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I've seen pictures of the first ones. No ROPS? That's insane.
Mine isn't very good compared to a newer one either--not a lot different from the early ones. My dad has a model the same size as mine--like a 463 but gas powered. Hydrostatic; the bar that comes down--not only can you rest your elbows on it (mine hurt bad) but you don't get thrown around. The balance is better. The cage is wider--my shoulders rub the sides of mine. The pedals on mine are in too tight a box for comfort.
The biggest thing is the hydrostatic drive. I love driving my dad's. I've moved a half milion pounds of dirt in the last 2 years on mine in a huge excavation I've carved in my hillside. Hours of bumping back and forst across the yard. I wish I had his because it flies. Mines one speed.
That said, my Bobcat is the best damn thing I own. I have pallet forks for it too, I use it for everything that you keep your clothes on for. I've pulled engines, carried my truck body, unloaded trucks, changed tires, moved trailers with a ball hole I drilled through the bucket--I've even used it as a clamp to hold my backhoe bucket down while I was pounding it back in shape with a sledgehammer. I move snow, grade, spread gravel, clear brush, load logs--I dunno, everything. It's like being the bionic man--jump in and you can lift or push anything.
