sorted is not the sort of business they would want.

Appreciate spares will always be pot luck and with ever more so 'custom' builds and low-volume runs on new cars (Mini is a good example) if must be near impossible to get the colour-coded special trim, wheels or whatever as new spares after even perhaps five years.

massivewangers

iTrader: (1)

Yeah most trim for the MK5/6 Escort RS2000s seems to have been discontinued, but service parts and a lot of mechanical bits are still available.

Ford actually run a scheme for servicing older vehicles called Motorcraft 4+ or something, where there are usually offers on servicing, but I think they target that at people with cars that are 4-10 years old. They might be surprised if someone turned up in a MK1 Escort

trigger-

I would have thought if they don't actually state an age limit then if someone did turn up in a mk1 Escort or any classic Ford then I guess they would have to honour the deal

steppy

I have managed to get lots of parts for my saph from ford but I can only presume they were just old stock that didn't sell years back

Vacuman

Steppy - are you saying you just rocked up to your local Ford main dealers parts dept and asked for a Sapphire flange sprocket and they said "lucky you, still had one of the shelf" or did you get parts via online lookup?

steppy

I rocked up ro my local dealership, i have had things from a dohc oil pump to a gear knob and everything in between from them