Okay. I have about twenty minutes to type my heart out. And I'm not doing this for money, W. Harv (hehe). (You make me jealous, though; I've been giving one company my input for years!)
Here goes.
ASV -- great line of products at (now) a resonable price. Their old machines were likely great mud machines, but were ugly, not great lifting machines, and the cab was antiquidated (spelling on that). The new models -- the "R" series -- is great. They claim their machines are about as costly as a comparably-sized SSL (wheeled), and I don't doubt it. They have absolutely come a long way in the making since their inception long ago. Perhaps their strongest point is the feature that distinguishes them from every other maker of compact track loaders -- their suspended undercarriage (okay, so Cat uses theirs, too). The suspended undercarriage is like a giant shock-absorber (sponge) that will take the jarring motion out of the conventional, rock-solid undercarriages of other manufacturers. (There is a video of a Bobcat T200 vs. a Cat 267 or 277, and the difference in operator bouncing is immediate and extremely noticable.) Weaker points -- I haven't heard anything of the reliability of ASV. They do not have any vertical lift machines. No wheeled machines to complement track machines.
Bobcat: bias aside, I think they make the best overall skid steer loader. Perhaps not the highest in every category, but definitely a fine, fine machine that is capable of long hours even in harsh conditions. The first skid steer loader and therefore most experience (but that doesn't necessarily mean anything). I might not consider Bobcat for every single job, but for a general contractor who wants a reliable, solid machine, I would not hesitate to recommend Bobcat. They are usually lighter than comparable models from other makes -- the S300 is nearly 1000 lbs lighter than the 95XT, for example -- which makes them easier to haul and move (to rooftops or below grade, if that's your boat). Their vertical lift system is built heavily -- unlike their old 873 model, the new S250/S300/A300/T300 loader arms are extremely durable. They'll last a lifetime, as will the skid steer itself. I'm not sure the Bobcats are always the best performers, but they have unbeatable access to the engine, the best cooling system in the industry, a great keel structure that allows for improved mudability, and operator comfort that is nearly unmatched. Don't take these small features for granted -- no one else can quite match everything (EVERYTHING) Bobcat has. Of course, if you don't all that, well, *scratches nose* Yes. Weak points -- machines aren't necessarily as powerful or productive as other manufacturers'. Machines are prone to more new technology than proven technology.
Case: great line of skid steers. They made great inroads with the 1845 line and learned a lot from that model; from it, they created the XT line. The XTs are extremely productive, are operator friendly, and are all-around great machines. I think the Case vertical lift system is quite ingenious; it rests the boom arms on the machine so that torquing the loader won't affect the boom arms. My complaint about Case is that they're challenging Bobcat's market share and Bobcat isn't doing anything about it. Case makes a great product, but it might not be for everyone. Like me. *beams*
Cat: Running out of time to type all this, but Cat definitely has the broadest lineup of any company out there. 10 bloody models to choose from and a full lineup of attachments to go with. Great dealer support and great products. That's a damned good combination if you ask me. Their vertical lift line is odd to me -- it is the only line whose lift arms don't rest against the machine frame. Anything above that point, however, and you've got a winner... an excellently-designed lift path and great lift height and dump angle. Too much mass in the back of the machine, perhaps, but eh, isn't everyone's machine like that (OTHER than Gehl Deere NH). Weaknesses --anti-stall feature is NOT for everyone. Bobcat and Case call it the "anti-work" feature because it doesn't allow experienced operators work the machine the way they want to. Other than that, another great product. (Look out for the XPS hyd. hi-flow system, too.)
Deere: Last one before I gotta get going. A solid line of products that was at one point prone to failure. Deere machines used to be made by NH and it is still possible to see the similiarties -- two boom stops, in-cab boom locks, scissors-lift design, 35 rollback/45 dump, higher lift height, claims of superior weight distribution, operator comfort. They are productive machines, but I'm worried about their use in demolition or other "high risk" areas. Those boom arms -- once they get up, well, they're not connected to anything other than the cab. Other machines are mounted to the frame towers at the rear -- provided more support -- but, eh, I'm worried. Interestingly, problems with Deere SSLs haven't been in the boom, but rather in the powertrain. Oh well. But they are extremely (!) capable lifting machines. And I would hope they would be -- their models are some of the heaviest models made today. The 250 weighs in at nearly 7000 pounds -- just about the weight of a Bobcat 863 (7045), for a machine whose ROC is 400 lbs less. That tells you something about how the Deere is built. No track loader option.
For now, that's it. I'll resume with JCB and Komatsu and beyond next time.
