I was checking out a Komatsu WB140 that's owned by a local contractor and I'm glad I bought a Case... it seemed like a cheap piece of crap to me. I like Case, but I think Cat and Deere are good machines, too.
I found this on another forum, thought it was an interesting analysis...
"I ran a Komatsu WB140 backhoe at the Case proving grounds in Arizona back in 2000 and I was not impressed with their product at all. I was working for a tractor dealer at the time and we had a product training session going on. Case brought in a John Deere 310SE, Cat 420D, Terex 760, Komatsu WB140, New Holland LB70 and a JCB 214 backhoe and we ran them against the Case 580 M and Super M backhoe (the newest model that they introduced at the time) and we each had to put them through an application. With the backhoe, we had to dig a trench, lift a precast concrete manhole section, load a truck (both with backhoe and front end loader), and run an obstacle course to test the ride control and other ride comfort features of machine. The Komatsu was probably the worst machine that I operated, very boxy, hard to feel controls, controls not as responsive, not a very powerful digging or lifting machine, poor road handling and plastic body parts, like the JCB's. I hate plastic body parts. They also went into the construction of the equipment, and how they built their respective products.
The New Holland, Terex, Komatsu and JCB machines, to me, were "throw away" machines. I thought the only ones that held a candle to Case were Deere and Cat."
:usa