I want to take my dog boating...
 

On 3/8/10 6:57 AM, Richard Casady wrote:
On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 15:58:19 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

On Mar 7, 3:41 pm, John wrote:
On Sat, 6 Mar 2010 18:02:46 -0800 (PST), wrote:
On Mar 6, 7:15 pm, wrote:
On Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:39:48 -0500, John
wrote:

Did you receive such condemnation when you searched for Socialist-
made German screwdrivers to aid the assembly of Communist Chinese
components in your computers ?

Probably. My new Microsoft keyboard, purchased from WalMart, was, in fact, make
in China. I suppose if I'd gone to a union shop the same keyboard would be made
here.

My Logitech keyboard is made in Canada. Maybe not quite the US but at
least North American.
I do think Logitech makes the best keyboards for the price but my wife
has a Cherry that is bulletproof. I did pay close to $100 for it
though. It has survived dropping ... a lot, coffee, soda, water and an
assortment of other assaults.
We don't really have computer desks. We use our machines from our
living room chairs.

I've got a Longitech keyboard ad it's at least 7 yrs old. and says
China on the back of it.

Yeah, but no one's going to call you a cheap ****. Where did you buy that cheap,
made-in-China piece of garbage?

:)
--

"Your honor can never be taken from you. Cherish it, in yourself and in others." (Unknown)

John H

Where else? The pawn shop. And it came with the rest of the computer!

I bought two IBM model 45 'clicky' keyboards at Goodwill for ten bucks
the pair. Nothing else has ever come close. Check Ebay, last time I
looked there were a number for about 20 bucks.

Casady


IBM used to make some of the better PC keyboards. I recall the Model M
as being pretty good. They're still made or were still made by a company
called Unicomp:

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net//cus101usenon.html

There are a couple of other suppliers still making quality keyboards. My
favorites were the heavy ones, with metal frames and mechanical key
switches. The weight made it feel as if you were typing on a Selectric
typewriter. Those Selectrics were in my opinion the best office
typewriters ever made.

Wood construction, was dog boats
 

In article ,
says...

Before I did boats I did custom furniture and particularly counters and tables.
I worked with Red Oak, and Maple exclusively. Used to buy my chairs up in
Vermont. I have some huge clamping tables and a glue wheel for making butcher
block type tops. Like you, I really love working with red oak.

Scotty

Our living room kitchen and dining room is dominated by red oak. The
cypress is starting in the new room we built. I did get a great deal
on a bunch of it ($75 for 450 lf of 1x6) so it is my new favorite wood
;-)

My dad used to talk about using cypress in the Nursery's he worked in down on
LA after the war. He said it was light, and would not rot so they used it for
flower boxes and such.

Scotty

--
Rowdy Mouse Racing, no crybabies!

I want to take my dog boating...
 

On Mar 8, 11:19*am, wrote:
On Mon, 8 Mar 2010 04:41:32 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

$25.00 for a win 98 machine including mouse and keyboard,

GearSX.com was dumping Compaq/HP P4 XP Pro machines with the license
for $40-60 bucks a month or so ago. I bought 2.
The XP sticker is worth $100.

hmmm, might have to keep my eyes open for an upgrade...


Thanks for the heads up.

I want to take my dog boating...
 

I want to take my dog boating...
 

mgg wrote:
My Logitech kb clearly says, "Made in China." Let's face it, they have
to. If it were made in the US, a $50 keyboard would cost $125. Gotta
love them unions.

--Mike

wrote in message
...
On Sat, 6 Mar 2010 18:02:46 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

My Logitech keyboard is made in Canada. Maybe not quite the US but at
least North American.
I do think Logitech makes the best keyboards for the price but my wife
has a Cherry that is bulletproof. I did pay close to $100 for it
though. It has survived dropping ... a lot, coffee, soda, water and an
assortment of other assaults.
We don't really have computer desks. We use our machines from our
living room chairs.

I've got a Longitech keyboard ad it's at least 7 yrs old. and says
China on the back of it.


Actually I looked again and you are right (tiny print). I am guessing
the big "Canada" has to do with type acceptance

While unions are certainly responsible for some of that added cost, the
Chinese government has lower EPA standards, government subsidies, and
usually lower raw material costs.

I want to take my dog boating...
 

On 3/8/10 7:34 PM, Larry wrote:
mgg wrote:
My Logitech kb clearly says, "Made in China." Let's face it, they have
to. If it were made in the US, a $50 keyboard would cost $125. Gotta
love them unions.

