Coloradokid,
Do yourself a favor. Test all other units, then take a look at the Takeuchi. There is no comparison! Spec. for spec. it can not be touched. The dealers cringe when you tell them you want to demo a machine against the Takeuchi.
The Case, I have several pieces of their constrcuction equipment ,ie. backhoes and skidsteers, and love them, but the CTL is too new, not enough track record, no pun intended.
The Cat has very poor visibility and definite issues when used in stone. The Cat dealer even recomends to stay away from gravel. The controls are very sluggish. Notice where the hydraulic hoses are in the under carriage, problems waiting to happen. I will give it an "A" for the ride. The ride is accomplished at the expense of too many moving parts. I realize operator comfort is needed, but lets face it, its a track machine you are not taking it out for a ride in the country. If I was going to buy an all steel track machine it would undoubtably be a Cat.
The ASV I can not really comment on. The Cat uses there under carriage, that was enough for me.
The Deere, I have many pieces of Deere farm equipment, it is excellent stuff, but they should stick to the farm equipment. There are many, many issues with there CTL.
The Gehl is a Takeuchi painted yellow. There is one important difference. You can not get the excavator style door, the door that slides up over your head, on the Gehl. This is a very,very nice feature.
Bobcat, excellent skid steers but their CTL's lack the specs. and features.
As you can tell I am pro Takeuchi. I am not a dealer or sales person. I am a person who has been there done that many, many times. Iam talking about genuine in the seat experience, not shop talk. I have had several CTL's and I will gladly deliberate the specifications of the Takeuchi with anyone. The only issue, if it should be considered an issue, with the Takeuchi is its weight, but when you look at the construction of the machine you will understand, it is a beast. Although their ground pressure is still right there with the others. The Takeuchi is a true track machine not a retrofited skid steer.
On a side note. It took me a long time to convince myself to buy the Takeuchi because of its nationality. I am 100% buy American and I live in a steel town, need I say more. I have got to say, the machine is so impresive it blew me away. The Takeuchi people have really done their homework. There is no doubt that all the others are playing catch up. If you do not believe me just ask your dealer for their cheat sheet of negatives for the Takeuchi, if they have anything at all.
Ron