Hi. I'm in the market for a new van and have discovered that many van have their chassis, walls, roof, floor made in China and assembled here.
They are $10-$15,000 less on average.
I guess it comes down to what you can afford but what do you reckon - spend the extra to get a 'Supreme', 'Evernew', 'JB Caravans'?
Or is the Chinese stuff good enough (if assembled well)?
Cheers, Noel
86GTS said
03:13 PM Sep 25, 2022
Wouldn't buy a Chinese caravan or car on principle.
Mike Harding said
03:30 PM Sep 25, 2022
86GTS wrote:
Wouldn't buy a Chinese caravan or car on principle.
Do you apply that principle to all products or is it solely caravans and cars?
Whenarewethere said
03:51 PM Sep 25, 2022
They probably still have asbestos in vehicles.
It is difficult not to buy Chinese. My Pirelli AT Plus tyres are made in China.
Our Birko 750 watt kettle (ideal low load for caravans) is made in China.
My Sony phone is made in Japan but the packaging is made in China & was shipped from Hong Kong. So you can't win!
Whenarewethere said
04:04 PM Sep 25, 2022
Looking at my Bosch tools. Made in Germany, Romania, Malaysia & China. Bosch batteries from Germany & Malaysia.
Cuppa said
05:04 PM Sep 25, 2022
Everyone has their views. If I were needing to make the choice you have I would be looking very closely at the workmanship of both Chinese made & locally made. Some local stuff is not that great. Look at the quality of the finish, but check other things like wire sizes & how they are terminated, quality of the welding etc. I don't know what you'll find but you might think that the quality of 'cheaper Chinese' might be something which concerns many buyers. If that were so the Australian sellers will either try to avoid being open about it, or may go out of their way to show you there is not reason for concern. Treat the former with great suspicion.
I know a chap who bought a Chinese made camper trailer. Two years after bought it, following several problematic trips & after he had had completed a great deal of re-welding plus rewired the whole thing he though he had a CT worth having.
86GTS said
05:26 PM Sep 25, 2022
Mike Harding wrote:
86GTS wrote:
Wouldn't buy a Chinese caravan or car on principle.
Do you apply that principle to all products or is it solely caravans and cars?
Large high cost items only DH.
deverall11 said
05:29 PM Sep 25, 2022
As from the advent of the pandemic, I no longer buy anything from China. Having said that there are
lots of goods in retail shops etc that come from China. At least someone in Australia is making a living.
If I have a choice, I avoid anything built in China.
I laugh at all those who drive in a new MG. It's made in China not the English car we grew up with.
I loath those who drive a Haval, Cherry etc. If you must buy an cheap SUV, buy a KIA.
Mike Harding said
05:38 PM Sep 25, 2022
86GTS wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
86GTS wrote:
Wouldn't buy a Chinese caravan or car on principle.
Do you apply that principle to all products or is it solely caravans and cars?
Large high cost items only DH.
So it's not a principle then... but rather a selective choice.
Whenarewethere said
06:15 PM Sep 25, 2022
deverall11 wrote:
.... I avoid anything built in China. I laugh at all those who drive in a new MG. ....
Or Volvo which the Chinese took over in 2010.
My Land Rover which is owned by an Indian company since 2008 was built in 2013 designed by Ford, has some Volvo parts.
India & China kill each other over border disagreement, but at least agree on car parts!
86GTS said
06:23 PM Sep 25, 2022
Mike Harding wrote:
86GTS wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
86GTS wrote:
Wouldn't buy a Chinese caravan or car on principle.
Do you apply that principle to all products or is it solely caravans and cars?
Large high cost items only DH.
So it's not a principle then... but rather a selective choice.
A considered intelligent opinion. Unfortunately you're not bright enough to understand DH.
Are We Lost said
09:21 PM Sep 25, 2022
If a reputable company oversees production quality I believe China has the capability to make quality goods. I take the approach to buy goods manufuctured elsewhere on principle... but that principle is grey, not black and white and my perception of value for money has a big say. It's like in the supermarket I will pay a little extra just because something is made in Australia and if I believe the quality is better. But there is a limit to how much. I still struggle with the supermarket deli bacon that is "made from at least 18% Australian product". I wonder which part of the pig lived here.... the water that is added, the salt and smoke flavour and the packaging? There are many products like that. I don't understand why there is not more focus on a "made in Australia" logo that actually means something.
