ChickenMan

I took delivery of my XR6 on Saturday which had a few options added, including DVD Sat Nav. I had recently discovered that the current version of the DVD is Version 10, with Version 11 due to be released towards the end of the year.

Curiously, mine came with Version 2....which somewhat surprised me. I mentioned this to the dealer who wasn't quite sure what the deal was and suggested that I give Ford a call. I got good old 13-FORD on the phone and spoke to one of the Customer Service people who said that he had taken a few calls on this matter and said that this was the version supplied with the Ford DVD Sat Nav. I asked why this was and he explained that Version 2 is the exact same as Version 10, and that is why they are supplying Version 2.

A quick visit to the software provider's website points out the following:

Whereis® Navigation puts everything within easy reach, including these special features exclusive to Version 10:

# Over 1,000 new metropolitan streets within the capital cities
# 90 new country towns with street-level detail
# 2,554 cafés/pubs
# 10,317 park and recreation areas
# 490 police stations
# 492 swimming pools

Future releases of the Whereis® Navigation database will include more POI data and may include features such as beaches, banks, hire car outlets or restaurants. By registering for future releases, you can be sure you are up-to-date with not only the ever-changing road network but also the latest POI to make driving with your navigation system even more pleasurable and informative. Additional POI include refreshed Yellow Pages® directory POI entries.

For more information on coverage of this and future Whereis® Navigation products, or to purchase Whereis® Navigation database Version 10, please phone the Whereis® Navigation Customer Service Centre on 1800 819 471.


So I rang the Whereis® Navigation Customer Service Centre on 1800 819 471 to see what the go was, and as I expected, they said the couldn't discuss the matter as it would be up to Ford to comment on this. While I was on to them, I inquired as to the price of the new DVD disc, which was quoted as $395. After I recovered from the shock, I developed a theory, broken down as follows:

1. Ford decide to include DVD Sat Nav as an option in their vehicles.

2. One of their marketing people knocks up a spreadsheet, adds a couple of nice charts and comes up with a sales forecast for the DVD Sat Nav option.

3. One of the purchasing guys orders enough DVD's from Whereis® to fill orders for the first year, based on marketing's forecast....(this turns out to be enough to last for 10 years).

4. They go "....oh, bugger!" when they realise what has happened and look for a solution.

5. Some bloke in the boardroom pipes up "....I've got it!.

6. He takes a sip of water and continues "....why don't we just put Version 2 into every car ordered with DVD Sat Nav until they're all gone, even if it takes five years."

7. Another blokes sees a problem, "....but surely our valued customers will discover that technology is moving on and that more data is becoming available from Whereis®, making their DVD Sat Nav systems much more accurate and detailed and they will be ringing us complaining that we're shafting them."

8. The new bloke who took on the Ford Customer Care job only a few months earlier, known throughout the Ford world for his world class problem-solving skills has the answer. He says "....let's just tell the people who ring up and complain that there is absolutely no difference between the old Version 2 and the new Version 10, except for the numbers 2 and 10".

9. The board room bursts into a round of applause for this genius.

10. They all go out for meat pies and cartons of Big M.

Whilst I also applaud the new guy from Ford Customer Care, there is a slight flaw to his solution....namely that people generally aren't thick.

Not quite sure where to go next, or if there is anywhere I can go.

Has anyone had a similar experience or has any idea if there is anything I can do?

Thanks for any forthcoming advice.

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ChickenMan

Sorry, my first post may have been a little longwinded....my question is has anyone recently taken delivery of a BA with factory fitted DVD Sat Nav and if so, what version of the DVD was supplied with the system?

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laminge

Mate

I had exactly the same issue with my system in the Kluger, except it was version 3.

The dealer said it was the manufacturer of the DVD system and the manfufacturer said talk to Toyota.

Seems to me that it is not the Car Company but the manufacturer that is pulling a shifty.

After all why sell a system to car company and then end the cash flow, they put in old stock, enough to ensure the system works, then guarantee a cash flow with updates

Bloody smart if you ask me

ChickenMan

Thanks for the reply....did you end up getting any joy from either the manufacturer or Toyota?

I have also spoken to both Ford and Sensis and appear to be getting the same runaround.

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laminge

I got sick of waiting on Hold for Toyota to switch me through to the right department

And no joy with Sensis

Maybe a report to relevant government body might be a go, its nother more than a scam

You buy a new car, your expect that at least they would have a current version, not one that is 7 versions old.

tennyson

Sorry, this is a little off the track, but I bought a new SR Falcon two weeks ago and was promised Premium sound in it.

Turns out I got the shaft and got a 6 stacker but standard sound.
Like you, I am not happy. I have already been back to the salesman (who insisted that I had my head up my bum and this is the Premium sound system), however I am far from stupid and will not rest until I get to the bottom of it.

I know my rights with Consumer Affairs and the law when it comes to spoken and written contracts.

My suggestion to you is, don't take it lying down. Make sure you get what they promised and don't take anything less.

It would be different if we were paying $5000 for a car instead of the ridiculously overpriced $30,000-$40,000+ for vehicles today.

Good Luck!!!!

tennyson

Further to my dummy spit, above:

I was wrong!
Consumer affairs were not interested in my problem and told me to engage a solicitor (Oh yeah, I got that spare 20 grand sitting in the bank doing nothing!) and take the dealer to court.

Seems today, with all of the updated technology in cars, the only thing that has not been updated is the dealers attitudes.
They think they can treat the public like shit and get away with it. Well guess what? Wrong again. My next car in two years will most certainly not be a Ford!
I will begrudgingly take my car to a Ford service centre for all of it's servicings but not to the Dealer who sold me the car.
I will never give them one more cent of my money and will continue to tell everyone I know of their deplorable Customer Service.

Shoddy service and blatant money grabbing will eventually lead to their demise!

Dellboy999

I would suggest a letter to Ford HQ and mention the facts you have said, and mention the dealer in question, try not to blame Ford for 1 bad dealer, but as they say bad news travels fast.

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Dellboy999

On the sat-nav cd's, I have heard that updates get sent out to owners, does this mean they only work in those cars, or any ford with sat nav can make use of them, I am sure someone could loan/upgrade you.

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Zanthius

The price of DVD burners these days... might be able to copy them...