Quoting large parkade

That's a lot of material to throw with a 200 but isn't crazy, figure about 2000 yards a day? A 350 or 450 will do it faster but if you already have the machine, and the client doesnt have a huge time crunch, why not.
What is the ground like? Can you dig and load with a big clean out bucket or do you have to use a smaller tooth bucket?

Well they came back, and of course it's last minute! They want to be in the ground in the next 2-3 weeks. Either they have very poor planning, whoever they were going to use backed out, or came in really high. They seemed to like my price, but there was some things I didn't factor in, hard to quote without full plans especially when this job is more involved then i've done before.

It's just clay/sand so 5' clean out bucket will dig no problem. I think in a day I could do 100 tridem end dump loads no problem which would be about 2000 yards. There is about 30,000 yards of extra material in the main dig about 4000 for backfill, and about 600 for fine detailing. So at 2000 yards/day that's only 17 days digging, and 2 days fine detailing. It might take me longer, but a few extra hours a day and working the weekends will make up for it. I don't see the point in spending $20k to rent a bigger machine and leave mine sit.

They are "carpet bagger" guys though, honestly it concerns me a bit after getting screwed by one. They mentioned their relatives will likely handle the trucking which is fine by me, I don't want the risk of $450k worth of trucking to make a little profit. Met them at their current one they are just finishing that is fairly similar, so that helps me at least know they've done it before.

If I can get a good price to do it i'd really like to, it would be enough work I wouldn't need to pick up anything else for the rest of the year. But no interest if it's not good money as I know there will be surprises.

holy they are asking for alot of money on rentals where you live. I can get a 350G for 12k a month in Alberta. It's the perfect size machine for that kind of job in my opinion. But if you already have your 200, I would not rent, like you said even if you work a bit later and weekends to keep the client happy. good luck with it

That was a rental sheet from awhile back, maybe rates dropped a lot. Project went ahead but I elected not to do it, too much risk having that kind of money out, for a contractor I don't know well enough, and so many that size like to try and pay when they feel like it and chargeback anything they can try. Not worth my time. Ended up for the best, had a few decent size jobs from repeat clients last few months that kept me busy.