Jeremy Loc: America

Not quite sure what you mean but the transmission is usually the weak point in factory vehicles.

The misconception when some buy a regular 150 or 1500 250 or 2500 350 or 3500 series type truck is that the Cummins in line 6 cylinder is the ( was at this point ) same engine that large Tractor ( Large Commercial Truck ) engine was because it is a Cummins. They are a production vehicle designed for much lighter duty use. Same with other Pickup powertrains. They are good but not some super duper duty machine. Ignoring their needs will be apparent rather quickly ( oil, coolant etc. ) some still think gear oil never should be updated. The additives in chemicals are what lose their effectiveness in time and heat.

Jeremy Loc: America

They want you to buy new equipment constantly so the executives can golf or go fishing. They invest in engineering their products to intentionally need replacement. I think all of them do. I had a 1988 Ford Taurus wagon. I took my family to Tahoe for my cousin's wedding and some other time away from work many years ago. Well we fueled up in Redding California. I started the car after it was full of go juice and put the vehicle in drive. It free revved as if the vehicle was in park or neutral. I shut it off and tried the process again. The vehicle drove out of the gas station. a block later it started spinning free again.

I called trans shops they all had a 2-3 week backlog of work. I found out there was a recall ( 10 years is all they do ) for the plastic piston Ford intentionally used in the AOD hydraulic valve body that splits and cracks. The vehicle was just over 10 years old. The repair is metal piston and they ran pretty much forever with good maintenance. That is done so we consumers will buy more cars. I usually avoid things that I realize are like this true scenario if at all possible in the future. Many of todays transmissions are more electronically controlled because of reliability. Electric components are usually very reliable.

Locomotives are Electric motors and can haul huge amounts of weight long distances. I think If electric cars evolve into being closer to the locomotive ( railroad ) then the argument as to which is better will be over with proven results. Some vehicles are already similar to a locomotive just a smaller design and that is how they can get 50 MPG.

smitty Loc: maine

one thing 2 remember; all business exists 2 make a profit. some r good some are not. big biz, corporate has stockholders 2 answer 2. $ is all they r interested in. found that out the hard way 30 yrs ago. vowed 2 myself i'd never work for a publically traded co ever again. mony dont matter if your miserable.