Re: Toyota Land Cruiser. What beats it?
The American car companys and the European car companys spend a tremendous amount of money on research and development (R&D). The amount is factored into the price of production and ultimately the price to the consumer.<br />The Asians are notoriously known to buy several of their competetors finished product and duplicate it almost nut for nut, bolt for bolt. This includes the expensive R&D.<br />They even wait long enough before launching their copy to improve on any post production glitches and bugs.<br />They save so much money on R&D, post production fixes and other cost cutting measures associated with them that they can afford to "dump" an excellent product at a relatively lower price.<br /><br />
So, what about MB? Are the American made MB's as good as the ones from Germany?<br />
I know the answer first hand
....absolutely NOT! For several reason direct and indirect.<br /><br />The American made product is built to a price. Not built and
then priced accordingly.<br />The American made product isn't made to compete with world product it's made to compete with domestic product. The American made product uses American components and American suppliers, Delphi, Johnson Controls, Borg Warner, Timkin, PPG, General Tire, etc.,etc.<br /><br />JB is absolutely correct that the European made automobiles are taking some serious hits against their once high reliability and quality reputations. The reason is very simple. They are the only companys pushing the envelope with new technology. They are all striving ultimately to have the absolute safest vehicle that can essentially "drive itself" and with the lowest possible maintenence. This is the ultimate goal of the European car manufactures.<br />This can be best explained in this way.<br />The United States makes a very expensive, unreliable and troublesome reuseable space vehicles (the Space Shuttle fleet.) Yet it should be noted America build the best shuttle in the world. <br />Where the US is light years ahead in Aerospace. The Europeans are light years ahead in automobiles.<br />It's just a heck of a lot easier to duplicate a new models R&D and put a
reasonable copy into production.<br />Back in '97 the 4x4(4ETS)operating system in JB's ML was purely engineering genius far superior as an fulltime fully automatic all wheel drive, so simple and cheap. Within 2 years it was copied first by BMW, then Rover, VW, Porsche,Japan jumped on it, and finally Detroit.<br />I still have to give it to Detroit, they do a lot more R&D than Japan does.<br />Japans marketing is so good many think Lexus comes out with a lot of new things. But if you're thinking it's the latest and greatest from Honda or Toyota, It'll be a least 3 years into production on a Benz or BMW.<br /><br />I sure don't take it personal like you Soul Winner or even you DJ. <br />Ford, Chevy, Diamler Chrysler, Toyota, Kraft Foods, Walmart, Disney or even GE. They ain't my freinds and they ain't my "brothers".<br />There is only me and everyone else, the rest is only filler. <br /><br />Oh and SoulWinner, another reality check, we gotta keep it real man. <br />All through the '90's the most troublesome part on the V6 Ford Rangers were those stinkin' Made in Japan Mazda 5 speed transmissions. My daughters '98 4x4 has over 200k the only repairs other than wear items was a trans under warranty. Another at 87K and then again at 162K where it took some of my American know how to modify the mainshaft to increase oiling to the mainshaft brg and pocket brgs.<br /><br />The G52 5 speed trans in Toyota 4x4's PU's keep me in cash money replacing starved mainshaft bearings that start howling every 100k.<br /><br />Gentleman.....we can't eat them or make mad passionate love to them......just run whatcha brung.