--Mike

wrote in message
...
On Sat, 6 Mar 2010 18:02:46 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

My Logitech keyboard is made in Canada. Maybe not quite the US but at
least North American.
I do think Logitech makes the best keyboards for the price but my wife
has a Cherry that is bulletproof. I did pay close to $100 for it
though. It has survived dropping ... a lot, coffee, soda, water and an
assortment of other assaults.
We don't really have computer desks. We use our machines from our
living room chairs.

I've got a Longitech keyboard ad it's at least 7 yrs old. and says
China on the back of it.


Actually I looked again and you are right (tiny print). I am guessing
the big "Canada" has to do with type acceptance

While unions are certainly responsible for some of that added cost, the
Chinese government has lower EPA standards, government subsidies, and
usually lower raw material costs.


For factory workers, China is just a little bit better than a slave
labor state. Chinese assembly line workers make next to nothing. The
country has very vew standards about anything. What the right-wing here
wants is a country full of workers who are willing to toil for very low
wages and no or practically no benefits.

Why pay an American factory worker minimum wage, when you can buy
hundreds of Chinese workers through a labor contractor for $2.00 a day?

I want to take my dog boating...
 

John H wrote:
On Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:05:30 -0500, wrote:


On Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:46:12 -0500, wrote:


I have two American-built cars so I agree with you.

What kind of car is that? They are all assembled from offshore parts
even if they are "made" here.

Probably Toyotas, or BMWs, or Hondas, or Hyundais, or Mercedes-Benz.

A Ford towing vehicle and a Chevy sports car. Both with XX% parts from
outside the US.

I want to take my dog boating...
 

"HK" wrote in message
...


For factory workers, China is just a little bit better than a slave labor
state. Chinese assembly line workers make next to nothing. The country has
very vew standards about anything. What the right-wing here wants is a
country full of workers who are willing to toil for very low wages and no
or practically no benefits.

Why pay an American factory worker minimum wage, when you can buy hundreds
of Chinese workers through a labor contractor for $2.00 a day?



Absolutely correct. But where does the problem lie? The management of the
American business realizes that his company will quickly go under if he
keeps manufacturing here in the States, requiring a much higher retail price
for his products.

The problem is the consumer. They want cheap prices. We live in a use and
throw-away world.
Quality, long lasting products have taken a back seat to cheap and cheaply
replaceable.

Expensive, big ticket items like John Deere tractors or Caterpillar
construction machines do well.
Replacement keyboards for computers, TV sets, microwaves and sneakers don't
do so well.

Eisboch

I want to take my dog boating...
 

HK wrote:
On 3/8/10 7:34 PM, Larry wrote:
mgg wrote:
My Logitech kb clearly says, "Made in China." Let's face it, they have
to. If it were made in the US, a $50 keyboard would cost $125. Gotta
love them unions.

--Mike

wrote in message
...
On Sat, 6 Mar 2010 18:02:46 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

My Logitech keyboard is made in Canada. Maybe not quite the US
but at
least North American.
I do think Logitech makes the best keyboards for the price but my
wife
has a Cherry that is bulletproof. I did pay close to $100 for it
though. It has survived dropping ... a lot, coffee, soda, water
and an
assortment of other assaults.
We don't really have computer desks. We use our machines from our
living room chairs.

I've got a Longitech keyboard ad it's at least 7 yrs old. and says
China on the back of it.


Actually I looked again and you are right (tiny print). I am guessing
the big "Canada" has to do with type acceptance

While unions are certainly responsible for some of that added cost, the
Chinese government has lower EPA standards, government subsidies, and
usually lower raw material costs.


For factory workers, China is just a little bit better than a slave
labor state. Chinese assembly line workers make next to nothing. The
country has very vew standards about anything. What the right-wing
here wants is a country full of workers who are willing to toil for
very low wages and no or practically no benefits.

Why pay an American factory worker minimum wage, when you can buy
hundreds of Chinese workers through a labor contractor for $2.00 a day?


Maybe that $2 per day is a living wage in China. It was a fortune here
many years ago. I pay more in property taxes than my parents paid for
their first house and they took out a mortgage.

I want to take my dog boating...
 

On Mar 8, 11:05*pm, "Eisboch" wrote:
"HK" wrote in message

...