Bringinging it back to the subject ...
I have a Grandcruiser van now 10 years or so old. The panels (and chassis?) were made in China and imported flat packed for local assembly. The quality is excellent. Some Grandcruisers were fully manufactured and assembled in China and I have heard some tales of abysmal quality.
So to answer NoelB's question, I would be assessing how well you think the local company oversees the quality and manages the final build, and would not be put off just because the components were manufactured there. Then decide how much extra you are prepared to contribute to help keep an Australian business alive, or to avoid paying money to China.
-- Edited by Are We Lost on Sunday 25th of September 2022 09:25:00 PM
Whenarewethere said
06:50 AM Sep 26, 2022
I think if Western countries hold chinese hands & show them how things are made properly then there is no issue with the finished product.
The West can can utilise the underpaid slave labour to its advantage.
For example I have a FujiXerox C2255 duplex printer with other additional features bought a decade ago & it still works perfectly ok.
Designed & managed by people who know how to do everything properly & use the slave labour of the chinese to build a good product.
The West simply needs to tell the Chinese how to make things to our standards.
Don't buy products built to the chinese standards.
Buy products built by slaves which meat ISO criteria.
Possum3 said
07:24 AM Sep 26, 2022
To answer the OP's question: It is not a matter of Australian, Chinese or Calathumpian; The quality of the "Build" and the "Integrity" of the Dealer (who is ultimately responsible for rectification of all defects and ACL Compliance).
Noel, may I suggest you familiarise yourself with the Technical Reports and Buyer Checklists that are available at absolutely no cost on Caravan Council of Australia Website see: www.caravancouncil.com.au/
If the budget can stretch to Trackmaster, Evernew, Kedron; Thats the safest option but these caravans are heavy and beyond the towing capacity of most "Utes", particularly if you order a van with ensuite and all the bells and whistles.
We have an (6.3 meter) Evernew : It is luxurious and very comfortable (a house on wheels) and we are very happy with our choice. Only problems experienced has been driver error induced snagging awning on a post whilst turning.
-- Edited by Possum3 on Monday 26th of September 2022 04:43:10 PM
NoelB said
08:08 AM Sep 26, 2022
Thank you for all your perspectives.
Cassie63 said
09:44 AM Sep 26, 2022
Dont forget Bushtracker made in QLD Kunda Park
deverall11 said
11:12 AM Sep 26, 2022
Are We Lost wrote:
If a reputable company oversees production quality I believe China has the capability to make quality goods. ...
-- Edited by Are We Lost on Sunday 25th of September 2022 09:25:00 PM
It's called 'manufacturing under license'. Many companies have been doing so over the years. I remember back in the 80's when some IBM
equipment had 'Made In Mexico'. The theory being that quality is not compromised 'under license' but advantage is gained
via the use of cheaper labour. So long as the checks and balances are in place it should be OK. Still would not buy a Chinese MG.
That brand is sacred - not to be cannibalized.
dogbox said
12:01 PM Sep 26, 2022
after WW2 Japan was on its knees they started to clone American goods they were cheap and nasty , they now produce goods of quality an we are prepared to pay for the quality .
the quality of Chinese goods and materials is improving an that is why most of our heavy manufacturing has moved overseas , not just to China but other Asian countries , some still rely on cheap labor/infrastructure costs but as the quality improves it becomes less of a factor
Cupie said
12:03 PM Sep 26, 2022
I can add a few first or perhaps second hand stories of Chinese manufacturing quality failures.
My Daughter purchased a top of the line local Camper Trailer with all the Mod Cons (hint) which was made in China & assembled/ fitted out here in Brissy. It was a great RV & they had no troubles but only had it for a few years & sold it looking & performing just like new. All good so far.
