Well, this thread was dragged out of the depths of oblivion. It's still quite on topic, however, so no need to let it sink again. I think it is even interesting to compare how some manufacturers' reputation has changed over the past six years. At least in my experience.
Intamin has its ups and downs. For some reason, they keep coming up with a new novelty ride concept every few years, it sells like hotcakes at first but then none of them is ever made again. See the Impulse coasters, Plug'n'Play woodies, Halfpipe coasters, ZacSpins, etc. It's been a while since their latest fad, however, it seems like they have settled for making their launched coasters more reliable, both in terms of operations and company sales. Time will tell where their volley launch concepts will go, I could see that track switch causing some headache down the line. When Intamin makes a good ride, it's usually a very good ride.
Mack seems to have taken the step up from being the supplier of small Wild Mouses, Spinners and Watercoasters, to getting a leg in on the big coaster market. Admittedly, it started in 2009 with Blue Fire, but it didn't take off until after the last post in this thread. Helix, DC Rivals, Lost Gravity, Flash, Time Traveler... suddenly, these guys have started to resemble Intamin in the scale of stuff they do, and not just by a similar track style.
Gerstlauer has followed Mack slightly. Granted, they had stuff like Takabisha and Fluch von Novgorod already when this thread was created, but Kärnan was a massive step up, and they've followed through with stuff like Junker, Monster and HangTime. They're offering more spectacular stuff than ever, and I don't think many people see them as the worst manufacturer around anymore.
Vekoma seemingly bought a CAD program, had an epiphany, and changed their ways completely. Instead of clunky creations like Boomerangs and SLCs, they have got a reputation for innovation and smoothness. Their new launch coaster models look fantastic, and the F.L.Y. concept seems promising too. They have also seemingly stopped making traditional Boomerangs and SLCs, but plans to resurrect the latter look really promising.
I'm not really sure what to think of S&S. Their launch coasters in China have become more and more numerous, and they're involved in the rather spectacular Steel Curtain, but most of their recent creations have been Free Spin coasters, and stuff like GaleForce has been plagued with track problems. The El Locos seem to have been a quick fad, with six built within as many years, but the last one being five years ago. And their most spectacular creations, the 4D coasters, have been dormant since 2012 (then again, that one can be chalked up to a lack of potential buyers - who could afford those monsters nowadays?). Their merger with Vekoma seems to promise some stability for the future, at least.
RMC had three coasters in operation when this thread was forgotten, but they were all pretty highly praised. And they really haven't disappointed in the years since. More conversions, some ground-up coasters, and really no disappointments yet. RMC has become a really coveted company for many fans, everyone wants one in their home park. Alan Schilke is like the Santa Claus of the theme park industry.
Reverchon is still around, making their same old crappy mouses (again, the plural of Wild Mouse is Wild Mouses) with no sign of change. Their reputation seems to be the same as it was in early 2013: Meh at best, a pained groan if they are to deliver a coaster at one's home park.
B&M still does as B&M always has done. High-quality, smooth, reliable and not overly forceful coasters. Their Wing Coasters were around to some degree in 2013 (it was the year Gatekeeper opened), and that number has tripled since then, but that concept is still mainly the same as it was five years ago. Thunderbird at Holiday World is a rare exception that proves they can make launch coasters if they want to, but that's rarely the case. B&M still probably have the best reputation around, if a little conservative.
Pinfari is still considered the STD of the coaster industry: even with the original source long gone, their terrible products keep being passed around to pop up in new places. It's been 12 years since they stopped making those coasters, but in the past two years, five of them opened in the US and UK, all of them third-hand. Those things must be incredibly reliable or easy to repair, which is probably the best thing that can be said about them.
Gravity Group seems to have plodded on with their woodies and hybrids. They're following RMC a little with inversions on woodies, and following B&M a little with building lots of stuff in China. Back in the West, their market niche appears to be small coasters that still pack a punch.
GCI of 2019 is mostly like GCI of 2013. Small to medium-big woodies (or big woodies, perhaps - it's been a while since a really big woodie was built, so the scale is shifted somewhat) that fans seem to enjoy but not go raving mad about. As far as woodie manufacturers go, they're up there. However, they seem to have been de-throned by RMC when it comes to white-knuckle woodies.
Maurer is... uhh, still around, I think? We haven't really heard much from them in the past few years. Sure, they've built a couple of spinning coasters, and a Skyloop popped up in China back in '15, but overall they've built fewer coasters since 2013 than they did in 2011 alone. Apparently, their X-Cars were still going strong in China a couple of years ago, including
this strange thing, but they haven't built much to change their reputation on these forums, at least. Maurer has mostly faded into the background, I'd say.
I guess there are a few I've missed, but that should be it for now. Either way, the coaster scene seems to have undergone some pretty drastic changes in the past six years, and - dare I say it - mostly for the better. This makes me really optimistic for what the next six years will bring!
