pinstripe coverup!!
 

guess i found out why ford uses pinstripes between the two tone colours on their trucks. i was over at the dealership yesterday having them order a new rear passenger door stripe because mine is on crooked. well, after i got to looking closer, i discovered the paint lines don't match from the doors to the fenders, or even between the front and rear doors! the pinstripes basically act to cover up this lack of detail refinement. shame on ford! a 36k+ plus truck and they can't even get the paint line straight from bumper to bumper!! :(

i am not too happy with how mine are on either...they aren't so much crooked but they start and stop randomly...in other words, one stops right at the wheel lip molding and the other is half an inch short of it....one reaches the end of the dooe and another goes around it. I was going to pull them off someday and replace them with something but haven't seen anything suitable yet.

as far as the paint...i'd cut them a little slack because they paint them knowing the cutline will be covered.

I am having one replaced tomorrow because it has persistent bubbles in it and it is on crooked.

logical,

i don't see any reason to cut ford slack over a raunchy paint job. these vehicle aren't inexpensive! what is even worse is my neighbors cheap ass tercel has a better paint job than either of my two s-crews...:mad:

I've got the same problem with the stripes not fitting right around the rear fender well. On one side it stops way short and on the other it is way too long.

I showed this to the salesman at the dealership when I picked it up and he shrugged it off. I agree, for the price we paid it ought to be right.

Troy-

I was speaking specifically to the less than perfect cutline between the bodycolor and the lower two tone trim color which by design gets covered with the tape. I have no idea how good or bad mine is because well, it is covered with tape. I agree that anything that shows should be perfect.

logical,

my pinstripes don't go completely around the edges of the doors. do yours? i bet if you look closely you'll see that yours don't either. that is where i discovered how horrendous the cut-line is...

Ya'll made me very worried about the perfection of my KR and i decided to really check out the taping. i was so pissed off about it while at the dealership today i voiced my opinion and they replaced all of the tape on my trunk having it rap around the doors....etc, etc....no more bubbles and the tape matches up smoothly. with the weather here in michigan i give it a month before it starts bubbling again though.

Hey guys,

My pinstripe really bites the big one too. I noticed it at the dealer when I picked it up but just couldn't nit pick it to death then. I noticed it the most when I washed it for the first time a couple of days after I brought the babe home.

I'm going back to the dealer tomorrow to get the remainder of my LT Wrangler AT/S tires installed and I will mention the stripe then. My bet is they will try and get me to accept it the way it is. I will let you know how it turns out though.

Yesterday, I noticed that on my passenger side rear door, at the end of the pinstripe and opposite the jamb, there is a bubble of clear coat. I was able to take my fingernail and pop the bubble but it was hard as a rock and so I was able to determine it was the clear coat that had run.

Man, the painting robots Ford is using must be on drugs or something. Either they need to fix what is wrong or the warranty claims are going to eat their lunch. I wonder if some of the bubbles under my stripes are from air or from too much clear coat that has started to run, maybe even paint runs?

I guess the dealership will fix almost anything we complain about that is obviously wrong, it's just the inconvenience factor plus the loss of quality perception that owners will develop.

Hey Skagel,
Did your Mom buy the screw tonight? What about your sister, is she too going to buy a screw? Are any of them interested in the KR screws? If this all works out, your whole family is going to get screwed, "A".


My $0.02

DaveMan
:D

Daveman,

yes, my mom ordered herself a white lariat screw. she didn't want the KR. My father always bought white cars and trucks. Infact my mom has 6 count them 6 cars and trucks that are all white sitting in her 12 car garage. yeap that is right 12 car garage. they bought a garage that happened to have a house attached. Guess that explains why a 26 year old single chick owns three cars and a truck.

My sister didn't come with us, but i am taking her down next week to check them out. I think she is looking at a Ranger. She's a blond who depends on her big sister to change her oil so i think she might be an easier sell on th screw then mom was on the KR.

