Kubota RTV500 or Cub Cadet Volunteer 4x4

[dirtracer31]

We've had "the wife's" 500 for over a year now. I abuse the heck out of it. It took the place of my farm truck. We use it for everything for hauling wood out, pully brush piles, moving trailers around, and running to the neighbors. It does ride alittle rough but I look at it as a speed limiter. Another thing no one has mentioned, sips gas. The only complaint I would have is the leg room. I'm 6'3" and my knees are very close to the dash. But it's my wife's and she's on 5'. We love it.

 

[jcombs]

I thought I had decided on the Cub Cadet. I liked the way it rode, and just couldn't get passed the significantly higher towing and hauling capacity. When I dropped by the dealer on Saturday to buy it I found out the financing had changed. They still have a 0% option, but it is for revolving credit, not an installment loan. It also has nearly $400 in fees that I wasn't counting on before.

The salesman I had been talking to at Cub Cadet wasn't there on Saturday so I'm going back tomorrow to talk to him. At this point I'm leaning more towards the Kubota, though. Their financing is much more reasonable (0% for 48 months with only $60 in fees). I'm also starting to trust the long term reliability of the Kubota more based on everything I'm reading about them. I've not really read anything bad about the Cub Cadet, but that may just be because I haven't been able to find many people who own them.

 

[scoutcub]

I thought I had decided on the Cub Cadet. I liked the way it rode, and just couldn't get passed the significantly higher towing and hauling capacity. When I dropped by the dealer on Saturday to buy it I found out the financing had changed. They still have a 0% option, but it is for revolving credit, not an installment loan. It also has nearly $400 in fees that I wasn't counting on before.

The salesman I had been talking to at Cub Cadet wasn't there on Saturday so I'm going back tomorrow to talk to him. At this point I'm leaning more towards the Kubota, though. Their financing is much more reasonable (0% for 48 months with only $60 in fees). I'm also starting to trust the long term reliability of the Kubota more based on everything I'm reading about them. I've not really read anything bad about the Cub Cadet, but that may just be because I haven't been able to find many people who own them.

I have a 07 Volunteer 624 4X4 with 220+ hours. Haven't pulled any logs yet, but have had a full load in the dump bed, and towed around my (BIG) jetski, even backing down a slope and up out of the water. All with no problems. I'm most impressed with the great suspension, traveling at full speed across a bumpy field it smooths the ride out considerably. I put the electric pump in myself for the dump bed, what a great asset!
It starts right up even in cold weather. I figure if the engine ever starts giving me issues, I can replace it with the EFI or another Kohler Command, I would put in the 25 HP.
I bought it used in 08. Have you considered a good used one? I've seen several on Ebay and craigslist. Overall, I'm very happy with it and would highly recommend it.
Good luck!

 

[timswi]

Our sportsmans club just bought a new Volunteer and I took it for a spin last weekend.

Nice machine, runs very well an goes anywhere...It is certainly lighter in terms of footprint and feel than the RTV500. I'd say the Cub is more on the sport side of the equation and the 500 is on the work side. They are similar but different...

Pro's ..Like the bucket seats and the console shifter better in the Cub..The Cub
seems faster although I didn't compare. The RTV "feels" stronger build
wise...
Con's..For some reason the position of the throttle kept causing my foot to slip
off. The Cub has no engine braking, where the RTV has some..Nice on hills

Both nice machines.

 

[Tkblacktail]

Our sportsmans club just bought a new Volunteer and I took it for a spin last weekend. Both nice machines.

The proof is in the pudding, I'm going to have to buy one of everything.:licking:

 

[timswi]

The proof is in the pudding, I'm going to have to buy one of everything.:licking:

Obviously that's the only real solution

 

[Frostybear]

I shopped around and looked at the Cub and the Mule 610 before I bought my RTV 500 last fall. I use mine for work like plowing snow, firewood etc. I got the Kubota snowplow with mine and have used it a lot this winter. I'm real happy with it. I have had two Kubota tractors before this, so I'm sold on their reliability. I got the 0% financing also which is great. The Cub just didn't seem as well made to me and the dealer wanted $2,000 for the plow rig and woudn't cut me a break on it so it would have cost as much as the Kubota anyway.

 

[jcombs]

I think I've decided on the Kubota. I plan to call the dealer tomorrow to let him know so he can locate one for me (they're currently sold out). I think its the best decision. I'm looking forward to finally making the purchase.

 

[cooper99]

I think I've decided on the Kubota. I plan to call the dealer tomorrow to let him know so he can locate one for me (they're currently sold out). I think its the best decision. I'm looking forward to finally making the purchase.

I don't have much background in this area, but why did you not consider an entry level Ranger or Gator XUV?

 

[jcombs]

I looked at both the Ranger and Gator. I know that a lot of people really like Polaris, but I've heard too many issues regarding reliability (especially belt-related) for my tastes. The XUV was nice, but was a bit more expensive and we didn't like the cab set up as much as the Kubota and Cub Cadet.