[mbrun]

I don't know the answer to this. Is there any part of this line that is made in the USA?

 

[mbrun]

The Murray’s In Europe Don't Look To Bad. Looks Like there Based On the Simplicity Regent at least the Hood

Just thought I would show the south and Central American Garden tractor as well

:thThumbsU

The South American one looks like a Husqvarna/AYP product. Reminds me of my 2003/4 craftsman gt5000.

 

[mbrun]

:ditto: on that one. I wish they could get past the pressure for cheap prices and concentrate their efforts on making them like they did 20 years ago.

That will only happen when we the consumer purchase the quality ones and stop buying the cheap c**p. I cannot tell you how many times i have read people on this forum say they would "never spend that kind money" on a product. The reality is if we don't spend money for quality, the manufactures are not going to make quality. Big companies focus on volume. Where there is not the volume to be reached with higher priced higher quality products, they will go for volume in cheap products. As a rule, we get what we pay for. We don't get what we don't. As a whole, if our biggest belly ache is about price, the manufacturers give us what we are willing to pay for. Lowest quality for the highest price they can get out out of us. Cheap.

 

[mbrun]

You gotta consider the end use of the purchase. Most of these "cheap" mowers are just that - mowers. Tractors from 20-30 years ago were used mostly in acerages where the owner did a lot more than just cut grass once a week. The growth in the LT market originally came from the housing boom in Florida, CA, and others. These were people mowing 1/3 acre lots who didn't need the kind of quality product built 30 years ago because they're not putting any significant wear on the machine.

I don't disagree with you a bit. If that is what is selling, that is what the're making. In the end it is our purchasing decisions that drive what the manufactures make. There is quality being made, by a few, but you have to be willing to pay for it to get it.