CT230

[kraazie8]

im ready to retire my international 300 utility, i was just quoted over phone for a 230 with free fel and 3500 rebate, and than i said i wanted the bob tack with forks and the rear tires loaded for 13500. i think this is an excellent price, do all you guys think it will handle a 75 acre retired farm, i lease about 40 acres to a farm, but i still need to brushhog the spots he misses and the pastures that no longer have cows in them. my 300 did the job well but im looking to upgrade to powersteering, comfort, not wrenching, and 4wd, just wondering if this model is up to the challenge, in others experience with the tractor?
thanks

 

[chucklesva]

krazzie8
i just got my ct230 with the loaded tires and deluxe seat for 10900. i don't know what the extra charge is for the tac bucket. i can get the forks for under 300. i purchased mine in Va. hope this helps. good luck
chuck

 

[dfeck]

The Bobtach is roughly $900-$1000 and forks are another $400-$500. I've found that Bobcat dealers will not discount the Bobtach attachment. So, adding Bobtach and forks will set you back an additional $1500. I have no idea what tires would cost to load. Is 13.5K a good price? I personally think it's a tad high for a Bobcat tractor but that was for a quote over the phone. I assume if you show up in person then they would deal a little more. I think the prices on Bobcat tractors are higher than they were a few months ago. I paid $9500 for a CT230 w/turfs, deluxe seat and loader in May. No dealer today is coming close to that price so if you can get them to knock another $500-$800 off the price I think then it would be a great deal. As it stands, I think you're getting a very good not a great deal. Again, that's my opinion.

Doug

 

[wfodickinson]

Bob-tach is about $500.

$13,500 is a good price with the added items.

See if you can find a J/D or Kubota with the same features for anywhere near that figure, not happening.

 

[dfeck]

Where did you get a $500 price for the Bobtach? List price is over $900. Did I say anything about JD/Kubota in my post? He ask if it was a good deal for a BOBCAT tractor. My response was directed at a Bobcat tractor. however, I do agree 100% with you that you can't touch other tractors for the price Bobcat is offering for their tractors. I still stand by my opinion that it's a tad high with what others are reporting they are paying for the same model from Bobcat.

Doug

 

[CT230 Fan]

I gave right around 15,500 for the CT230 w/ standard FEL, deluxe seat, and 1 set of rear hyros. This was the price using their 0% for 48 months, nothing down financing. If I had cash in hand, I believe the quote was about 12,300. I didn't ask for a quote on the bobtach loader.
I don't feel like I got a steal, but I do feel like I paid a fair price. If I had cash in hand, then that would have been a pretty darn good deal.

I have 40 acres, 1/2 timber and 1/2 in hay. I really like my tractor to this point. I have used it w. a 72" landpride finish mower to mow about 2-3 acres of yard, and I've used the front end loader to cut down a couple hills left over from contruction, and also to move dirt/clay from one place to another. I'm not going to say I've been blown away by the tractor, because I was expecting it to handle the dirt mounds a little better than it has, but then again, I don't have a tooth bar on the loader, and the mounds are hard clay that has settled over my septic latterals, so maybe I was just expecting too much.

 

[kraazie8]

so i stopped at dealer got em down some, i wasnt really asking your opinions on price, i wanted to know opinions on the tractor itself. thanks ctfan for your post. hoping to get more on the tractor itself.

 

[CT230 Fan]

so i stopped at dealer got em down some, i wasnt really asking your opinions on price, i wanted to know opinions on the tractor itself. thanks ctfan for your post. hoping to get more on the tractor itself.

