How do you like your Kioti`s

IslandTractor · Apr 28, 2006

Asking that question on this forum is a bit like asking folks in Fenway Park if they like the Red Sox. That said, yes, I love my CK20 and the Red Sox. We don't want to trash other tractors here /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif but it is a perfect opportunity to wish the **** Yankees poor luck this season.

Kioti has done a lot of things right in its effort to play in the same league as the big three tractor manufacturers. Given that there are at least several other very fine second tier tractors available (Mahindra certainly one of them), I am impressed with Kioti's marketing and development of new models that give great bang for the buck. The only real weakness I see in the Kioti operation is that a fair proportion of their dealers are still semiprofessional operations and that can cause problems for some customers. The only significant holes in their tractor line up are lack of some bigger HST machines (30-50hp) to compete with the Kubota Grand L series and the newer JDs but I assume those are on the drawing boards.

If I were buying another tractor today I would definitely be leaning towards Kioti. (There is a DK45S with my name on it somewhere in the parts bins in Korea. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif)

New_Jersey01 · Apr 28, 2006

love mine. and dislike the yankees.

Noodlearm · Apr 28, 2006

Mine had been done everything I have needed so far. After using it for 1 1/2 years, I would buy it again and recommend it to anyone who had similar needs.

Poboy · Apr 28, 2006

I work for Outback Tractor .

bearhawk · Apr 28, 2006

I have the CK20HST.

Great little tractor, very comfortable and easy to use. Wife is out on it now. Maybe too easy to use /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Jim

Poboy · Apr 28, 2006

Thank you guys for all of comments about your tractors, we like the look and features of the Kioti Tractors . Thanks again .

spanky8N · Apr 29, 2006

I own a DK45s bought last fall. Thumbs up from me!!! Kioti makes a quality, SOLID tractor.

Dan

project · Apr 30, 2006

have to agree with IslandTractor about the dealerships not being up to standards. The first and only negative comment on the LB1914 came from a dealer who said he would never carry them again because its too old and too many problems. I was close to buying one. (real close) Now I'm unsure and continue to look.

KiotiJohn · Apr 30, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( have to agree with IslandTractor about the dealerships not being up to standards. The first and only negative comment on the LB1914 came from a dealer who said he would never carry them again because its too old and too many problems. I was close to buying one. (real close) Now I'm unsure and continue to look. )</font>
I can't begin to imagine what problems he could be talking about. I've seen plenty of the 1914s that have been around for a long time, still running strong.
I love the way some people will say such a general thing without giving the specifics. It could be that he just had to hold onto the ones he had longer because people wanted the HST CK20 instead. The 1914 hasn't sold as well since the CK20 came along since it has the same engine, but a better styling and extras such as a mid PTO and the HST offering.
John

IslandTractor · Apr 30, 2006

To clarify my earlier post regarding Kioti dealerships: I said a "fair proportion" of dealers were running less than professional shops. I would clarify that there are many excellent dealerships and that it appears Kioti has finally gotten big enough to start weaning out some of the low performers. I don't think we will need to deal with too many of the backyard dealerships much longer but made that point to emphasize that someone looking at a Kioti tractor should be careful in picking a dealer. While that may seem obvious it is a bit more of a challenge with a smaller, newer brand like Kioti than it would be for JD, NH or the all orange tractors. There are good and bad dealers for each brand, that was not so much my point, I was emphasizing the need to find a "professional" dealer who had the technical capacity and personnel to back up the sale.

Having stated this point, I'd also mention that there is a new trend, thanks to the internet and TBN, of dealers having greatly expanded sales territory and that will clearly change the dynamic of interacting with your own dealer. Some internet savvy dealers are now delivering tractors hundreds of miles beyond what they would have considered their main sales catchment area just a few years ago. This could well lead to regional "mega dealerships" which could deliver great prices and expertise but will have challenges regarding economical means of getting the tractor back to the shop for repairs etc. Self support (with dealer phone and TBN help of course) will certainly solve some of the potential problems quite well (look at the PowerTrac situation where there are essentially no dealers). However, when there is a diagnostic problem that exceeds your ability to trouble shoot or a major repair needed you'll need to get the tractor to a dealer. That could be back to the megadealer which would entail costly transport charges or it could be to a local dealer. Trouble with buying from the megadealer but using the local dealer for service is that eventually those local dealers would likely go out of business (for lack of sales) and would also be less likely to be able to support a full service repair shop (lack of volume). I don't see this as a Kioti specific issue but rather something in the dynamic of CUT sales that is likely to affect us all over the next decade or so.