Looking at a 2006 S220 Bobcat Skidsteer

[tailslid1]

I'm looking at a 2006 Bobcat Skidsteer. It has the joystick controls, 2 speed transmission, high flow, cab, heat, ac, power bobtach, and keyless controls. It has 1300 hours on it. The tires are in need of replacement. The rest of the unit is in pretty good shape. What would be a fair price for this unit? What should I look out for when evaluating it? Thanks guys! Rick

 

[bobbie-g]

Rick: I want it if you don't! I've been looking for an S220. Does it have the SJC controls, or hand/foot dual? Some folks, including me, don't think much of the SJC controls. The ones I've been seeing listed are running around 20K for what you describe. Sometimes a bit more, sometimes in the high teens. I suspect auctions will run less, maybe in the 15K and up range, but you don't get much insight into the history of a machine at an auction. --- Just to state the obvious, look for warning lights on the control panel. Don't ignore something you don't understand. Think about paying a Bobcat dealer a few hundred bucks to evaluate it, and to pull the codes from the computer. Ask for the maintenance records, as the 1000 hr stuff is fairly extensive and should have been done. You can call Melroe with the serial number and they will tell you what options were on the machine from the factory. Don't assume that the options are on that machine just because there's a button on the control panel. Push the button and see if the light lights, then see if the function actually works. I'm using a machine now that has a "bucket leveling" light that lights, but the function doesn't work. Good luck, and be sure to send me back a post if you decide against buying it. I'm ready! ---RC

 

[tailslid1]

Rick: I want it if you don't! I've been looking for an S220. Does it have the SJC controls, or hand/foot dual? Some folks, including me, don't think much of the SJC controls. The ones I've been seeing listed are running around 20K for what you describe. Sometimes a bit more, sometimes in the high teens. I suspect auctions will run less, maybe in the 15K and up range, but you don't get much insight into the history of a machine at an auction. --- Just to state the obvious, look for warning lights on the control panel. Don't ignore something you don't understand. Think about paying a Bobcat dealer a few hundred bucks to evaluate it, and to pull the codes from the computer. Ask for the maintenance records, as the 1000 hr stuff is fairly extensive and should have been done. You can call Melroe with the serial number and they will tell you what options were on the machine from the factory. Don't assume that the options are on that machine just because there's a button on the control panel. Push the button and see if the light lights, then see if the function actually works. I'm using a machine now that has a "bucket leveling" light that lights, but the function doesn't work. Good luck, and be sure to send me back a post if you decide against buying it. I'm ready! ---RC

Well, I've been looking for an S220, S250, or S300 for some time now. A friend of mine just bought a new S650 several months ago. I thought he was nuts, but I've had the chance to use the machine on several occasions. They sure can be handy! So I've decided I need one of these machines. I build homes for a living, so it will be used for snow removal, rough landscaping, moving building materials, etc. The machine I'm evaluating is currently in use by a municipal agency. It has the SJC "Pilot" contol system. Thats the only part that concerned me. They are trading it in on a new unit. I was going to purchase it directly from them, but I wound up negotiating with the Bobcat dealer that is trading the unit in on a new unit. I was told that its been very well maintained by the dealer. They were going to go through it and fix all the cosmetic issues, go through a full service, etc. I negotiated a price that was very agreeable to me if I can buy it "as-is". Supposedly there are no issues, service problems, or computer errors. The agency that owns it informed me that they were going to put the worst set of tires from their fleet on it before trading it. They also said it would get the rustiest bucket they had. I have the opportunity to buy it "as-is" for $12,000. Currently it has 1270+ hours on it. So it will need a set of tires though. And I'd like to find a toothed bucket for landscaping. The dealer just traded in another S220. I believe it is a 2005 model though. I will check into it. If they still have it available, I will let you know. Supposedly it had all the options mine did. And its located in the Midwest states. Thanks for the advice!

