Mexico vs St. Louis?

[BHaden]

My truck was built in Mexico. Excellent quality.

Same here; no problems at all at 17,000+ miles.

 

[Huskerman]

Some folks will try and convince you that if they are built in Mexico they are of lessor quality. I disagree.



Personally, I think you can get a quality truck no matter where it's built. If I had my choice however, it's a tough call between giving my money to the UAW or Mexico.



I have friends and family that are a part of unions and if they had a CHOICE (which most people don't since there aren't that many Right To Work states) they would choose to leave the union.



I won't go into all the reasons why (since this isn't the political forums) but let's just say that it would be hard to imagine that the Mexican govn't is any more corrupt than the unions.



Huskerman

 

[KevinO]

can we get this to a political forum

 

[schv]

This not true at all. If anything, Mexico has even stricter EPA. This information is quoted from an Albuquerque Engineer who worked in Mexico and is familiar with Mexico's EPA. He is a TDR member. I'm hoping he will respond to this and give us more insight of his exceptional knowledge and expertise.

Well, having been to Mexico, I can only say I saw no signs of consideration for the environment given in any aspect, official or civilian. If they have an equivalent to the EPA, it's not very effective. Again though, I have no knowledge of what regulations are enforced on auto manufacturing either in Mexico or the US. Just stating that I had read that somewhere.

 

[DonFitzwater]

This is a political forum! I didn't post it in the engine and trans because all that stuff seems ok.

 

[mgoncalves]

My 02 was built in Mexico, nothing wrong with it, but the paint was orange peel big time. My 06 is a Missouri truck, the bed does not line up with the cab, and when there is a crosswind, the drivers door opens at the top edge making lots of noise. Neither of these problems are a major concern to me, but I think the next truck will be "Hecho en Mexico" just the same.

 

[JRMora]

This is not true at all. If anything, Mexico has even stricter EPA. This information is quoted from an Albuquerque Engineer who worked in Mexico and is familiar with Mexico's EPA. He is a TDR member. I'm hoping he will respond to this and give us more insight of his exceptional knowledge and expertise.

That'd be me. I'm not an expert, but I'll take all the compliments I can get - just ask my wife. (Thanx George!)



I have been involved in new plant start-ups in Mexico (Baja California). When we started our applications for processing permits, the requirements were very similar to the EPA/CA regulations at the time. Mexico is well aware of it's image as a "dirty third world country" (not my quote but what's been posted here in the past) and is trying to clean things up. They do have a ways to go, but most manufacturing facilities built there in the last 20 years are very clean and modern. In fact, some of the factories built in the last 10 years put the old Detriot facilities to shame.



That said, I've never been to Dodge's plant in Saltillo, but I would venture a guess that it's a very modern and clean facility staffed with very capable people. The Mexicans we hired were very hard workers and heavily involved in our kaizen (continuous improvement) efforts and took pride in their contribution to our company.



BTW, our plants were in Tecate and Ensenada (El Sauzal), MX



Juan

 

[DPKetchum]

Just maybe the plant in Saltillo is old and the Mexico plant is much newer. I can imagine with the money lost by D. C. upates to older facilitys being held in tight check. Just maybe the thought of good money/job is exciting to the Mexican worker and the St. Louis plant is what I see as the typlical us worker being hum drum and what goes with such. . Any REAL insight on the plant,moral/attitude of these plants instead of a assumtion on my part as well as others. I could imagine a big differance in assembly with better/smoother working assemy line AND employee attitude in final product with same matierials. My truck has green marker lines in body panals here and there as wellas yellow hand written markers on drive line parts. I've have had not wind noises,same door weatherstrips with no ill fit or wear on them. Neither did my neighbors 03 Mexico plant built truck. Now his 05 has/had some fit issues and in general dosen't seem as well buillt. I 'm NOT sure which plant his was built. I need to look. Also wonder if upon start up of a new line if more effort is put into quality checks and if employee attitude is not more up.

 

[Grizzly]

Just maybe the plant in Saltillo is old and the Mexico plant is much newer... .....

Did you mean, "Just maybe the plant in St. Louis?

 

[Huskerman]

The only Mexicans I have worked with were in a different industry and like most people, they varied according to the individual. However, it's been my experience that they were generally hard working and took a great amount of pride in their work.



