hi not that i`m an expert, but i do know a bit about scat trak`s, i own 2 at the moment....
scat track , i belive was first manufactured by koering construction equipment, a brand noted for toughness and durability. When i bought my first scat (new 97) it was then owned by a company call trak international, trak was then aquired by a company called compact technologies, wich was a part of a company called omni quip, wich was owned by textron. besides skid steer loaders, they also sold sky track and lull loaders. In 2001 volvo bought the skid steer loader line, and is now marketing their own version, with some improvements. In 2003 jlg industries bought the sky track and lull product lines.
While scat has never been in the forefront of skid steer sales , or coming up with new innovative designs, they are exceptionally well built and rugged machines (before the 2001 model year in my opinion). look at the size of the pins and bushings, the twin tilt cylinder on the boom, the guage of the material in the boom construction, this might change your opinionon them. Then start comparing specs, they had the higest available wheel torque in their classes, the all time higest available hydraulic flow (47 gallons a minute,1700 cx and 1800dx), and the largest engines in their classes (usually in both displacement and horsepower) they also use the largest drive chains , and always had the roomiest cabs and are the easyist of all of the skid steers to get into and out of.
Not that they dont have their weaknesses, anything above the 1500 class has a slow travel speed. And i do feel that they require a lot of physical effort to operate , (the non sero controls can build up your sholder mussles) and most of bobcats machines are better balanced for grading work. Scat always seems to have "rough edges" on the ergonomics. Before volvo took over, getting parts could be a pain, since volvos involvement , parts are easier to find and get, and i think even cheaper in many cases! the relatively short wheelbase they have when compared against modern designs does make the ride a bit choppier at times, but in my line of work , smaller is better to ge into tight places with, and i think you tend to scuff the tires a bit less without the long wheelbase.
As I`m sure you have figured out from reading this, I`m a real fan of these machines. I`m a contractor that does a bit of everything (steel fabrication,rigging and trucking, excavation, landscaping and demolition). We have run (and wrecked) most brands and models of skid steer loaders,including twisting booms, constant overheating, breaking drive chains, snapping axle housings and axel bearings, we are the worst nightmare of many rental houses........ For the crazy world that we operate in, the scat was the right shoice. a simple, wicked strong , straight forward design, that shows up everyday ...... this past summer i bought a 2000 model year 1500 from the only rental house that still likes me,lol. It is quicker and more nimble than the 1700 a better maching for running the harley rake and fine grading, i dont care much for that machines turbo kubota, i think the perkins in the 1700 is a better engine for the jobs we do .
In short , scat would make a good machine for almost anyones equipment aresnal................