Mom wanted a special package that is available late in the 2002 model year so it may be a couple months before i you see her baby posted in my gallery. oh yeah i have one now with a bunch of pictures of Thomas:D

Skagel,

When you are you going to create your signature, or are you interested in such piddly stuff? If you do, then you can put Thomas's best side on the cover and post all his best specifications there too. Did you ever figure out how to put a link in your signature or the body of your text to your photo gallery? I also put my link to my gallery in my signature so people could just go there with one click!

Did you see my latest on the KR trip thread? Check it out and reply if you want to.

Talk later,

DaveMan
:D

skagel, couple questions: when i was at the dealership the other day, the body man told me that he had to order my pinstripe, and that they came pre-cut to fit the door. is he full of sh_t? it sounds like yours weren't pre-cut? did your dealership put on the exact sames ones that came with the truck, or something slightly different? thanks...

Troy,

Good observation, I thought the same thing myself. The dealer must have used something different or at least very similar 'cause what you said seems right. Every part on the truck probably has it's own part number and therefore would be made to whatever the drawing calls out for that part number.

Sad to hear things are not going perfect for your truck. I was looking yesterday at some of your posts and threads and the first couple of days of ownership were great. Several days after ownership you were createing threads that were starting to question the quality of your new '02 truck :( .

Oh BTW, I forgot to mention that during the first wash of my truck, I found several pieces of masking tape on the bottom edges of the front fenders and front doors. It looked like someone just was not very thourough in making sure all the tape was removed as one would expect. I'm shaking my head while typing, want to figure out what I'm saying too!!

My '00 Scab 4x4 had narry one flaw and I drove it for nearly two years and never went to dealer for the slightest little issue.

Oh where oh where has my quality gone, oh where oh where can it be..........hey, sounds like we can make a song here!


DaveMan
:D

daveman,

i'm still very pleased with the truck. and, overall the paint job on my kr is much better than the one on the xlt i traded in. other than the hidden cut-line two tone issue i've mentioned, the truck seems to be without other paint flaws. as far as i can tell, the interior is perfect. it would just be nice to see a little more attention to detail from ford, especially on such an expensive vehicle!

btw, i can't believe how many compliments i've gotten on the kr. i only occasionally got a compliment on the silver/blue s-crew i traded in. imo, there is no denying that the kr does indeed look classier, richer than the xlt or lariat...

I am sorry to tell you guys that i didn't pay much attention to what they did to my truck. I was way to into my mom ordering her 2002 screw lariat. And the salesman i use i was referred to by a family who buys on average 4 trucks from him a year. And we are talking Expeditions, Lightenings, and Lariats not Rangers so i know he is taking very good care of me. That and the fact that my family is working on a third truck purchase from him in the last two months alone. but it looks like the same tape to me.

Ya'll can inspect it in Texas.

Don't get me wrong i am just as anal as the next guy about my truck....heck i keep my vehicles in a climate controlled garage.....how is that for anal?

Oh a little note for those of you who own the charcol blue KR. my neighbor is a retired chemical engineer from BASF. he took part in creating that paint. He talks very highly of it. I hope he is right.

hey skagel,

i can definitely say that i'm glad i picked the charcoal colour!! i've gotten tons of compliments on it. however, it was a tough choice. the chestnut and estate green are both very nice too. however, the exclusivity of the blue is what swayed me the most...i don't think it is available on any other ford product at this time. cheers!

i must say ditto on the choice of paint. i also like the fact that it changes color just by changing the angle you are looking at it.

i have had my baby for three weeks now and i still wake up in the middle of the night just to go out to the garage to look at him:D

Hey Skagel,

I was at my dealer yesterday getting my other two tires changed out, you know the Wrangler AT/Ss. I got all five now 'cause they had two defective ones almost two weeks ago that they just couldn't get to balance out. Anyway, how I digress.......While there, I started to list all the items I wanted to get fixed and the truck happened to be up in the air at least 4 feet and I got a clear shot under the passenger door and just above the step. Man was I pissed, found some more of that masking tape and said holly ****.