For factory workers, China is just a little bit better than a slave labor
state. Chinese assembly line workers make next to nothing. The country has
very vew standards about anything. What the right-wing here wants is a
country full of workers who are willing to toil for very low wages and no
or practically no benefits.

Why pay an American factory worker minimum wage, when you can buy hundreds
of Chinese workers through a labor contractor for $2.00 a day?

Absolutely correct. *But where does the problem lie? *The management of the
American business realizes that his company will quickly go under if he
keeps manufacturing here in the States, requiring a much higher retail price
for his products.

The problem is the consumer. * They want cheap prices. *We live in a use and
throw-away world.
Quality, long lasting products have taken a back seat to cheap and cheaply
replaceable.

Expensive, big ticket items like John Deere tractors or Caterpillar
construction machines do well.
Replacement keyboards for computers, TV sets, microwaves and sneakers don't
do so well.

Eisboch

Richard. John Deere and Cat do a tremendous amount of outsourcing too.
I don't think you can buy an American made 100 hp John Deere anymore,
and almost all your track-hoe's regardless of flavor are made overseas
now.

I want to take my dog boating...
 

On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:55:20 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:

If a fully USA made John Deere tractor costs three or four times that of one
built somewhere in the Pacific Rim, why would anyone buy it?

Exactly right.

The only way to be competetive in a high cost environment is to
automate all of the labor cost out of the product. Unfortunately that
is not always possible or cost effective.

I want to take my dog boating...
 

On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:11:02 -0800, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

we need to stop trying to
compete on price alone

With commodity type products, particularly consumer goods, price is
always the top priority.

I want to take my dog boating...
 

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:11:02 -0800, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

we need to stop trying to
compete on price alone

With commodity type products, particularly consumer goods, price is
always the top priority.

There are fewer and fewer USA made products left where quality is the driver
behind a consumer purchase. It's not that the quality of USA made products
are necessarily slipping. It's the fact that competing countries are
building more and more quality products.

I can give a first hand example, garnered from my new experience in retail
guitar sales.
USA made Gibson and Fender guitars are still considered the ultimate
throughout the world and remain very much in demand. In fact, I know a guy
who regularly buys USA made guitars and travels to Brazil to sell them at a
significant profit.

However, some countries ... notably China (who basically gives the rest of
the world the finger when it comes to patents or copyrights).... are
building excellent guitars that sell for a fraction of it's USA built
counterpart. A company in China recently produced a copy of a Les Paul
Standard, complete with serial number and "Made in the USA" stamped into
the headstock. The guitars were shipped to the USA and sold through eBay.
They fooled experts. The quality and performance of the guitar was
undistinguishable from an authentic USA version.

They goofed in one minor detail when they copied it, and it's the only way
those of us buying and selling guitars can recognize the clone.

Eisboch

I want to take my dog boating...
 

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:11:02 -0800, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

we need to stop trying to
compete on price alone

With commodity type products, particularly consumer goods, price is
always the top priority.


I don't think we should be in the business of producing commodity-type
products, since you're right... it's a price game.

--
Nom=de=Plume

I want to take my dog boating...
 

nom=de=plume wrote:
wrote in message
...

On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:11:02 -0800, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:


we need to stop trying to
compete on price alone

With commodity type products, particularly consumer goods, price is
always the top priority.


I don't think we should be in the business of producing commodity-type
products, since you're right... it's a price game.


Yet we are. Many commodities are better suited for local distribution
due to the savings in ocean freight and import duties. Forest products
like lumber, plywood, copy paper, toilet paper, etc. are one example.
The trade deficit has more to do with electronics, cars and trucks,
appliances, etc.

I want to take my dog boating...
 

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:11:02 -0800, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

we need to stop trying to
compete on price alone

With commodity type products, particularly consumer goods, price is
always the top priority.

There are fewer and fewer USA made products left where quality is the
driver behind a consumer purchase. It's not that the quality of USA made
products are necessarily slipping. It's the fact that competing countries
are building more and more quality products.

I can give a first hand example, garnered from my new experience in retail
guitar sales.
USA made Gibson and Fender guitars are still considered the ultimate
throughout the world and remain very much in demand. In fact, I know a
guy who regularly buys USA made guitars and travels to Brazil to sell them
at a significant profit.

However, some countries ... notably China (who basically gives the rest of
the world the finger when it comes to patents or copyrights).... are
building excellent guitars that sell for a fraction of it's USA built
counterpart. A company in China recently produced a copy of a Les Paul
Standard, complete with serial number and "Made in the USA" stamped into
the headstock. The guitars were shipped to the USA and sold through eBay.
They fooled experts. The quality and performance of the guitar was
undistinguishable from an authentic USA version.

