Re: Here\'s the the real ultimate utility vehicle
I'd agree that price is a big factor, but I think that distribution combined with marketing is another factor. Many people are simply unaware of the unusual brands because they have such limited distribution, and while people might be attracted to the added features, the reality is that the marketing attempts of the smaller companies will never reach potential customers because they don't have the distribution reach.
I found out about the Steiner when I was looking for a new lawn tractor. Prior to that I had only a vague knowledge of the brand's existance, but when I went looking for my tractor I laid out my needs and ended up looking at tractors that I had no clue existed. I think that many people, when they go looking at utility vehicles, simply go to their local tractor dealers and see what they have. I think some others might look at the ads in the newspapers. Consequently many never are exposed to brands like the Bobcat Toolcat, Steiner Utilimax or Pug.
Personally, had I known about the Steiner Utilimax prior to buyiny my New Holland TC24D, it is very possible that I would have bought the Utilimax instead of the tractor. I don't ask that tractor to do anything the Utilimax can do. And the Utilimax will carry a load too, and it will go places I can't take the NH. My wife would like a utility vehicle but the garage is too full already.
A utility vehicle that can MOW THE LAWN and also do yard work like the Utilimax can do so many jobs that it could replace a garden tractor & a utiity vehicle and consequently the price of 2 different units is melded into 1 unit and that makes it much more affordable if you can buy 1 and it replaces 2. So a $4000 garden tractor added to a $8000 utility vehicle might still be a little cheaper than a $15,000 Utilimax, but if the garden tractor goes up in price a bit or the utility vehicle goes up a bit, then all of a sudden the price is about even and you garage has a great tool and still has more space left in it.
