Thread: hmmmmmmmmmmm

Don't reckon I'd be that keen to buy a Chinese Land Rover

Im afraid!

It's just not cricket, is it chaps?
Steve.

I have got to say, that after spending quite a bit of time in China, working with Chinese industry - there seems to be quite a lot of unfounded paranoia of chinese workmanship and quality.

Yes you can get cheap chinese products, but that's what they are, CHEEP, you can also get reasonably price, medium priced and high end product of amazingly high quality.

I don't know if you will remember when the first Japanese motorbikes, car and electronic started to hit the 'western/developed' world --- they were absolutely awful ..........real cr*p.

Who remembers the Datsun's - they had to be the worst vehicles on the road.

China has a very good reputation these days of producing high quality products - and if you opened up many household product, electronics etc., and look at the components inside - many of them will be made in China - and the manufacturer of these items are Australian, English, European, American etc.,

Okay there is cr*p coming out of China - there is also a great deal more of very, very good items - that undergo continued development and improvement. One of the areas that killed the british motor car and motor cycle industry was the fact that they would develop a 'pretty good' (well some of the time) vehicle/bike - and then they would sit back and 'rest on their laurels' they had the idea that it was 'great' and didn't need improving - the japanese shredded those ideas, develop it, then constantly improve, re-design and this is the same with the new Chinese companies - same ethos.

I think people are a little blinkered if they think that China cannot produce a world class product.

Imagine a Chinese Land Rover factory, with an ebay store.

Any Land Rover part, any model, dropped shipped from Hong Kong by Overnight Air Express.

With a state oppressed local currency, you can be guaranteed of being on the winning side of any currency exchange.

New TDV6 $2,300
6 Speed Auto $1,800
Retro Fit Defender adaptors $82.50

1994 Defender with TDV6 & 6 speed auto - Priceless

Only time will tell BUT Lada's is right as there is a lot of chinese stuff coming through my industry now, some good some really awful but at least they are trying.

The Defender is one of those things that should never change greatly but it would benifit from an on going refit program with a company that isnt just going to sell it in a few years time and if the chinese get hold of landrover I dont think they will trash anything good about the company they will just push for more sales and that means a new line of thinking for LRA so that cant be bad.

Parts pricing may just come down to normal standards aswell and I for 1 would prefer to see that over what we have now though I wouldnt want quality to suffer because of it but as said before, they are as capable of building good quality stuff as they are at building crap so I think it may not be a bad thing all round.

I wouldnt mind a TD V6 for my D1........

I have to agree with Ladas, there is a lot of product coming into Australia now that is of a very good quality manufactured in China

For instance a lot of Truck & Trailer brake components sold in this country now are made in China. That includes Axles, Hubs, Drums, Brake Shoes and Linings. There are many more items also.

Another example nearly all Eaton Roadranger transmissions sold in this part of the world are manufactured in China and have been for years.

I would still prefer Ford to hang on to our favorite brand though

Might be good, might be bad only time wil tell. At least at present the Chinese value their customers unlike the Japanese, Australian and American markets.