I took my GQ, Made in Japan, Patrol to a bayside mechanic to fix a persistently weeping rear oil seal. That started a conversation about one of his staple jobs. Fixing China made axels on boat trailers, rusted out well before their time because of poor quality materials. I think that he frequently fitted sleeves, something that we were considering for my axel, that somewhere along the line had been machined too deeply (Perhaps when I had it 'fixed' at about 80,000Km). Anyway, to solve the problem he sourced a selected second hand Jap axel & end stuff. Been great since.
Then my SiL was working in Engineering on the Darling Downs Gas fields. One of their primary jobs was supplying & fitting off pipe casing for drill holes. The pipe was produced in China and delivered in massive quantities. They then fitted it off with threads connectors et al. to suit the various requirements & standards.
The quality of the pipes, made to their specs was initially good but after the contract & delivery processes were well established, the quality slowly dropped off to the point where they were forced to go down the path of establishing their own factory in China. That came to a screaming halt because of the restrictions placed on Foreigners attempting to establish businesses in China.
Not sure how it ended up as the SiL moved to a local Brissy job.
Back to the original question. We avoid any Chinese stuff that we can, doable with food stuffs but very hard for manufactured goods. With all the choice WRT Caravans, it may be possible. I'd try to buy Aussie made if I could. If not, then Aussie assembled.
-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 26th of September 2022 12:09:39 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 26th of September 2022 12:15:26 PM
Mamil said
01:04 PM Sep 26, 2022
As others have said, it's not as simple as Chinese versus local. It's about the quality of materials used, the skill of the tradesman, quality control processes, and after sales service - no matter where it's made.
I used to work for an Australian company who made boats in China and I have to say I was in awe of the skill of the Chinese welders and carpenters, especially considering they worked twelve hour shifts six days a week for a tenth of what Australian tradesmen are paid.
Meanwhile I recently bought a camper trailer from an Australian company who make a big deal of their 'Australian Made' credentials but the quality of the welding was appalling, and I later found out they'd taken on a lot of new inexperienced staff and bumped up production (and prices) to take advantage of the Covid boom in camper sales. Plain greed on their part with no consideration for the customer, or their long term reputation.
The conundrum, of course, is that it's more difficult to scrutinise the production processes when they are half way around the world, and by the time it hits the showroom in Australia inferior materials and bad construction techniques are much more difficult to spot. We used to invite potential boat buyers to inspect the factory in China before they placed an order, but that's easier to justify with a million dollar boat than a caravan costing a tenth of that! So, you just have to do your due diligence - inspect the finished product with a fine tooth comb, ask probing questions of the dealer about materials used, construction techniques, and talk to owners about common problems and after sales service.
One thing I'd add is that even with the well made Chinese product they tend to be heavier as it's easier and cheaper to overbuild for strength than it is to design for strength AND lightness (it was the same in the boating industry). It also tends to be more difficult to get spares, parts and repairs done as the factory is over the other side of the world and the importer/dealer has little control over parts. You need to factor that in when you look at the price saving and decide for yourself whether it's worth it. Having been burnt with a European made caravan that was too expensive to repair after a minor accident because of unavailability and price of spare parts, that's why I went for Australian built this time around, but I have to say the design and quality of build was much inferior to my European caravan!
-- Edited by Mamil on Monday 26th of September 2022 01:11:53 PM
bgt said
01:21 PM Sep 26, 2022
Something no one has mentioned. Backup. Doesn't matter where it's made if they don't back it up then a barbed wire canoe up a certain creek comes to mind.
Magnarc said
02:09 PM Sep 26, 2022
Avoiding Chinese made these days is nigh on impossible. We avoid anything electrical if we can and there is absolutely no way that we would buy a Chinese made vehicle no matter how well it is made or the price. When they lift their tariffs on our goods then, maybe. No forget that last word, I am far too old to change my Paj it will surely see me out!
There are some country's ruling elite that cannot handle criticism of any kind, even when they are obviously doing the wrong thing. Skins as soft as a Peach. Their expansion into the islands should be a warning to every pacific nation.
