Komatsu Pc 200

[N.B.CONCRETE]

Thinking about buying a new one.
Anyone have one? Any opinions on them,bad or good?

Should i go with a Cat 320 instead?

Had a JD 270 on rental last summer and i'm not going the JD route.I want to own.

[donlang]

As much as I like to buy American, it's pretty tough in the heavy equipment market. I have experience with most makes out there, over the past years. If I were to buy new, it would probably be Komatsu, Kobelco, then Cat. I can't say anything bad about any of them, buy seem to like the Komatsu excavator better.

Keep in mind dealer parts and service support, first and foremost. If you have a local dealer with outstanding ability, that would seriously weigh the purchase. Remember, when they are working, they are all great!

My last experience with Kobelco reminds me that they seem to have much more tractive effort than any other excavator that I have run. This, of course, could have changed in the last year or so. Try before you buy, and best of luck. A new toy always brightens the day!

:usa

[kamerad47]

You know the cat excavators are mitsubish machines right! you know most komatsu, kobelco are made in the usa!! The komatsu is a nice machine !! have you looked at a hitachi!!! how will you transport it??

[Dirtguru]

I have a 96 PC 200 LC 6, equiped with thumb, extreme duty highwalker undercarriage and forestry gaurding. Have put close to 7000 hrs on the machine since purchased new in early 97. Overall I have been very happy with this machine as well as other Komatsu products I have had exp with over the years. The conditions that most of my equiptment works in would be considered extreme, a lot of steep slopes, rocks, stumps and trees. Replaced the undercarriage at 4700 hrs, including track motors which I thought was excelent considering what the machine was used for. Otherwise nothing out of the ordinary as long as reg maint was performed which can kill a small contractor if overlooked.
As others have said dealer support is very important, locally Komatsu has created quite a name for themselves in forestry and forestry related excavation which is what I primarily do. Another important factor for some is resale value. I believe Cat and Deere beats everybody else hands down in that respect, at least in this part of the country. One reason resale value is important to an owner operator for instance would be if something were to happen to you, or business got really slow, if you had to sell you would probably get closer to paying of your loan in the first couple of years with Cat or Deere than with others. Also the higher initial purchase price may provide significant tax advantages, especially under the current tax structure.
Finally I think your best bet would be to look at what your competition is using, talk to other excavators in your area, this is usually a good indicator of of the quality of the dealer network as well as the resale market in your area.

A Chapman

[BKrois]

Recently in Rock and Dirt and Machinery Trader papers i have noticed brand new Komatsu excavators advertised at equipment dealers. Most dealers did not seem to be Komatsu dealers, but had new komatsu excavators for sale.

The prices seemed very reasonable, i remember seeing brand new Komatsu PC200's for around $110-130k. Usually a new one is probably close to $200k. Not sure why the lower prices, but if you're going to buy one, it might be worth checking them out.

Heres some links to new ones-

http://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/forsale/detail.asp?guid=r7upw4o0&pcid=2898051&etid=1&OHID=4624270&nh=0

http://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/forsale/detail.asp?guid=r7upw4o0&pcid=882850&etid=1&OHID=4228303&nh=0

Heres one with around 500 hours-

http://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/forsale/detail.asp?guid=r7upw4o0&pcid=462000&etid=1&OHID=4600989&nh=0

Hope this helps