I was out in El Paso a few weeks ago and was having a few beers one night at this little bar and got to talking with this guy who knew somebody at the plant across the border.
Don't know if half of what he said was true, just thought I'd pass along the two cents I got from him...

 

I was in my local dealers yesterday, and was checking the new LTD they just got in. The last couple LTDs that they had, I had checked the Vin's on them and they were still Canadian, but the one they just got in that I was looking at, was a Mexico unit, first LTD that I had seen that was built Mexico. So it may very well be that they are building them all there now. There was a new 450 sport quad setting next to the LTD that was Canadian, so not sure if the sportys are geting built in mexico yet.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cc1999

I was in my local dealers yesterday, and was checking the new LTD they just got in. The last couple LTDs that they had, I had checked the Vin's on them and they were still Canadian, but the one they just got in that I was looking at, was a Mexico unit, first LTD that I had seen that was built Mexico. So it may very well be that they are building them all there now. There was a new 450 sport quad setting next to the LTD that was Canadian, so not sure if the sportys are geting built in mexico yet.</end quote></div>


AND the Vin's tell where they were made??


Thanks!

 

Why is everyone so concerned about where these things are manufactured? I am not afraid of products coming out of factory's in Mexico.

Is this a "Race" thing? I don't get it.

 

Buy some skids for the frame of the outlander, fact or fiction you will find a bit of threads about a weak frame.
Same can be said about axles on the grizzly

And I love how guys that have no idea how PS works just say its for "Girls" ..just wait all the utes will have it soon.

 

Yes its the vins, if it starts with a 2=Canada a 3=Mexico, same as with cars and trucks, 1=USA 2=Canada 3=Mexico.

No its not a race thing at all, its just a concern for the level of quality control that that can or can't be atained in mexico. I have this notion that the workforce in the Canada or the USA for that matter, might be a little better educated, do to the respective countries education systems. Nothing about race is ment to be implied at all.

 

Won't Can-Am be doing their own quality control? I don't think they are going to build a factory, print a bunch of assembly instructions in Spanish then leave hoping a bunch of ATV's will roll off the line and get shipped out.

Again, I am not afraid of ATV's coming of the line in Mexico. Those guys will do just fine.

Actually, the thing to do would be to find some racist who gets mad and decides to sell his 800 cheap after he finds out it was put together in Mexico. Get a good deal on a nice quad! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cc1999

Yes its the vins, if it starts with a 2=Canada a 3=Mexico, same as with cars and trucks, 1=USA 2=Canada 3=Mexico.



No its not a race thing at all, its just a concern for the level of quality control that that can or can't be atained in mexico. I have this notion that the workforce in the Canada or the USA for that matter, might be a little better educated, do to the respective countries education systems. Nothing about race is ment to be implied at all.</end quote></div>


Excellent information CC! You are absolutely correct, and if its from China: do not buy!! Even products with Western baby sitter companies in China are thrown away after first using them once(!). But a complex transportation vehicle is a safety issue, and not even worth considering. Mexico makes the Rotax motors or assembles them for Bombardier for the DS650. And now Can-Am doesnt' make them. VW had a 100% recall from Mexico made bugs. Europe, South Korea, Taiwan, and Canada are bright spots for manufacturing (India may be ok, but do not know from experience yet). Even Japan (like USA) makes goods in China, so I'm not real thrilled with owning one of their products.

I bet there is a lot of OEM information in the VINS, but where it was made is a great deal of information for a long term owner.


Thank You!

 

I know BRP relocated some canadians to oversee the production, and I am sure there are a lot of quality controll checks in places. I would just feel better about the purchase if it were all built at the same Canadian facility that the 4 other 800s I have purchased in the past were built at.

Reality is I love the Outy platform and now its getting even a more powerfull motor, so I am sure I will have to have one reguardless where it was made. I have had 2 Suburbans that were made in Mexico, the most recent one has been pretty decent, the other one had some problems back in 99, so I guess I am saying its not going to stop me from buying a new 800R, I am just not happy about what BRP did. The vast majority of its customers are here in the states, followed by Canada, I would think that with all the Japaniese competitors building there machines here in the states, and they all do , Honda, Kawi, Suki, and they are able to be competative in the market place that if BRP wanted to build a new factory then it should have been here in the states, if unions were a problem, they easily could have picked a right to work state. Water onder the bridge at this point though, it is what it is, so I am buying an 800R and crossing my fingers that quality is not as big an as issue as I fear it might be. I will have to wait and see.

I have owned all the big bores on the market at one time or another, and nothing comes close to the Outlander. The new 09' 800R just puts it back on top in HP war.

 

You'd be amazed at how many things are made in Mexico, including cars. I agree with Nut. The Can-am's will be just fine coming from Mexico.