Kubota RTV vs. PUG vs. AUSA Task M50?

Bob_Skurka · Sep 10, 2004

Regarding these 3 units:

Kubota RTV dealer - 5 miles away. I have purchased several tractors from this dealership, know the owner by first name, they always take care of me. Great dealership, fully stocked parts & service department.

PUG dealer - 8 miles away. I have purchased one tractor and several implements and attachements from them but only over the past 2 years. Appears to be a great dealership, fully stocked parts & very large service department.

AUSA dealer - 120 miles away. No clue about the dealership.

Logic tells me the Kubota & Pug are the better choices just because of service. I totally agree with Dargo on the fact that anything mechanical will eventually break, no matter how well it is built. I like the diesel of the Kubota, I like the reputation, I like the dealership.

As for the Pug, I like the articulated frame and feel it might be a better workhorse, but I'm not sure that I need that much utility; again, the dealer is stellar, the brand doesn't have the reputation as the Kubota.

As for the AUSA unit, it appears to be an excellent unit, designed for commercial users more than homeowners and the specs make it very attractive (especially since the lovely Mrs_Bob will be the most likely user of any UV that we might get) From the creature comfort standpoint, the AUSA appears to be the top of the line unit. From the work standpoint, it also appears to be a very strong contender. I wish it was diesel.

This is a decision that will be a spring purchase, I strongly perfer to buy local, which leans away from the AUSA, but my most recent tractor purchase (June '04) is from a dealership that is about 7 hours away in Wisconsin and so far that dealer has been great in responding to my needs (via phone, truck & UPS). So I am willing to travel for the right unit. The question is what is the right unit? Certainly parts & service come into play. Features & performance come into play. As for price, these are all relatively expensive when compared to other utility vehicles. Reliability comes into play as well.

I guess I would rank my choices RIGHT NOW as #1) Kubota, #2) Pug, #3) AUSA. But if I get a warm and fuzzy feeling from the AUSA dealer & like the performance of the unit (have not driven it yet), that could easily change the ranking as some of the subjective criteria -like comfort- could outweigh some objective criteria.

If I only needed one seat then my choice would be simple, I would get the Steiner Utilimax. But the ability to have 2 people transported rules that out.

Dargo · Sep 10, 2004

My mistake. I thought I'd read that the AUSA dealer was a few hours away. If you have a good dealer close, that is a different matter. I've found out the hard way that if you purchase a brand of something that doesn't have a local dealership, you better be prepared to do all work yourself, be prepared to search for parts, and be prepared to pay a premium for those parts since "competition" isn't there to keep said part prices in line.

Oh, wait. I did read correctly that the AUSA dealer is the furthest away. I'll still stand by my earlier post then. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I thint the AUSA unit is one of the best looking and appears to be well made. Again, it will eventually break. My choices would have to follow Bob's logic as well based on proximity, brand reputation, and dealership reputation.

I currently have a somewhat similar delimma. I'm wanting to add a Yamaha Rhino to my fleet. However, my local Yamaha dealer is about $900 more for the same unit than I can find outside my local area, and also, if I buy outside my state, I can register the vehicle to my farm and not have the same taxes. Needless to say, my local dealer will likely not want to work on the unit if I buy elsewhere, but I can save a net $1300 dollars! What to do?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

riptides · Sep 10, 2004

Distance is relative to me. I see the two hours as a non-factor.

I will offer my stand as - dealer reputation, product reputation and then proximity.

Bob, in your case it seems the Kubota should warrent a first look.

It is *tough* to get into a new market. What reputation does one bring to the table? On a big ticket purchase item, I'd like for someone to hold my hand when things break, be very responsive to my needs, etc. etc.

