There seems to be lots of advice but why don't you know? It's only an alarm
which can be sorted and given your profile why hasn't it been done already?
Perhaps it was better as a dream and not reality? I only wish I had the
opportunity to be in your predicament. If it really is the dream drive you
describe, then I don't see the problem. Michael Winter, Hinckley
Jeremy, Top Gear is the only thing worth watching on TV at the
moment. It's been made all the more entertaining by Hammond and May's snide
digs at your prospective ownership of the GT40 and the thought of you
putting them in their place. You can't let them win. I've got a Mitsi FTO
and from the first moment I drove it, it spoke to my soul. The GT40 does the
same, but from a place I can't afford to go to. I'd not part with the FTO
and you shouldn't have parted from the GT40. Rip the dodgy alarm out, get a
proper one fitted and then burn Hammond and May on the stake of justified
retribution. Chris Birkin, Cambridge
For God sake buy the car back - I don't think I could stand the whinging about "what
could have been. . ." Ashley Gilroy, Southampton
Buy the car back, get Ford to remove the old alarm and put in a Clifford
Concept and purchase an actual tracker direct from Tracker themselves. I had
both of the above in my Skyline and never had any worries. Speaking of
which, you don't fancy buying me another Skyline do you? Thought not. Nice
thought though. Alex Williams, Doncaster
Set a precedent! Do NOT buy back the car. Your reputation is on the line. If
no one stands up and demands quality from Ford then they will continue to
sell shoddy products. Maybe you can start a mass recall that can force Ford
to confront the problem. Courtney Williams, Kortrijk, Belgium
Jeremy, I cannot believe you gave the car back. I know the alarm is bad but
just reading that story I had a lump in my throat! Go and get your car back
and have them replace the awful alarm system. You can't give up cos of the
electrics! Allen Courtenay, London
No, don't. A man without regrets dies very unhappily. Spend your money on a
stretched Aston. Joe Haha, East London, South Africa
Admit it! Your wife hounded you into this embarrasing situation because the GT
has a better body than she has. Get your car back. Warren Lau, Houston,
Texas
Well this is a difficult one. A dream should not be destroyed by £1500 worth
of aftermarket security junk. Get the car back Jezza and make sure it is
protected by an alarm that works right. Of course the other option is to buy
a supercharged Atom 2 for sheer fun and something a bit more practical for
everyday. Michael Duke, Auckland, New Zealand
Are you crazy? Buy that car back RIGHT NOW! Put an aftermarket alarm in that
thing after you have the Rousch goons remove the factory installed alarm. Pete
Haber, Bethesda, Maryland
Keep the car. With only 28 in the country, and a true classic car, it's
worthwhile having, even if you just turn it into a fridge, or playground for
the kids. It will still be yours. You could just reach for the Stanley
knife, cut the alarm wires. Or even replace the alarm sound with something
peaceful like birds to blend in with the surrounding countryside. Ashley
Baker, Newmarket, Suffolk
I think that you should do what I do when I think I want something really
badly, but am not quite sure on whether I should - be it to expensive, too
useless, or just plain stupid. Have a good first look. You did this one
already, and found it wanting. Have a good second look. I think you have
done this as well. But go back again and have another look. If that car, as
you say, still speaks to your soul, even after all that was wrong with it,
then you should have it back.
Maybe a very expensive car is not comparable to a heavy wooden carved cat
(which I bought in the end for myself for my birthday - he was way too
expensive and totally useless, but I love him to bits) but I think, at the
bottom line, it is. Listen to your heart. If you really want it, you'll end
up owning it. And you'll love every minute of it, despite everything. Emma
Wnnersten, Gothenburg, Sweden
Don't buy it back. You'd do better buying your Ford Escort Cosworth RS and
your Ferrari 355 back.
1) it looks like a GT40 but it ain't
2) why isn't it a big 7-litre non-supercharged engine?
3) you sold the 355 to buy the SL55 AMG because the SL was more comfy and
easier to live with. And then you buy this?
The GT is a great car to look at, and to test. But it isn't a good car to own.
