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Ford offers $50 gift cards to customers facing late Fiesta deliveries

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford

2011 Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

Due to circumstances reportedly beyond Ford's control, many customers are having to wait a bit longer to receive their new 2011 Fiesta sedans and hatchbacks. After Hurricane Alex and Tropical Storm Bonnie rolled through Northern Mexico earlier this summer, railroads were damaged that provide shipments to the factory where Ford builds the Fiesta.

Customers may have to wait up to two weeks longer than expected to receive the hot new subcompact, and as a token of appreciation for being patient, Ford will be giving these customers a $50 MasterCard gift card. That's a free tank of gas and a smattering of delicious coffee drinks... or a fancy dinner for two!

In speaking with Automotive News, Ford sales analyst George Pipas says that Ford has "about 6,500 to 7,000 [Fiestas] in transit to dealers" and that the cars should start to be fully stocked within the next couple of months. For now, customers will have to wait patiently and take solace in the extra $50 in their pockets when it finally comes time to take delivery.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Ford offers $50 gift cards to customers facing late Fiesta deliveries originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Fiesta shipments delayed due to hurricane, damaged railroads *UPDATE

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Ford

2011 Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

Those waiting patiently for one of the most anticipated new vehicles of the year are going to have wait just a little bit longer. According to Automotive News, Ford has been forced to delay the initial shipments of the 2011 Fiesta by 10 to 14 days due to Hurricane Alex, which hit Northern Mexico in late June, and Tropical Storm Bonnie, which made landfall shortly thereafter.

It seems there are a number of damaged railroads around Ford's factory near Mexico City, and the automaker has been forced to reroute some of its shipments. Ford is reporting that it has collected about 2,000 down payments from customers waiting for the 2011 Fiesta, and some of those vehicles will be arriving later than initially planned.

While nobody wants to wait any longer than necessary for their brand new cars, an extra 10 days or so shouldn't cause too big a problem, right? Especially when it's due to... an Act of God.

*UPDATE: A Fiesta fan on Facebook has uploaded some images that show the damaged railroads in Mexico, one of which can be seen to the right. Click here for more.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Fiesta

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Ford Fiesta shipments delayed due to hurricane, damaged railroads *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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