HBarlow
Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
We can only guess at the brand you bought but I'm guessing a Kubota RTV.Maybe is was fate that made me decide to cancel my order for a P1000-5.
Looking back, it was the no-belt transmission that lead me to a Honda SxS in the first instance. Having a SxS with a CVT is a real pain in the a** when starting on a steep slope - revving like billyo just to get going. Maybe other later models are a lot better now, like some with a 10 year belt warranty!
However, I was also looking at ways to limit the max. speed, due to the risks associated with over-speeding on our rough, winding and steep country. Some Hondasas members asked why limit the speed - as most people want to increase the max. speed!
Lo and behold! I came across another SxS that really ticked all boxes for me. More of a workhorse than a racy off-road buggy. Has a variable hydrostatic transmission-no belt drive, a diesel engine, a max. speed 25mph, a real hand brake, and a 2 or 4 seater converter. Sure, not a lot of horses, but good low-down torque and steady hill-climbing ability is what I need.
I know with all hydrostatic transmissions, as used on most modern HD work vehicles, ultra-clean transmission oil is number one to a long and reliable working life.
So how does this type of transmission compare with Honda's DCT and CVT's on other SxS, in performance, reliability, cost of maintenance, whole-of-life costs, cost of repairs or maybe replacement, etc, is the very big question.
No doubt with lots of answers - facts, educated opinions, or just gut feelings.
I'm a big fan of Kubota tractors. I owned a Kubota B2920 for ten years in Texas before we moved and the first thing I did after settling in WV was purchase a BX with a snow plow attachment. Kubotas are a top-quality utility tractor, reasonably priced, tough and durable as an anvil, completely reliable, and have an excellent dealer network for parts and service.
But it seems to me that a Kubota RTV is the answer to the question no one asked or the solution to a problem that doesn't exist. I had friends who owned a Kubota diesel RTV. The wife used it to get around on their 35 acre country place. It was noisy, dead slow, and the cab vibrated and rattled,. A Kubota RTV would not be practical for driving country dirt roads or trail riding, just puttering around at low speed on a farm.