It seems like that american lafrance is back on the rebound even with the newer design and the stainless steel body at one time it looked like they were not going to do very good but know with more orders and more plants coming on line they are making a come back stonger than before. I myself own one of the trucks that was in the movie backdraft from the chicago fire department. I personaly like the older models but you know that you have to accept change. There are so many changes in other apparatus and the knew rules and regulations on engines an polution reqirements that if you dont regenerate before you arrive onthe fire scene the engine may have to regenerate when you need to be pumping at the when you could have done a manual regen at the firehouse earlyer in the day. They have a lot of buggs that have to be worked out these engines are computer controled and a pain in the Rear it not just that anybody can work on them. Lets face it you will have to pay more for all these safety devices to comply with rules and regulations. But over all AMERICAN LAFRANCE has been a strong company and is on the upswing the other manufacturs have tried to compete but its you get what you pay for and the cheaper trucks will not hold up to the lafrance repritation and there will be more people coming back to a name that they can rely on I hope they keep up the good work and looks like there will be more and more orders for a name they can trust and rely on.