86GTS said
06:36 PM Sep 26, 2022
Magnarc wrote:
Avoiding Chinese made these days is nigh on impossible. We avoid anything electrical if we can and there is absolutely no way that we would buy a Chinese made vehicle no matter how well it is made or the price. When they lift their tariffs on our goods then, maybe. No forget that last word, I am far too old to change my Paj it will surely see me out!
There are some country's ruling elite that cannot handle criticism of any kind, even when they are obviously doing the wrong thing. Skins as soft as a Peach. Their expansion into the islands should be a warning to every pacific nation.
Totally agree.
Calling their product the iconic name of Snowy River attracts buyers.
Yangtze River Caravsns wouldn't really cut it with Aussie buyers.
Maybe we should go the way of many other countries & patent our iconic names, the same way that we can no longer call our fortified wine Port, now called Tawny.
It was a sad day when China bought the iconic British brand MG & now make rubbish vehicles with that badge on the front of them.
-- Edited by 86GTS on Monday 26th of September 2022 07:34:24 PM
Warren-Pat_01 said
08:46 PM Sep 26, 2022
I remember in the early 90s when Australian companies were racing to the starting line to have their goods manufactured in China & it was supported by the government!!
Washing machines with the exception of three are all made in China & two of those are Korean. I look at some of the names that we are approaching & wonder is it a knock-down caravan. Mike is certainly pleased with his.
I prefer not to buy a van built in Asia but most of our spare parts are made there.
peter67 said
09:35 AM Sep 27, 2022
Spare me the over the top fervour for the old traditional MG. I worked in panel and paint shops my whole life and spent a large part of that time on hands and knees repairing endless acres of rust eaten panel work. The new Chinese MG's are streets ahead in terms of quality and I'll bet the workers don't strike at the drop of a hat either...
dogbox said
10:27 AM Sep 27, 2022
if we didn't keep buying the stuff from overseas we would not be having this discussion , when it comes to buying stuff most of us have spoken with our wallets
Greg 1 said
01:24 PM Sep 27, 2022
As previously mentioned, there are various levels of quality when it comes to Chinese goods.
If Australian firms demand a certain quality level the Chinese can and do meet it.
An example is Aluminium extrusions of which I had a lot to do with.
The Chinese product was streets ahead of anything produced in this country and there are a number of reasons for that on a technical level.
So you can buy decent product at a good price, but you must demand that the quality is a certain standard or you will get the junk.
Buying on principle. Well that is up to you and where you personally draw the line.
I am highly amused at certain people though whose principles seem to have limited boundaries like a friend of mine.
He always maintained that he would never buy a Japanese car because of WW2 but happily drove around in his Mercedes, even after I reminded him that what the Nazis did in WW2 made the atrocities committed by the Japanese pale by comparison. So if he was bothered by all of that, German cars should not be on his radar either.
But I guess we all have our own moral compass and a need to follow that.
Geeco said
02:02 PM Sep 27, 2022
I agree with Greg 1 the Chinese can build excellent quality. I also was involved in importing aluminium extrusions, stainless steel castings and toughened glass in a previous life. The secret is to have regular factory audits/visits, specify the standard you want and be prepared to allow the factory to make a fair profit. If you demand a super low price they will not disappoint but the quality probably will. Caravans are a commodity like everything else so the quality/price rule applies. In my experience a fair percentage of the components in AU made vans are made in China.
-- Edited by Geeco on Tuesday 27th of September 2022 02:04:10 PM
86GTS said
02:32 PM Sep 27, 2022
peter67 wrote:
Spare me the over the top fervour for the old traditional MG. I worked in panel and paint shops my whole life and spent a large part of that time on hands and knees repairing endless acres of rust eaten panel work. The new Chinese MG's are streets ahead in terms of quality and I'll bet the workers don't strike at the drop of a hat either...
What you've described is par for the course for any classic cars not just MG.
How can you possibly compare a car manufactured in the 60's with a car made in 2022?
A member of my family bought a new SangYong, yes I know that they aren't Chinese, he was towing a lightweight euro caravan on bitumen & the chassis snapped in half.
