Going to Detroit?

[SpeedyArizona]

I've been thinking about this for a little while, and was wondering if anyone accually WENT to Detroit to see their car get built? I have a few friends that live in Minneapolis, and Detroit would be a semi-short car drive from their to see my Mustang get built from the ground up.

I was also wondering if they offered factory tours? I've been wanting to visit a few pals of mine that I haven't seen in a long time, and if I got my 'Stang custom built, I would have everything I wanted in it plus no Destination Charge.

Has anybody done this?

 

[Pliskin]

The waiting room Ford TV at our dealer says they offer tours. They show a tour going through and watching F150s being built. Looks like fun.

 

[martimus]

It would sure be nice, wouldn't it?

I suspect, however, that Ford would not allow you to watch your ride get built and then drive it out of the assembly area. If I recall correctly there was a group that was attempting to coordinate a pony drive of new owners who would caravan to Flat Rock, tour the plant, watch their cars get built, and then drive them home.

The pony drive got cancelled by Ford corporate. I believe they were told that Ford corporate does not sell cars Ford dealers do. I suspect there was more to this than meets the eye but thats what I recall at the moment.

 

[GOLDENPONY]

Mustang factory

I believe the ponies are built in Flat Rock, Mi.

 

[SpeedyArizona]

Oh, I know that Corvette lets consumers tour the plant and drive their cars off the assembly line.

I though Ford might've done the same, but I guess not.

Today I'm going to a few local dealers and see what they have in stock.

 

[Jeff_D_2385]

I went to see the F-150 assembly plant when I went to the Detroit auto show back in january.

it was amazing. over 1 million square feet, an F-150 placed like 3 feet apart the whole way, F-150 on the first level, being lifted up to a second level...

they were moving too, seemed like one was coming off the line every minute or so..

 

[Shaggydog2000]

Well, they did sell almost a million f-series trucks last year. They have to have the process pretty efficient to do that. The mustang plant is probably no where as large or efficient, hence the struggle to turn out 190,000 with a number of minor defects. The f-150 plant is probably very impressive.

 

[srothfuss]

trust me you don't want to watch your car being built!

Ford doesn't allow people to visit the Flat Rock plant. My aunt works there though and I could tell you some horror stories

 

[Dubl10]

trust me you don't want to watch your car being built!

Ford doesn't allow people to visit the Flat Rock plant. My aunt works there though and I could tell you some horror stories

ooohh, do tell, do tell!!

 

[srothfuss]

An Example: At the end of line a padded BMFH is used to line up the doors / windows on the convertible cars when required...

A crow bar was used on a door that they couldn't get opened when it reached final inspection (the car failed inspection since it was missing a parking brake also)

There are more.. I will ask my aunt for some good stories.


For Job1 on the 2006 Ford Explorer: A top exec (forgot who now) was driving the vehicle number one off the line (thru the banner) and when he parked it and turned off the key the engine was still running. He took out the key and the engine continued to run.

 

[Pliskin]

An Example: At the end of line a padded BMFH is used to line up the doors / windows on the convertible cars when required...

A crow bar was used on a door that they couldn't get opened when it reached final inspection (the car failed inspection since it was missing a parking brake also)

There are more.. I will ask my aunt for some good stories.


For Job1 on the 2006 Ford Explorer: A top exec (forgot who now) was driving the vehicle number one off the line (thru the banner) and when he parked it and turned off the key the engine was still running. He took out the key and the engine continued to run.

Quality is job #1.