I'll give a little more opinions on this tractor. I really like the hydrostat. It makes using the tractor much easier for me. It is as simple as pressing forward or back. No changing gears. It also makes using the front end loader very easy. Also helps in mowing around obstacles. I used to mow w. a gear JD rider, and would have to shift every time I needed to back up. No need w. the hydro.
I have the deluxe seat and really like it. It is very comfortable, and very easily adjustable forward and back, and also for different amount of suspension.
The placement of all of the controls is very well thought out. The loader control joystick is in the perfect spot. I can drive the tractor and operate the loader with ease. The other controls are out of the way for the most part.
The 3 pt hitch seems to be well put together, and the telescopic links are nice for hooking up. There is aslo a manual crank on the right bottom link, so you can manually adjust the height of the link.
From what I can tell, all the service items like filters, and screens are placed in areas that are very easy to get to. The hydraulic fluid dipstick and filler are at the rear of the tractor, and very easy to get to also.
As for perfomance, I have yet to operate the tractor in High gear. Middle gear is plenty fast for the jobs I have been doing. I mow in the middle gear, and can pretty well mow as fast as I want with the 6' finish mower. Honestly, you can hardly tell it's back there. I found it somewhat difficult to use the FEL in middle gear. I haven't stalled the tractor, but it will come to a complete halt fairly easily when digging too deep. I have had better luck in low gear. The only problem there, is if you are transporting the load a distance, then you are constantly changing back and forth between low and middle. Again, I don't have a toothbar, so that could make a difference, and I also read on hear that you can dig better if you aren't running the hydrostat at the same time, so I'm going to try not to push into the pile, but to pull up to it, then dig w. the FEL. We'll see if that improves it. Also, I only have about 12 hours so far. I have read that you gain power after the initial break in period.
All in all I think it is a very good tractor, especially when you figure in the fact that a similar JD, or case, ect. will run you anywhere from 18000 and up. I have no issue recommending this tractor, and wish you luck w. your purchase and the tractor.
Sorry for the long winded post.

 

[kraazie8]

thanks ctfan that is exactly the stuff im looking for, to be honest with you i dont give a sh@t what anyone thinks of the price i pay, i think im getting a great deal. im looking for tractor opinions, i think your post is good enough to order mine after work.
thanks .

 

[Dmace]

Very good write-up CT230 Fan! Very Informative.

kraazie8, If you were not already aware the Bobcat and Kioti tractors are the same and made by the same company (DaeDong) so if you were to browse through the Kioti forum for post on CK30's you would get more thoughts on that particular model. Keep in mind that these tractors have different loaders/backhoes and it's just the tractor itself that is the same.

Good Luck! That CT230 is a good sized machine.

 

[dfeck]

thanks ctfan that is exactly the stuff im looking for, to be honest with you i dont give a sh@t what anyone thinks of the price i pay, i think im getting a great deal. im looking for tractor opinions, i think your post is good enough to order mine after work.
thanks .

If you didn't want opinions on price then DON'T post what you were quoted! Anything you post will get opinions! Must be new to this internet thing. My OPINION is if you don't want people commenting on what you say don't hit the "post" button.

Anyway, good luck with your tractor purchase. If you feel like the tractor will work for your application I wouldn't hesitate to purchase. I'm happy with my CT230 as it does everything I need it to do but for rugged terrain I'd be a little concerned. The reason I say this is that it's my opinion the hydro is a little weak on the Bobcat tractor. The specs appear great on paper compared to JD, Kubota and NH but when starting to work the tractor the hydro seams under powered. I'd had my tractor stop when going into a heavy object that I attempted to pick up. I've owned a similar spec'd JD and the JD would spin the tires not stop. I had to drop it in low gear (from M no H) increase RPM's and hit the wheel lock pedal so I could increase the hydro flow. I never had to do this with my JD. It's not a huge issue to me. I have level ground and for my application the tractor is wonderful especially for the price I paid.

Doug

 

[kraazie8]

if you read my origanal post i never once asked opinion on price. new to internet? seriously? come on! but thanks for info on the tractor wich i clearly asked for in my original post.

 

[Loren49]

I don't understand what spinning the tires has to do with using a tractor on rugged terrain. Also I suspect that the CT230/CK30 is a much heavier tractor than a similar HP JD/Kubota or NH which could explain the difference in percieved power of the Hydro(much more power to spin tires). I feel that a little less power when working on rugged terrain is probably better. You seldom get into trouble from going to slow.

