I really do understand composites and why they are superior in a lot of applications. Usually when I find something broke in my Honda or Cherokee, it was a pretty well designed part (Cherokee exepted), but it just didn't hold up as well as I would like for it to have done. No, I don't own a car, jeep, or truck with composite body panels, and probably won't as long as there is a choice. Almost every mechanical problem I can think of in them is due to the misapplication (cost savings) of composites in automobile design. Many of the problems appear to be UV related (yes, they were painted parts) or embrittlement issues.
But for tractors, all of the cracked steering wheels, knobs, switches, etc. that failed were also probably due to misapplication (cost savings) of composites. The steering wheels don't usually fall apart, because they knew they would crack and put a metal reinforcement inside them. No, I will take my tractor fenders, hoods, etc. out of metal until composites give the same serviceability. I liked the John Deere metal floorboard better than the Kubota Rubber Mat (which I saw a couple that were cracked), but after having my feet on the rubber mat all day, I now like it MUCH better. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Tractors need to be heavy for most agricultural applications. The main reason for composites is ease of manufacturing, low cost, and light weight. Seldom is the composite superior to the metal part unless light weight is of high importance as it is in airborne vehicles.
Kubota has a really nice little metal M110 Tractor Model (for $42.00). It looks really well made and I would have bought one except the wheel rims were made out of composite and really looked cheap, although I am sure it was very strong. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Guess perceptions are hard to overcome.