Kioti/Bobcat 'deals'

[IslandTractor]

Bruce, the two tractors come off the assembly line in the same factory but are not sold by the same company and are not quite identical.

Kioti is owned by a Korean company - Daedong Industrial Co., Ltd. Daedong builds both the Kioti line and the Bobcat line.

Bobcat is not owned by Daedong. It is owned by Doosan Group, also Korean but a completely separate company.

There are some differences in the two lineups, but they are close enough that comparing prices and discounts is still valid..

I believe the tractors are virtually identical except for the decals and paint. I have not confirmed but I recall someone posting that Bobcat charges extra for rear remotes while they come standard with the Kioti but again, that may be rumor. There is certainly no significant design or manufacturing difference. The FEL and other attachments are different.

 

[travioh]

Kioti tractors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Daedong, and will be backed up by the actual manufacturer much stronger than Bobcat. I hear that Bobcat and Daedong's relationship will soon split perhaps next year.

As for Kioti, I think they want customers to deal directly with dealers rather than search everything online...

 

[bruceha2000]

Bruce, the two tractors come off the assembly line in the same factory but are not sold by the same company and are not quite identical.

So, basically, the differences are equivalent to 'port options' on imported cars. The 2 companies add what they want and you have to figure out what the differences are and which of the port options best fit your needs. Sure would be nice if there were a discreet list if the functional differences like the draft control, not decals/name plates.

 

[bruceha2000]

As for Kioti, I think they want customers to deal directly with dealers rather than search everything online...

I HATE that. Like realtors that don't put up enough information on a listing.

I don't want to waste my time, nor theirs, looking at something that will not be suitable. With regard to something like cars or tractors, *I* want to know as much as I can about the products so we can get straight to the area of interest without a lot of pressure from some salesperson on commission.

Certainly they have knowledge of the products and can guide, but I will not remember all the spiffy features they point out and I certainly won't be able to go from one dealer to another and compare competing products as they chat away even with the glossy brochures in hand.

Better I should know (and adapt my price point if necessary) what a certain level of functionality will cost rather than faint on the floor when they say a base tractor with a loader starts at $21K, not the $15K I had hoped. An EDUCATED consumer is a GOOD consumer.

 

[IslandTractor]

Better I should know (and adapt my price point if necessary) what a certain level of functionality will cost rather than faint on the floor when they say a base tractor with a loader starts at $21K, not the $15K I had hoped. An EDUCATED consumer is a GOOD consumer.

My recollection for Kioti: Base 20hp CK with FEL is about $12-13K, Base 30hp CK with FEL about 15K and base 40hp DK with FEL about 20-21K if I recall correctly. All HST. Of course the various deals they have will influence those prices. I haven't checked prices for a while so those may be out of date but the relative differences are probably right.

JD and others put up very detailed list price information which is very nice however it doesn't address the typical discount which obviously varies with both dealer and region quite a bit. Also, JD and Kubota both have lots of options you can order while most Kioti's come fully loaded and there are relatively few options to consider.

 

[wallace]

Kioti tractors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Daedong, and will be backed up by the actual manufacturer much stronger than Bobcat. I hear that Bobcat and Daedong's relationship will soon split perhaps next year.

As for Kioti, I think they want customers to deal directly with dealers rather than search everything online...

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

 

[IslandTractor]

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

While you are listening Rick, how about piping in on the true differences between Kioti and Bobcat versions of the same tractor. I'm pretty sure all the mechanicals etc are the same (excepting attachments) but how about standard items like remotes, draft control, suspension seats etc. Are those literally identical or is there some variation?

(for new TBNners, Rick has been both a Kioti and Bobcat dealer so there is no one on the planet who can answer the question more accurately).

 

[wallace]

Bobcats do not offer draft. Remotes are options. All seat are suspension with the larger 3&4 series tractors having a deluxe seat standard and the smaller 1&2 series tractors have the deluxe as an option. The seats are different from Kioti. The Bobcat has a better seat by far!
The key switch and the wiring harness are different. The bobcat has safety switches located on the brake and seat.
Bobcat also includes a quick reference manual that stores in a pocket right below the steering wheel.

 

[IslandTractor]

The bobcat has safety switches located on the brake and seat..

How do you run a PTO powered chipper etc? Or attach a BH? Does the switch only shut off when not in neutral?

 

[bruceha2000]

Bobcats do not offer draft. Remotes are options. All seat are suspension with the larger 3&4 series tractors having a deluxe seat standard and the smaller 1&2 series tractors have the deluxe as an option. The seats are different from Kioti. The Bobcat has a better seat by far!
The key switch and the wiring harness are different. The bobcat has safety switches located on the brake and seat.
Bobcat also includes a quick reference manual that stores in a pocket right below the steering wheel.

OK, so someone buying new wants a Kioti with a series 3&4 Bobcat seat and WATERPROOF electrical connections: Why is this not standard on ALL tractors?? People generally use them outside where it could rain, right? Maybe not as important as it sounds? And we newbies want a quick reference manual so we don't have to get out the BIG manual to remember which lever/pedal/switch does what . I guess if the tractors are basically the same, the Bobcat QRM would apply to the Kioti as well

I notice that the Bobcat site doesn't show Kiotis in their "compare competitors" chart. Probably some legal agreement between the companies.