Mexico vs St. Louis?

[KevinO]

It's completely sad all you union bashing folks on here. Yes the union's do stand up for the workers. Who do you think we have to thank for the wages and work conditions of today? I will tell you most company's in the USA have to follow rules coming from government in terms of who they hire by diversity and since they only pick by that instead of skills you see what ends up assembling our vehicles and other products. I guess you have to take the good with the bad and hope the good can carry the slugs.

I can also say my last two truck have been built in Saltillo and I am ready to try a new plant to build my next one. My driver window sounds like it is rolled down when I am driving and the wind is blowing over 15 mph. The dash and door panels rattle. Paint is so/so should have had extra sealer put on it at the dealer.

To answer question NO I do not work at the fenton plant. The neighborhood is average middle class right around it and upper middle class not far from it.

 

[DPKetchum]

I know the unions do some good but it was way overboard for many many years. I've been to weekend houseboat partys with Doraville plant workers that were on LAYOFFS collecting over 70% of their pay to guzzle booze and roll another dubie. Sound jealous. You betcha back then. They drove vettes,had house boats and ski boats and BRAGGED about how much money they made working and NOT working. On top of that they were nothing but a bunch of real good ole boys that some had issues signing a check that I had to fill out for them! I was told up front by a t/shirted beer bellied guy after standing in linefor 5 hours that if I DID NOT have a family member,union buddy or such that my application was goingto head to the trash before I even handed it to anybody and I lived withen 5 miles of the plant. I went through that 3 times before I never tried again. I know not all are like that but years later a retired G. M. attorney confirmed that lots were and THEY cost G. M. millons and millons in high paid,poor quality employees. Said that the auto manufactures and UNIONS were sinking themselves because of such. I went to interview in loafers,dress slacks,sweater and tie,young,dumb,20 year old and was shocked at the attitude,apperance and what I was told in those lines back then. I needed to be a h. s. dropout,cracked tooth and a cousin working there that also happened to be my father had to put in a good word for me. THAT was the impression I had back then about Unions and plants. Oh and LIVE in a small N. Ga. town 60 miles away.

 

[tandersen]

I have had 3 Dodges built in Mexico and all were good. Not bashing the union, just the facts.

 

[george]

This may be a stupid question but, how can you tell where your truck was built?

 

[KParsons]

06 st

i only have 5k miles on my 06. no problems yet. it was made in mexico,this was my first dodge. kp

 

[Jaysyl]

I thought all the 3rd gen 2500 and 3500s were built in Mexico? No?

 

[DonFitzwater]

Most trucks have stickers on the drivers window denoting where they were built. The door sticker will tell you where it came from also.

 

[MFalkinham]

My previous '92 and current '03 were both built in Mexico, and I have zero complaints about either one. Their build quality was excellent all around.

My '98 was built in St. Louis, and so far I'm impressed with it although I haven't owned it for very long. Time will tell if it can hold a candle to it's southern siblings.

 

[Gene Heck]

I'm not bashing anyone just telling it as it is. I've had four and the first one I had, an 01 was made in Mo. The other 3, an 02, 04 and a 96 were all built in Mexico. The finish was okay on the Mo. truck but the door fit was terrible from side to side. Also the bed gap was different from side to side. Not to long after I traded it the trans went out. It was never bombed. I also had heard the rear went about 6 months later and the guy sold it. He was a salesman where I bought it. The 02 and 04 were both good and my 96 that I bought about a year ago is good except that it could use a paint job because of neglect. The paint on the roof and hood never was waxed much. But what the heck. I'd rather have a old Ram with bad paint than a new one of them other 4 letter wannabees.

Gene



The 01, 02 and 04 were quad cabs. The 96 is a clubcab

 

[KevinO]

How can most compare their truck to one's built in saint louis since most heavy duty's are built in mexico? You would have to get on a half ton web site and compare their problems in non drivetrain problems. I do not agree with them getting most of their pay when they are off for months at a time but that was something they negotiated for when times were good (sales) and they were only down for retooling for the new model year.

 

[georgej]

My mexican built 96 club cab was fine but I was hesitant to buy a quad cab thinking it would not be as solid. The 01 quad built in St Louis is every bit as solid at 100k as the 96 was at 40k!

 

[RCarrillo]

If Greg is Goose from Tustin, Let me know. I concur w/ the Mexican Quality !

RikaRio

 

[george]

Most trucks have stickers on the drivers window denoting where they were built. The door sticker will tell you where it came from also.

Looking at my 11 year old window sticker, it says Assembly Point/port of entry: Fenton Missouri

 

[Grizzly]

This may be a stupid question but, how can you tell where your truck was built?

If you find pieces of tortilla and taco warping under the seats, it was made in ??????, you guessed it. :-laf

 

[DPKetchum]

What radio station was playing? Drivers side door tag and window sticker if I'm not mistaked. Says what plant assembly took place.

 

[george]

If you find pieces of tortilla and taco warping under the seats, it was made in ??????, you guessed it. :-laf

That wouldn't tell me where it was made, those things may have been from me since I love Mexican food :-laf :-laf

 

[Grizzly]

That wouldn't tell me where it was made, those things may have been from me since I love Mexican food :-laf :-laf

Well I do too. Seriously, look at the VIN number. If it starts with a:



1. US built.

2. Canada built

3. Mexico built.

 

[SMorneau]

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.

Doesn't matter how tough the laws are written if they are selectively enforced by a totaly corrupt goverment. Does it?

 

[Jeepr]

I won't try to dispute or confirm the findings of quality one way or the other between the plants. While I live in St Louis, my truck was made in Mexico



They did start building CTD's in 2006 here in STL.



I do want to comment on the suggestion that St Louis is crime ridden and thugs are building the trucks. That's a bad inference drawn from ONE unofficial... and even at that, those statistics are for the CITY of St. Louis. The metro area as a whole wasn't even in the top rankings in those statistics. The Chrysler plant(s) (truck and minivan are next to each other) are located in the suburbs probably 20 miles from the city limit. I live about 2 miles from the plants. EVERY city has it's bad areas... good luck denying that. That should not reflect on an entire metro, their people, or the products they produce.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I got a response back today from a guy named Wayne at the customer service center. Basically what I expected. "We regret to read that you are not happy with your product and have forwarded your complaint to the appropriate department. Thanks for your input as this is how we correct things in the future. Please shop for a new Dodge product at Dodge.com" Well, you can bet your butt I'll buy another Dodge but I'll make sure it's made in Mexico! I actually drove by the Dodge dealer today at lunch and did a quick survey of the lot and wouldn't you know it, I could pick out the trucks made in St. Louis without even looking at the window sticker! Same stuff as my truck, uneven body gaps and bad paint around the rockers. I'm going to keep pestering them even though it will get me nowhere... ... ... ... ... . As far as the unions go, I'd rather give my money to a hard working,Mexican,Daimler Chrysler employee that builds a good product and supplies me with my moneys worth. As far as managment goes with the unions, they should all be fired with minimal severance pay and run out of town. The days of an honest days wages for an honest days work are long gone in St. Louis... ... ... ... ... ... . To be continued!