Bobcat accounts for roughly 20% of used financed compact excavator sales — second only to Cat. That depth of supply is itself an advantage for a used buyer: more machines to choose from, and more competition among sellers.
Here's the honest comparison.
What a Used Bobcat Brings
The largest dealer network in compact equipment. Parts, service, and support are available in more places than for almost any competitor. If you're buying used and you don't want to become your own parts department, that matters.
Deep supply. With 20% of the used market, there are machines available — which means you can afford to walk away from a bad one and keep looking. That's a genuine advantage over thinner segments.
Strong resale. Bobcat holds value well, so you recover more when you sell.
Proven durability. The E-series compact excavators have a long track record.
Attachments frequently included — thumbs, buckets, sometimes couplers. Real value that buyers underestimate.
What a New Machine Brings
Warranty. Coverage for what you can't inspect.
Known history. No inherited neglect, and no way to verify how a used machine was run.
Zero hours on wear components — full undercarriage life, fresh hydraulics.
Configuration choice. Tail swing, cab or canopy, auxiliary hydraulics, thumb. Adding auxiliary hydraulics later costs substantially more than ordering them.
Better financing terms.
The Undercarriage Question
Price a full undercarriage replacement and add it to the used machine's purchase price before comparing.
Tracks, rollers, idlers, and sprockets are the most expensive wear system on a tracked machine. A full replacement is a large share of a used machine's value.
That adjustment flips this comparison more often than anything else on this page.
What Else to Check
Slew bearing — play or noise means a major repair.
Pins and bushings — work every joint; slop means front-end wear.
Hydraulic cylinders — scored rods, leaks, drift under load.
Did it run a hammer? Hammer hours are the hardest hours a machine takes. Impact loads travel through the arm, boom, and frame; hydraulic oil degrades faster. Ask directly, and look for cracks and repairs at the boom and arm.
Attachment mounting. Bobcat uses its own pin dimensions and coupler standards. If you own attachments from another brand, verify fitment — this is a real consideration on the excavator side, where there's no universal standard.
Service records.
Auxiliary hydraulics — plumbed? First and second circuits?
The Attachment Compatibility Point
Worth flagging because it affects the total cost of ownership.
Excavator attachments have no universal standard. Pin diameter, pin spacing, and coupler determine fitment, and they vary by manufacturer.
Buying into a brand is partly buying into its attachment ecosystem. If you already own attachments, verify they fit before you buy the machine — and if you're starting fresh, understand that your first machine's mounting standard shapes what you buy afterward.
Adapters exist for many mismatches, at the cost of weight, money, and a failure point.
How to Decide
Buy the used Bobcat if:
- The undercarriage checks out or the price reflects it
- You value the dealer network for parts and service
- The configuration matches your needs
- You can inspect competently
- Resale matters to your plans
Buy new if:
- You need a specific configuration
- Warranty matters to your cash flow
- You can't evaluate used equipment confidently
- You run machines to end of life
- You want full undercarriage life
FAQ
Is a used Bobcat better than a new value-brand machine?
Depends on the specific machines. The undercarriage on the used one is the deciding variable more often than the badge.
How many hours is too many?
Depends on maintenance and duty more than the number. More →
Will my attachments fit?
Verify pin dimensions and coupler standard. There's no universal excavator standard.
What's the sweet spot for used hours?
Commonly 2,000–3,000.
Does the dealer network matter if I buy used?
Yes — parts and service availability doesn't depend on where you bought it.
Should I get an inspection?
For anything significant, yes. It costs a fraction of a bad purchase.
Bobcat® is a registered trademark of Bobcat Company. Yellow Jacket Equipment is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Bobcat Company. Market share data from Fusable/EDA equipment finance data as reported by Equipment World.