Kioti Isn't Worth the Risk

Dewave · Mar 24, 2004

Re: Kioti Isn\'t Worth the Risk

One mans junk is another mans treasure! 

That reminds me of the mouse... junk to Xerox, along with the GUI. They simply gave it away to Billy. Now we all use it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

On another note Korea has the natural resources to build tractors where Japans island is some what limited. Imagine if Kubota's were made out of wood, by Japanese stanadards it would cost around $100,000 if not more. Doh! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

LakeLanierBuddy · Mar 24, 2004

Re: Kioti Isn\'t Worth the Risk

Well, I've read this whole thread with great interest and it's time for my injection. I read of the 10% over Kubota not being worth it but I saw it in more realistic numbers of 20 to 30 percent when you calculate in all of the "options" on Kubota, Deere and others that are "standard" on Kioti. What options some may say? Rear wipers, (225.00 Kubota L5030) extra rear valves (800.00 a piece Kubota L5030) four standard on Kioti DK55C. , the list goes on and on, not to mention weight found in the frames which equates to easier loader work. I would love to go head to head or side by side working these tractors to see what we all really bought them for in the first place. The challenge is out. My DK55C will pick up more, push and pull harder than it's target rival L5030 Kubota and it cost 6500.00 less! Boy, I bet I started the contest. Let the games begin! Hey, the Tractor challenge a new ESPN Saturday show!
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

GerardC · Mar 24, 2004

Re: Kioti Isn\'t Worth the Risk

( I think the South Koreans are more than capable of designing a few simple dies! As I have pointed out on other posts, check out used gray market tractors. They all look pretty similar. It is only the last few years when any kind of "styling" has intruded into the design of CUTs, so the fact that older Kiotis and older Kubotas look similar is not too surprising. South Korea's heavy industry is really quite advanced - to think that they would have to resort to used punch dies for parts as simple as those on a CUT is silly. In reality, these things are pretty basic machines - the technology is in the design and manufacturing systems, well within South Korea's capability. )

Kioti saved ten's of thousands of dollars by using the Kubota dies. That gave them the time and funds to work on other developments while producing a product. What wrong with getting something for free!!??

DrewL · Jul 7, 2005

Re: Kioti Isn\'t Worth the Risk

This original post is over a year old.............can the same thing be said today?

I say no. By design, there are few if any apple to apple comparisons of Kioti and Kubota. I can say this, Kioti has exploded in sales along with other "newcomers" such as Century and Montana. Commited dealers have virtually eliminated the "off brand" stigma so what can be the argument now (today)?

Bob_Skurka · Jul 7, 2005

Re: Kioti Isn\'t Worth the Risk

Drew, I will both agree and disagree with you. Last week I got a phone call from a TBN member in Maine, I recommended a CK20 to him. The day before that I was contacted by another member who was looking to buy a tractor and Kioti was on his "short" list of choices, I told him to run the other way.

Why would I recommend the brand on day and steer someone clear on another day. Simple answer. DEALER. One had a stable dealer, the other said the dealer was probably going to drop the brand but would cut him a heck of a deal. Well I've always recommended dealer over brand. Any of the modern tractors are pretty darn good, but a dealer can make or break the experience if you have a problem.

The reality is there are a lot of brands that are growing, heck even Kubota is growing, they are now claiming 60% marketshare in many areas of the nation and boast a national average of several points above 50% for all machines sold under 50hp. Absolute volume is necessary to sustain a brand, but marketshare is also important for the long term health of any brand.

I would also disagree with your statement about the "off brand" stigma, but only partially. I think that is very regional. You have to remember in some areas Kioti is simply not found or are so far and few between as to not even be a blip on the radar. . . but that is not criticism, it is just the reality of growth. Heck look at Mahindra or Massey-Ferguson they are both substantially larger than Kioti and both brands are still very hard to find in many places. I looked up Massy dealers just the other day, closest dealer was almost 100 miles from me and that explains why I have never seen a modern Massey. Give Kioti more time, they have some strong products, but they still have some dealers to cull from the herd.

gippolit · Jul 7, 2005

Re: Kioti Isn\'t Worth the Risk

Bob you can say the same for Kubota in Nebraska. IE ( off brand name) So once again what's you point?

Bob_Skurka · Jul 7, 2005

Re: Kioti Isn\'t Worth the Risk

 Bob you can say the same for Kubota in Nebraska. IE ( off brand name) So once again what's you point? 

Glen, what is YOUR point? Kubota sells tractors in Nebraska. Up to 40hp. Why wouldn't they? They do not participate in the Nebraska testing proceedures, consequently it my understanding they can't sell their larger machines there. But to even say, or imply, or whatever you are trying to indicate, that Kubota is an off brand in Nebraska is simply wrong. What part of my earlier post that is inaccurate?

gippolit · Jul 7, 2005

Re: Kioti Isn\'t Worth the Risk

( Bob you can say the same for Kubota in Nebraska. IE ( off brand name) So once again what's you point? 

Glen, what is YOUR point? Kubota sells tractors in Nebraska. Up to 40hp. Why wouldn't they? They do not participate in the Nebraska testing proceedures, consequently it my understanding they can't sell their larger machines there. But to even say, or imply, or whatever you are trying to indicate, that Kubota is an off brand in Nebraska is simply wrong. What part of my earlier post that is inaccurate?

)

Bob,
My point is you don't own a Kioti, but you seem to act like you know everything about them. Whats your problem with Kioti? It's a very simple question?

GerardC · Jul 7, 2005

Re: Kioti Isn\'t Worth the Risk

 This original post is over a year old............. 

UHHH, try about THREE PLUS years old.

qippolit:

 So once again what's your point? 

That's my question to you! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I think Bob said it pretty much straight forward. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Bob_Skurka · Jul 7, 2005

Re: Kioti Isn\'t Worth the Risk

I try to be objective, I try not to push any one brand at the expense of other brands, I try to point out warts on all brands because none is perfect. I am more than willing to play devil's advocate when someone pushes something that makes no sense. In the case of DrewL's post, I think my reply is very straight forward and a fair assessement of the current tractor market.

One thing I will admit, I am not very tolerant of posts that make blanket statements that have been disproved too many times. Statements like "brand X is a better value than . . . " simply don't hold up in all areas. While some brands do cost more and some do cost less, pricing is regional. Brand popularity is also regional. Mahindra is the #4 brand in the USA right now and it only markets tractors heavily in something like 28 states because the majority of all tractors sold in the US are apparently sold in those 28 states. I think there are a lot of good things to say about Kioti. I've test driven the DKs (in Cub Cadet paint) and am very impressed with them, I'd recommend a DK to anyone who it was a good fit for, too bad they don't have HST, but I hear that is coming down the road and that would be a great addition to their feature set. I like the CK20 and 30 and saw them while on a business trip. I went to my local Kioti store, only to find none.

But you state: My point is you don't own a Kioti, but you seem to act like you know everything about them. Whats your problem with Kioti? It's a very simple question? So I think I've answered you. What I am curious about with you is why you think I've even got a problem with them? And why you push them to people who are not considering them? And why you recommend models that don't match people's needs like when you recommended a CK30 to a guy who specifically wanted a tractor with a Mid Mount Mower, or didn't you know that is not available? Or a DK to a guy who's wife wanted a machine with HST? Etc . . .