A total write off.
-- Edited by 86GTS on Tuesday 27th of September 2022 02:37:04 PM
Izabarack said
05:37 PM Sep 27, 2022
Geeco wrote:
the Chinese can build excellent quality.
Jut bought the co-driver a MG ZS. Cheap as chips. I've been all over it and very happy with what I can see. 7 year warrenty and a further 3 years limited suggests the bits I cannot see are of sufficient quality.
Best Solar Panels are all made in China. Basically the quality of the finished product comes down to the Quality Control procedures and standards to be accepted. Nephew had some stuff made over there a couple of years ago and he focussed on the acceptance testing and procedures before writing the contract. Never been any issues with the product delivered.
Hi. I'm in the market for a new van and have discovered that many van have their chassis, walls, roof, floor made in China and assembled here.
They are $10-$15,000 less on average.
I guess it comes down to what you can afford but what do you reckon - spend the extra to get a 'Supreme', 'Evernew', 'JB Caravans'?
Or is the Chinese stuff good enough (if assembled well)?
Cheers, Noel
Do you apply that principle to all products or is it solely caravans and cars?
They probably still have asbestos in vehicles.
It is difficult not to buy Chinese. My Pirelli AT Plus tyres are made in China.
Our Birko 750 watt kettle (ideal low load for caravans) is made in China.
My Sony phone is made in Japan but the packaging is made in China & was shipped from Hong Kong. So you can't win!
Looking at my Bosch tools. Made in Germany, Romania, Malaysia & China. Bosch batteries from Germany & Malaysia.
Everyone has their views. If I were needing to make the choice you have I would be looking very closely at the workmanship of both Chinese made & locally made. Some local stuff is not that great. Look at the quality of the finish, but check other things like wire sizes & how they are terminated, quality of the welding etc. I don't know what you'll find but you might think that the quality of 'cheaper Chinese' might be something which concerns many buyers. If that were so the Australian sellers will either try to avoid being open about it, or may go out of their way to show you there is not reason for concern. Treat the former with great suspicion.
I know a chap who bought a Chinese made camper trailer. Two years after bought it, following several problematic trips & after he had had completed a great deal of re-welding plus rewired the whole thing he though he had a CT worth having.
Large high cost items only DH.
lots of goods in retail shops etc that come from China. At least someone in Australia is making a living.
If I have a choice, I avoid anything built in China.
I laugh at all those who drive in a new MG. It's made in China not the English car we grew up with.
I loath those who drive a Haval, Cherry etc. If you must buy an cheap SUV, buy a KIA.
So it's not a principle then... but rather a selective choice.
Or Volvo which the Chinese took over in 2010.
My Land Rover which is owned by an Indian company since 2008 was built in 2013 designed by Ford, has some Volvo parts.
India & China kill each other over border disagreement, but at least agree on car parts!
A considered intelligent opinion. Unfortunately you're not bright enough to understand DH.
If a reputable company oversees production quality I believe China has the capability to make quality goods. I take the approach to buy goods manufuctured elsewhere on principle... but that principle is grey, not black and white and my perception of value for money has a big say. It's like in the supermarket I will pay a little extra just because something is made in Australia and if I believe the quality is better. But there is a limit to how much. I still struggle with the supermarket deli bacon that is "made from at least 18% Australian product". I wonder which part of the pig lived here.... the water that is added, the salt and smoke flavour and the packaging? There are many products like that. I don't understand why there is not more focus on a "made in Australia" logo that actually means something.
Bringinging it back to the subject ...
I have a Grandcruiser van now 10 years or so old. The panels (and chassis?) were made in China and imported flat packed for local assembly. The quality is excellent. Some Grandcruisers were fully manufactured and assembled in China and I have heard some tales of abysmal quality.
So to answer NoelB's question, I would be assessing how well you think the local company oversees the quality and manages the final build, and would not be put off just because the components were manufactured there. Then decide how much extra you are prepared to contribute to help keep an Australian business alive, or to avoid paying money to China.