Sometimes it's better to dream of something then to actually have it. Stijn
Braes, Aarschot, Belgium
If you think back to how often cars used to go wrong you would realise what
you have become. Neil Struthers, Truro
Buy the car back, ask for 5-10 per cent discount due to "pain and
suffering" then take it to a non-Ford, but Ford-specialising garage and
I'm sure they will love to rip out the alarm and replace it with one that
will actually work and is likely to save on your insurance premiums. Tom
Ives, Bredbury
If 25 years ago had someone told you: "Mr Clarkson, Sir, here's a GT40,
the alarm is s***te but it's yours" you would have taken it. Nothing
worth having comes easy; take the pain, and the abuse from the missus, keep
the damn car, or give it to me. Jamie Brown, Watford
If you enjoyed the drive, buy it back. Go to a better electronics store and
have them tear out the alarm and replace it with a better one. Or just
disconnect it - you aren't likely to drive it any where that is "high
risk" anyway. Its about the drive, not the alarm. Mike Wentz,
Waukesha, Wisconsin
To have a GT40 is like having a crush on a girl you can't have. But if you are
able to get her you may realise that she isn't what you had expected. She
might be totally wrong for you, even though she's the most beautiful girl in
the world. But if you have a passion for her, see beyond the things that
don't live up to your dreams and expectations. Or you'll always regret it
when you don't have her anymore. Passion is what is important. Do you have
it? If yes, well then get her back. Pier Larosa, Stockholm, Sweden
I really believe that when a dream is carried out it's wrong to kill it for a
lightweight failure. You are talking about a piece of art, a super dream
car, not about an insignificant bad alarm. Don't kill your dream for
nothing. Let your dream come true. Take your car dream back. P. Marius,
Karmiel, Israel
Many people might argue that shelling out such a lot of money for a car should
earn them the right to own something flawless, though certain Italian firms
have been selling unreliable motors for years (and people have queued up to
buy them). This doesn't sound like the sort of car one would take out every
day. Therefore, wouldn't it be best to take it back, minus the alarm and
Tracker, and treat it as a "Sunday best" car? Perhaps Ford will
sort the alarm issues and be able to retrospectively fit a system that
works. If they don't, well, you can always sell it and probably get more
than your money back. Jon Reeves, Church Crookham
It's a Ford GT - you cannot leave it in a warehouse; think how much you are
bruising its ego. I am another person that believes cars have souls, and I
only own an old Mini. Philippa Kruman, Ely, Cambs
FORD= Found On Road Dead.
FORD= Fix Or Repair Daily.
I think that answers your question. For that price there are better cars out
there. Carl Kumpers, Miami, Florida
The Ford GT does look like a fantastic car and that's from someone who is
anti-Ford. If I could afford to pay £126,000 for any make of car, I would
expect it to work perfectly all the time. So don't buy back the GT, purchase
an Aston Martin DB9 instead. Chris Edwards, Venlo, Holland
I had a similar problem with my BMW 320d 150pk. In the first few weeks three
turbos broke down. But the difference is that BMW came up with a solution,
and the problem was fixed. Raf Vermesen, Hasselt, Belgium
I can understand your frustration, but I implore you to buy back the GT. Ford
Motor Company is fighting for its survival. They have produced a magnificent
car in the GT. Your problem is with a damn add-on that should not have to be
on the car. In North America we are now getting some very good product from
Ford. The Mustang is a smash hit and the best value in the market. The
company is beginning to turn around under Bill Ford after the dark years. Do
not join the pack of journalists that are kicking Ford while it is trying to
get up off the floor. Have one of Ford's top-level people drive your GT
until it is fixed. You get to enjoy the DB9 and will get the soulful GT back
in your yard where it belongs. Ronald Chisholm, Antigonish, Canada
You should certainly buy the GT40 back, drive it, and suffer the consequences
of not buying a more reliable, rewarding car like my Skoda - a brand you
seem to have a real blind spot about. Richard Orgill, Nottingham
It is obvious that the Ford GT is wonderful machine. In moments of passion and
anger people do silly things, kill lovers, steal lollipops from children,
etc. The only problem was the alarm: for heaven's sake pull the thing out.
Why do you need it anyway; nobody is going to steal it, the car is hotter
then lava, so no half-witted carjacker is going to dare to steal it and an
expert robber will most probably steal it anyway whatever security you have.
Your mistake is not irreparable, she is waiting for you, don't waste this
chance. Take her back. Stefan Muscat, Valletta, Malta
Do away with the alarm; the weight reduction will make it even faster. Jonathan
Hughes, Wirral
Yes, you should buy it back because you love it. Who cares if it yells? It
shows it has a soul. That's the way REAL cars have to be. Dario de
Agostini, Piazzola Sul Brenta, Italy
Hey, Mr Clarkson. What is wrong with you? After only a minor issue with an
alarm. Try my Mercedes - I know that you hate their customer services, now
so do I, but my issues were far greater than a malfunctioning alarm. Could
you try some of your expertise to get my money back? Martin Crutchley,
Manchester
You can't throw the baby out with the bathwater, well you can, but you
shouldn't. Anyway I'm dying to know what the car is really like, and if you
don't buy it back, you won't be able write a review on it, and then where
would we be? Oh come on Jeremy, you know you want to. Sreether Sundaram,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Keep it you fool! So what if the alarm goes off, and it's stolen more times
than England are to Germany in a penalty shoot out. For that day/hour/minute
(delete where applicable) it's every petrolhead's dream. Don't be a muppet
Clarkson. Go and beg for it back (and while you're there, see if you can do
a deal and keep the Aston too). Andy Patch, Harlow, Essex
The alarm is just an accessory. The essential bits of the car are still as
great as they ever were. True, you'll have to take those nice alloy wheels
with you every time you park, but I think it would be worth the effort. It
would be crazy to give up on a 35-year dream after just a month. Martin
Pin-Keirle, Bristol
Take the car back, you git! And by the way, regarding your "on time"
crack regarding WWII, you folks are lucky we pulled your asses out again.
