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  #31  
Old 04-10-2009, 10:43 AM
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Originally Posted by SirNik84 View Post
I'd have to say I'd rather have a Kia then a VW

at least it would be at the dealer with is super warranty.
Permanently.

- Peter.

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  #32  
Old 04-10-2009, 11:43 AM
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I'm a big fan of german watches, both old and new.

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  #33  
Old 04-10-2009, 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Jim H View Post
In American companies the engineer is told to design a product that can be rapidly mass-produced. Management the instructs marketing to sell it for whatever the market will bear, and to hint at a new, improved better models next year.
Ahhhhh! THAT explains the "Windows" operating system line!
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  #34  
Old 04-10-2009, 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Jim H View Post
In German companies engineers are instructed to engineer a superior product, which must sell at a higher cost. Management protects these engineer by paying them well, and not pressing them for instant results.

In Japanese companies the engineer is instructed to design a product to be reliable, and then to keep improving its performance and cost. Management covers the rest with customer service.

In American companies the engineer is told to design a product that can be rapidly mass-produced. Management the instructs marketing to sell it for whatever the market will bear, and to hint at a new, improved better models next year.
There is a lot more truth in this than I am comfortable with.
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  #35  
Old 04-10-2009, 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by pj67coll View Post
Permanently.

- Peter.
Is your opinion based on anything other than prejudice against Korean car makers? Think about it---with their super warranty, if the products were crap, the warranty costs would bankrupt the company. Their sales are up. After people realize the value, the residual values will improve.
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  #36  
Old 04-10-2009, 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by MS Fowler View Post
Is your opinion based on anything other than prejudice against Korean car makers? Think about it---with their super warranty, if the products were crap, the warranty costs would bankrupt the company. Their sales are up. After people realize the value, the residual values will improve.
Look at my sig. My prejudice is based on the fact that I owned one. Now it's entirely possible that they have improved over time. However I have no intention of spending another cent on them to try and find out.

- Peter.
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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S
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  #37  
Old 04-10-2009, 01:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pj67coll View Post
Look at my sig. My prejudice is based on the fact that I owned one. Now it's entirely possible that they have improved over time. However I have no intention of spending another cent on them to try and find out.

- Peter.
Did you buy the Rio new?
Did it get all scheduled maintenance?
Did the dealer repair the issues?

I try to never buy the bottom of the line of any car company. The Sonata seems like a pretty well made car, and the Elantra is all right. Have almost no experience with the Rio, I don't even rent cars that size.
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  #38  
Old 04-10-2009, 01:23 PM
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Originally Posted by cmbdiesel View Post
Did you buy the Rio new?
Yes.
Quote:
Did it get all scheduled maintenance?
Yes.
[QUOTEDid the dealer repair the issues?[/QUOTE]
Depends on your definition of "repair".

Some were repaired right up front. Like when the engine cooling fan fell off in the middle of summer in Phoenix. Or when the right rear shock broke. Or the starter motor went out, or the transmission failing. However they never did fix the shocking vibration at freeway speeds despite numerous futile visits. Until I finally got them to replace the damm rotors that were warped from new. By the time the rear suspension self destructed driving home one night, to the extent that I couldn't go above 15 mph on the highway. At that point I said to hell with this and dumped it for the GMC pickup I have now. Piece of crud had just over 60K miles when I got rid of it. Oh yeah, that's another thing. That vaunted warrantee is only good for the "internally lubricated parts" of the engine and transmission. Everything else was only covered by their 6 year or 60K whichever comes first. What that meant was that when the power steering pump and hoses had to be replaced I had to pay thru the nose because those were not "powertrain". And it also meant that when the fan fell off again it would not be covered. I'd have to pay for the junk to be fixed. Unless I let it overheat and seize the engine in which case I guess a seized engine would be covered under the "internally lubricated parts only".

These were only the problems I can remember just thinking about it quickly. Like I said, maybe they have improved, though a colleage of mine who has an Optima has had the motor replaced twice within the first couple of years - but I have no intention of going thru that BS again to find out.

- Peter.
__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S
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  #39  
Old 04-10-2009, 02:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iwrock View Post
You guys with the Stihl Chainsaws - do they have any plastic?
My dad has a Stihl that is older than I am. Thats a bad beast.
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  #40  
Old 04-10-2009, 04:46 PM
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Originally Posted by MS Fowler View Post
There is a lot more truth in this than I am comfortable with.
I'm just sayin'...
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  #41  
Old 04-12-2009, 01:11 PM
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The owner of my local lawn mower repair shop told me that both Sthil and Husqvarna are now subsidiaries of Briggs and Startton and apparently the quality has fallen off considerably. The same holds true for Troy Built, Toro, and Cub Cadet. These are owned by MTD whose machines are also crap.

This shop now only handles Echo and Shindawa which is what all the commercial lawn care people use.
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  #42  
Old 04-12-2009, 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by kip Foss View Post
The owner of my local lawn mower repair shop told me that both Sthil and Husqvarna are now subsidiaries of Briggs and Startton and apparently the quality has fallen off considerably. The same holds true for Troy Built, Toro, and Cub Cadet. These are owned by MTD whose machines are also crap.

This shop now only handles Echo and Shindawa which is what all the commercial lawn care people use.
I have three cub cadets, but all are pre MTD, including one "original Cub Cadet". I don't think I'd buy a new one; probably have to go "green ( JD).

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