As opposed to many of my fellow Americans who believe that something is "owed" to them because they were kind enough to show up for work (albiet late and with many, many smoke breaks).



Huskerman

 

[DPKetchum]

Yea. St. Louis.

 

[Grizzly]

Well, having been to Mexico, I can only say I saw no signs of consideration for the environment given in any aspect, official or civilian. If they have an equivalent to the EPA, it's not very effective. Again though, I have no knowledge of what regulations are enforced on auto manufacturing either in Mexico or the US. Just stating that I had read that somewhere.

I have only been in Juarez, Mexico, a border town just outside of El Paso, so I can not speak for interior Mexico. Border towns will be much dirtier then around Mexico City. When you say you have been in Mexico are you talking about interior Mexico or a dirty border town?

 

[Huskerman]

I have only been in Juarez, Mexico, a border town just outside of El Paso, so I can not speak for interior Mexico. Border towns will be much dirtier then around Mexico City. When you say you have been in Mexico are you talking about interior Mexico or a dirty border town?

Grizzly,



Isn't Juarez the town that has had all the cartel shot-outs recently? I thought I saw a special on HDTV about it.



Huskerman

 

[RustyJC]

They've had their share, but Nuevo Laredo is the real shooting gallery!



Rusty

 

[Huskerman]

They've had their share, but Nuevo Laredo is the real shooting gallery!



Rusty

Rusty,



Nuevo Laredo was the town I was thinking of, I just couldn't remember.



Huskerman

 

[Grizzly]

I have been involved in new plant start-ups in Mexico (Baja California). When we started our applications for processing permits, the requirements were very similar to the EPA/CA regulations at the time. Mexico is well aware of it's image as a "dirty third world country" (not my quote but what's been posted here in the past) and is trying to clean things up. They do have a ways to go, but most manufacturing facilities built there in the last 20 years are very clean and modern. In fact, some of the factories built in the last 10 years put the old Detriot facilities to shame. Juan

Thanks for the assist Juan

 

[schv]

I have only been in Juarez, Mexico, a border town just outside of El Paso, so I can not speak for interior Mexico. Border towns will be much dirtier then around Mexico City. When you say you have been in Mexico are you talking about interior Mexico or a dirty border town?

I've been to Juarez, San Luis (sp? - south of Yuma), Nogales, and Cancun. Even in Cancun, once you're out of the tourist areas, it's pretty bad. I'm not referring to just the poverty either - I can understand that making an area look bad (I work in Baltimore afterall. . ). Just the overall lack of basic infrastructure tells me they have more important things to worry about than whether an employer uses ozone friendly solvents in their paint. Again though, for all I know, they might well have the same or tougher standards for big manufacturers than in the US.

 

[LesStallings]

I really miss having the Hispanic workforce that was available in Las Vegas. We had a great housekeeper. Her husband helped me with yard work. Her brother did some concrete work for us. The kids were great. The family sent money back to Mexico to help them out.



They never were late, they were totally honest, and when we were packing up to move to Tennessee, the husband brought his entire landscaping team over to help us load.



I know there is a comparatively small Hispanic community here in Nashville. I just wish I could find a family that I could count on to help out around the house.



If the Mexican workers at the factory that made my truck are anything like the family that I came to appreciate and greatly respect, they deserve all the accolades this thread has given them.

 

[Grizzly]

I really miss having the Hispanic workforce that was available in Las Vegas. We had a great housekeeper. Her husband helped me with yard work. Her brother did some concrete work for us. The kids were great. The family sent money back to Mexico to help them out.



They never were late, they were totally honest, and when we were packing up to move to Tennessee, the husband brought his entire landscaping team over to help us load.



I know there is a comparatively small Hispanic community here in Nashville. I just wish I could find a family that I could count on to help out around the house.



If the Mexican workers at the factory that made my truck are anything like the family that I came to appreciate and greatly respect, they deserve all the accolades this thread has given them.

Les, that was quite inspiring and good recognition to our neighbors to the south. It seems like lately we just don't give them enough credit. I too have had them work for me and I can attest to their honesty and hard work and you never hear them complain.

 

[Regcabguy]

My mexican truck.

Fit and finish seems super on my '07 as well as my '99. Both were assembled in Saltillo. When I crawl under my '07 I see chalk lines and checks at all fill locations,a sign of quality control precautions.