Buying Advice please advise

[ccgator]

hello all you bobcat owners, after reading most of you guys posts over the last two months and learning more about the bobcat line of compacts I made my mind up that I was going to go with the 235 well after visiting my neerest bobcat dealer here in S.E Louisiana he had just sold the last 235 on the lot and had the 230 remaining so after going over pricing I decided to take the 230 he had. I gave deposit and have been waiting for fel for almost three weeks in that time I have been by to check on progress a couple times and each time I notice more hours on that tractor , lower links all gouged things like hood latch would not release hood so it is being used as demo evadentaly and its still sitting with everyone else tinkering with my tractor would you guys address these issues with the dealer or just wait and see if works out in the end. any input from you guys would be appreciated . p.s. looked foward to joining the forum hope I didn't over stay my welcome on first post

 

[tornadowatchranch]

When I bought they had to wait a month for the rear remotes to arrive. My dealer delivered 70 miles and then when they arrived he worked me into the shop schedule and picked up and redelivered for free. I don't see why it has to sit on his lot awaiting the FEL. How many hours are you talking about. I probably wouldn't worry about 2 but 10 might be another story. Hood latch should be warranty. I figured why should it sit outside at his place when i can tuck it in my barn.

Good luck

 

[lilranch2001]

Have you already made the deal for the tractor? and signed for it?
If you have they have no right without your permission to use it as a demo IMO
If you have not made the deal, it is still their tractor to do whatever they want to, and it is your choise to go ahead and go through with the deal or back out of it

If you are waiting for a FEL anyway, I would wait on a new 235. Just my opinion

BTW, I have to hold down on my hood for it to unlatch

:tractor:

 

[Grand_Pooba]

I had the same situation as you when I bought mine, I had to wait 6 weeks for my loader to come in. Since mine was the only tractor left on the the lot I knew it would be used as a demo so I took delivery right away and the dealer picked it up when the loader came in. I noticed the paint was chewed up where the drawbar attaches on the back and the brush guard attaches on the front, from being chained down on the truck. I mentioned it to the sales men and he had the driver touch up the paint after the last delivery. The driver left me the nearly full can of paint which I have used for touch ups myself. As far as the hood latch goes try pushing down on the front of the hood while pulling down on the knob, mine won't unlatch unless I do that.

Enjoy the tractor, I love mine.

 

[aaroncmh]

I wouldn't buy it dude. That's way wrong to use the tractor you made a deal on as a demo and especially after you gave them a deposit. Buying a demo is cool if you know its a demo beforehand.

 

[Sprocket]

The problem I would have with those demo hours is that most people want to see what maximum capability is when testing or demoing a tractor, and I would bet it is not even warmed up before they do so. I would never start my tractor and run the rpm's up and begin work before the engine temp has stabilized. It is very hard on bearings, rings and depending on the Hydraulic fluid tempurature it could cause problems there as well. An extended warrenty (in writing) may be a good solution.

 

[jcims]

They make these every day, I'd hold off for the one you want. In two years you aren't going to remember the extra few weeks it took to get the 235 in.

 

[ccgator]

thanks for all of the input I believe I'll go down tomorrow after work and see how much longer he believes it will take I ordered finish mower and tiller and they were both in so like most of you I think he should deliver so i can get some use .

 

[MtnViewRanch]

It has been my observation from reading the Kioti and Bobcat forums that most of the people that have the 25-27hp models wish that they had some more power. People that have the 30hp models pretty much get by, but think that a little more power would be nice. I have not read of even one person that has one of the 34hp models (CT235, CK35) complain of a lack of power. There are always exceptions and I'm sure that I miss a lot of postings, just saying what I have noticed from what I have read. I do not have any of these tractors, (Bobcat or Kioti) just enjoy reading about them.

 

[ccgator]

sorry for misquoting most of your opinions I think instead I will tell them I will wait for the 235 this is the tractor I wanted to begin with . the extra horses when tilling or loader work couldn't hurt

 

[TMR]

Curious about pricing parity between Kioti and BobCat?

