Your telling me Kubota doesn't outsource a single position? That is absolutely impossible in todays market. The product may be unique to Kubota, but every aspect of the tractor isn't built and designed by Kubota. It is just plain out right cheaper to outsource some things, if Kubota didn't do this it would make the tractor much more expensive. And in my experience these companies do better jobs as they are in more competition and they are doing their specialty. Auto and tractor companies outsource all types of products, whether it be the glass to cover their display, or an engine. I find the opposite of what you say.
I don't see where I said that at all!!!
Manufacturers all have different levels to which they build to. As with cars, some are built for 100,000 miles in ten years and some are built for 250,000 miles still about a ten year envelope. To do this they have a cost figure to what might fail and anticipated life. Lawn mowers are as well, some are built for a ten year life with 50 to 100 hours a year anticipated cycle.
There are people that get excited over long warrantee's although it means nothing and the manufactuer knows that and uses the average of 100 hours a year to know that to say 2500 or 5000 hours they probably won't get a call on even a 1,000 hour claim or if they do, it might only be one to get that many hours on it within the warrantee program.
Watching the commercial markets and knowing when they trade which is normally done by the machines life cycle for cost of down time and repairs is very interesting to compare from make to make. I'm not refering to a trade of options or abilities but because the precieved life cycle is over. We see this not only with the lawn industry but with the construction equipment as well as farm equipment.
To see the differences of the equipment returns and the shop work needed to keep different makes in service on a day to day basis gives a diffeerent perspective then someone getting a little seat time on the week end!