Why BobCat?

[kayaker]

I'm currently in the market for a compact tractor around the 26hp range give or take a few HP. I was originally looking into used one from the kubota, NH, and Massey. The price around here for used are outrageous. Then I stumbled across Kioti. With a little research discovered BOBCAT. Hoping to go price and sit on these this week. I'm looking at the CT225 or CT122 or the Kioti equivalent. My question for you BOBCAT owners: Why did you go with BOBCAT instead of KIOTI? I would think Kioti would be cheaper for the same machine? Was it the dealer, or has BobCat made a few refinements to how the tractors are built for them that persuaded you?

I would be getting a FEL. There seems to be some debate in the difference between the Kioti and BOBCAT loaders? Can you fill me in?

I'll be using this tractor to maintain my 1300 foot driveway. Landscaping around the house. Cutting firewood and simply playing around, cause I'm a man and want a tractor!
Thanks in Advance!

 

[horticattleman]

I chose Bobcat for a few reasons. First know I am a landscape contractor and have been part of a family farm for a long time so tractors are nothing new to me.
1. I have come to know the Bobcat name for sometime now in skid loaders and excavators. We use them regularly and trust the name. Even though it is a Kioti basically, I know/knew Bobcat would take part extensively in its manufacture and thats what I trust.
2. We have a Bobcat dealer that I am used to dealing with which is closer than the Kioti dealer.
3. Price was absolutely unbeatable. We already have some of the other colors and I grew up using them, but when I can buy a Bobcat for half the price.....no brainer. I happened to buy one when they were "giving them away" in spring 09.
I would base my decision on price and dealer. Sometimes one has a better rebate than the other and that can make all the difference in the world.

Hope this helps

 

[tcartwri]

1. Dealer support was there for Bobcat, not so much for Kioti.
2. Price was unbeatable. 3 to 4 K cheaper than the used tractors I was looking at.
3. Bobcat sells some pretty skookum attachments.

Wait for them to go back on sale. It's worth it.

 

[galaxie428]

I think many of us bought BC a few years ago when they had the free loader, free financing and rebates. I personally saved $9k off of the new price, some did even better than that.

I know they still run the free loader deals every once in a while if you are willing to wait.

If you are stepping into the 2xx series, I would recommend going with the 230 or 235. There were a few people that complained of the lack of power of the 225 but I don't recall anyone with any complaints on the 230 or 235. Use the search function for this forum and you cna probably find a few of those threads.

I personally have a 230 and I have no issues with it at all. It was the best investment I have ever made.

 

[qed-cat225]

I agree, ship the 225, that is what I started with, I was the 2nd in WI to own a BC tractor, then after power frustrations sold mine and took delivery in sept of a 235, night and day difference!

also why bc over kioti

name recognition
dealer on every corner vs not a one in WI
price
features standard vs extra on others

 

[Sand_man]

I chose a Bobcat for a few reasons. I did also learn that the Bobcat line was very similar to the Kioti line, in fact built in the same factory, but I am in northern MI and don't even know where the nearest Kioti dealer is. Also when my wife and I were looking we looked at the blue, red, and green tractors and felt like the Bobcat tractor was much more tractor for price. A comparable JD tractor to the CT335 with hp and FEL lift cap. was in the 20's when we bought ours around 16,600. Also it came standerd with cruise (didn't think I would use it but do), draw bar (JD you had to purchase seperate), rubber floor mat, and the capability for rear remotes. I liked this tractor because it seemed like you could build up from it, not just stuck with what you bought. It was made over seas but also are most of the tractors this size even by the other lines. My CT335 has been a very solid tractor and we are not disappointed with it.

 

[milkman636]

Biggest bang for the buck! Saved about 1700 compared to its Kioti twin, and saved 8-9000 when compared to NH, JD, and Kubota. Bobcat also is an establshed brand and dealers are easy to find.

 

[kayaker]

made a trip to the BOBCAT dealer. Not the best day to go as it was super nasty and with a cold rain. Did get a quote on a CT122 of 14,660 out the door, tax and all. This was with a FEL, set of rear hydraulic valves. I feel this is a bit high or am I kidding myself?

 

[Canada_CT230]

No to CT122...get a CT230 at minimum.

 

[milkman636]

made a trip to the BOBCAT dealer. Not the best day to go as it was super nasty and with a cold rain. Did get a quote on a CT122 of 14,660 out the door, tax and all. This was with a FEL, set of rear hydraulic valves. I feel this is a bit high or am I kidding myself?

Tractor shopping is fun. Check all the competition in your area that you can find. You'll find out which dealer wants to sell a tractor the most, and you'll know when you're getting a good price. Shop all the brands and dealers that you can get to reasonbly.

