I have seem this Vermeer 800 and it is a mighty beast. I guess thats my problem with it, its the hugest mini I have ever seen. I did a demo for rainbow tree with a vermeer dealer last summer.
I had a boxer 427W(wheel) and a AL 140, Vermeer brought their 800. I lost my camera after the demo, dammit big Bummer cuz you would see side by side that the AL is not that much bigger, you would see how the Track peeled up the lawns much worse than the 427W with the AL being the most turf friendly. The AL weighs in at 3800# with no attachments the 800 ~ 3000#, Width 40.3 to 40.5, 11mph to 4.5, Rated operating Capacity 960# to 840, 106" pin height to 84.5, Yeah less horsepower 23.5 to 35hp but as you can see from the specs its how you gear the Hydraulics more HP does not always mean more power. The AL LISTS around 28K, I have heard the 800 is in the same Ballpark, and I can usually sell the AL for close to the same cost (although there was just a 3% price increase last week). Oh yeah maintenance you never wear out the tires on the AL - the 800 ~~ ever thrown a track? or replaced tracks? its not pretty
In the end Rainbow bought a wheeled Vermeer Mini (and a BMG), they already have 2 swingers and no minis, they cited too much turf damage with the tracked 800 and the big $$$$. They bought the Verwhheel cuz they run vermeer chippers and they had a trade in. Even though the Boxer was a a G cheaper.
My advice . . . If you are going to buy a mini don't buy a behemoth mini by a little Chevy model thats your best bang for your buck.
If you have around 25K in your forwarder budget, its a no brainer which machine to buy. Mini's rock, but articulators will kick there BUTT hands down!
PM me if you want I can shoot you my no haggle low price on a new 140. Gehl world Hdqrs is near Milwaukee, and I have sold one already to a tree guy just W of there.
Dave