I've been researching like mad. I originally narrowed it down to the 2 tractors I started the thread with because it seems I have a good dealer for each in my area.
I started off with many more options and all of the ones I ruled out were extremely good tractors but it seemed I would have been paying for the name or "paint color"... i .e. JD 4110, AGCO ST25, Kubota B2410, New Holland Boomers etc.
In fact I have 2 Kioti dealers within an hour of me... one is a huge place that also stocks Kubota. The guy there has a Kioti sign up, but when I went to get a quote, basically said... I'm a dealer for them, but why buy them when you can get Kubota. I drove off right then. The other dealer is quite friendly.
I think I have made up my mind on the Kioti after comparing to MANY other brands. It just seems for my purposes that the CK20HST has the right mix of quality/price/features. The only way it could be made better for me is if it had about 5 more horsepower while maintaining its < 48" width at the wheels. I love the specs on the CK25HST but it is ever so slightly too large (frame wise) for me. I will need to trailer it every once in a blue moon and both of my trailers are 48" between wheel wells and I don't want to have to buy a new trailer. Besides... since its main purpose will be mowing, the smaller width will be a benefit.
I started off with many more options and all of the ones I ruled out were extremely good tractors but it seemed I would have been paying for the name or "paint color"... i .e. JD 4110, AGCO ST25, Kubota B2410, New Holland Boomers etc.
In fact I have 2 Kioti dealers within an hour of me... one is a huge place that also stocks Kubota. The guy there has a Kioti sign up, but when I went to get a quote, basically said... I'm a dealer for them, but why buy them when you can get Kubota. I drove off right then. The other dealer is quite friendly.
I think I have made up my mind on the Kioti after comparing to MANY other brands. It just seems for my purposes that the CK20HST has the right mix of quality/price/features. The only way it could be made better for me is if it had about 5 more horsepower while maintaining its < 48" width at the wheels. I love the specs on the CK25HST but it is ever so slightly too large (frame wise) for me. I will need to trailer it every once in a blue moon and both of my trailers are 48" between wheel wells and I don't want to have to buy a new trailer. Besides... since its main purpose will be mowing, the smaller width will be a benefit.