What does Ford do with the cars or trucks they test? I am from lower MI near the proving grounds so I see a lot of them out on the roads with manufacturers plates.

I saw many Raptors all muddy with manufacturers plates on them and I always wonder what they do with them after they are done testing them. Just wondering if anybody else knows.

 

I saw a sticker on the window of the only 2011 F250 at my local dealer and it says it was road tested at the factory. I would guess that they just put a similar sticker on the window.

 

I am pretty sure that is just a random test unit. I have seen quite a few at work on the lot with say 30 miles on it and a sticker stating that and the car still looks brand new.

I know at my work after so many miles they start taking money off for every mile over. And after 15,000 I believe they can't be sold as new.

I am talking about the ones they really go out and test. The ones that they jump and really abuse.

 

pretty sure the ones that they stomp the sand out of just get taken apart and destroyed or something like that, i don't think they sell them or even give them away, cause of liability issues, pretty sure they just write it up as a loss....

 

Are you talking about the proving ground off of Campground Road and 34 mile? In Bruce Twp. / Romeo area? Just curious. I live like 2 miles from there.

 

Yup that would be it

 

The "mules" are disassembled after rigorus road testing and each individual piece is tested, etc.

 

^x2 Im sure they determine the stresses and try to make it better, determine faults and recalls before too many hit the showroom floor. kinda like what toyota did with their tundras (gave them to farmers and let them have it for a yr or something like that) and ripped them apart and tested everything for strength/ stress and non-breakability -longevity. ( i made up some words, hopefully yall can make sense of it)

 

Thought so. Nice truck BTW...

 

I know when I worked for a manufacture they typically crush the units once testing is complete (done with test units) and models are on dealer floors. Those test units would never be sold. It would be a liability.