Evinrude FICHT #1 in JD Powers survey

[seahorse]

FORT LAUDERDALE - Familiar names dominate the 2003 list of J.D. Customer
Satisfaction Award winners announced this morning at the Fort Lauderdale
International Boat Show.


Winners in the engine categories were:

2-STROKE OUTBOARDS - Evinrude, followed by Yamaha and Mercury.

4-STROKE OUTBOARDS - Yamaha, for the second consecutive year, followed by
Honda and Mercury.

INBOARDS - PCM (Pleasurecraft Marine), followed by Indmar and MerCrusier.


After receiving honorable mentions a few years ago, and a fairly close
second place last year, FICHT is now #1 in customer satisfaction survey.

[seahorse]

Here is a more detailed report.



By IBI Magazine / Michael Verdon


JD Power and Associates released its annual Boat and Engine Competitive Information Studies at Ft Lauderdale today. It awarded top prize to three engine manufacturers in three categories and seven boat builders in sevenÊcategories, along with the second and third rankings in each category.


The two studies are based on responses from 10,734 consumers who purchased a new 2002 or 2003 model-year boat between January 2002 and February 2003. Seventy boat brands were included in the study.


In the engine category, Evinrude ranked highest among two-stroke outboard engines. According to the study, its Direct Injection technology took high marks for cruise time/range between fuel stops and lack of engine fumes. Yamaha followed closely behind in this category.


"Receiving this award is a real triumph," said Roch Lambert, Bombardier vice president and general manager. "It's a testament to the steps we took to perfect direct injection technology with Bombardier management discipline and innovation."


Yamaha won the four-stroke outboard category, for the second year in a row, with Honda ranked second. "Our goals of constantly exceeding expectations and striving to be the industry's technological leader is 'the cornerstone' of our business plan, and we have no Êintention of slowing down our efforts," said Phil Dyskow, Yamaha Marine Group president.

[easyrider]

I am not surprised. I love my 175 Ficht. An awesome motor. I would buy another.

Bud

[DuckCrusher]

And the slide continues in FondDuLac. Testimonials from pros are fine, but customer surveys are where the rubber meets the road. This makes me sick.

[catfishkiller]

NOT WITH ME !!!

SOMEONE FORGOT TOGET MY OPINION !!!

Call me one unhappy angler but when my '02 200hp has been, and still is, in the shop since early July with still no clue how to fix it, I get the feeling that I've been hosed by this "JD Customer Satisfaction Award Winner". Maybe its the Dealer... CP.

BUYER BEWARE!

Buy the extended warranty. Each visit to the shop costs you one year of it. Who knows, maybe I'll be back on the tourney circuit next year.

(Unhappy Owner)

[John K]

I have always been a sceptic of polls and surveys. Considering the literally hundreds of polls taken each week by the media and private organizations, I have yet to be polled. Often times, simply by the nature of the question, the poll/survey takers will get the responses that they want.
I am curious, how many of you were contacted for this JD Powers survey???

[seahorse]

catfishkiller,

What do you mean your motor has been in the shop for months?

Did you call Bombardier customer service with your serial number and ask what is happening? It sounds like your dealer is not doing his part. Call Bombardier first thing tomorrow, get the name of the person you talk to, and post back what they say.

[Dutchman]

I think JD Powers sends a questionaire to new boat and motor owners. At least that's what they did in my case.


"Fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope"

[catfishkiller]

Its been at the dealer since early July.

I didn't buy it from this dealer so yes, they have been dragging their feet, I am low on their totem pole, very low it seems...

I did call Bomb and gave them the S/N and the good old "what's up?" question. They in turn called the dealer and supposedly lit a fire under the dealer. That was 2-3 weeks ago. I called the dealer yesterday, It turns out that they blew the lower seals in the lower unit running it in their tank. Now they're working on the lower unit before they can go back to fixing the operating problem.

Did I mention that I didn't get use of the rig since late June...

This is a crock!

By the way, Seahorse, you pitch these Bomb's as if you work for them, maybe you can get a years warranty extension for me, for the year (season) it sat at the dealer.

(Still an Unhappy Owner)

[seahorse]

Try another call to Bombardier and ask about extending the warranty or for some type of compensation. It is defininately a dealer's fault, not Bombardier's, but you might catch them in a good mood. If that doensn't work, get them to lite another fire under the dealer, then write a nice letter to the factory, attention Roch Lambert, head honcho, telling about your problems and asking about an extension.

Good luck

[T-Mac]

I read one. I have not sold those engines since they were OMC...so, I certainly am not biased towards them....but, the questions were very impartial. I am pretty sure I'd have noticed if they weren't.
The brand I push had the highest rating in 4 stroke and was a very close second in two strokes.
This is a good showing for Bombardier. Congratulations to Bombardier.

[Ted]

they must have avoided the service trailers at tournaments when counting the votes...

[Firetiger47]

I don't think so. I own a Merc and there are far more Mercs at the service trailers than any other make. My next one will be a Bomb.

[Hawg Tracker]

Mercury and OMC have had their problems in the past but according to most of the posts on this board historically, lots of folks have been happy with their Mercs and wouldn't trade them for the world...so it comes down to who owns the company. Why would you buy a motor made by a Canadian owned company when we have folks possibly out of work in FonDuLac? I say...as long as the motor is made by a reputable US firm...buy it!

[seahorse]

Johnson and Evinrude are now 50% owned by an American company, the remaining is held by the Bombardier Family and a Canadian company.

[USCG RETIRED.]

I myself do not put much stock in Polls or surveys or what ever you want to call them. I have never had a problem with my Merc's and will be bying a new one with my boat this winter. In America you have the right to choose what ya want. Buy what makes you happy and not what others think you should own. Have a nice day all.

[strikerkeefe]

Evinrudes and Johnsons are built by American workers in Wisconsin. Plant is on the west side of Racine.

[Hawg Tracker]

Yes, but 50% of the money goes to people who want to take the profits back to Canada and take the business away from FonDuLac.

[Firetiger47]

Hawg Tracker, your statement is nonsense and here's why. But first let me give you a crash course in international finance and taxation.
1. Corporations operating in the U.S. file a U.S. corporate tax return and pay U.S. taxes on profits earned in the U.S. Money doesn't go anywhere.

2. Profits of corporations are paid out to shareholders who may be residing anywhere in the world, including Fond du Lac. Anyone, including you, can buy shares in publicly traded corporations. You can also buy all of the shares from the Canadians when they come up for sale. You can also own all of the shares of any publcily traded corporation operating in Canada or anywhere in the world. When you receive the dividends on the shares you are free to spend the money however and wherever you want.

I could go on and on here but suffice it to say that employees in Fond du Lac should be thankful that 'someone' set up shop in their town and that they have jobs. They should also be thankful that the product being produced has earned good praises thereby ensuring future employment stability.

[DuckCrusher]

They probably could not get around the crowd at the OptiMax trailer.Yoohoo. FondDu...wake up.Go ahead and discount the survey. JD is the most reliable , not perfect, measuring tool of its kind. I've seen and responded to the questions before. It's a legit organization and very professional. Usually folks who don't like them have a good reason...their "team" didn't win.