-- Edited by Are We Lost on Sunday 25th of September 2022 09:25:00 PM
I think if Western countries hold chinese hands & show them how things are made properly then there is no issue with the finished product.
The West can can utilise the underpaid slave labour to its advantage.
For example I have a FujiXerox C2255 duplex printer with other additional features bought a decade ago & it still works perfectly ok.
Designed & managed by people who know how to do everything properly & use the slave labour of the chinese to build a good product.
The West simply needs to tell the Chinese how to make things to our standards.
Don't buy products built to the chinese standards.
Buy products built by slaves which meat ISO criteria.
To answer the OP's question: It is not a matter of Australian, Chinese or Calathumpian; The quality of the "Build" and the "Integrity" of the Dealer (who is ultimately responsible for rectification of all defects and ACL Compliance).
Noel, may I suggest you familiarise yourself with the Technical Reports and Buyer Checklists that are available at absolutely no cost on Caravan Council of Australia Website see: www.caravancouncil.com.au/
If the budget can stretch to Trackmaster, Evernew, Kedron; Thats the safest option but these caravans are heavy and beyond the towing capacity of most "Utes", particularly if you order a van with ensuite and all the bells and whistles.
We have an (6.3 meter) Evernew : It is luxurious and very comfortable (a house on wheels) and we are very happy with our choice. Only problems experienced has been driver error induced snagging awning on a post whilst turning.
-- Edited by Possum3 on Monday 26th of September 2022 04:43:10 PM
It's called 'manufacturing under license'. Many companies have been doing so over the years. I remember back in the 80's when some IBM
equipment had 'Made In Mexico'. The theory being that quality is not compromised 'under license' but advantage is gained
via the use of cheaper labour. So long as the checks and balances are in place it should be OK. Still would not buy a Chinese MG.
That brand is sacred - not to be cannibalized.
the quality of Chinese goods and materials is improving an that is why most of our heavy manufacturing has moved overseas , not just to China but other Asian countries , some still rely on cheap labor/infrastructure costs but as the quality improves it becomes less of a factor
I can add a few first or perhaps second hand stories of Chinese manufacturing quality failures.
My Daughter purchased a top of the line local Camper Trailer with all the Mod Cons (hint) which was made in China & assembled/ fitted out here in Brissy. It was a great RV & they had no troubles but only had it for a few years & sold it looking & performing just like new. All good so far.
I took my GQ, Made in Japan, Patrol to a bayside mechanic to fix a persistently weeping rear oil seal. That started a conversation about one of his staple jobs. Fixing China made axels on boat trailers, rusted out well before their time because of poor quality materials. I think that he frequently fitted sleeves, something that we were considering for my axel, that somewhere along the line had been machined too deeply (Perhaps when I had it 'fixed' at about 80,000Km). Anyway, to solve the problem he sourced a selected second hand Jap axel & end stuff. Been great since.
Then my SiL was working in Engineering on the Darling Downs Gas fields. One of their primary jobs was supplying & fitting off pipe casing for drill holes. The pipe was produced in China and delivered in massive quantities. They then fitted it off with threads connectors et al. to suit the various requirements & standards.
The quality of the pipes, made to their specs was initially good but after the contract & delivery processes were well established, the quality slowly dropped off to the point where they were forced to go down the path of establishing their own factory in China. That came to a screaming halt because of the restrictions placed on Foreigners attempting to establish businesses in China.
Not sure how it ended up as the SiL moved to a local Brissy job.
Back to the original question. We avoid any Chinese stuff that we can, doable with food stuffs but very hard for manufactured goods. With all the choice WRT Caravans, it may be possible. I'd try to buy Aussie made if I could. If not, then Aussie assembled.
-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 26th of September 2022 12:09:39 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 26th of September 2022 12:15:26 PM
As others have said, it's not as simple as Chinese versus local. It's about the quality of materials used, the skill of the tradesman, quality control processes, and after sales service - no matter where it's made.
I used to work for an Australian company who made boats in China and I have to say I was in awe of the skill of the Chinese welders and carpenters, especially considering they worked twelve hour shifts six days a week for a tenth of what Australian tradesmen are paid.
