Originally Posted By: Mykl
It's a tradition that the Mustang gearbox is made in America,
Yes, which is why they should have used the T-56, which is a USA-made Tremec unit that is also in the Camaro.
Quote:
but it in your eyes it would have been ok to source the part in Germany but not in China? From the standpoint that you may feel that Germans make better mechanical devices this makes sense, as the Germans have a reputation for that. But from the standpoint that it's "tradition" to source the Mustang's gearbox in the USA it's just as bad as China.
I don't think they would have had the issues they are having with the unit if it was a German unit. So if they just "had to go Getrag" they would have got a better piece of equipment from Germany. That said, I still think they should have gone with the Tremec unit, which keeps with tradition and it also happens to be known as being bulletproof. And no, sourcing from China is not the same as sourcing from another first world nation like Germany, Canada, the UK, France....etc. But we don't need to get into that in this thread.
Quote:
You say "there is no reason" like you were sitting in the room when the decisions were being made. Clearly there was a reason, even if we'll never know what it actually was.
Oh come on, get off your high horse. My quote in entirety was using the Mustang's DIRECT COMPETITION, which uses the superior Tremec gearbox, as a qualifier for that statement. Sure, in a vacuum it looks ridiculous, but that statement wasn't made without being qualified, it was made in reference to Ford using that transmission in the past in several cars and the Mustang's competition from GM, sold at a similar price-point, also using it. IN THAT CONTEXT, there is no reason they COULD NOT use the T-56. They CHOSE to not use the T-56 because it likely cost a few dollars more than the Chinese unit. HOWEVER, given the numerous issues they've had with the Chinese unit, the replacements, warranty come-backs....etc, I'm thinking that perhaps the savings weren't what the bean counters had anticipated them to be. In fact, this venture into the land of Chinese gearboxes may have COST Ford money, versus using the US-sourced unit of known quality, and a product the Engineers working on the car were already experienced with along with the dealership tech departments....etc.
Auto makers all have a history of making decisions that seem idiotic to the end user but you know were made by somebody who was able to spin the cost savings in such a way that it looked good on paper. GM's recent ignition switch debacle, Ford's choice of stud material for the exhaust studs on the Modular, the choice of the number of threads in the heads for the 4.6L, 5.4L and 6.8L 2V engines, GM's choice of gasket material that resulted in the Dexcool fiasco, Toyota's frame situation with the Tacoma/Tundra, Ford's rear axle situation with the Windstar....etc. The list is extensive. Ultimately, these cost saving endeavours didn't end up saving money, they COST these companies money because the cheapened part failed and the cost of replacement, to have the revised part produced, installed, the recall performed....etc, was significant. Have you ever changed a head on an F-150 with the 5.4L? Do you know how much book time that is? Do you know the training necessary for the tech to be able to do the job? Do you know how much it costs to manufacture new cylinder heads? It is a heck of a lot more than the few dollars it would have cost to make the deck of the head a bit thicker to allow the same self-center drop-tighten line process for the plugs while increasing the number of threads to beyond 3.
Keep in mind also that market response, particularly to a car like the Mustang, is a big issue when something goes bad. The Mustang and Camaro both have extensive aftermarket followings and part of that ties into your earlier point about them both being a great performance bargain at their price point. HOWEVER, if Ford saddles the Mustang (pardon the pun) with an undesirable gearbox, for somebody on the line who is "into the scene", it is likely to push them into the GM camp and result in a Camaro sale. I know as a Mustang enthusiast, one who has wrenched on my fair share of them, that this is a big turn off for people. This is also why there are swap kits being sold to fit other gearboxes to the car! The aftermarket responds to cater to the community and for those that want the Mustang but want a better gearbox, it can be done. It shouldn't have to be however and it is a significant added expense that the end user/enthusiast shouldn't be on the hook for.
So besides the cost of the recalls, tech training, warranty work...etc one also has to look at the impact on sales.
Ultimately, what may seem like it is going to boost the profit on a vehicle in the boardroom can turn into the opposite situation once the product is out there. And it isn't like Mustangs are driven gently by many of the owners either. Catering to the demographic, making the cars DURABLE, has also been part of its history, which is also why it is surprising that they'd cheapen out on a crucial driveline component when the option to use a product they KNEW they would NOT have problems with was available.
$$$$$$$$$
