Hyundai Excavators

[BKrois]

Just wondering if anyone has a Hyundai excavator? My friend just bought one at Conex through a dealer, he bought a brand new 290 which is around the same size as a Komatsu 300. The price was over $100k less for the same size machine, and Hyundai's warranty was 3 years vs Komatsu's 1 year warranty.

For what he paid for almost a 35 ton machine, is the same price as some guys are paying for new Cat 312CL's. Its just interesting how brand name can be worth $100k more. The Hyundai has Kawasaki hydraulics, Cummins motors and cat undercarriages i believe.

I don't know if its just me, but when is it worth it to switch brands, even if you're a loyal customer?

[Tigerotor77W]

I know a sewer contractor here runs a few Robex models and a wheel loader and has had good results with them. I'm sure you won't go wrong with any specific brand of excavator (in general), but what the price usually comes down to is how the dealer continues its support. Generally, Komatsu, Cat, and Deere dealers will service the machine no questions asked. Although a Hyundai dealer will likely do the same, what happens after the model is discontinued maybe a bit of a problem. Who knows. As far as I am concerned, I think Hyundai is just as much a competitor in the business is Kubota is a threat to Deere's compact tractor line.

[coopers]

I agree with you bobcat. I also think that there is not one company out there that doesn't make large tracked excavators that isn't a threat to the more common ones (Deere, Cat). It seems right now everyone is making good machines, volvo, link belt, case, hyundai etc. etc. Just a matter of who is closest to you for convenience and who has good customer service, good mechanic assistance etc.

Blake
WA

[Steve Frazier]

My concern would be the support should something go wrong. We bought a Hyundai car and I won't buy another. Every warranty issue requires 2 appointments to have the item fixed, one appointment for diagnosis and approval by a Hyundai representative, then a second appointment to have the repairs made. It doesn't matter how simple the job is.

I called about a stress crack in the instrument cluster bezel and was forced to bring the car in for confirmation before they would order the parts. Then it was a weeks wait for the part and appointment for repair. This has happened several times now with other repairs too.

If they have the same policy on the heavy equipment, down time will be extended. Is that something you can afford on an income generating machine?

[kamerad47]

that same stuff happened to me with a GM van too !!! dealers are bad all around. Hyundai excavators are not the same Co. Cat & Kom hold you for big $$ for there parts & service!!

[woberlin]

I don't think that for 100,000 price difference that I would be able to say no to the Hyundai if I was in the market for that size machine, especially with a 3 year warranty. I have not really heard anything bad about Hyundai machines, and there are quite a few around here.

[CascadeScaper]

I think that would be a fine deal to make, but you get what you pay for. A 3 year warranty is only worth the quality of the dealership you bought the machine from. Around here, there aren't any Hyundai dealers, I've never seen one anywhere. I tell ya though, I ran a brand new 312CL this weekend and boy are they smooth machines, lots of improvements over the B series, that's for sure. I'd be inclined to buy one tomorrow if I had the business to support such an investment.

[Tigerotor77W]

I hope Larry doesn't mind my posting this link here -- but if it does, any of the mods, feel free to remove it.

http://www.constructionequipment.com/hoe/ce05da003.asp

[triaxle]

Since 95 we have had a 311, a 315 and a 320. In that time none of these machines had any significant down time except the 320 which got a Cat warranty rebuild because it was consuming more oil than appropriate.

The import prices I see are attention getters and its hard to let product loyalty distract you from noticing that a Cat 320 ( a 20 metric ton machine)costs about the same as a Komatsu 300( a 30 metric ton hoe), both units with 3500 hours. ( and the 300 can load about 40-50 more dumptrucks in a day.)

I transport Hyundai trac-hoes out of the Port of Savannah to a heavy equipment dealer in Atlanta to keep our heavy hauler truck busy when our grading equipment is occupied for long periods. ( BobsGrading.com/heavyhaul)
As someone said in their response, there is significant difference from dealership to dealership in every product.
This is not intended as scientific, but The dealership I haul for is having very few service issues with the units it is moving and Hyundai has risen to their # 1 excavator product over the last five years.

I still remember when I wouldn't consider Komatsu because of many of the same reasons now raised about Hyundai. I believe commerce with Asia is becoming a part of our economic lives.
Fuel cost are getting worse, the money saved on the better priced gear could be the difference between peanuts for lunch.... or Hooters.