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

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.  

I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon and diss American or Japanese made products, but,  I can tell you that since 1990 I have owned 3 Nissan Maxima's and 2 Infiniti G35 coups, all of these were purchased new.  These cars have been rock solid and other than one of the maximas needing a window regulator replaced when it was about 9 years old all of these Nissan/Infiniti products have performed flawlessly never having to go to the dealer for service except for an O2 sensor on one of the Maximas.  I have performed all standard normal service on these cars.  The 1990 Nissan Maxima had over 265,000 miles on it as it was passed down to my son then to my nephew before it was rear ended and sent to the junk yard.

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.

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.