Bobcat T650 vs Bobcat S66-2
Quick take: The Bobcat T650 costs $1,000 less; the Bobcat T650 has a higher rated operating capacity (2,570 vs 2,400 lbs).
| Spec | Bobcat T650 | Bobcat S66-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $62,000 | $63,000 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (580) | 4.6★ (60) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 2570 lbs | 2400 lbs |
| Engine HP | 74 hp | 74 hp |
| Operating Weight | 9113 lbs | 7046 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 7343 lbs | 4800 lbs |
| Lift Height | 124 in | 120 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 23 GPM | 17.6 GPM |
| Engine | Bobcat (Doosan) D34 | Bobcat (Doosan) D24 |
| Tracks | Yes | No |
| Vertical lift | Yes | Yes |
| High-flow | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | Yes | Yes |
| Self-leveling | Yes | Yes |
| A/C & heat | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
Bobcat T650
- ✓Over a decade of production means every quirk is documented, every mechanic knows it, and owners call it one of the most proven CTL platforms ever built - there are no surprises left in a T650.
- ✓Bobcat's 74 hp Tier 4 engine skips the DPF entirely, so owners never deal with regen cycles or clogged filters that sideline competitor machines mid-job.
- ✓The vertical lift path and 124-inch hinge pin height load tri-axle dump trucks and stack pallets high with ease, which is exactly why grading and material-handling crews standardized on it.
- ✓As a Classic-line machine it undercuts the newer T66 on price by thousands while offering more rated capacity (2,570 vs 2,450 lbs), a trade plenty of buyers happily make.
- ✓The used market is enormous - rental fleets turned over thousands of T650s, so parts, tracks, and complete machines are cheap and everywhere, and resale liquidity is excellent.
- ✓Bobcat's dealer network is the deepest in the industry, and owners report same-day parts availability even in rural areas keeps downtime minimal.
- ✓The optional 30.5 GPM high-flow package runs mulchers, cold planers, and stump grinders, giving it attachment range well beyond its frame size.
- ✓The swing-open tailgate and transversely-mounted engine give easy access to filters and daily checks, and forum mechanics consistently rank it among the easiest CTLs to service.
- ✗The M-Series cab is louder and rides rougher than the newer R-Series T66/T76, and operators who demo both say the refinement gap is obvious on long days.
- ✗The solid-mounted undercarriage has no suspension, so the ride across rough ground is punishing at travel speed compared to torsion-suspended rivals like ASV.
- ✗Standard 23 GPM auxiliary flow is only adequate - flow-hungry attachments really need the high-flow option, which adds meaningful cost.
- ✗Bobcat parts and dealer labor pricing run notoriously high, and owners grumble that filters, tracks, and fittings cost far more than aftermarket equivalents.
- ✗The Bob-Tach attachment system and proprietary controls nudge you toward Bobcat-branded attachments, and some third-party tools need adapters.
- ✗As a Classic (outgoing) model it lacks modern touches like the clear-side cab, improved pressurization, and touch display of current-generation machines.
- ✗Cab dust sealing is a long-running M-Series complaint - owners in dry climates report sweeping out the cab daily despite the pressurization system.
- ✗At 9,113 lbs plus a trailer and attachments you're past what a half-ton truck should tow, so budget for a three-quarter-ton or bigger to move it legally.
Bobcat S66-2
- ✓The new 8-inch glove-friendly touchscreen with up to 20 operator profiles and split-screen camera views finally brings Bobcat's mid-frame cab tech up to par with Cat's next-gen loaders, and early operators call it the biggest single upgrade over the R-Series.
- ✓Four selectable drive modes (Balanced, Agile, Dynamic and Charged) with precision drive software let operators tune responsiveness per task, so finish graders and pallet movers can each get the feel they want from the same machine.
- ✓The completely redesigned electrical system addresses the R-Series' most common warranty complaints - harness chafe and sensor gremlins - which is exactly the kind of unglamorous fix long-time Bobcat owners asked for.
- ✓It keeps the proven 74 hp D24 turbo-diesel with no DEF required, so there's no new emissions hardware to learn and parts commonality with the huge R-Series fleet keeps maintenance familiar.
- ✓The vertical lift path and 120-inch hinge pin height make truck loading and pallet stacking easy for a machine this size, carrying over the trait that made the S66 a landscaper favorite.
- ✓Optional Bobcat Sense camera- and radar-based detection can automatically spot obstacles and stop the machine, a genuine class-first safety feature for crews working around ground personnel.
- ✓The refreshed interior adds a heated high-back air-ride seat option, phone holder, extra storage, and USB plus USB-C charging - small touches that owners of all-day machines notice immediately.
- ✓Bobcat's dealer network remains the deepest in the industry, and because the -2 shares its core powertrain with the R-Series, dealers already stock most wear parts on day one.
- ✗As a first-model-year machine that only reached dealerships in summer 2026, early adopters are effectively beta-testing the new electrical architecture and touchscreen software.
- ✗Pricing crept up over the outgoing S66, and a well-optioned unit with high-flow, Sense detection, and the premium seat lands several thousand dollars above an equivalent R-Series leftover.
- ✗The engine is unchanged at 74 hp and 17.6 GPM standard flow, so buyers hoping the new generation would bring more power or hydraulic capability will be disappointed.
- ✗The added cameras, radar sensors, and touchscreen mean more electronics to fail and more diagnostics that require a dealer laptop, eroding the simple-to-wrench reputation Bobcats built their name on.
- ✗Bob-Tach and Bobcat's proprietary attachment ecosystem still nudge owners toward pricey Bobcat-branded tools, and dealer parts pricing remains among the highest in the industry.
- ✗The standard 17.6 GPM flow is low for the class, so running planers or mulching heads still forces the extra-cost 26.9 GPM high-flow option.
- ✗Resale on the new -2 generation is unproven, and with clean used R-Series S66 machines flooding trade-in lots, early -2 buyers may take a steeper first-owner depreciation hit.
- ✗Some operators find the drive-mode and profile menus add complexity for mixed crews - a rental yard or multi-operator fleet has to manage settings that old machines simply didn't have.