Underbody Rust - AUS model - Would you buy?

[Rolls]

Apparently this is very common in Australia due to the transit and is repaired when received. KPM motor sport said they had seen worse than this. This is a 25 GT model with 550km on it.

Here are the pre-inspection photos. They repaired it under warranty (I haven't bought it yet but this colour is $20k cheaper than new, however so are all their other ex demo/buy backs.

I've attached some photos I got on the hoist after the repair, they will also be replacing some more items (bolts and general items).

What do you think? Everything I've read is is all RHD Mustangs seem to suffer this due to the boat ride over. There is zero discount as the ex-demo/buy backs are almost all sold now. There are less than 7 left in the state and there is freeze one buying new ones due to the BCM issue which makes me think there won't be many left to buy. https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/th...-s650-recall-water-ingress-bcm-damage.172113/

$82k AUD on road and they will warranty any other rust concerns at Fords approval. Car is the Molten Magenta Super Venom with the bronze pack which I can't find anywhere in my state new or second hand.

Going to get a list of what they will repair when the rest of parts come in (eg non safety critical parts).

I've currently got a dark grey S550 with 35000kms on it which I think I can get 55-60k AUD for.

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[Alan Applegate]

This is about normal for an ocean ride, especially so when you realize how they are packaged. In a word or two, it isn't pretty!

It is interesting to note, this type of corrosion is why most exotics are shipped air. For example, a 747 could carry about 40 Mustangs. The average cost for a car about the same as a Mustang would cost about $10k (to Australia) plus any duty, dock, tax, and handling fees. Compare this to about $2,500 for shipboard. This leads to a question: What did it cost you to get it there?

FYI: In 2012, the airfreight cost to ship a Honda Beat (K car from Japan to dockside in LA) was $9,100 and change. It was another $2,000 for all of the fees and transportation to get it to New Mexico. The total was slightly more than the cost of the car itself.

 

[Rolls]

So nothing to worry about?

 

[Rolls]

I got this reply. Would this change your answer?

Apologies for the delay, the last day of the working month and the first day of the month are flat out.

So the plan is to replace the following parts that are in stock in Australia through Ford, these are:

1. LH front lower control arm and bolts
2. X2 rear wheel hub assemblies
3. Swaybar links for rear suspension
4. Rear wheel hub assembly left and right hand side
5. Rear lower control arms
6. Both front shock absorber assemblies
7. Both rear driveshaft assemblies
8. Front flexible brake hose
9. Exhaust hanger mount

Once these parts have arrived, we will remove these components and replace. The plan is to remove the ohter components that are visually not up to standard that are on back order and have them cleaned to an acceptable level. If we find that there is still concerns at the 3,000km service (3 months old) of the first service at 12 months since registration/15,000km we can address them then.

I checked Ford's bulletin boards and there is no update for the ETA on the repair for the outstanding warranty procedure that has been released. We are unsure when that stop sale will be released but once it is we will endeavor to have this completed as soon as possible. Sorry we don't have any more updates on the stop sale.

 

[Alan Applegate]

I suspect these types of reactions are the norm, and I suspect partly built into the price you pay down under.

I certainly do not know all of the fees required to get a vehicle from the US to Australia. Wouldn't matter if you shipped via air and saved the refit costs, the bottom line is all manufacturers care about.

 

[Snakebyte]

When I first saw the pics I was reminded of people who drove through residual storm surge water here in Florida last year.
But...having had a car shipped to Germany and then back to the US decades ago, I know how corrosive the trip across the ocean can be.
It was my understanding that automakers today apply a protective film on export vehicles. But, maybe only a few manufacturers who are quality conscious beyond going out the factory doors do that.

 

[Neggytive]

JFC Ford could solve this by using Fluid Film or other woolwax type coating on the cars before shipping.

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