They goofed in one minor detail when they copied it, and it's the only way
those of us buying and selling guitars can recognize the clone.

Eisboch

Well???? What is it??? Screws on the truss rod cover, or something harder to
spot?

--Mike

I want to take my dog boating...
 

"mgg" wrote in message
...


"Eisboch" wrote in message
...


They goofed in one minor detail when they copied it, and it's the only
way those of us buying and selling guitars can recognize the clone.

Eisboch

Well???? What is it??? Screws on the truss rod cover, or something harder
to spot?

--Mike

They corrected that mistake. They were putting 3 screws in the cover. The
real ones only had two.
Nope ... the difference is much more subtle than that. It has to do with
the angle of the logo on the headstock and how it was put on and the method
of how the frets are installed. As I mentioned, the fakes have fooled
experts.

But, the biggest difference is price. The old saying holds true. If it
seems too good to be true, it probably isn't real.

Eisboch

I want to take my dog boating...
 

On Mar 10, 5:36*pm, "Eisboch" wrote:
"Wayne.B" wrote in message

...

On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:11:02 -0800, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

we need to stop trying to
compete on price alone

With commodity type products, particularly consumer goods, price is
always the top priority.

There are fewer and fewer USA made products left where quality is the driver
behind a consumer purchase. *It's not that the quality of USA made products
are necessarily slipping. *It's the fact that competing countries are
building more and more quality products.

I can give a first hand example, garnered from my new experience in retail
guitar sales.
USA made Gibson and Fender guitars are still considered the ultimate
throughout the world and remain very much in demand. * In fact, I know a guy
who regularly buys USA made guitars and travels to Brazil to sell them at a
significant profit.

However, some countries ... notably China (who basically gives the rest of
the world the finger when it comes to patents or copyrights).... are
building excellent guitars that sell for a fraction of it's USA built
counterpart. * *A company in China recently produced a copy of a Les Paul
Standard, complete with serial number and "Made in the USA" *stamped into
the headstock. *The guitars were shipped to the USA and sold through eBay.
They fooled experts. * The quality and performance of the guitar was
undistinguishable from an authentic USA version.

They goofed in one minor detail when they copied it, and it's the only way
those of us buying and selling guitars can recognize the clone.

Eisboch

Very interesting, Richard! If they sound like an AmeriStrat, and the
price is significantly less, I'll bet they sell well!

I want to take my dog boating...
 

On Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:47:52 -0800, Loogypicker wrote:

On Mar 10, 5:36*pm, "Eisboch" wrote:
"Wayne.B" wrote in message

...

On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:11:02 -0800, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

we need to stop trying to
compete on price alone

With commodity type products, particularly consumer goods, price is
always the top priority.

There are fewer and fewer USA made products left where quality is the driver
behind a consumer purchase. *It's not that the quality of USA made products
are necessarily slipping. *It's the fact that competing countries are
building more and more quality products.

I can give a first hand example, garnered from my new experience in retail
guitar sales.
USA made Gibson and Fender guitars are still considered the ultimate
throughout the world and remain very much in demand. * In fact, I know a guy
who regularly buys USA made guitars and travels to Brazil to sell them at a
significant profit.

However, some countries ... notably China (who basically gives the rest of
the world the finger when it comes to patents or copyrights).... are
building excellent guitars that sell for a fraction of it's USA built
counterpart. * *A company in China recently produced a copy of a Les Paul
Standard, complete with serial number and "Made in the USA" *stamped into
the headstock. *The guitars were shipped to the USA and sold through eBay.
They fooled experts. * The quality and performance of the guitar was
undistinguishable from an authentic USA version.

They goofed in one minor detail when they copied it, and it's the only way
those of us buying and selling guitars can recognize the clone.

Eisboch

Very interesting, Richard! If they sound like an AmeriStrat, and the
price is significantly less, I'll bet they sell well!

How many do you want. Richard is the guy that can order all you care to
take and give you a special |;-) price. Because he also knows how special
you are.

You're special alright! nuk! nuk! nuk!

I want to take my dog boating...
 

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"mgg" wrote in message
...


"Eisboch" wrote in message
...


They goofed in one minor detail when they copied it, and it's the only
way those of us buying and selling guitars can recognize the clone.

