I'm a bit surprised that when my new Fiesta was delivered on Saturday, there was no info about Roadside Assistance, including a contact number. In fact it hadn't been mentioned at all, until I asked the salesman. (OK, it's usually standard with most new cars of any make.)

I had to delve around on the Web to get a couple of likely numbers, including 0203 5644444, which I rang today to check that my car and I were "known". In fact we weren't. It took the very nice customer support lady a while to wind up her computer (I myself have found a couple of the Ford websites very sluggish), and my car's reg number wasn't on it. She asked me for the chassis number and luckily I had the log book (received from DVLA within six working days), so was able to read it out to her. She also noted my name and address. I asked if in the event of a breakdown I should ring the 0203 number, but she said "no, 0800 111234" (though Number 1 on the 0203 menu is for the breakdown service).

I recognise that it can take a few days for databases to be updated,  but I would have thought that an emergency number could have been given to me. I wonder how many drivers remain unaware of it until they need it?

What reg/year is the car? Is it brand new as in delivery miles new?

The 0203 number is I think via the Ford "One Call" system, I was also given 0800 111234 in my handover pack.

I guess part of the trouble is that you no longer get full documentation (handbook, service book) etc, it's all online nowadays I understand.

Could be a delay also I suppose in your dealer entering your car into the system. I had the issue with a previous car (non Ford) that had breakdown cover provided - the dealer had simply "forgotten" to enter the details in the appropriate system when they registered the car.

The last car we picked up was the Mrs Mhev which will be 12 months old beginning of December. When collecting this we were given a paper copy of the breakdown details and numbers to ring to put in the phones.

The numbers we were given are also on the Ford app.

I ask how old the car is as the breakdown cover is only for the first year of the car's life and may not be transferable to a new keeper if sold within the first year. This I am not sure of, of late.

You can extend the breakdown for a further year by having the first year health check. This activates said breakdown cover for a further 12 months only. I think the health check can be a little on the expensive side unless negotiated whilst buying the car.

The car was brand new, with just 11 miles on it, nearly all being from the dealer to my house. I can understand a few days' delay in my car and me appearing on the Ford system. But a copy of the breakdown details and numbers, such as Roger received,  would have been helpful. I did manage to find info on what was provided on the Ford website.

(The sales manager was also a bit slow to record a bank transfer I made on September 13 in lieu of a trade-in that I cancelled at the last moment (£500 better offer from a friend). On the following Friday the salesman asked me "what about the £xxxx that's outstanding". In fact it was he who had taken my card payment but it had yet to show up on the dealer's system.)

 

 

I'll be interested to see what I get (or not) next time I buy a car.

A friend of mine bought a new Volvo a couple of years back, after several Fords, and was disappointed to find he only got a very brief guide at handover. He asked where the handbook was and was told it's buried in the infotainment system in the car, or available online.  

My friend is still unhappy about this and said he would go back to Ford for his next car, but I had to point out that he won't get one there now, either!😃

 

I asked for the car to be delivered to my house as I didn't fancy driving it through town with all sorts of new technology. I didn't realise that it had stop-start, which would have thrown me, as did having to raise a collar on the gear stick to select reverse gear.

TBF I did order the car in April when many of us were still Covid-sensitive (I still am) so I didn't fancy a test drive.

Originally the idea was that the salesman would deliver the Fiesta and drive away in the Civic, then I changed my mind at the last moment, but he was still willing to deliver the new car. His boss made it clear that this was out of "good will" and not customary.

The hand-over was very short and, having been alerted by a member of this Forum that my limited driving might lead to a flat battery, I asked about this, to be told "Nah, no need for a charger, just run it for ten minutes on your drive".

As I mused in another thread, I wonder how people not used to IT cope with the in-car menus and with nearly all the info unavailable in print form.

52 minutes ago, Marlburian said:

"Nah, no need for a charger, just run it for ten minutes on your drive"

Thats the best laugh I've had all day 🤣

The inteligent charging system on your car won't charge the battery when the engine is just idling, it likes to save the planet by cutting emissions and so reduces the load on the engine by cutting the amount of power the alternator produces. Also while the Stop/Start system is still working (that will pack up in a month) the car will again switch itself off and so won't idle for than a minute. Of course once the battery charge level reaches a critical level the car will then throw all emmision saving technology out the window, and crank the alternator charge rate up to maximum when the engine is running, it will also deactivate the Stop/Start system untill the battery charge rate exceeds 80%

Its good to know that the Ford sales people keep up with their products and the latest technology

I wasn't impressed by his advice either: bad for the environment, and a security risk - no doubt in a few weeks' time we'll be getting seasonal advice about NOT leaving cars idling on drives unattended so that the windows can defrost.