Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I took a good look at an Ariens with a LCT  engine today. Does Briggs  have something going on with LCT? I see original Briggs parts on  the Ariens 208cc engine built by LCT

Import brands built in North America (all of them) are not in the same class as the same brands built in their home countries.   Our industries have a bad habit of dragging quality products down to their manufacturing level.  Rather than domestic manufacturers stepping up to meet the challenge of superior products, our governments encourage/force foreign manufacturers to build plants here and hire our people to do the work.  The foreign companies see that we run loose ships and figure that they can do the same while still making money because the products they're competing against are usually worse than them.  They see that they don't need to keep up to their "home plant" standards and we end up getting inferior products.  

I have bought nothing but Toyotas for the last 30+ years.  I drive a 1996 Toyota T100 that I bought new in '96.  It has cost me nothing in repairs.  Not one dime.  All I've done to it in fifteen years is oil changes, tires, batteries, windshield wiper blades and air filters.   It's still got it's original timing belt.  Thinking of changing it but, the engine has non-interference valve train so if it breaks, the vehicle stops but no engine damage.  So, I'm flirting with the idea just letting it run to see how long it will last.  The other belts still look to be in great shape and they don't have the protection that the timing belt does. 

Bottom line is that even the best overseas brands are now being compromised due to domestic manufacturing.  If I buy another Toyota, I will pay a premium to ensure I get one that's built in Japan.  Even if I have to buy it in a foreign country, have it shipped and certified here.  I will never buy another domestically manufactured vehicle.  

The factory wheels on my Toyota have CHINA cast on the inside of the wheel. So even Toyota is using Chinese parts

Knee_Biter wrote:
After  WW1 Japan head such a bad name nobody wanted there stuff. They named one of  ther main factory cities usa  so they can sell more to the USA. Now Japan makes high quality . Perhaps we are giving China a bad rap now.  Who knows the future .Only time will tell. I know USA has some junk for sale too. What about Russia? God knows they have snow storms, Maybe Mersadies is building snow blowers

borat wrote:

As far as I know Yaris is imported directly from Japan.But I am sure Toyota uses parts sourced outside of Japan in building Yaris.What percentage I do not know.

T100 is like Hilux?You must have seen Top Gear torture scenes involving Hilux.

Not unusual at all.  My 98 Ford Windstar went 235K without any repair besides an alternator.  Used Walmart brand oil and filter at 8-10K miles.  Of course, brakes, wiper blades, tires, hoses not included..







carlb wrote:

blumonster wrote:

I owned a Toyota Hilux D4D when i lived overseas and NOTHING made from Toyota today can equal a Hilux, certainly not a T100 or a Tacoma or any of the crap that Toyota sells here. The same goes for Honda as well, it's not just Toyota. Of course a White Honda Accord painted white would run you about $42,000 over there.

The Hilux I had was great and got 26 mpg in heavy city traffic with the A/C blowing all the time. There were no highways, well one but I rarely used it since I didn't have to drive to Manila too often. I would buy another one if I could but there is no way to get one here especially a diesel. Mine was manufactured in Thailand and it was solid, great fit on all the seams. The guy I sold it to is still driving it and thinks it's the best truck he's ever owned. Cost new at that time was about $16,000 USD.

Beg to differ with you Steve.  The T-100 that I have was built in Japan.  I bought it new in 1996.  I have not spent a dime on repairs in all of fifteen years of ownership.  It's nothing but stone axe reliable.  Other than a cracked windshield and a few paint chips, It still look relatively new.  To say it doesn't compare to your Hilux is more than a bit inaccurate.  Unless of course, your Hilux was capable of space travel, then I'd have to agree with you.   In conclusion, I will assume that you meant to say Tundra, not T-100. 

Steve_Cebu wrote:

Nice truck.According to Wikipedia they sold Hilux in the US for some time. T100 was originally made in Japan for American market.After 1996 they moved production to USA.

Small truck market is still there, maybe bigger now with the fuel consumption worries. Toyota can bring Hilux with diesel option.It might be Turbo diesel as Toyota's smaller cars come with it in Europe and elsewhere.

Wikipedia has the photo of the tortured Hilux on  a car dealer's lot as photographed by a buyer.

borat wrote:

I'm not saying the T100 wasn't a good truck. I know it was and I have a friend who used to own one. But The Hilux gives you a lot of bang for the buck. Also it's not personal as in YOUR T-100 it's that the Hilux is a very superior truck to most pickups made today. Mine was a 2006 and it was a gem. I had teh cheapest model they made since you never need 4wd over there. The Tundra andTtacoma are not even close to a Hilux.