Eisboch

Well???? What is it??? Screws on the truss rod cover, or something harder
to spot?

--Mike

They corrected that mistake. They were putting 3 screws in the cover.
The real ones only had two.
Nope ... the difference is much more subtle than that. It has to do with
the angle of the logo on the headstock and how it was put on and the
method of how the frets are installed. As I mentioned, the fakes have
fooled experts.

But, the biggest difference is price. The old saying holds true. If it
seems too good to be true, it probably isn't real.

Eisboch




That's a shame, but I suppose it's to be expected. Everything from money to
slinkys is counterfeited these days. How do these fake play??

--Mike

I want to take my dog boating...
 

wrote in message
...
On Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:26:36 -0800, "mgg" wrote:

Yup! We have an 01' Chevy Tahoe, and an '03 Dodge Ram, and they've had
nothing done to them except fluid changes, brakes (one set each), and
tires.

--Mike

I have an 01 Ford truck and a 97 Honda Prelude that we haven't done
much to. I am not even a fanatic about fluids.
We try to get to the oil once a year or so.
I traded a 85 F150 on the clunker deal that had plenty of life left in
it but the $4500 was an offer I couldn't refuse.

I do think the Japanese drove the US into a push for quality in the
80s, then the Chinese made us race to the bottom since the 90s.
I am not sure anything would have stopped it but trade policies from
the 90s expedited this decline.
The only bright spot is in the boat product business. Salt water makes
cheap junk totally useless in a very short period of time so we still
demand a certain level of quality but we pay for it.

It was do or die for the big 3, that's for sure.

We also have an '88 Mustang (convertible), but it only gets driven about
1000 mi/yr since I married it in '97. g It was my wife's daily driver
until out 1st kid. Now it only comes out of my warehouse in the summer when
it's not too hot. Even a convertible is no fun when It's 100 degrees
outside. Same deal with that car... fluid, brakes, one clutch (5 speed), and
tires. AAMOF, when I had the clutch done at about 120,000 miles, I told the
mechanic, that it was the original clutch. He said that it was impossible...
until he pulled it and saw the markings.

Back in '01 when we bought the Tahoe, the dealer offered us $5,000 for the
car as a trade. It's a black, mustang convertible GT, in very good (not
mint) condition, with 125,000 mi on it. I told him that we'll keep it. I've
been offered 10k for it numerous times. I wouldn't sell it for twice that...
it's a FUN car.

I have no problems with "American made."

--Mike

I want to take my dog boating...
 

"mgg" wrote in message
...



That's a shame, but I suppose it's to be expected. Everything from money
to slinkys is counterfeited these days. How do these fake play??



I've never tried a Chinese Les Paul Standard copy, but I've heard that at
least some of them are very good.
My problem (shared by many) is that some are passed off as being "real" ....
meaning authentic Gibsons .... at a price that is 20-30 times their actual
cost. They even stamp "Made in USA" on the back
of the headstock for gripes sake. Not all Chinese companies do this ...
some are legitimate and licensed to build guitars for major manufacturers,
but those are clearly identified as being manufactured in China. Fender has
some of their cheap "Squire" models built in China. Ibanez also has some
of their guitars manufactured in China and they are noted for being of
exceptionally high quality at a reasonable price.

A solid body electric guitar isn't exactly rocket science to build and can
be easily reverse-engineered.
Acoustics are an entirely different matter and requires a degree of
knowledge and luthier craftsmanship to build a good one. Same with archtop
electrics.

I bought a Chinese made copy of a Martin D-28 just to see what the quality
was. It's certainly playable, and good for a beginner looking for a halfway
decent, inexpensive guitar to learn on, but is a far cry from a "real"
Martin. It has a spruce top, laminate rosewood back and sides, is equipped
with a truss rod and copies of Grover tuners.

It cost me $200. It probably cost the importer $100. A real Martin D-28,
made in Pennsylvania retails for $2,300 at Musician's Friend (Guitar
Center).

Samick (based in Korea) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of
musical instruments, including guitars. For a minimum order of 1000
guitars, they will reverse engineer a custom built acoustic (you send them a
guitar) and will manufacture and sell it back to you at about 10 cents on
the dollar compared to your cost to build it here at typical labor costs.
Materials for a quality acoustic guitar (wood, hardware and finish) is less
than 20 percent of the overall cost, unless really exotic tonewoods (like
Brazilian Rosewood) is used. The remainder of the cost is labor.