Just spoke with local Kioti dealer who said he has one CK30HST w/loader that has been a loaner/demo with 72 hours. Will come with fresh, full warranty.

He says it would normally be about $17,900 but they are selling at $15,900 to reflect the 72 hours.

Wonder how this stack up with BobCat comparable??

Thanks...Tom R

 

[VictorW]

That seems like a lot of demo hours or maybe it's a year or so old. I know when I ran the "demo" tractor before buying mine, I put it through its paces. 72 hours is just barely broken in but that price seems a little high. I bet you could do better looking at a Bobcat CT230. Also with 72 hours, it's past its first service via Kioti schedule which is first service at 50 hours.
Also, some seem to like the Bobcat loader better and say it's a little stronger. I believe Rhino is making them for Bobcat.

 

[ccgator]

Tom for the ct 230 price I with fel 18100. 14800 for tractor 3500 loader arm I've seen better prices posted here

 

[Gittyup]

It has been my observation from reading the Kioti and Bobcat forums that most of the people that have the 25-27hp models wish that they had some more power. People that have the 30hp models pretty much get by, but think that a little more power would be nice. I have not read of even one person that has one of the 34hp models (CT235, CK35) complain of a lack of power. There are always exceptions and I'm sure that I miss a lot of postings, just saying what I have noticed from what I have read. I do not have any of these tractors, (Bobcat or Kioti) just enjoy reading about them.

Those who complain about lack of power are almost all HST's. I have the CK25 gear and have never lacked for power. I had read about the power issues with HST in the lower end of the HP ranges for Kiotis and that pushed me to go gear. Miss the conveniences of HST sometimes. But, glad I went gear for the power. It's a brute for just about any task, even chipping dry 5" hardwoods. Probably about equivalent to a CT230 HST.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Those who complain about lack of power are almost all HST's. I have the CK25 gear and have never lacked for power. I had read about the power issues with HST in the lower end of the HP ranges for Kiotis and that pushed me to go gear. Miss the conveniences of HST sometimes. But, glad I went gear for the power. It's a brute for just about any task, even chipping dry 5" hardwoods. Probably about equivalent to a CT230 HST.

You are correct, most of the power complaints have been with the HSTs and I should have mentioned that. Sometimes I forget about the gear models, it seems like most people tend to get the HSTs.

 

[ccgator]

sorry for misquoting most of your opinions I think instead I will tell them I will wait for the 235 this is the tractor I wanted to begin with . the extra horses when tilling or loader work couldn't hurt

ok guys went down to dealer to get things worked out I walked out fairly pleased with the results. told him I wanted to wait on a 235 to come in and he said that my fel should be in tommorrow and threw some extras in on deal for the 230 he is going to put dual rears and front aux with thumb at no charge and keep paper work open when delivered give me two weeks with 230 if not happy he will order 235 for extra 900.00 and he will swap out minus the remotes and front aux . sounds pretty good to me what ya think

 

[wallace]

If your getting the 230 with 2 rear remotes and 1 front valve! RUN AND GET IT!
I wouldn't think twice about that deal, get the 30 and don't look back!

 

[cmr123]

Curious to see what he does for front aux, since last time I checked they weren't available from Bobcat on a 2 series.....

 

[ccgator]

Curious to see what he does for front aux, since last time I checked they weren't available from Bobcat on a 2 series.....

CMR my understanding of the set up is pretty little the tech did advise that the thumb would have exposed wire tie wrapped
2 loader control so I figured not to be factory type set up I'm sure that somemeone else here has better knowledge of this on this particular tractor. but feeling a whole lots better today than yesterday with the situation . :thumbsup: will post pictures as soon as I have a picture to take

 

[jcims]

Tom for the ct 230 price I with fel 18100. 14800 for tractor 3500 loader arm I've seen better prices posted here

CT230 should have a free loader and $900 rebate. Sticker is $15,600 for it, so you should be at ~$14,700ish before you start adding options.

Sounds like you've got a good deal going with the CT230, and most importantly, have nothing to lose with the current arrangement. Good luck and I'm sure you'll love it either way you go.