Just a reminder from your favourite superpower. Matt Newman, Cleveland,
Ohio
You cannot run the car in its present state. You will come to hate it and your
wife will withdraw favours. But you cannot live without it. There must be
somebody within Ford that can fix or rip out and replace the son of the
prince of darkness. Tell Ford to sort it OUT. Robert Johnson, Albourne,
W. Sussex
Am I the only one thinking that Jeremy Clarkson should go and boil his
petrol-head in oil (20W50, of course)? Who cares whether he buys it back, or
not? Richard Lancaster, London
I feel grief for the loss of what should be a superb vehicle. But should you
take it back? No. The love of your life, the wait, the history, the oodles
of torque, the cruising at 100mph at idling rpm, all should come with some
drawbacks. But not a drawback that causes you (and even your family, and
bank account) immense distress. Mr Clarkson, I am Australian, and apart from
the rotary washing line and the Holden Monaro, I will give you - an esteemed
motoring journalist that I'm a great fan of, a pom - a piece of advice more
worthwhile than everything Mr Howard's legacy could ever do. Buy a Ferrari
F430. Show your soul it will be the best car you will ever drive. Neel
Bhattacharjee, Melbourne, Australia
Buy it back! It misses the home you gave it! Owning it might not be the
easiest thing, but being without it will be harder. Greg Boehm,
Harleysville, Pennsylvania
Quite simply. It made you cry. Not many cars will do this. So quite happily
drive round in the DB9 for however long it takes for them to rip out the
alarm, install a new one and test it, etc, etc. Then when you buy it back it
will be tears of joy. Anyway, how could you sell it in the first place? Jonathan
Cavanagh, Preston (yes, yes, I know)
I thing Ford have had their chance. You buy a car you expect a certain, well,
something. After days, weeks or months of bother nothing will put it right.
If the car comes back, "fixed properly" you will cringe when the
alarm is set, you will drive it always waiting for the phone call, it will
never be just right. And you'll never feel the same way about the car. I did
it with a 406 coupe 3.0 v6 se. Waited years, found a great one, silver, red
leather, all the extras. Loved it, all day, until it broke, then again, and
again. I had to sell it eventually after two weeks. My lovely car became a
hateful monster and I learnt a lesson. (Only drive nice Toyotas now - Mister
2 and MKiv Supra) Happy again. Matthew Spenser, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Dreams, fragile things, but to deny yourself a chance at one would be a
terrible thing you may always regret. Given that you can afford £126,000 on
what is basically a toy (not that that's a bad thing - men don't grow up,
their toys just get more expensive), I would buy the car back, on the
proviso that Ford don't invalidate the warranty for what I'm about to
suggest - take the car to a reputable alarm fitters and have the troublesome
alarm removed and a new one correctly installed. You don't buy into a dream
with the sole expectation of trouble free motoring, thus speaks the voice of
a Mitsubishi GTO owner. Andrew Bird, Basingstoke
Rip the bloody alarm out and take a risk. Hire a big bloke to watch it when
you're away if you have to. Matt Evans, Auckland, New Zealand
Give her a second chance - after all isn't she your first love? Peter
Haans, Burlington, Canada
Hell yes, buy it back. You know you want to you petrolhead. Mike Jones,
Swansea
My dream is to one day have a GT40, in the far, far future. I would kick some
serious butt if an alarm system was screwing up my dream, but I would still
keep the car. I have put up with worse problems from soul-less, unlovable
cars. Christopher McKeon, Houston, Texas
Should JC take back the Ford GT40? Does a bear s**t in the woods. Simon
Barnes, Folkestone, Kent
Depends whether you like curry drinking and vomiting, smoking and phlegm,
exercise and sweat rashes, marriage and sagginess: is the pleasure/pain
principle worth it when there's plenty of other things in life to get worked
up about? If you want a car that big and that rubbish move to the USA and be
close to the factory. If you want to keep what's left of your hair and
sanity, buy a poster of it, put it on your bedroom wall and get something
else that you can rely on. Daniel Sinclair, Newport Pagnell, Bucks
No. Get a car which is not a living nightmare to own, and which you can drive
down Westbourne Grove and still allow traffic to come past in the other
direction. Damian Clarke, Notting Hill, London
No question - buy her back. Tear out the alarm. Nobody is going to steal the
most recognisable car in the country. If they did, your readers will
telephone and tell you where she is. A GT40 is for life - not just for
Christmas. But I can understand your wife's view; my wife would never let me
have such a gorgeous mistress. Paul Haley, Greenwich, London
Jeremy you blithering fool - of course buy it back. Any person can have an
Aston Martin or a Ferrari. How many people can have a Ford GT? 28, that's
how many. Tigran Khamoian, Potters Bar, Herts
Why don't you send the car down here in New Zealand? I'll put up with the
malfunctioning alarm and because I'm so far away you shouldn't be able to
hear it. Ryan Steventon, Whangareu, New Zealand
You wouldn't of had this trouble if you'd bought a Lexus. Jason Lockyer,
Southampton
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