Loren

 

[kraazie8]

just a question on how everyone financed their tractor, without the 0% bobcat deal, i am finding it difficult to find a loan in my area anyway, for a tractor. i can get a signature "personal" loan but rate is high, i can put title up for my pickup and get an auto loan, but what if i wanna trade my truck in the next 5 years. just wondering how everyone financed, i dont know maybe all you guys are rich and paying cash, but my mortgage is kinda steep and i still want to have money to go out and have fun, buy other toys, and not be strapped to a tractor loan. i mean my old relic is paid for. also from what the dealer says, and also their info. packet they gave me it states 30 hp engine, 26.5 at pto, but bobcats website only claims 22 rear pto, that is a huge difference. why such a big jump from the brochure to website?????

 

[CT230 Fan]

I also had some trouble getting a good rate, so I ended up using the Bobcat 0% for 48 months, and paying for the front end loader. I did the math, and it ended up to be about the same money in finance charge, since the local bank was asking for 8%.

 

[DKXJ]

I went with a signature personal loan at 9% for 5 years. Comes out to 2455 in interest. My option was 0% through bobcat which would of saved me 2455 in interest, but cost me 2800 for a loader. Also, at 0%, there is no incentive to pay off the loan early, where as with my 5 year loan, I will pay it off in 2-3 years most likely, which means it only cost about 1200 in interest. Basically, do I pay my bank 12000-2455 or do I pay bobcat 2800 for a loader?

I financed 10k and paid for the rest. The only reason I could see financing through bobcat is if either you dont want the loader, or were unable to get a loan through your own bank.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Ag-Credit had the best rate around my home. it was around 7%, but you did need to put a chunk down.

 

[sugarmaple]

My two cents-
There are some excellent deals on used equipment on our state and adjacent states' Craigslists (but beware the scammers.) The recession has been hard on discretionary payment items.

Only one of the 4 Kubotas I have owned has been new, but all have been dead reliable, and or simple owner fixes. I wish I had thought a little harder about new v. used on the last tractor, and looked harder/been more patient about finding used. In an up economy, available, fair priced, second hand units are much more scarce than they are right now.

This is an excellent time to be buying used implements too. For example, right now on VT Craigslist/Farm and Garden,there is a newish looking Woods BH9000 for $3550 and I suspect the subframe could be finagled too. The ad isn't clear on that, but if one had the right Kubota, this would be an unbeatable deal. Rotary cutters are commonplace too.

Having said all that, the CT 230 looks good, Daedong is a quality manufacturer by all accounts, and that is a LOT of tractor for the money. I guess it comes down to what the warranty is worth to you and DEALER INTEGRITY/AFTER SALE SERVICE. Personally speaking, insurance to help with owner dumbspells and flukes of nature has been more valuable.

On the matter of hydro trans and ground speed, a friend down the road has an L-48 that wont pull a serious hill in High either. My 4330 is much the same, however power seemed to improve markedly around 400 hours so that the same hills now can be pulled with a heavier load. Of course I have gotten to know the machine and how to operate it a lot better as well. These things are just not designed for speed. If you want speed, I would suggest the 7---series JD. All the custom spreaders around here seem to have them, and they whistle down the road somewhere between 25 and 30 mph! ;-)

 

[kraazie8]

i put a down payment down on a ct230 on the 24th of july, waiting for my home equity loan to go through, i figured i would put a covered porch on the house at the same time as getting the bobcat. hopefully the free fel will be still honored since i have a reciept for down payment. i was approved credit wise the appraisal of the house is my hold up, they couldnt get someone to come out to my place that quickly. i better call the dealer tomorrow a little nervouse since they pulled the free fel program.

 

[kraazie8]

free fel still available or 0% financing till august 31, someone started a rumor and i fed in. this is from my dealer and still listed on bobcat website.