Cat vs. Volvo

Hello all!

I have been looking at two midsized excavators recently and i cant decide on witch is a better machine, the Cat 320D or the Volvo EC210C. :beatsme I guess im looking for advice. Does anyone know which is a better machine in general?

If opinions could be backed by evidence that would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Depends on the preference of the operator (or so I have been told). I was always of the school that a good operator can run anything if trained on the machines functions/abilities.
I see alot more cats than our VOLVOs in my area, but I really don't have alot of field calls on the small/mid range excavators we sell (VOLVO).

They are both fantastic machines, and I can see why you're having trouble deciding. For the same price, I'd probably pick the Cat because of more comprehensive dealer service, and more plentiful parts, but the difference is small. Mechanically, Cats are great but I've heard of occasional computer glitches in the D series models. The reliability should be about the same. Get whatever you think you can get a better deal on, and whatever feels best when you run it.

My Uncle operates a 30t volvo in a bluestone quarry. Only him on it for three years since new. The cab is on its third set of mounts and there is daylight around the door everywhere. Mechanically ok but cab not so good.

volvos are great on fuel. they are usually well equipped with auxilaries, couplers, lots of filters and niceties that gives them that bit of extra life etc. I have never driven a cat, but i suspect they are equally capable.

I don't think parts are any cheaper on a volvo.

Good luck.

You might want to look into who you're going to have to go to for parts and service and take that into consideration before you buy.

You don't have Hitachi or Deere in your area? They also have a top notch reputation.

If I was going off of fuel, the Volvo's are very good with the fuel economy.
Since everyone debates parts availability, in my area (Milwaukee) every dealer you could want is within a few miles of our shop. (except Komatsu/20min. south) Be it Cat, Volvo, or Deere, most parts are in stock or will be there in a day. So when I decided on Volvo, it was because I enjoy working with the dealer. (Aring) As for break downs, I've owned my 160 for 3 yrs. and other than fluid changes, it hasn't needed any repairs. Have I owned cat? Yes, and I still own and run Cat Dozers, but there's always a strange sense of arrogance every time I enter the dealer. Somehow, the only way they will like you is if you've been a customer for 30 yrs. or have over 1 Million dollars in Cat equipment. Just my opinion.

i hate the volvo hoes for a few reasons. the coupler on them is ridiculous, the sheet metal is tinny, and they are cramped in the cab.

penndot has some volvo excavators, and the paint on them is terrible, faded and pealing, rust spots... my '79 deere has better paint than the state's volvos.

Well he is from Okanagan which is British Columbia... Would mean the Volvo dealer is Strongco, Cat dealer is Finning, JD his Brandt Tractor, and Hitachi is Wajax.

Strongco isn't exactly known for stellar service. Finning and Brandt have great service although yes Finning is a little snobby if you aren't a huge company. Wajax..... mixed reviews. I know guys that have had great service, guys that have had crap service.

Burnout said:

Well he is from Okanagan which is British Columbia... Would mean the Volvo dealer is Strongco, Cat dealer is Finning, JD his Brandt Tractor, and Hitachi is Wajax.

Strongco isn't exactly known for stellar service. Finning and Brandt have great service although yes Finning is a little snobby if you aren't a huge company. Wajax..... mixed reviews. I know guys that have had great service, guys that have had crap service.

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I'd confirm your dealer experiences. Toromont CAT (the dealer for Central/Eastern Canada) is similarly snobby too. They've got plenty of parts, but they tend to 'ignore' smaller customers (like me). For example, I once went to inquire about some used machines they had [at their Concord location], and the attendants said that all the salespeople are busy and essentially shooed me away and told me to visit some other dealer in Cambridge. They had lots of cool equipment, but that treatment kinda pissed me off. I came to possibly spend more than the attendants annual salary and they just treated me like I didn't matter. The Nortrax (John Deere) dealer seemed more helpful and polite. I haven't bought my own excavator yet though. Strongco was alright, but nothing special. I've got no experience with Wajax.

"Strongco isn't exactly known for stellar service."

ointlaugh


Yeah, not exactly.

Actually, i think toromont may be better in my area.

