Corn Pro is right. Combine manufacturers are not necessarily in it to make the best combine, but are in it rather to make a combine that will sell well. lets look at Deere for instance, they are the undisputable leader in market share in North America, but John Deere is the best North American marketer. They have the buyer's pulse. let's face it, when we go buy a combine, performance is a factor that is often drowned out by our own pride. If that were not true the Claas 108 would be as popular in America as it is in Europe, but it isn`t and Claas knows why: it simply did not meet the needs of the North American farmer. Claas is giving it another try however, this time with the engine in the back, greater grain tank capacity, more hp,a nicer cab and a great American brand name. The rest is about the same. I have never seen so much interest in a combine that will not match the performance of the machine it has replaced since the 9600. Every manufacturer is tring to increase market share in some way. Case, Massey Ferguson, New Holland are all rumoured to have a replacement rotor in the works. New Holland was the first to bring in a conventional to compete against the Deere, Massey Ferguson and Gleaner have now joined the ranks, and Case will likely bring the German Argus conventional they aquired last year with new American features. I do not know if many of you have had the opprotunity to see the conventional combine Deere know offer in Europe, but if you do, you will surely recognize features that the more popular Claas, And New Holland combines have, and have had for years.