CAT pulls the plug!
 

http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=69901

Good riddance.

It took them long enough to finally announce it. The rumors have been flying for months.

according to my ears over the last couple years, drivers of cat engines have not been bragging. a lot of drivers complain recently about having the truck in the shop more often than on the road. this refers to the 07'-08' models. & before that I heard very few & I mean very few brag about good fuel mileage. though I have heard about their power & in times past, about their reliability. though when needing repairs usually higher price & harder to work on.

Hm... I got a Cat and I was quite happy with it. But I guess it got to a point where if you don't make your own brand truck you cannot sell your engine to a truck-maker.

Cummins.

I think Cat made a good move here. They are refusing to degrade the quality and performance of their engines for only the North American market that might give themselves a bad name worldwide. If the government does not allow you to make a quality product then let someone else take the fall.


Of course if you believe the rumors Cat actually owns Navistar and Cummins, so it is all a big mind game that they play with us. :wink:

They did that when they quit making the engine that gave them their reputation. The 1693 was the best engine they made and they replaced it with the 3406, been going down hill since.

I read an article somewhere that stated that CAT is coming out with their own brand of truck in conjunction with Navistar/International. Details were a bit sketchy.

I'll say this. CAT leaving is not good for the market. Cummins already is poor on their service, the last thing they need to be is the only guy in town.

Example. Guy has head gasket go on his ISX 600k miles. Fire ring #4 gone so it's OH time. Call Cummins and ask as that really isn't a whole ton of miles - maybe some goodwill help. Cummins says nope - got your money's worth out of that engine.

Different guy, tosses a rod out the engine block - thru hood. 601k - same story from big red.

I know for a FACT that CAT would have helped in some way or shape were it their engines. (goodwill in the form of a % of parts or labor)

Paccar will come out with their engines about the same time CAT goes away and that will help the Pete and KW guys.

Article in WSJ said that Cat and Navistar were gonna partner and produce a line of specialty trucks for construction apps etc. and market them under the Cat name. Also gonna be a Cat brand engine made by Navistar. I really don't understand that 1.