We demoed an 832 RT  with IVT yesterday. Like the cab. Not sure yet on the IVT. Would like to run a powershift and IVT side by side to see.

Power? I was rather disappointed that it would not pull our field cultivator over 6.5 MPH at 2.5" deep. That's what I pull it at with our MT 745 which has quite a few pony's less. 

 Seemed to pull the ripper fairly decent except for in very hard spots. Disappointed in the auto steer as it would not keep it straight pulling the ripper.

I've never pulled our ripper with the Cat so I can't compare it. 

The Cat's transmission is almost like an IVT. You can program it almost identical like you can an IVT. 

Ride is as good or maybe better then the Cat but ours has right at 3000 hrs on it and the lugs are worn about 50% from what they were. That makes a big difference in ride. 

Need to compare new to new, not a 5-6 yr old one to a new one. 

For me it would boil down to performance when pulling heavy loads and dealer. I'm not too impressed with our Cat service dept but the Deere one sucks too so.  

I know our MT will out perform our 20's and 30's and do it on less fuel. 

Hydraulics are just as good if not better on the Cat. Temps run a lot cooler when running hydr motors etc then a Deere.