Meanwhile I recently bought a camper trailer from an Australian company who make a big deal of their 'Australian Made' credentials but the quality of the welding was appalling, and I later found out they'd taken on a lot of new inexperienced staff and bumped up production (and prices) to take advantage of the Covid boom in camper sales. Plain greed on their part with no consideration for the customer, or their long term reputation.
The conundrum, of course, is that it's more difficult to scrutinise the production processes when they are half way around the world, and by the time it hits the showroom in Australia inferior materials and bad construction techniques are much more difficult to spot. We used to invite potential boat buyers to inspect the factory in China before they placed an order, but that's easier to justify with a million dollar boat than a caravan costing a tenth of that! So, you just have to do your due diligence - inspect the finished product with a fine tooth comb, ask probing questions of the dealer about materials used, construction techniques, and talk to owners about common problems and after sales service.
One thing I'd add is that even with the well made Chinese product they tend to be heavier as it's easier and cheaper to overbuild for strength than it is to design for strength AND lightness (it was the same in the boating industry). It also tends to be more difficult to get spares, parts and repairs done as the factory is over the other side of the world and the importer/dealer has little control over parts. You need to factor that in when you look at the price saving and decide for yourself whether it's worth it. Having been burnt with a European made caravan that was too expensive to repair after a minor accident because of unavailability and price of spare parts, that's why I went for Australian built this time around, but I have to say the design and quality of build was much inferior to my European caravan!
-- Edited by Mamil on Monday 26th of September 2022 01:11:53 PM
Avoiding Chinese made these days is nigh on impossible. We avoid anything electrical if we can and there is absolutely no way that we would buy a Chinese made vehicle no matter how well it is made or the price. When they lift their tariffs on our goods then, maybe. No forget that last word, I am far too old to change my Paj it will surely see me out!
There are some country's ruling elite that cannot handle criticism of any kind, even when they are obviously doing the wrong thing. Skins as soft as a Peach. Their expansion into the islands should be a warning to every pacific nation.
Totally agree.
Calling their product the iconic name of Snowy River attracts buyers.
Yangtze River Caravsns wouldn't really cut it with Aussie buyers.
Maybe we should go the way of many other countries & patent our iconic names, the same way that we can no longer call our fortified wine Port, now called Tawny.
It was a sad day when China bought the iconic British brand MG & now make rubbish vehicles with that badge on the front of them.
-- Edited by 86GTS on Monday 26th of September 2022 07:34:24 PM
Washing machines with the exception of three are all made in China & two of those are Korean. I look at some of the names that we are approaching & wonder is it a knock-down caravan. Mike is certainly pleased with his.
I prefer not to buy a van built in Asia but most of our spare parts are made there.
I agree with Greg 1 the Chinese can build excellent quality. I also was involved in importing aluminium extrusions, stainless steel castings and toughened glass in a previous life. The secret is to have regular factory audits/visits, specify the standard you want and be prepared to allow the factory to make a fair profit. If you demand a super low price they will not disappoint but the quality probably will. Caravans are a commodity like everything else so the quality/price rule applies. In my experience a fair percentage of the components in AU made vans are made in China.
-- Edited by Geeco on Tuesday 27th of September 2022 02:04:10 PM
What you've described is par for the course for any classic cars not just MG.
How can you possibly compare a car manufactured in the 60's with a car made in 2022?
A member of my family bought a new SangYong, yes I know that they aren't Chinese, he was towing a lightweight euro caravan on bitumen & the chassis snapped in half.
A total write off.
-- Edited by 86GTS on Tuesday 27th of September 2022 02:37:04 PM
Jut bought the co-driver a MG ZS. Cheap as chips. I've been all over it and very happy with what I can see. 7 year warrenty and a further 3 years limited suggests the bits I cannot see are of sufficient quality.
Best Solar Panels are all made in China. Basically the quality of the finished product comes down to the Quality Control procedures and standards to be accepted. Nephew had some stuff made over there a couple of years ago and he focussed on the acceptance testing and procedures before writing the contract. Never been any issues with the product delivered.