I really hope this is BS

[jeep-N-montero]

"TRANSAMERICAN AUTO PARTS ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF RUBICON EXPRESS

Leading Off-Road Parts Supplier Continues Growth


May 2, 2011(Compton, CA) – TransAmerican Auto Parts, the nation’s leading retailer and supplier of off-road truck & Jeep accessories, has announced the purchase of Rubicon Express.

President and CEO Greg Adler stated, “This acquisition is a perfect fit for TransAmerican. Rubicon Express is the leader in the Jeep suspension category. Their heritage, founded on the famous Rubicon trails of Northern California, is deep in the hard core suspension performance. Jeep enthusiasts have come to know Rubicon Express as the ultimate system for their vehicles. Our 4Wheel Parts stores and our 4Wheel Drive Hardware business serve these enthusiasts and the Rubicon brand will strengthen this core segment. Our 25 years of experience in suspension manufacturing at Pro-Comp will help in the integration of the Rubicon business”.

“TransAmerican has made a number of strategic acquisitions to grow the business” Adler explained. “As the economy improves and our business continues to strengthen, it will allow us to look at more strategic opportunities such as Rubicon Express”, he added.

Founded in 1961, TransAmerican Auto Parts is the leading participant in the aftermarket parts and accessories for light trucks, Jeeps, sport utility vehicles, and other four-wheel drive vehicles. The Company sells tires and wheels, suspension systems, drive trains, accessories, and other products to consumers through 55 retail locations in 17 states under the 4 Wheel Parts Performance Centers name, to more than 4,000 wholesale customers, including specialty auto parts stores, tire and wheel stores, repair and garage shops, internet retailers and jobbers under the TransAmerican Wholesale name. It also sells to consumers and businesses through mail order and internet operations under the 4 Wheel Parts Wholesalers name. In addition, the Company operates a manufacturing business that sells tires and wheels, suspension systems and accessories under the Pro Comp and Smittybilt brand name, both through the Company’s own distribution channels as well as through third parties."

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I'm curious to see how an "okay" chain store is going to manage a premium brand parts maker.

 

[1995zj]

What? Transamerican owns Pro Comp, Smitybilt, 4-Wheel Parts and 4WD.com. How are they just an "okay" chain store?

I'm sure they'll do just fine.

 

[neagtea]

The guys from Poly Perf. told me that R.E. was T.U. (T!TS UP)I didn't know they were for sale though.

 

[SUPERFLY]

I'm curious to see how an "okay" chain store is going to manage a premium brand parts maker.

was rubicon express really a premium parts brand anyways? i mean they were good but with my experiance with them, not premium. I would consider teraflex premuim(ive had amazing results from tera's kits) pro comp budget grade, and R.E. somewhere inbetween. this could work out for everyone, R.E. will probably become a higher grade of pro comp. R.E.'s kits will maybe come down in price a bit, and id like to guess they wont change much in quality

 

[Bob B]

was rubicon express really a premium parts brand anyways? i mean they were good but with my experiance with them, not premium. I would consider teraflex premuim(ive had amazing results from tera's kits) pro comp budget grade, and R.E. somewhere inbetween. this could work out for everyone, R.E. will probably become a higher grade of pro comp. R.E.'s kits will maybe come down in price a bit, and id like to guess they wont change much in quality

X2 I think you've hit it right on the head SIR.

 

[RockChucker]

x3. nuff said.

 

[jmaxj]

was rubicon express really a premium parts brand anyways? i mean they were good but with my experiance with them, not premium. I would consider teraflex premuim(ive had amazing results from tera's kits) pro comp budget grade, and R.E. somewhere inbetween. this could work out for everyone, R.E. will probably become a higher grade of pro comp. R.E.'s kits will maybe come down in price a bit, and id like to guess they wont change much in quality

I think RE is way above teraflex in both quality, parts knowledge and custom service. I think trans america is going to ruin the RE line by turning it into crappy parts like they did pro comp(not like they ever were that great)

 

[JL Rockies]

X4 seriously.

 

[SAMI]

jmaxj, you can't say things like that after someone says, 'nuff said'.

 

[Herzog]

I think RE is way above teraflex in both quality, parts knowledge and custom service. I think trans america is going to ruin the RE line by turning it into crappy parts like they did pro comp(not like they ever were that great)

IMO, procomp was never that great and I'd say that TA actually improved them and expanded their line quite a bit.

 

[Cascadia]

I think RE is way above teraflex in both quality, parts knowledge and custom service. I think trans america is going to ruin the RE line by turning it into crappy parts like they did pro comp(not like they ever were that great)

In my experience with both brands, Teraflex is way ahead of Rubicon Express. In every category, even price.

 

[kungfufighter06]

jmaxj, you can't say things like that after someone says, 'nuff said'.

x2 :greg:

 

[SAMI]

x2 :greg:

... nuff said.

 

[jmaxj]

jmaxj, you can't say things like that after someone says, 'nuff said'.

oh but i did

IMO, procomp was never that great and I'd say that TA actually improved them and expanded their line quite a bit.

like i said not like they were ever that great, but i do agree that TA expanded their line to help improve the name.

In my experience with both brands, Teraflex is way ahead of Rubicon Express. In every category, even price.

nope i've dealt with both for over 10 yrs, and i will agree that teraflex is cheaper on price cause you get what you pay for. plus if you call rubicon express about something other than a JK they still have knowledge, you call tera and for some reason they can't even answer a JK question without transferring you through 3 different people until one knows something about jeeps.

 

[Cascadia]

I was saying Tera is more expensive. They are. You must be asking some weird questions cause that's never happened to me. Oh well.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

My RE arms took just over 4 years before a single bushing wore out, my Tera arms took less than 20 months.

 

[NoTrax]

RI all the way

 

[SUPERFLY]

Maybe you guys should just buy a Toyota?:greg:

 

[Gravy]

Well I think the move is good for Rubicon Express considering they went out of business earlier last year. So if someone that had millions of dollars of market presence offer to buy my out of business company and resurrect it... I would probably let them.

I'm would imagine 4WP would try to make them into their premium brand.

They are of more use to the 4 wheel drive community alive than dead.