There was no trim color paint from the hinge part of the door all the way to the other end at the bottom. I told the dealer and he said, well, no one can see that so that's why they leave it like that. Bull crap! That **** is going to get painted along with my whole damn hood too but that's a whole other story.

Have you ever read my thread on 2001 quality problems, it is pretty scary, if you get a chance you should read it if you haven't already.

On the lighter side.

Are you sure Thomas is not just some dude with blue eyes you go to see in that garage? Some of the guys reading these posts are probably thinkin' man I wish I was Thomas! I guess you like to keep the dudes thinkin' but that's kinda hard when our brains loose oxygen due to blood being directed elsewhere, hehehe.

Later,

DaveMan
:D

Okay guys,

This time you’re probably wondering if I'm bragging or complaining. Believe you me, I'm complaining. I was at my dealer yesterday and was having both of my new Wrangler AT/Ss tires mounted on the rear, long story but while the truck was up on the rack, I noticed some additional paint problems that I had missed before. This looks so obvious now but if you are not looking for them you can't see them. Either way, this has totally pissed me off and they will either fix the problems or I'm going to the next level and seek the help of an attorney. I will probably add this stuff to the thread I already started about Ford’s Super Crew quality going to hell. How could someone doing this kind of crappy work sleep at night knowing that some sucker is going to end up with his handy work?

Here are the links to the photos that I’m reluctant to show but somehow I’m hoping that by bringing this to light that Ford will do something here. Plus you guys can look and check yours to make sure this is not a problem with many trucks.
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...2-452-3815.jpg
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...2-452-3816.jpg
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...2-452-3817.jpg
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...2-452-3818.jpg
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...2-452-3819.jpg
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...2-452-3820.jpg

Opinions and comments are welcomed. Be easy on me though for not finding the additional problems until now, I guess I’ll never give Ford the benefit of the doubt again before I spend hours looking under something before I buy it.

But you know, even if I would have found the problems before taking delivery, the dealer would have told me the same thing, we’ll fix anything that you find is unacceptable to you and that goes for almost any part of the truck. With all what the dealers tell us, then why should we be pissed? I guess it’s just our expectations are too high for the first impressions to be anything less than spectacular quality.
Do you want to know what really bothers me more than the flaws in my truck? While I was waiting at the dealership yesterday, they were auctioning off a 2002 Thunderbird and man is that car beautiful and the fit/finish is immaculate and that goes for the inside as well as the outside. I noticed that the MSRP on the ride is only a couple thousand more than my KR, yet you couldn’t find a single flaw in the paint or for the whole car for that matter. BTW the beginning bid started at MSRP, which was over $39k. My contact at the dealer told me there were at least 8 people who wanted the same car and that is what sparked the auction in the first place. The dealer was expecting to get offers of well over $45k. Now, to get to the part that bothers me. Why the hell should the owner of a $37.5k KR truck have to deal with paint issues like the ones I’ve had to deal with. The trucks must have a hell of a lot of profit in them if Ford can deliver 10 times the inside and outside quality on a 2002 Thunderbird and let the paint as well as a lot of other quality features fall short of exceptional.

DaveMan
:D

I left my $ .02 in the other post.

Hey logical,

Thanks for the reply; you must be the master of brevity too.

How about visit that thread again 'cause I've added more stuff that you may not have seen yet. There are several questions that I would appreciate if you answered for me as well as anyone else who can add something helpful.

On a different subject, I'm thinkin' of getting myself a another handgun. I haven't had one for over 20 years, I would kind of like to get something with a clip, got any suggestions like size, semi-automatic vs dual action, magazine capacity, plating etc.?

Let me know if you think I should start a new thread on this topic and I will do it so we can continue this conversation if you think it's necessary.

Thanks,

DaveMan
:D

yeah, a separate thread in general discussion is probably a good idea so you will get more than just my 2 cents. Whan you say a clip you are saying a semi-auto which come in single action or double action and even double action only. semi auto means it feeds itself ammo from a magazine (or clip) and the actions I think you understand.

