I've just ordered a new one of these
I've done the maths and everything and although it is pretty easy to justify the purchase, it still feels a bit extravagant (squint at that word and the spelling is perhaps acceptable).
Our business has grown and we need larger and more reliable equipment these days but I still feel guilt-stricken when I commit to shiny things. I keep telling myself that with with low interest rates, inflation at current levels, strong trade-in values and the looming reduction of tax relief then it is almost madness not to invest in our productivity.
We drew up a shortlist of the three contenders, the Manitou 735, the Caterpillar TH336 and the JCB 531/70 (the same model as our trade-in).
The Caterpillar was the most agile and the best value but we perceived the JCB to be the best brand with the best residual value (and we like our current model). The JCB was the most expensive by about £6000, however. We all preferred driving the Manitou.
Dad, Chris and I came into the office at 5.00pm after the packhouse finished work to make our decision. Tom, the Manitou salesman, is on holiday next week. We are all bitter about working long hours at the moment and so we decided that if he still answered the phone, this being 5.15 on a Friday, then he deserved the deal. If he didn't, then we would all sleep on it until after the weekend. He picked up. I managed to squeeze a DAB radio out of him.
Like it Matthew! I bought my first Manitou in 1974 and still going strong. Maybe with the looming reduction in investment relief, I ought to replace it whilst I can still sell wheat at £200 +. As I get older I grow more reluctant to spend hard earned cash, but if I start saving my £202/week state pension ....