Info on skid steers

[ozarkgem]

you have to pick what you like. The reason Bobcat is rated #1 is they make more skidsteers  than all other combined. I like Case also. Cat would be my next choice.

[redprospector]

the thing i find very interesting is everyone says have a good supply for parts and service. why? in the last 16 yrs i have needed one turbo ,one main hydralic line. other than filters i don't need much service. granted in 16 yrs it was 6 new skidsteers but hours total was over 21,000. i run 14 -17.5 tires which gives me 11'' of ground clearance 
meaning i can go any where i want, i don't use tracks and not sure for me i see the need.
if you are looking for a machine that can do the job and be dependable i wouldn't look any older than 2010
thunder beast
the way i read the auction info is the more of something auctioned off the less people are happy with something. if its good your going to keep it right?

Wow! The thing that I find interesting is a "savvy businessman" such as yourself not seeing the need in readily available parts and service. It just boggles the mind.
11" of ground clearance is all fine and well, but the fact that you don't use tracks of any kind tells me that you are not using the machine to it's full potential. But you did say that you could go anywhere you want. I probably go places in mine that you'd never consider.
Here's the importance of a "good" servicing dealer as I see it. These newer machines are computer controlled, and there's no way to get around it. If you don't have a "good" servicing dealer, be prepared to spend $4 to $6,000.00 on a computer program to service, and diagnose any problems that might arise. That is, if the company you choose will sell you one not being a dealer yourself. In 2011 I bought my only piece of brand new equipment. It was a Terex PT-100G Forestry model. I owned this particular machine for a total of 5 months...of which it spent 62 days in my "not so good" servicing dealers shop. The next closest dealer to me was in Austin, TX over 600 miles away. My current machine is a 2008 Bobcat T320 that has been very good, but like I said earlier; These machines are computer controlled. I'm having a little problem with it that I can't figure out on my own, so I have a choice of paying my dealer that is 120 miles away for a service call, or load it up and take it to them to have it diagnosed.
Maybe things are different where you are, but service is important out here.
I'd like to know what brand of machine you are running, because they sound really good. I might switch brands again.

[red oaks lumber]

maybe i don't use my machine to its full potenial but, i doubt it :)i have buddies that have tracks ,from what i see their machinces just tear up the ground where they work. if its deep mud i wouldn't be going there anyway.
lets see, i did stumps out dig rocks out,  some i can't lift which i can lift and carry 5000 lbs. work in the log yard /spring breakup i'm dragging bottom moving logs.clear land us my tree puller(6"dia.)use it to pick rock after a recently plowed field. muck out silted water ways,feed cattle throught out the winter in 2 ' snow no problems, go on sidehills that are quite steep .
service? i have filters and occasinal parts shipped , computer problems ,i make a phone call they can walk me thru computer diagnosis and go from there. maybe i'm lucky cause all the major brands are within 30 miles. my main point to all this is ,if your skidsteer is a very important part of your business staying almost new removes most issues that might arise. alot of people own newer trucks  just because, instead of putting that money towards a tool that maked you money

[redprospector]

I apologize, I see that I came off as trying to start a pissing match in my last reply, and that is not my intention.
I understand your theory, but it is just that...a theory. I mentioned the brand new Terex that I bought for the exact same reasons that you mentioned, and it was a sore disappointment, spending 40% of the time that I owned it in the dealers shop under warranty issues. I actually went out and bought a used 2006 Fecon machine to finish the contract I was under by the deadline.
So much for being cheaper to own new (in my experience).
My dealer walked me through the computer diagnosis the other day too, and we determined that it was possible that my problem could be that the lift, and tilt actuators were both bad at the cost of $650 each, or it could be the control sensor in the stick that was bad, at a cost of $750 or so, or it could be the ACS controller at around $1500. But there was no way to be sure of what it was without hooking it up to their computer to pinpoint the problem. So I can throw $3600 bucks in parts at the problem and hope for the best, or I can pay the dealer...probably $600 to come diagnose it and know what I need, or I can haul it to them and get the same results.
We evidently operate our machines in much different scenarios. 2' of snow may be negotiable on a certain terrain, where 6" of snow may stop you dead in your tracks on a 30% grade. A sidehill that is quite steep to you, may be fairly flat to me...or visa versa.
What the OP asked for was what information someone would need that has never owned a skid steer before. I think that he should know first off that owning a skid steer (or any other equipment) is not all sunshine and roses, even if bought brand spankin' new, and maybe especially if bought used.
 

[red oaks lumber]

i didn't take it personal basically a skidsteer will  be a money pit the older they become. my suggestion is newer should give less issues plus you have the latest techinalogy.

[Corley5]

  I bought a high hour 1999 753 Bobcat at auction in May of 07.  It had 9,300 chassis hours with 1,200 hours on a new Kubota crate engine, four brand new tires with rims and new paint and decals.  I was concerned about the high hours but for the price I wasn't too worried.  I've put a couple thousand hours on it loading the firewood processor, handling round bales of hay, plowing snow, augered thousands of post holes, moved dirt, you name it.  I had to replace the belt tensioner, electric fuel shut off, and only a couple hoses.  I'd buy a Bobcat  ;) ;D   My only other skidsteer experience was with a 610 Bobcat.  It was a good old machine too.  I test drove a Cat at The Ag Expo at MSU one summer.  It was pretty DanG nice 8) 8) 8)

[ely]

you mentioned digging a basement on an existing building...imo for that you will need a low profile unit... may be better to rent that aspect of the use.
then you can use that experience to purchase the one you want.
I own a bobcat 773 great machine for me,thought it was the best forever, but I have ran a terex at work with tracks and a cat 227? with tracks that a friend has. both are twice the machine my bobcat is. although we are always have issues with the terex, new machine leaks and such.

[barbender]

I own a Case 1845C, I believe it is a 98 or 99 model, 2200 hours. I have put hundreds of hours on these machines in very demanding conditions (I'd call a lot of it abuse), with  very few  breakdowns. 2 broken drive chains, 1 hydraulic line. They are simple, Cummins powered, they have enough power to do the job but not enough to hurt themselves. I've also ran newer Case 90xt, and a 450ct, (same machine, on tracks), they have a lot more power and get more done, but they are more complicated and will tear themselves apart more readily. Also, lots of hours in a  at 287 ctl, good machine but watch out for the perkins engine. They have a habit of oil pump failures at low hours, other than that the machine was solid with no mechanical issues, except with the ASV undercarriage. They are a high maintenance item in my experience, but they have capabilities others don't. Those are the only machines I have personal experience with.