Komatsu PC200-8 vs PC220-8: $25,000 or $23,000?
Two Komatsu units in the same yard, and the larger one is cheaper. The PC200-8 is a 2014 machine with 6,000 hours, listed at $25,000 FOB. The used Komatsu PC220-8 is a 2015 machine with 3,000 hours, listed at $23,000 FOB. On paper it looks the better buy: newer, fewer hours, lower price.
The price difference is a clue, not a verdict.
Komatsu PC200-8 vs PC220-8: the two listings
| Field | PC200-8 | PC220-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 2014 | 2015 |
| Hours meter | 6,000 h | 3,000 h |
| FOB price | $25,000 | $23,000 |
| Class | 20-ton class | 22-ton class |
| Condition grade | Not stated | Not stated |
| Location | China | China |
Neither listing carries a grade: not a hidden defect, just a label the inspection has to supply.
Why the PC220 can be cheaper
A 22-ton machine is not automatically worth more used. Price follows demand, transport and condition:
- Buyer pool: the PC200-8 is a standard 20-ton unit many contractors recognise; the PC220-8 suits fewer buyers.
- Transport: the heavier machine costs more to move on some routes, and pricing differs.
- Condition: the reading is only a reading; undercarriage, pump and swing decide the cost.
Where the PC200-8 wins
The PC200-8 is the safer resale machine in many markets: a common 20-ton unit, easier to transport and easier for workshops to understand. For general digging, trenching and site prep it fits better.
We hold 45 Komatsu units, and the 20-ton class draws the most questions; that makes it easier to read, not cheaper.
Where the PC220-8 wins
The PC220-8 has the higher lifting and production ceiling. On heavier excavation with a larger bucket it can earn more per hour, and the lower reading helps if the wear supports it.
It also costs more to move and may need a different trailer or route.
What to inspect on both
Use one checklist on both, against the stock number:
- Cold start: smoke colour, idle quality, unusual noise.
- Hydraulics: boom, arm, bucket, swing, travel, full cycle.
- Undercarriage: shoes, links, rollers, idlers, sprockets; measurements, not photos.
- Pins and bushes: play at bucket, arm and boom; a repair cost.
- Structure: boom and arm welds, turret, counterweight, paint hiding a repair.
- Hour meter: compare the reading with pedal, seat and undercarriage wear.
The transport question
A 20-ton Komatsu excavator and a 22-ton machine can need different loading plans. The PC200-8 is easier to containerise or flat-rack; the PC220-8 may need another route or a heavier lift. Ask for dimensions and loading method for each.
A $2,000 advantage can vanish in inland transport or port handling; get quotes for both to your port.
Where the $2,000 goes
The used Komatsu PC200-8 price is $2,000 higher. Spread that over the first 3,000 hours and the gap is about $0.67 per hour; one undercarriage repair can erase it. Add the full freight difference to the same sum, using your own utilization figure and today's freight quote.
Then price likely repairs: ask your mechanic what tracks, a pump reseal or a swing motor cost locally, and subtract it. The lower sticker is not the lower-cost machine if it needs the work sooner.
Who each size fits
The PC200-8 fits a general contractor, a rental fleet or a first-time owner: easier to move and resell, adequate for trenching, footing and site prep. The PC220-8 fits a quarry, a demolition contractor or earthworks that needs reach and bucket capacity, and can absorb heavier transport.
Check your ramps and low-bed: a machine that will not fit the trailer carries a hidden cost on every move.
Run both inspections the same afternoon
Two reports from different people prove little. Book both units for one session with one inspector, one checklist and one repair estimator.
- Film both cold starts, uncut, with the hour meter in frame.
- Run the hydraulic cycle to full stroke and hold it under load.
- Measure undercarriage wear with the same gauge.
- Photograph the serial plate and any weld repair.
- Get a written repair estimate for each finding from your mechanic.
Decision rule: subtract each repair estimate from its machine's price and buy the lower number, not the lower sticker, provided both estimates come from the same workshop and are dated.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the PC200-8 for the standard 20-ton machine, easier resale and transport; the PC220-8 if the extra size and lower hours fit your work and you can move it. Neither is right without inspection.
If both are clean, the PC220-8 is the better buy: newer, lower-hour, cheaper. If it hides a hydraulic or undercarriage issue, the PC200-8 is better. The price is the question, not the answer.
Questions buyers ask
Are both units available now?
Listed as in stock in China. Confirm on WhatsApp before you commit.
Why is the PC220-8 cheaper?
The listing does not say. Demand, transport and condition can all move the price. Inspect both and compare repair risk.
Can you quote CIF?
Yes. Send the destination port and we will quote the loading method and freight for each unit.
Can I inspect both?
Yes. Ask for videos first, then arrange a third-party inspection at the yard.
Compare the evidence, not the sticker.
Ask for the cold-start video, undercarriage photos and hydraulic cycle for both the PC200-8 and the PC220-8. We will confirm availability and the current FOB price on WhatsApp.
Open the PC200-8 listing · Open the PC220-8 listing · Request an inspection