Strengths It is a Bobcat S185 - most are reliable but if you have problems - expect no help from Bobcat or your warranty!

Weaknesses I had Oil Pressure issues at 280 hours - the rod and main bearings are gone! I did nothing to create this problem - actually very anal about maintenance! Bobcat warranty rep blames me for the damage(without any sort of proof or any knowledge of anything for that fact!) Now I have to pay for a new motor and labor!!!!! The warranty is useless - better hope you don't need the warranty - I will buy a JD or Case!

Overall Bobcat is now owned by a Korean Corporation - BUYER BEWARE!!

Strengths Very reliable. We have a dairy farm and the machine needs to go twice a day every day. Always starts unaided down to -20F. Over 7000 hours on the machine with virtually no problems except normal maintenance and what i will discuss in weaknesses. Very capable machine for its size. Its been abused and the oil has been changed about every 450 hours, so little maintenance has been done on the machine, and we plan to run her to 10,000 hours, because it runs and drives like new yet. We had an older 773 before this machine, and we ran that to 7000 hours with no problems. I cant say enough good about this machine, the air conditioner still works, the heater is very hot, and the interior is still in decent condition.

Weaknesses I'm getting tired of the standard Bobcat hand/foot controls. When you drive one for over 1000 hrs a year, it starts to get old. I would like to get sjc (joystick) controls on the next machine, but i know they would never be as reliable as our current machine. I might just keep this current machine for a backup for when the sjc breaks down. The controls I have been the most impressed with are Takeuchi. They don't make wheel skid steers, which would lead me to consider looking at Mustang and Gehl for the next skid steer, because they have ISO style completely mechanical low effort joystick controls like Takeuchi, which should be most reliable. The only problem with this s185 was that we cracked 2 heads on it from overheating. The first was replaced under warranty, and the second we had to pay $2500 for. I suspect this was some kind of fluke, because we never have problems with kubota engines. Also frequent cleaning of the radiators needs to be done when working in dusty conditions.

Overall I would recommend this machine to anyone, although case, mustang, gehl, deere, and cat are all worth looking into.

Strengths Large Cab, easy to maintain with the transverse mounted engine; the only SS that will allow you to lift the cab without the boom raised; easy to run; cheap to operate; good dealer support; very large 24 gallon fuel tank - spend your time operating rather than refuelling.

Weaknesses The ACS control system is not as good as some of the other control systems (Deere has excellent hand controls). We would have purchase the pilot controls but the option was $2,400.

Overall A very capable machine; 0% financing was appreciated. We looked at 5 manufacturers and had it down to the Deer 317 and 320 (long time Deere tractor owners) and the S185 Bobcat, but settled on the Bobcat - mainly for the superior engineering that makes maintenance easy and the larger more comfortable cab.

Strengths ALL THE POWER YOU WANT FOR GENERAL WORKS, VERY CHEAP TO RUN.

Weaknesses TO LIGHT ON THE FRONT END NOT REALLYSUITABLE FOR PEIR BORING

Overall RECOMEND TO ANY PERSON LOOKING FOR MID SIZED MACHINE FOR GENERAL WORKS

Strengths LOOKS POWER

Weaknesses SERVICE DEPT PARTS SUPPLY OVERPRICED REPLACEMENT PARTS

Overall WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE LOOKING FOR A SKIDSTEER