This is what US builders are faced with in terms of competition. Granted,
the resale value of these imports (if they are known to be imports) is less.

My last comment ... Guitar companies like Martin, Taylor, PRS, Fender and
others have been forced to introduce lower end models manufactured overseas
in order to compete. Even Taylor now has their lower end models, up to and
including the 300 series ... made outside of the USA. The 300 series is
now manufactured in Mexico.

Then again, Grand Banks boats have been built in Singapore for years.

Eisboch

I want to take my dog boating...
 

"mgg" wrote in message
...


wrote in message
...
On Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:26:36 -0800, "mgg" wrote:

Yup! We have an 01' Chevy Tahoe, and an '03 Dodge Ram, and they've had
nothing done to them except fluid changes, brakes (one set each), and
tires.

--Mike

I have an 01 Ford truck and a 97 Honda Prelude that we haven't done
much to. I am not even a fanatic about fluids.
We try to get to the oil once a year or so.
I traded a 85 F150 on the clunker deal that had plenty of life left in
it but the $4500 was an offer I couldn't refuse.

I do think the Japanese drove the US into a push for quality in the
80s, then the Chinese made us race to the bottom since the 90s.
I am not sure anything would have stopped it but trade policies from
the 90s expedited this decline.
The only bright spot is in the boat product business. Salt water makes
cheap junk totally useless in a very short period of time so we still
demand a certain level of quality but we pay for it.

It was do or die for the big 3, that's for sure.

We also have an '88 Mustang (convertible), but it only gets driven about
1000 mi/yr since I married it in '97. g It was my wife's daily driver
until out 1st kid. Now it only comes out of my warehouse in the summer
when it's not too hot. Even a convertible is no fun when It's 100 degrees
outside. Same deal with that car... fluid, brakes, one clutch (5 speed),
and tires. AAMOF, when I had the clutch done at about 120,000 miles, I
told the mechanic, that it was the original clutch. He said that it was
impossible... until he pulled it and saw the markings.

Back in '01 when we bought the Tahoe, the dealer offered us $5,000 for the
car as a trade. It's a black, mustang convertible GT, in very good (not
mint) condition, with 125,000 mi on it. I told him that we'll keep it.
I've been offered 10k for it numerous times. I wouldn't sell it for twice
that... it's a FUN car.

I have no problems with "American made."

--Mike


You guys... I think I have the oldest vehicle here... early 60s Ford F-100.
Works fine, although I rarely use it. It needs a tune up from time to time.

--
Nom=de=Plume

I want to take my dog boating...
 

mgg wrote:


wrote in message
...
On Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:26:36 -0800, "mgg" wrote:

Yup! We have an 01' Chevy Tahoe, and an '03 Dodge Ram, and they've had
nothing done to them except fluid changes, brakes (one set each),
and tires.

--Mike

I have an 01 Ford truck and a 97 Honda Prelude that we haven't done
much to. I am not even a fanatic about fluids.
We try to get to the oil once a year or so.
I traded a 85 F150 on the clunker deal that had plenty of life left in
it but the $4500 was an offer I couldn't refuse.

I do think the Japanese drove the US into a push for quality in the
80s, then the Chinese made us race to the bottom since the 90s.
I am not sure anything would have stopped it but trade policies from
the 90s expedited this decline.
The only bright spot is in the boat product business. Salt water makes
cheap junk totally useless in a very short period of time so we still
demand a certain level of quality but we pay for it.

It was do or die for the big 3, that's for sure.

We also have an '88 Mustang (convertible), but it only gets driven
about 1000 mi/yr since I married it in '97. g It was my wife's daily
driver until out 1st kid. Now it only comes out of my warehouse in the
summer when it's not too hot. Even a convertible is no fun when It's
100 degrees outside. Same deal with that car... fluid, brakes, one
clutch (5 speed), and tires. AAMOF, when I had the clutch done at
about 120,000 miles, I told the mechanic, that it was the original
clutch. He said that it was impossible... until he pulled it and saw
the markings.

Back in '01 when we bought the Tahoe, the dealer offered us $5,000 for
the car as a trade. It's a black, mustang convertible GT, in very good
(not mint) condition, with 125,000 mi on it. I told him that we'll
keep it. I've been offered 10k for it numerous times. I wouldn't sell
it for twice that... it's a FUN car.

I have no problems with "American made."

--Mike
Storing cars is worse than driving them. I know from first-hand experience.

The same is true with boats - back on topic!

Larry