I also wouldn't be afraid of checking prices through some of the reputable dealers that are shipping tractors across state lines at good prices. For example: Barlows that is 500 miles away offered me close to 1000 dollar better price on a Kubota delivered to my house than the dealer 5 miles away did.

 

[TractorTidy]

Bobcat is a good tractor since it is built by Kioti. However, I have heard that the Bobcat deal w/ Kioti is over. It expired in July. The reason the Bobcat tractors hvae been cheaper is that Bobcat dealers are not into tractors. When they found they weren't selling, they started dumping them. That created problems for Kioti dealers. That may be another reason why the "partnership" ceased.

So my recommendation would be to go the Kioti route. They will still be around and you will have dealers around for parts and support.

 

[tcartwri]

Bobcat is a good tractor since it is built by Kioti. However, I have heard that the Bobcat deal w/ Kioti is over. It expired in July. The reason the Bobcat tractors hvae been cheaper is that Bobcat dealers are not into tractors. When they found they weren't selling, they started dumping them. That created problems for Kioti dealers. That may be another reason why the "partnership" ceased.

So my recommendation would be to go the Kioti route. They will still be around and you will have dealers around for parts and support.

My 235 was built new in December.... where are you getting this information.

 

[Canada_CT230]

Dealers not interested? My dealer built a new dealership separating it from their JD dealership. They used to do just skidsteer and excavators. Now they do everything from Bobcat (Tool Cat, Tractors, Skids and Utility Handlers, RTVs and excavators).

Now another dealership opened closer to me. Handling only the tractor line.

Wallace also switched. Can't see this just being a 3 yr deal and then done. There is something wrong with your info.

 

[Gittyup]

Just because it was a 3 year deal (if it was) doeesn't necessarily mean that it ended at 3 years. A lot of the arrangments have automatical renewal clauses, or require explicit op-outs. Or they have agreements to continue while negotiating the way forward. Just 3 years doesn make any sense, anyway.

 

[tcartwri]

I forgot one very important reason I went with BC, and that was that Kioti's website blows.

Bobcat allowed me to price everything online, and see all the specs for the tractor and the attachments. The price qouted online, was exactly what the dealer sold it to me for.

 

[turbo660]

I'm currently in the market for a compact tractor around the 26hp range give or take a few HP. I was originally looking into used one from the kubota, NH, and Massey. The price around here for used are outrageous. Then I stumbled across Kioti. With a little research discovered BOBCAT. Hoping to go price and sit on these this week. I'm looking at the CT225 or CT122 or the Kioti equivalent. My question for you BOBCAT owners: Why did you go with BOBCAT instead of KIOTI? I would think Kioti would be cheaper for the same machine? Was it the dealer, or has BobCat made a few refinements to how the tractors are built for them that persuaded you?

I would be getting a FEL. There seems to be some debate in the difference between the Kioti and BOBCAT loaders? Can you fill me in?

I'll be using this tractor to maintain my 1300 foot driveway. Landscaping around the house. Cutting firewood and simply playing around, cause I'm a man and want a tractor!Thanks in Advance!

What other reason do you need

 

[SABULA FARMER]

Not to be a smart *****....But really, "Why not Bobcat"...?

 

[lilranch2001]

Bobcat is a good tractor since it is built by Kioti. However, I have heard that the Bobcat deal w/ Kioti is over. It expired in July. The reason the Bobcat tractors hvae been cheaper is that Bobcat dealers are not into tractors. When they found they weren't selling, they started dumping them. That created problems for Kioti dealers. That may be another reason why the "partnership" ceased.

So my recommendation would be to go the Kioti route. They will still be around and you will have dealers around for parts and support.

Number 1, Bobcat is NOT built by Kioti, they are both built by Kioti's parent company.
Number 2, From what I understand that contract has not expired and has at least 2 more years to go on it, that is just a rumor that has been flying around due to uninformed people and also Bobcat just started building their own FEL for the tractors, do you really think they put the engineering and development costs into that FEL if they were not going to continue to sell tractors??

Come on now.....


:confused2:

OK I am editing this, I just read the ONLINE PROFILE for Tractortidy, and noticed he is a Kioti dealer, to be honest, I have had several dealers in my area tell me that the Kioti rep has been going from dealer to dealer trying to sell them into handling Kiotis ( we do not have any in the area for at least 50 miles) but no one is interested. BUT I have also been told by the same dealers that that Kioti Rep has been badmouthing Bobcat and for at least 2 years been saying Bobcat was getting out of the tractor business

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Maybe just me, but Bobcat dealers, the company itself, and their websites are all more customer friendly than Kioti.

Plus, I don't know of any Bobcat dealers and shops that don't stand 100% behind their equipment (I'm sure there must be a few around, but I haven't run into them.)