Decided to go with Kubota.

[marcus402]

Owned, yes, but it's still built in Sweden and has a japanese engine & transmission. only .3% of it is American made.

So who is responsible for the quality of the vehicle?

 

[RoyJackson]

So who is responsible for the quality of the vehicle?

The company that sold the vehicle.

 

[Z-Michigan]

So who is responsible for the quality of the vehicle?

The Moose Fairy!

 

[Builder]

So who is responsible for the quality of the vehicle?

I'm glad you asked that because I own a company that is in a similar situation. If I build a home for someone, and there's a problem with a plumbing faucet, yes, I am responsible for seeing that it is fixed, but I can't be responsible for things that were built off my jobsite.

But do I fix it? No! My plumber fixes it And he makes the plumbing equipment supplier give him a new one. Do you think Ford can disect every A/C unit that it's Swedish Volvo division imports from Japan and puts into its cars? If you think the answer is yes, you live in a fantasy world.

When a 6L diesel goes bad under warranty in Ford Superduty, Ford fixes it, but guess who repays Ford for the repairs? International Truck & Engine Corp!

My Kubota L-35 had problems since the day I brought it home. The service was bad and the waiting for parts was worse.
I'm telling you, you pay more for Deere because you have a better service & parts network.

Wolfandt,

Who invented the full-size pickup?

Why did it take your beloved Honda, Nissan & Toyota 30 years to catch on to that market?

 

[coasterez]

Honda still doesn't make a pickup.

 

[Builder]

Honda still doesn't make a pickup.

Ever heard of a Honda Ridgeline?

 

[Taiser]

I can field that one...

This is info I got from a dealer friend of mine. There was talk a few years ago about putting tarrifs on imports, specifically the luxury and sport cars. This was going to hit the Japanese hard with their Acura, Lexus lines. Mercedes and BMW were not happy either, but they had no intention of making light trucks for the North American market. The Domestic makers were lobying hard to get this tax put in.

At that time Toyota and Nissan were looking at the VERY lucrative full size pick-up market. Of course our domestic companies were not happy about that...specifically Ford, with the highest truck sales in North America.

The imports companies were not happy about the tarrifs that were being looked into on their products. So there was sort of an off the shelf agreement made. The imports stay away from the full size truck lines and the big 3 back off on the import tarrif lobby. Apparently that did not last long.

With import sales still climbing after this and the domestic makers losing ground they start lobying again. The import companies cry foul and three years later the first full size Toyotas show up, followed by the Titans with their V8 monster.

Of course this is third hand information from a secondary source so take it for what it's worth. Probably missing some info but that's the meat of it. Kinda makes sense.

The Ridgeline is not considered a truck per say, it's more of an SUV with truck like abilities. I think Honda is planning a truck though and that should be interesting.

 

[milkman]

Taiser, think that might explain why the Acura costs more than a same size Cavalier?

 

[Builder]

And you guys don't think the Japanese don't place huge tariffs on American cars, trucks, or ANYTHING imported into Japan?

Japan is one of the most protectionist countries in the world. Especially in agriculture & industry.

Yet all the foreign car companies that build cars here in the U.S. escape corporate income tax penalties paid by Ford & GM since the foreign car companies are headquartered off shore.

How fair is that to American car/truck/tractor companies?

 

[Builder]

I can field that one...

This is info I got from a dealer friend of mine. There was talk a few years ago about putting tarrifs on imports, specifically the luxury and sport cars. This was going to hit the Japanese hard with their Acura, Lexus lines. Mercedes and BMW were not happy either, but they had no intention of making light trucks for the North American market. The Domestic makers were lobying hard to get this tax put in.

At that time Toyota and Nissan were looking at the VERY lucrative full size pick-up market. Of course our domestic companies were not happy about that...specifically Ford, with the highest truck sales in North America.

The imports companies were not happy about the tarrifs that were being looked into on their products. So there was sort of an off the shelf agreement made. The imports stay away from the full size truck lines and the big 3 back off on the import tarrif lobby. Apparently that did not last long.

With import sales still climbing after this and the domestic makers losing ground they start lobying again. The import companies cry foul and three years later the first full size Toyotas show up, followed by the Titans with their V8 monster.

Of course this is third hand information from a secondary source so take it for what it's worth. Probably missing some info but that's the meat of it. Kinda makes sense.

The Ridgeline is not considered a truck per say, it's more of an SUV with truck like abilities. I think Honda is planning a truck though and that should be interesting.

I think your "dealer friend" is deeply misinformed. Apparently no tariff exists since Toyota & Nissan are not only building full size trucks, but they're building them here. Toyota is investing billions to build a new full size truck plant in San Antonio, TX.

Yet if you go to Japan, you'll pay a huge import tariff on an American built car.

Real fair, huh?