We can't even make a rubber hose properly anymore, it is unbelievable.

It has been the case for years 20? More?
But factories can and do make quality hoses.Just buy heater hose off the roll, it is great. Get some hoses off a new car, or OEM stuff, lovely (a friend had access to all sorts of VW and Nissan hoses, left over when he fitted replacement engines into forklifts, some useful shapes!)

Luckily some cars have silicone hose kits available, I know spitfires etc are catered for. These are generally decent quality, but come at a price. Probably similar to hoses for an OEM application from a main dealer. But most classic owners get offended if a hose costs more than a tenner.

But most classic owners get offended if a hose costs more than a tenner.

I have heard the cost argument before but I have two problems with it.

The first is, there isn't a direct link between cost and quality of car parts. I have had cheap parts that are brilliant and expensive parts that are fit only for the bin. The second is, it isn't an excuse for suppliers. Of course I want to spend as little on parts as I can, in the same way supplier want to keep their costs down. There is nothing wrong with that.

A supplier has a duty to supply a part which is fit for purpose. If they a knowingly selling rubbish, they are effectively conning their customers. There are quite a few suppliers I wouldn't touch with a barge-pole, I won't list them here.

I only ended up with this top hose because I couldn't find the hose at the suppliers I trust. I suppose I could have gone for silicon hoses but I have heard horror stories about those being poorly made and fit only for the bin.

Luckily some cars have silicone hose kits available, I know spitfires etc are catered for. These are generally decent quality, but come at a price.

I have heard the cost argument before but I have two problems with it.

The first is, there isn't a direct link between cost and quality of car parts. I have had cheap parts that are brilliant and expensive parts that are fit only for the bin. The second is, it isn't an excuse for suppliers. Of course I want to spend as little on parts as I can, in the same way supplier want to keep their costs down. There is nothing wrong with that.

A supplier has a duty to supply a part which is fit for purpose. If they a knowingly selling rubbish, they are effectively conning their customers. There are quite a few suppliers I wouldn't touch with a barge-pole, I won't list them here.

I only ended up with this top hose because I couldn't find the hose at the suppliers I trust. I suppose I could have gone for silicon hoses but I have heard horror stories about those being poorly made and fit only for the bin.

It came from the horses mouth. Classic owners (in general) buy on price. The chappie involved has had batches of stuff made, but when it costs 2x the price of the inferior parts, they sell incredibly slowly so are uneconomic. This is where clubs come in handy, as they can get interest in a part, get deposits and then get a batch made. This club is very lucky! But a commercial business just can't do that and make a living. So they sell what is available. Much of the stuff they reject goes back to their supplier. But I bet it doesn't get binned, more likely sold elsewhere (ebay?)
So we have to be inventive if we want quality stuff. Meanwhile the companies that sell to the public will carry on supplying us with parts, some they know will be short lived. But it is that or nothing.

We have been here before,
mind previously you didn't come up with even one example to validate your statements.
As Judge Judy says......hearsay!



Ian.

OK I will give you an example, we have a 75 which has been fitted with the most expensive clutch components on the market. All so we can avoid problems and the release baring on the slave cylinder failed after a month. On another 75, new crank pulley, once again an expensive one. First pulley I got was actually put together inside out, with the smaller pulley for the aircon on the wrong side. To be fair supplier replaced it, ensured me it was a one off error and the replacement is the wrong stiffness, so the drive belt resonates. Price generally means higher quality but it doesn't guarantee it. Maybe I have been unlucky but I have very little faith in parts suppliers.

I really don't think I am being unreasonable, I just want the parts advertised by suppliers to be fit for purpose. It bit like comparing an expensive restaurant with a cheap one. Yes the expensive one is likely to serve better food but you would expect both to produce food that didn't give you food poisoning.

Yes a more expensive part should be better but cheap parts should at least fit and last more that a couple of months. That is not unreasonable.

OK I will give you an example, we have a 75 which has been fitted with the most expensive clutch components on the market. All so we can avoid problems and the release baring on the slave cylinder failed after a month. On another 75, new crank pulley, once again an expensive one. First pulley I got was actually put together inside out, with the smaller pulley for the aircon on the wrong side. To be fair supplier replaced it, ensured me it was a one off error and the replacement is the wrong stiffness, so the drive belt resonates. Price generally means higher quality but it doesn't guarantee it. Maybe I have been unlucky but I have very little faith in parts suppliers.

I really don't think I am being unreasonable, I just want the parts advertised by suppliers to be fit for purpose. It bit like comparing an expensive restaurant with a cheap one. Yes the expensive one is likely to serve better food but you would expect both to produce food that didn't give you food poisoning.

Yes a more expensive part should be better but cheap parts should at least fit and last more that a couple of months. That is not unreasonable.