new2ford

Some users might remember the Carpoint offroad comparison which included a costs comparison between the SUVs. The Territory’s cost for a service was quoted as $86 which seemed unbelievably low. My dealer advises me that the average cost is in fact about $240. (The A service is noted in the handbook as taking 48 minutes, the B service - first one at 45,000 km - cited at 1 hr 10 mins.) Has anyone reached the A or B service and how much did it cost them?

Also does anybody know how much the Goodyear tyre costs - would be interesting to know how much compared to a 4WD tyre.

On another point, I’ve always been intrigued that tow recovery points are not standard on the vehicle - is this a new trend or are they doing this because they prefer the car to be loaded onto a recovery truck? Not much help if you need a quick pull out of a situation. When you look underneath there is plenty of smooth plastic faring but nothing visible to get a safe line onto. There is a flimsy looking fitting visible behind the grille to screw an optional tow hook into and the handbook notes a similar fitting at the rear although this doesn’t exist on my towbar equipped TX (does the towbar replace it?). I note that there are factory options of a front and rear recovery kit for $145 and a front kit for $75. I decided I’d get the front hook and, although it was not in stock, the dealer said it was only $23. Another example of contradictory information from Ford? I’ll buy a front hook but why it isn’t part of the car’s standard kit eludes me. Has anybody else had experience of this issue?

 

johnydep

I thought th $145 was for front & rear. If the front is only $23 I'll get one, it should be standard on AWD's.

With a tow bar, a rear hook won't be neccessary.

When I picked up my territory I was surprised that it did not have a tool kit. My 15 year old Turbo Volvo had a decent tool kit. Why can't Ford put one in a AWD, after all it has been designed for some off road driving?

mcrawford

Regarding tow points I had an ongoing discussion with the local Ford Service and than Ford themselves. My problem was that for safety reasons every car, and especially AWD's, should have a method of getting them out of a bogged/stuck situation (just look at the adds on sand etc). The matter was never satisfactorily resolved however I have a tow ball which will get me out backwards and I did find a cross member that I could use under the car to get me out forwards - if desperate.

I did buy the front tow hook. Cost arround $70 I think.

With no competition the tyre costs arround $300. I managed to get one for $220 through a friend of a friend of a friend. Over time I am sure there will be other brands.

Cheers
Mark

FordHawk

I am by no means a 4WDer, however I would have thought that recovery points would be the first thing to go on a vehicle such as this obviously the AWD in particular should have them standard. Money grabbing extras by Ford maybe?

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RAPTOR

My dealer is of the opion that they all have the threaded socket in the front for tow recovery and whether you order it as a factory option or not it'll be there. They seem to think this so called kit is just the screw in hook.

Anyways I ordered both front & rear on my Leased T and I'm of the impression I've been dudded as the towbar seems to have replaced whatever was at the rear, if anything. All I've got to show for my money is one screw in hook!

Could a non-towbar equipped T owner tell us what's behind the oval shaped pop-out panel in the rear valance area (RHS)?

[EDIT] Just remembered, the towbar has a spindly looking D-shackle attached to it. Surely this isn't supposed to be the rear recovery kit?

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johnydep

No. That D-shackle is for the trailer chain.

burnsi

[quote=RAPTOR]

Could a non-towbar equipped T owner tell us what's behind the oval shaped pop-out panel in the rear valance area (RHS)?

QUOTE]

Front and Rear Tow recovery consists of one supplied eye-bolt (hook), plus the matching fixture mounted behind the front grille, and behind the pop out thing on the rear bar.

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Blood Orange GT-P
Zest Territory Ghia AWD

Organza

Assuming retail labour is charged out by the Dealer at something like $70-$80 per hour I'm guessing that the $86 is some sort of simple (and in reality, incorrect) multiplication by the journo to get a price and he forgot the cost of oil and filter.

Looking at the 'A' type service in the service book, it is basically a host of checks with an oil and filter change. I wouldn't have thought you'd get out of that for anything less than $150 and could be $200 after environmental levies, shop supplies and so on.

It's like anything I guess ---- ask for a firm quote on the specific service and on arriving at the Dealership on service day, get it reconfirmed and in writing if possible to avoid any "misunderstandings", either theirs or yours.

Also remember that whilst there is a set expected time to complete a service --- that is not necessarily how long it takes the Dealership on the day. If the bill looks too high --- first thing I'd check is the labour charge and work out how long it took them. Everyone has a right to labour efficiency (for want of a better term) although a firm quote would solve all that.

I'd expect a superior Ford dealer to offer that (quote) and where they do, they earn the right for my business first up. Hopefully they do a good/reasonable job and I'll keep going back for services.

It seems so easy doesn't it? Amazing that it goes so wrong so often.

Organza

I'd describe the Goodyear Fortera as a 4WD tyre ... although not an All Terrain or A/T if that's what you mean. It's not called a H/T either on the tyre itself but that's what its more like in terms of construction and tread pattern.

I had to replace one on my trip and it cost me $300 like mcrawford's experience, although it was in a rural town admittedly. At the time I was just grateful that they even had one in stock given it was such a new tyre on the market.

At $300 I guess its as costly as most other types of A/T or H/T tyre that you could theoretically put on the T .... I haven't looked but I have no idea how many 235/60 R17 sized tyres options exist out there for it though.

Territory

Ok, some answers:

1) Front tow recovery eyelet (socket for towing hook) is standard on all Territories.
2) Rear tow recovery eyelet can be ordered and this gets reinforced bracketry behind the bumper bar, and fitted eylet at the rear of the vehicle.
Raptor/Burnsi - there is no eyelet behind the pop-out unless you ordered rear Tow eye.
3) If you get a towbar fitted, it is mounted at various points all across the back of the vehicle and this prevents fitment of the rear recovery bracket (towbar is strong and centred anyway), so you can't get a towbar and rear eyelet.
4) Towhook (eyelet) does not come with vehicle, it comes with the recovery kit or can be ordered separately. If you are going adventuring in unfamiliar risky areas I'd highly recommend carrying one!)
5) No tool kits

Personally I'd consider having the recovery hook screwed into the front eyelet before you go into risky sandy/muddy areas (harder to fit it if you are already bogged!).

Towhook can recover vehicle that is lightly bogged. For a seriously bogged car that must be pulled out frontways, you can secure via front suspension (refer dealer / owners manual for details on where and how to pull it out.)