1st Tractor L2502 vs CT2025

[North Island BT Stalker]

Sorry, another new tractor purchase question.

I'm on the verge of purchasing one of these machines.

The Kubota dealer is 5 minutes away and I was pretty much decided on going with an L2502 for mixed use on my 5 acres. 1.5 acres dirt work, trail/brush work, gravel driveway maintenance, snow pushing, etc.

I ended up buying a new ZTM at the local Bobcat dealer, 10 minutes away. My cousin's husband services his construction machinery there and is friends with owner. It's a smaller dealer but he set me up with a fair price on the mower and he's definitely a nice guy.

So I started looking at the Bobcat tractors and he's putting together a price on everything I was looking for...

I know he's going to come in with a real good price on the CT2025, but I think the L2502 is perhaps a slightly more capable machine, Kubota has definite enduring support, and well there's just not much questioning to do on the choice and reputation. If money wasn't in the equation I think it would be a simple choice, but it always is...

So my questions are:

What is the price delta between these two machines that would tip the scale to the Bobcat?

With Bobcat transitioning away from Daedong and to in house builds on their CTs will there be a sunset on support for these machines?

Should a dealer being "smaller" be an issue for me on support? There is a large Bobcat dealer an hour away, but their sales staff took days to call me back when I was shopping for the ZTM. Seems service at this small dealer was better from a customer facing perspective, but what if I had a problem and they had to go to the manufacturer for me?

Anyway, I appreciate your time and any recommendations to help me with my perspective on this.

 

[2manyrocks]

The price of nearly all tractors has gotten so high that future parts availability from the manufacturer is extremely important. For the best value, look for a low hour L2501.

 

[JeepHead]

The 2502 is a great tractor and I really enjoy mine. The brakes being moved to the left where they should have been, and the suspension seat are very worthwhile upgrades over the 2501. But with that said, I also would look for a nice used 2501 if price is the main concern. In my area, I see 2501 HST's with under a 100 hours frequently being sold around $16-17K, sometimes with a couple of implements even.

 

[North Island BT Stalker]

The price of nearly all tractors has gotten so high that future parts availability from the manufacturer is extremely important. For the best value, look for a low hour L2501.

Thanks. A gently used. L2501 for a fair price would be great except I've been watching the used market in my area for over a year now and haven't seen a machine at what I would say is a value price. Either put away wet, or near new prices for a 5 year old low hour machine.

And I'm ready to work now, might as well buy new and get what I want.

 

[North Island BT Stalker]

The 2502 is a great tractor and I really enjoy mine. The brakes being moved to the left where they should have been, and the suspension seat are very worthwhile upgrades over the 2501. But with that said, I also would look for a nice used 2501 if price is the main concern. In my area, I see 2501 HST's with under a 100 hours frequently being sold around $16-17K, sometimes with a couple of implements even.

Price isn't the main concern. I'm just looking at what the value comparison between the two machines is.

At what point does an offer become too good to turn down?

I like holding onto my money, but I appreciate that buy once cry once is real and I'm prepared to spend. I'm just wondering at what point people would go one way versus the other?

$5K? $10K?

 

[2manyrocks]

Depends on your assessment of the level of risk and your risk tolerance.

There has been an ongoing discussion on TBN whether Kubota prices reflect their zero interest loan program.

 

[North Island BT Stalker]

Depends on your assessment of the level of risk and your risk tolerance.

There has been an ongoing discussion on TBN whether Kubota prices reflect their zero interest loan program.

For sure. And with limited experience in the realm, a knowledgeable assessment of risk of ownership of one over the other is hard to make.

I have this bias that the Kubota is the better choice to make, but I also don't know what that's worth as far as the experience I can expect over the next 20 years of owning one machine or the other.

 

[Rdrcr]

I think it’s definitely worth getting a quote on both tractors. If you don’t know already, the Bobcat CT2025 is basically the same as the Kioti CK2620. So, you may also want to price out the Kioti too.

Mike

 

[North Island BT Stalker]

I think it’s definitely worth getting a quote on both tractors. If you don’t know already, the Bobcat CT2025 is basically the same as the Kioti CK2620. So, you may also want to price out the Kioti too.

Mike

For sure. I have the Kubota offer, waiting for the Bobcat to come in. I'm aware that Daedong builds both the Kioti and Bobcat machines and they're similar... they're isn't a local dealer though so these are the two I'm going to choose from.

I've also read your L2501 Turbo thread with interest. Perhaps I'll be looking to do something like that when I'm ready to add another project to my life...

 

[Oldgoat03]

Sorry, another new tractor purchase question.

I'm on the verge of purchasing one of these machines.

The Kubota dealer is 5 minutes away and I was pretty much decided on going with an L2502 for mixed use on my 5 acres. 1.5 acres dirt work, trail/brush work, gravel driveway maintenance, snow pushing, etc.

I ended up buying a new ZTM at the local Bobcat dealer, 10 minutes away. My cousin's husband services his construction machinery there and is friends with owner. It's a smaller dealer but he set me up with a fair price on the mower and he's definitely a nice guy.

So I started looking at the Bobcat tractors and he's putting together a price on everything I was looking for...

I know he's going to come in with a real good price on the CT2025, but I think the L2502 is perhaps a slightly more capable machine, Kubota has definite enduring support, and well there's just not much questioning to do on the choice and reputation. If money wasn't in the equation I think it would be a simple choice, but it always is...

So my questions are:

What is the price delta between these two machines that would tip the scale to the Bobcat?

With Bobcat transitioning away from Daedong and to in house builds on their CTs will there be a sunset on support for these machines?

Should a dealer being "smaller" be an issue for me on support? There is a large Bobcat dealer an hour away, but their sales staff took days to call me back when I was shopping for the ZTM. Seems service at this small dealer was better from a customer facing perspective, but what if I had a problem and they had to go to the manufacturer for me?

Anyway, I appreciate your time and any recommendations to help me with my perspective on this.

I recently moved from Kubota to Bobcat. Generally the Bobcat was ~$7-10k less for comparable equipment. I ended up with a new/left over CT2540 and saved a lot of $$ so the decision was easy.

In my experience Bobcat loaders also have significantly greater lifting capacity when comparing comparable models. Check the specs for your models.

The only negative I've found so far is the loader hydraulics are not smooth when operating 2 functions at once (lift and roll bucket). I'm getting used to it but find it irritating since my old Kubota was very smooth.

Don't forget Kubota is having their 0% Interest deal now too. Bobcat had a similar offer but offset it with a ~$5000 cash discount on loader.

Good luck with your decision.