Buying Advice Bobcat tractor's new "Orphan Brand" status.

[Pierrepont]

I have to accept the fact that 3 years ago NEW CT230 tractors were selling for $9,500 - $10,500. That fact is coming back to haunt the used and new market for these.

I paid MUCH MORE for mine.

 

[Illini22]

Yes, but from what people are saying about tier 4 emissions, you may get a bump up on resale.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I see we have a difference of perspectives here. Messick sells Boomers and thinks Bobcats are a bad deal .

FYI, what I said was that buying a tractor from a Orphaned OEM relationship is not a good idea. I also gave several examples of products that we sold that have gone though this. I did not say "bobcat was a bad deal".

 

[arrow]

As I am one to keep things until they break in half, I could care less about a "monetary value" on my tractor. To me its much more important to acquire a "usage value" meaning does the tractor fit my needs. That to me is a larger criteria if I'm keeping this thing 20-25 years. If parts acquisition is not an issue ( and its not like the Bobcats came from some manufacturer from the moon) I as well would not hesitate to buy the larger Bobcat or put a larger tire on and load them up on what I have if I needed only a bit more grunt as opposed to lift. I think brand name kill on this tractor becomes more of an issue for those who trade in frequently such as every 5 years or less. This brand disappearance is way more scary for a dealership than the long term owner in my mind.

 

[landedakioti]

I have a Bobcat CT230 and for many months have been thinking about a new, larger tractor. This past week I started to get serious and while discussing a possible trade-in at the Kubota dealer I was told my machine is now an "orphan brand" and therefore not worth what it was as recently as September. I next spoke with the New Holland dealer about a trade-in and he brought up the same topic. After my initial shock I don't know whether to be disappointed or angry. I had the impression tractors held their value well.

The Kubota dealer said I should act quickly if I'm going to trade or sell outright as he forecasts Bobcat values are going to plummet. He suggested that I might have a little more luck on trade value at a Kioti dealer as they are a very similar tractor. His bottom line: Do something now or get ready to live with my Bobcat for a long time.

Is this the common sense out there? Anyone else thinking of trading and experiencing this line of thinking? After some hard thinking this weekend I believe I'm going to cut my losses and get rid of this machine ASAP while I can still get a trade offer (low) of any kind.

How much are you asking?

 

[Pierrepont]

While finishing my Bobcat ownership experience I visited with a Bobcat dealership and a manager there seemed to say that there are no 2013 "CT" series machines in the pipeline. I got the impression that what is in stock, in the field, is what is left to be sold off. So model year 2012 was the end?

 

[k0ua]

While finishing my Bobcat ownership experience I visited with a Bobcat dealership and a manager there seemed to say that there are no 2013 "CT" series machines in the pipeline. I got the impression that what is in stock, in the field, is what is left to be sold off. So model year 2012 was the end?

Yes from what we understand, the relationship between Bobcat and Daedong was not renewed. So what is in stock is it.

 

[2458n]

Go back and reread Wallace's explanation. It is dead on. Bobcat equipment in many peoples eyes dropped when they stopped using the Kubota engines in the Bobcat. Tier 4 and the "pee" issue will be big for small tractors. Just as it was for big highway trucks. Tractor parts are available and will remain available for some time.

 

[SSdoxie]

"Bobcat equipment in many peoples eyes dropped when they stopped using the Kubota engines in the Bobcat."

When did Bobcat stop using Kubota? Everything they build today that had a Kubota engine in last year or last 10 years still has a Kubota engine in it.
They have announced they will not be using Kubota for the 30 - 75 HP engines in contruction equipment built for sales in U.S & Canada when they go to Final Tier4, but that only pertains to those machines for North America. Everything else will still have the Kubota engine.

 

[Steve_Miller]

Wallace & Neil are respected businessmen or they would not have been in business as long as they have by bashing. Read what they have to say and use it as advice. I have never taken what they have posted as bashing. The poster is in a position where he wants to pull the trigger now but it is just an unfortunate time in the market. As Wallace has explained that used tractor may be worth a lot more when tier 4 arrives on the market, maybe even more than the new machines if they have bugs in the emissions equipment. One never knows.

Steve

 

[krazsk]

I am lucky I read TBN. I naively thought for the last 3 1/2 years that my Bobcat tractor was a great tractor. It worked very well with almost no problems, nothing serious, was convenient and fun to operate. But I am lucky that I found out here that its junk and I should get rid of it to cut my losses. But could somebody explain the losses that I need to cut? Should I sell the tractor now at a fire sale so I don't have to sell it for a low price later? Another tractor that I use is a Farmall M, another orphan, my dad bought new in 1942 and we still use. Is 70 years too short of a time to not get screwed on an orphan tractor?

 

[DT86]

I am lucky I read TBN. I naively thought for the last 3 1/2 years that my Bobcat tractor was a great tractor. It worked very well with almost no problems, nothing serious, was convenient and fun to operate. But I am lucky that I found out here that its junk and I should get rid of it to cut my losses. But could somebody explain the losses that I need to cut? Should I sell the tractor now at a fire sale so I don't have to sell it for a low price later? Another tractor that I use is a Farmall M, another orphan, my dad bought new in 1942 and we still use. Is 70 years too short of a time to not get screwed on an orphan tractor?

I'm glad you've read up and now understand that your tractor, which probably has done everything you've asked of it (with in reason), is in fact worthless junk!

I too fail to see what all the fuss is about. It's a Kioti and parts will be available for as long as they are around. Which will probably be a long long time.

Oh... I'll take both the Bobcat and the M off your hands, sight unseen, for scrap price. They are orphans after all.

 

[94BULLITT]

The worst thing I can see for someone like me if I still had my Bobcat is if in years to come Bobcat stopped carrying parts for the tractors. I do not have a Kioti dealer locally so I would have to drive 2-2.5hrs or have everything shipped. If I was doing a service and changing the hydraulic oil it could get costly.

 

[DT86]

The worst thing I can see for someone like me if I still had my Bobcat is if in years to come Bobcat stopped carrying parts for the tractors. I do not have a Kioti dealer locally so I would have to drive 2-2.5hrs or have everything shipped. If I was doing a service and changing the hydraulic oil it could get costly.

Can the filters not be crossed over to a NAPA (or other) part number?

 

[94BULLITT]

Can the filters not be crossed over to a NAPA (or other) part number?

Just the engine oil. Not the hydro or hydraulic at least yet.

 

[DT86]

Just the engine oil. Not the hydro or hydraulic at least yet.

That is a bummer but not a huge deal.

How has Bobcat treated other discontinued products I wonder? Were any of them produced by another company or is this really new ground?

 

[94BULLITT]

That is a bummer but not a huge deal.

How has Bobcat treated other discontinued products I wonder? Were any of them produced by another company or is this really new ground?

They have some other "orphans" like the B250. I know a guy that has one, a hydraulic pump was $4k.

 

[DT86]

They have some other "orphans" like the B250. I know a guy that has one, a hydraulic pump was $4k.

Ouch!

 

[94BULLITT]

Ouch!

Worst thing was he bought it used and only had about 4 1/2 years to pay on it yet.

 

[krazsk]

Yeah expensive hydraulic pumps are only associated with orphans. I am pretty sure John Deere gives hydraulic pumps complimentary for their old tractors.