Can someone explain?

[15 Z71]

I did not start this thread to compare Mexican vs American made trucks. Just was not sure how  on the double cabs that are built in fort Wayne for example...chevy and gmc are built on same assembly line with same parts how one would have a better quality over another. That's all.

[duquephart]

Quality and perception of quality are two different things.

[MaverickZ71]

My truck was built in Silao, Mexico on 15 SEPT 2009.  The 5.3L LC9 engine and 6L80E MYC transmission came from America and were shipped to Silao and installed there.  (The logistics and economics on all of that still boggles the mind.  As a patriot, I want ALL American vehicles designed and built here, but in this day and age, that's not going to happen--yet.)

 

I too was a little worried at the time of purchase, about a 'Mexican' truck.  After 8 years, the only problems on my truck have been in relation to the parts built in America.  And there have been NO fit and finish problems. 

 

As a former '96 Impala SS owner, I once saw a video of that production line in Texas.  Most of the line workers were standing around talking, joking, doing pranks, grab-assing, and they seemed peeved when they had to stop and go work on the assembly line for a few seconds as a vehicle came by.  That explained a great deal to me, as that vehicle was a nightmare for both me and my dealer, and ultimately it had more problems than I can easily list here.  

 

The way I see it, working on the assembly line down there in Mexico is a great job and people are waiting in line to work there.  Up here in what's left of America, after the GM bankruptcy, the line workers were all pissed because they lost a lot of concessions on pay, benefits, and retirement, so they are not-so-happy-campers as they used to be. 

 

I have also had good luck with vehicles built in Canada.  So I would not hesitate for a moment to buy an 'American' vehicle with an assembly point in Canada or Mexico; in fact, they might just end up being better vehicles. 

[MaverickZ71]

12 minutes ago, 15 Z71 said:

I did not start this thread to compare Mexican vs American made trucks. Just was not sure how  on the double cabs that are built in fort Wayne for example...chevy and gmc are built on same assembly line with same parts how one would have a better quality over another. That's all.

A few different parts, different plants, different dealers with different prep and follow-up, different perceptions ("GMC is Professional Grade"), different price points--a whole lotta room between a Silverado Work Truck and a Denali.  Besides, your average consumer doesn't realize Chevrolet and GMC both belong to GM.  Hell, for that matter, most of them don't know what General Motors is. 

[duquephart]

14 minutes ago, MaverickZ71 said:

A few different parts, different plants, different dealers with different prep and follow-up, different perceptions ("GMC is Professional Grade"), different price points--a whole lotta room between a Silverado Work Truck and a Denali.  Besides, your average consumer doesn't realize Chevrolet and GMC both belong to GM.  Hell, for that matter, most of them don't know what General Motors is. 

 

Your average consumer can't spell "cat".

[aseibel]

16 hours ago, redwngr said:

2) Maybe GMC owners whine more.

I think this is it. There are more GMC owners who made their purchase thinking they were getting a superior product. When they realize its the same as their neighbor's chevy with a different grille on the front, they are disappointed. Chevy owners know what they are purchasing and are more happy with their decision.

[15 Z71]

I have a 15 Sierra and I will say it has been back to dealer more then my buddies 15 silverado. But I don't whine about it.lol

[energyhog]

With experience in the GM Livonia plant that assembled Northstar engines and machined cranks and heads for GM truck engines, I take exception to any comment that "...they are all the same parts   " for they are not.  The cranks made in Mexico and supplied to us to machine for the 5.3 and the 6.0 torn up our turning laths and grinders so much that the Plant Manager refused to machine them anymore.  His findings were that the material in the cranks from Mexico was inferior to steel in the American made cranks; I saw the damages from trying to machine them while we never had a problem with USA material.  As a fleet buyer for a LA contractor, the Mexican assembled El Camino "trucks" with the V8s never reached 100,000 miles while the USA assembled versions exceeded twice that mileage; all freeway miles but it makes you think.

[Grumpy Bear]

15 hours ago, 3beejay3 said:

Maybe, like much of what's in the 'news' today, the article was just a fabrication.........

Oh that's a pretty fair guess I'd say. Field research isn't something done much anymore. 

[Boardmember]

I've driven multiple Toyota's over the years and currently own three 4Runners that my wife and daughters drive ('09, '12 & '15).

 

the guys that service my vehicles say they can tell the models that are made in Japan (4Runner, Prius, not sure what others).   They told me "they are screwed together differently."

[gilleydog]

#3 have a better reliable rating Mexico trucks are built better i have a 2014 1500 crew cab 51k no problems

[steve76t]

It's an interesting question.  I've seen reviews and shootouts that have made no sense either.  How does a comparable GMC score higher than Chevy in a shootout of the best full sized trucks?  In US News GMC was #2 & only topped by the F-150.  Chevy finished #5 & beat by Ram & Nissan.     https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/full-size-pickup-trucks  

[mct]

I had an 5.3 07 avalanche ltz that was a 100% mexican lemon

 

transfer case failed twice & the transmission failed <36k mi

 

i hope my new sierra goes to 200k+

[SandyNeck]

Just making an observation, but there are a few options that are either only available on the Sierra or installed much more often on Sierra (e.g. MRS, power steps, etc.). However, I'm not sure if those options might be more prone to problems. Also, I believe that Denalis account for a rather significant percentage of Sierras. Being equipped with so many features may amount to more things to potentially go wrong. I'd also consider that they build more Silverados (larger install base), but the Sierras probably tend to be equipped with more options. I think that Denalis account for a larger percentage of Sierras than High Countries do of Silverados. Since they are essentially the same truck, maybe the reliability issues are occurring with the options?

[Coby7]

On 10/24/2017 at 10:44 AM, Donstar said:

There may be some political/economic challenges with the VIN starting in 1.2 or 3 but not quality.  The components, assembly equipment and quality standards would not differ in various plants assembling the same model.

Assembled in Mexico means assembled during siesta, lots of problems accompany stuff made in Mexico.  For instance remember all the cluster problems GM had from 2003 to 2007 in their trucks, made in Mexico all of them.  All the Escalade clusters were made in China, same cluster and I see one of those for repair once in a blue moon.  2 actually in 7 years.  They just don't have the quality control and expertise.