I will say this. There isn't a single one of them that even comes close to even the worse ag dealer. As a farmer, i have gotten used to dealers who routinely go the extra mile, bend over backwards, and move mountains to get you going, get you parts, and just generally help you out.

The CE dealers are way way behind in customer service.

That said, i don't go out of my way to support them.

Sultan and Watglen... I'm originally from Ontario. I am from the Chatham Kent area. When I was a kid I remember heading to Toromont with the old man, Southwest Tractor (then Ontrac... now Nortrax). I tell ya back when it was Southwest Tractor service was great. If you needed something you could call up Steve Fisher in London or Bill Burnett in Waterloo if you needed parts. I know the old man isn't crazy about Nortrax but then again when he started dealing with them it was still Renash Tractor.

If you want some service at Toromont just tell em you know Joe Fuhrer, he used to carry some weight around there lol.

I have run the volvo and cat machines side by side on the same job. The hydraulics on the volvo were not near as precise as the cat. Also, the cat was far quicker, and much more pleasureable to operate. I am not a huge cat fan by the way.

try out a linkbilt just for kicks...i,ve ran them,all cat, jd. linkbilt.hitachi.samsung.ect if not hitachi or jd great machines..

Talk with your Cat salesman to ask how the 320D fuel economy compares to its competition. For production measured in cubic meters per gallon per hour, I think the 320D stands at or near the top of its class.

I used to know the Cat rep (corporate, not the dealer rep) who oversaw that area, but he's gone back to Peoria -- if you want, I can *try* to figure out who it is and maybe have him pay you a visit? This is speaking a bit beyond my direct means, but I'd be willing to give it a shot. Shoot me a PM if you're interested.

I have run or have fix 90% of the equipment on the market for over 20 years, Fuel savings are huge with Volvo with the deutz motors that they use ,but be warned if you have computer issues the dealer will have to be called. They use a program called Matisse to download the data from one of the three computers it uses. Only the dealer can pull these codes, Now I am not saying Volvo is no good it’s one of my favorite pieces of equipment on the market but it is very difficult to fix any electronic issue that it may have, you cannot even use a test light on some of the problems down the road without taking the chance of burning out part of the 3 computers circuit boards and absolutely do not do any welding on a bucket attached to the unit, disconnect the bucket from the machine before welding or you blow the computer , tons of features and very well constructed ,lots of power, great seat warmers (burn your ass Hot) and you will never find another machine with as many buttons as a Volvo just put your best operator in absolute no test drivers , It’s like giving a 19 year old a Porsche not a good idea something will get broken , as for the cat 320s I have two in my yard both are older models ,the new models uses C6 C7 motor absolutely stay away from any cat using these motors they are junk tons of problems, We have three gmc multi lift trucks with these motors in them ,one had engine damage from pump issue that 600 hours left on its warranty and the other truck just blew its motor 15k to repair and the motor was 100 hours over its warranty 88000 kms what a joke ( fighting with cat over this) 2 out of 3 trucks had problems not very good product. I would pick JD /Hitachi unit or Link Belt/Case unit over the Volvo if you are not very confident with your operators, less buttons to break for the test drivers.

One other thing you got to love the marker lights in the Volvo counter weight.

Blowerman, I thought I was the only one that felt that way about or local Cat dealer. I am like you, less than 30 years and only five pieces of Cat equipment. HOWEVER, they assigned a new guy to the territory I am in a little over a year ago. Really great guy!!! I may very well buy something from him when this economy thing straightens out. Goes against the grain of the previous territory guys that used to be here.

Burnout said:

Well he is from Okanagan which is British Columbia... Would mean the Volvo dealer is Strongco, Cat dealer is Finning, JD his Brandt Tractor, and Hitachi is Wajax.

Strongco isn't exactly known for stellar service. Finning and Brandt have great service although yes Finning is a little snobby if you aren't a huge company. Wajax..... mixed reviews. I know guys that have had great service, guys that have had crap service.

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A men burnout

Iron is iron they make new stuff every day but the dealer and the support is what makes you sucseed on the site.

But personaly Brant tractor out of vernon is probably the best