If you want to carry it and are willing to practice the operation of it, I suggest a double action only semi-auto in stainless in either 9mm or .40. If you want a simple to operate, fairly easy to carry (but not quite as thin as some semi-autos) gun , get a taurus or smith & wesson titanium 5-shot revolver in 38 special. Errrrr...this is getting too long...I'll wait for the new thread and go see what you posted in the other area about your paint.

ok guys. i have a little info on our paint complaints and i assure you unless you haven't opened the hood of your truck you have them. it is not just the kr or screws it is all trucks, and all vehicles that ford makes. i got that one straight from a ford employee. it is just how they build them now. it is cheaper for them. in our cost cutting economy ford has stopped doing a lot of things. i am sorry to say there is little we can do accept write letters, send emails, and make phone calls. and if you are fortunate to live around dearborn like me get in some faces. my plans for my truck is getting my hands on my paint (hopefully auto zone carries the charcol blue) not sure, but if you open your door you will get the color code. that is the code you will need to match your paint

daveman,

it does appear that your truck suffers from alot of paint problems. i'm almost afraid to take a closer look at mine!! but i will this weekend just to see if the underbelly looks as bad as yours. my kr does share your two tone cut-line mis-match that they try to cover up with the pinstripes. like i said before, so far my kr is better, paintwise, than the traded in xlt...hopefully more investigation won't turn up any bad news!! i'll keep you all filled in.

troy-
First, I agree it looks bad and like I say, eventually I'll cover mine. If you look at your truck I bet you'll see that the rear edge of each door, especially the rear doors are lower than the adjacent panel. When the truck is painted the doors of course have no glass, trim, etc. in them so they are set in the body shop to be slightly high in the rear.....kinda like an unlatched lamborgini door would look. That way once all the weight is added they are at least close to being alligned and sealing and just need minor tweaking. So a straight tape line at the factory comes out looking like a crooked one...make sense? I don't know an easy way to avoid this but I really think they instead need to go to tape that wraps the edges and hides this situation.

logical, et al...

i understand what you are saying. however, seems to me that with all the technology we have these days, ford should be able to do a better job. btw, i checked under my truck this evening and it appears to be fine. no missing paint, or tape still attached. the paint on the underneith is of a rougher texture like that on the lower doors but i imagine that is to minimize damage from rocks and stuff...

daveman,

i never really looked closely under my xlt s-crew, but i do remember pulling masking tape off from underneith one of the doors. makes me wonder if that truck suffered from the same "anomolies?" as your truck. keep us all informed!

I'd like to see the new bench seat that the 2002's have. I haven't found anyone yet that has taken any pictures. Someone have any or can take some?

i have a 2002 kr and opted for the four captians chairs. i didn't like the look of the 60/40 split bench in the back. the 2002 brocure shows the pic. i am afraid you might be dispointed as i was. just my personal opinion though.

I have been visiting local dealers to review various Screw options as I prepare to order my own and came across a Chestnut 2002 King Ranch. I immediately noticed the "short" pinstripe detail as I inspected the vehicle. I questioned the saleperson reguarding "fit & finish" of a 35k truck and was directed to the truck manager. No argument or dispute of the condition but an offer to have the pinstripe either corrected or the dealer bodyshop would remove the factory applied stripes and "paint" apply custom pinstripe's of my choice. Of course I would have to purchase the truck first. Again this was a 2002.

FYI

Hey guys. No King Ranch for me, but I did notice the obvious piss-poor application of the pinstripes. The pinstripes/graphics on the rear of the bed were especially bad. It is unbelievable! Of the five that I looked at, all of them had pinstriping that I would definitely consider unacceptable.

hey skagel,

the back bench is actually very nice. just this past weekend i had the back seat completely filled up with...my junk. i couldn't have gotten near as much "stuff" in if i'd gotten the rear buckets. i really like the exclusivity of the rear buckets as far as trucks go, but wasn't too thrilled about the impracticality of the center console...just my two cents for those out there wanting another opinion...:)