 

[bobbie-g]

Well, I've been looking for an S220, S250, or S300 for some time now. A friend of mine just bought a new S650 several months ago. I thought he was nuts, but I've had the chance to use the machine on several occasions. They sure can be handy! So I've decided I need one of these machines. I build homes for a living, so it will be used for snow removal, rough landscaping, moving building materials, etc. The machine I'm evaluating is currently in use by a municipal agency. It has the SJC "Pilot" contol system. Thats the only part that concerned me. They are trading it in on a new unit. I was going to purchase it directly from them, but I wound up negotiating with the Bobcat dealer that is trading the unit in on a new unit. I was told that its been very well maintained by the dealer. They were going to go through it and fix all the cosmetic issues, go through a full service, etc. I negotiated a price that was very agreeable to me if I can buy it "as-is". Supposedly there are no issues, service problems, or computer errors. The agency that owns it informed me that they were going to put the worst set of tires from their fleet on it before trading it. They also said it would get the rustiest bucket they had. I have the opportunity to buy it "as-is" for $12,000. Currently it has 1270+ hours on it. So it will need a set of tires though. And I'd like to find a toothed bucket for landscaping. The dealer just traded in another S220. I believe it is a 2005 model though. I will check into it. If they still have it available, I will let you know. Supposedly it had all the options mine did. And its located in the Midwest states. Thanks for the advice!

I'd say for $12K that's a nice deal. I'd pay that. --- An observation on the SJC machines: several folks here on the forum don't like them, because if anything goes wrong, the dealer most likely has to do the repair. Us shade-tree mechanics are mostly out of luck with anything that involves the computer. I have a T180 SJC machine. I've put about 250 hrs on it now (1300 total). I don't care for the control action. You don't have direct control of the drives, the computer does. So the good part is, you can't jerk the machine, hence, less strain on the drive motors. The bad part is, if you want to do a quick motion, you can't. The computer takes your command from the SJC controls, decides what to do, and sends a signal to the solenoid to open. Too slow for me, especially if I'm pushing the machine a bit on a slope or near an edge or soft spot. When I yank a control, I want the machine to move RIGHT NOW! And that doesn't happen with the SJC controls. I've tried fiddling with the sensitivity setting, and don't see any appreciable difference. The tilt is not too bad, I think the lift is a bit less sensitive. Good luck, and I'd be interested in hearing about the other S220. ---RC

 

[tailslid1]

I'd say for $12K that's a nice deal. I'd pay that. --- An observation on the SJC machines: several folks here on the forum don't like them, because if anything goes wrong, the dealer most likely has to do the repair. Us shade-tree mechanics are mostly out of luck with anything that involves the computer. I have a T180 SJC machine. I've put about 250 hrs on it now (1300 total). I don't care for the control action. You don't have direct control of the drives, the computer does. So the good part is, you can't jerk the machine, hence, less strain on the drive motors. The bad part is, if you want to do a quick motion, you can't. The computer takes your command from the SJC controls, decides what to do, and sends a signal to the solenoid to open. Too slow for me, especially if I'm pushing the machine a bit on a slope or near an edge or soft spot. When I yank a control, I want the machine to move RIGHT NOW! And that doesn't happen with the SJC controls. I've tried fiddling with the sensitivity setting, and don't see any appreciable difference. The tilt is not too bad, I think the lift is a bit less sensitive. Good luck, and I'd be interested in hearing about the other S220. ---RC

Bobbie-g, The other machine I had the opportunity to purchase was a 2005 S220 with standard controls. It had 3500 hours on it. It had the A91 package so it had heat, ac, cab, deluxe instruments, suspension seat, and keyless ignition. It also had the 2-speed transmission. It had brand new tires. It didn't include a bucket. They were asking $12,000. I offered them $11,000, and we settled on $11,500. I figured I could sell it locally if it didn't turn out to be something I wanted to keep long term. What do you think? Decent deal or not? Thanks. Rick

 

[RickS250]

Bobbie-g, The other machine I had the opportunity to purchase was a 2005 S220 with standard controls. It had 3500 hours on it. It had the A91 package so it had heat, ac, cab, deluxe instruments, suspension seat, and keyless ignition. It also had the 2-speed transmission. It had brand new tires. It didn't include a bucket. They were asking $12,000. I offered them $11,000, and we settled on $11,500. I figured I could sell it locally if it didn't turn out to be something I wanted to keep long term. What do you think? Decent deal or not? Thanks. Rick

That seems like a good deal on a S220 $11500 ! WOW!! I bought a 2005 S250 with 1611 hours on it and got new tires,bucket,bolt on cutting edge,radio and new manual for $22500 It has the gold package. Good luck with your new machine. Rick