Kioti or Kubota

[IslandTractor]

. From what I could see and I think Rick W would agree it is a very high quality foundry.
KiotiDave
Dave G

I don't think anyone disagrees that Daedong does high quality work. The question was whether they actually build Kubota tractors or parts. I understand that they might I have just never seen any solid evidence. Your first hand report from the factory tour is about as close as anyone has come to providing that type of evidence.

 

[Mousefield]

RSKY, did you buy a tractor? :tractor:

 

[sjf0235]

I do not know what I will buy next. I have a 1914. I want to keep it and get something bigger, However corporate Kioti seems to close dealerships faster than they can sell tractors.
I bought mine at Ken's in Keene and relied on pick up and delivery. They closed (they were a good dealer)leaving me abandoned. Many others here say the same thing " all Kioti dealers in the area closed". Like I read "you buy the dealer too". A claim not worth much if the dealer goes under, and the best warranty is garbage if there is no dealer.

 

[Dmace]

I want to keep it and get something bigger, However corporate Kioti seems to close dealerships faster than they can sell tractors.

That's funny because in my area, not only are their already 3 Kioti dealers within 1 hour but a 4th one just opened up...

 

[Gittyup]

Dealers come and dealers go. But, I think Daedong must be growing on the whole. The encouraging thing is that, once you are out of warranty, you can go to either Kioti or Bobcat and get expert service (for most things).

Besides, I'm not one that believes the dealer needs to be all that close. Most users rarely need to take their tractor to a dealer. My JD has been to the dealer once in 18 years. My Kioti had two warranty issues addressed, and the dealer came to me for a nominal cost (and my dealer is 250 miles away).

There are now two local dealers (20 - 30 miles away). I haven't use either of them yet. I buy my maintenance parts over the phone and have them shipped to me. And there is a BC dealer about 7 miles away. So, not buying Kioti because of dealer location (unless it's like 400 miles away), just isn't reason enough to not buy Kioti. Of course, I've read from many where the dealer had to be very close. Don't understand this thinking, but each has their own priorities. Some just don't like to use direct shipping to their home, but prefer the personal interaction one gets at the dealership. Some take their's in for routine maintenance or yearly servicing. In that case, dealer location would be important. Otherwise, I just think location is over rated, as long as the brand is growing (or very well established) overall.

 

[IslandTractor]

I agree completely with Gittyup (at least this time!)

 

[kco]

It's an interesting (if somewhat meandering) discussion regarding Kioti vs Kubota. I have been looking off and on for over a year and am leaning toward Kioti. Main points for me:

1. Value/features for equivalent price: Kioti
2. Dealer network and brand recogition: Kubota (but less concerned because of Bobcat)
3. Ease and value of resale: Kubota
4. Reliability: unknown, so I assume they are comparable

I am leaning toward Kioti because it seems to offer better features for the price. My impression is the Kioti CX compares with the Kubota Grand L series instead of the standar L series.

Kubota (at least in BC) easily wins the dealer network arguement. The Kioti dealer in my area is new and expanding from another unrelated machinery business. That said, he is a neighbour and friend and I would lean to supporting him. But since it is a new dealership, who's to say it will survive? The Bobcat dealerships (which I learned about from this forum) greatly eases that concern. I am sure parts and service will be available.

That said, the local Kubota dealer is terrific. I called the days ago for help on a 3 point hitch problem with my 1981 Kubota L275DT, (thus the renewed research in a new tractor). They put me through to the service fellow who, after I described the problem, explained what is likely wrong and how it can be fixed. That fix is beyond my skills (I'm no mechanic) so the dealer picked up the machine yesterday. I have no doubt it will be quickly repaired, and that's not bad for a 30 year old tractor. I intend to have a sales person view the tractor at the dealership so he can quote a price as a trade in. I will again check to see if my view of the Kioti price advantage is still there.

I had a similar experience with the Kubota dealer in 2005 when the clutch failed about a year after I bought it. They picked up the machine, replaced the clutch, and had it back in no time. I also had them completely check it over and they replaced a few other parts. I am impressed that there is no problem getting parts for a 30 year old tractor and the compentence of the dealer. It says a lot for the Kubota network.