Plus, the fact that RTV's are discussed on the wonderful forum kind of sways my opinion. But then I have one too, well my wife does... where did we go for information and advice? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

rtvman · Sep 10, 2004

Degree, best of both worlds is my reasoning. Knowing pretty much about nothing when it comes to AUSA (apparently made in Spain), all I meant was, if you can buy a quality product, which for the most part is built in the USA, I will go that way every time. With seemingly everything being built outside of the USA these days, the Japanese at least are making an effort to build a lot of their durable products we consume (ie. Most cars, all trucks, tractors) in the USA. I don't think we can say the same thing about BMW/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

PBMAX · Sep 10, 2004

Which ever you buy keep us posted I've been trying to talk the wife into buying one also....
Theres jsut nothing like info from the end user to me.... beats the best spec sheet and advertisement hands down...

Me, I'm kinda partial to the Kubota version.... While I don't care for the smell of diesil in the moring I do like the sound of it.....

Hey Dargo,

Needless to say, my local dealer will likely not want to work on the unit if I buy elsewhere, but I can save a net $1300 dollars! What to do?? 

You know I've heard other folks say this about other dealers, but I've yet to have this problem... I've bought various dirtbikes and four wheelers from dealers all around me. The have known I did not buy from them but where just as happy to get the service/repair or even warranty work.

Don't get me wrong, I can see how a tractor dealer could have that attitude. Especially if he is the only one for hrs in any direction... But if I know this up front, I'd just tell the dealer I bought it from a friend who had it few weeks and dicided to get something esle or I bought at a repo sale,Sunday paper, whatever, it's none of their beezwax how I came by it. I mean if they want to play that way so can I... I guess I should count my self lucky the dealers in our area don't behave like stubern children....

bczoom · Sep 10, 2004

Hey Bob,

Looks like the consensus here is the Kubota. Now, being probably the largest RTV forum in existence, would you have expected otherwise? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
You have time (spring purchase). Check out what's going on with the RTV over that period. I'm a perpetual buyer of the new stuff that comes out. Some are great /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif, others aren't as good after time /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif. Let's see what happens with the RTV. The tranny's were a very touchy item when they're new. Most are getting better but who knows, they may all poop out after a year. Don't worry, most of us will criticize the RTV when justified.

Maybe some Pug and AUSA owners will join the forum and give us their first hand impressions of their machines.

Let us know what you end up with.

Brian

soarkrebel · Sep 10, 2004

Hey that AUSA looks pretty good .....on line!
But with any new product there will flaws in design that need fixing. now with the AUSA ,it being new , getting those fixed may be a problem for there are so few dealers. the RTV is the simple choice if i was to be ready to buy today.

I think when the RTV has been around a year or two it is going to be one long term dependable machine and worth my money.
who knows in a few year maybe the AUSA will have the creditability kubota has with WE americans.
but right now i sure as........... wouldnt plop $14,000+ down for one.

flyingn · Sep 10, 2004

The Task is made in Spain. Not known for making great cars..

( ( I like the fact that the RTV 900 is built in the USA (assembled anyway). This AUSA thing looks like a Quad on steroids! From the website it looks to me like their made somewhere in Europe. I still have to go with the RTV 900 because you got to love the diesel and most definitely the power steering! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Your reasoning is, just because its assembled in the USA with Japanese parts then its better? Europeans build and engineer some of the greatest cars. And AUSA has been around since the mid 1950's )

Ricochet · Sep 12, 2004

( I like the fact that the RTV 900 is built in the USA (assembled anyway). This AUSA thing looks like a Quad on steroids! From the website it looks to me like their made somewhere in Europe. I still have to go with the RTV 900 because you got to love the diesel and most definitely the power steering! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

The RTV900 is assembled in Georgia and the majority of the parts are made in the USA....with some exceptions, mainly the drive train (front diff. assembly, engine and transmission). Granted those are big parts, but the entire frame is fabricated here with parts from all over the USA and all the plastic parts are made in the USA...etc. etc. Plus, Kubota employs over 1500 people at the plant where they are made (they make several other models of Kubota products there as well). Just a little FYI. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ricochet · Sep 12, 2004

BTW, I want to get a hold of AUSA Task 50 and see what it is like. It looks pretty good, but it's new to the USA market so like others have said I would be leery of it…especially when compared to a Kubota.