Ease and value of resale is important. I'm retired and one can never be sure how long one can live in the country. I think Kubota wins on the ease of resale score. But if one saves money at the original purchase he can afford to give some up if/when he has to sell. The fact that Bobcat sells rebranded Kioti's somewhat mitigates the Kioti to Kubota resale disadvantage.

As for quality and reliability, I can't say enough about the Kubota L275 DT. It is amazing has does everything I ask. I use it on rough ground for wood cutting/hauling, road grading, and mowing. In fact there is no way I can truly justify replacing it, other than I want something easier to start and operate (will get an HST).

From what I've read you can't go wrong with either brand.

I've attached a picture of a bit of road building I did last fall with that little Kubota. The rocks on the side were dug up with a box blade and loader (well, a few with a pick, sledge and bar). In addition, I hauled away about 30 cu yds of smaller rock and dirt. It is an amazing little tractor and I'll be sad to see it go.

 

[IslandTractor]

I don't think even the most die hard Kioti fan would disagree that Kubota is the class leader amongst orange tractors overall in engineering and dealerships. The issue is more related to your first point, value. Kioti pretty clearly offers more bang for the buck (so long as both tractors are discounted roughly equivalent % from list). Kubota has slightly more advanced technology (eg the 40 series transmission) but the Kioti's are built a little heavier and in general have stronger loaders at a given horsepower rating.

The analogy of Toyota versus Hyundai is a pretty good one with Toyota still the world leader while the Koreans are closing the gap on quality and providing better bang for the buck.

Bottom line for me is that any orange tractor is an excellent machine and you need to decide which factors are more important to you in order to make the choice of brands. Never heard of someone selling either a Kubota or Kioti in disgust and moving to the other brand.

 

[Dargo]

Dealers come and dealers go. But, I think Daedong must be growing on the whole. The encouraging thing is that, once you are out of warranty, you can go to either Kioti or Bobcat and get expert service (for most things).

Besides, I'm not one that believes the dealer needs to be all that close. Most users rarely need to take their tractor to a dealer. My JD has been to the dealer once in 18 years. My Kioti had two warranty issues addressed, and the dealer came to me for a nominal cost (and my dealer is 250 miles away).

There are now two local dealers (20 - 30 miles away). I haven't use either of them yet. I buy my maintenance parts over the phone and have them shipped to me. And there is a BC dealer about 7 miles away. So, not buying Kioti because of dealer location (unless it's like 400 miles away), just isn't reason enough to not buy Kioti. Of course, I've read from many where the dealer had to be very close. Don't understand this thinking, but each has their own priorities. Some just don't like to use direct shipping to their home, but prefer the personal interaction one gets at the dealership. Some take their's in for routine maintenance or yearly servicing. In that case, dealer location would be important. Otherwise, I just think location is over rated, as long as the brand is growing (or very well established) overall.

I agree as well. As I've stated before, I think Daedong is well into the painful, but needed, dealership franchising restructuring. My impression is that when they first started, anyone filling out an application for a dealership got approved. Of course hindsight is 20/20, or better. I think that bit them a bit in overall value perception due to some of the more ratty looking and less than honest dealers they got when they were in that mode.

Now that Kioti has become far, far more established in this country (I believe in no small measure due to this website), Daedong had to make the tough but needed re-evaluation of what dealers they have and how they want to change their overall perception. As previously mentioned, this is very similar to the Hyundai/Kia story.

Also, like the Hyundai/Kia story, the manufacturer is bound to make some mistakes in deciding what dealerships they drop and which ones they pick up. Overall, I'm sure they will be successful, but I was absolutely shocked to hear that Wallace is no longer a Kioti dealer! Talk about a dealer who really enhanced the brand, I can't think of any who did a better job. I wouldn't be too surprised if, in the near future, you see some John Deere, New Holland and Kioti dealerships.

 

[Hoosier Hay Man]

Interesting article in Rural Lifestyle Dealer Magazine. It is an interview with Tony Brown, National Sales Manager, Kioti Tractor USA. This may shed some light on what they are thinking.

Rural Lifestyle Dealer - Perspectives on the Rural Lifestyle Market: Small Tractor Manufacturers - Kioti Tractor