Tractors tractors tractors!!!

[oz in SC]

We went looking at tractors on Saturday and Sunday as for my upcoming 40th birthday that will be my midlife crisis present.

The dealer 'nearby'(about 40 miles away or so) is a Kubota dealer.We went really just to get an idea of sizes and such.

Anyway wandered around looking and sat on a few and found the L series to be big enough for us both(we are quite tall/long legs) and seemed capable.

The salesman said a L2800 with Kubota loader,rough cut mower box blade and trailer would be under $20,000.He had a used MX series with FEL for around $15,000 but said with the financing being offered right now on new it would be a wash,plus a 50hp tractor really was a bit big for our needs.
So we gathered up as many brochures as they had and went on our way.

Headed up the road to look at some other brands but unfortunately they were closed.We did get to see the John Deere model we thought might work and it seemed a little small(JD 790).

So went home,hopped on the trusty computer and did a little research.
Found a John Deere dealer in Savannah GA as well as a New Holland dealer.
Headed out there on Sunday to just look at them and seewhat we thought.

The JD dealer was also was a dealer for Kubota so that was handy.
The 790 was way too cramped.went looking among the other various models and found a 3203 that was comfortable but it looked like it would be more $$$.

The New Holland place was a washout as it was totally enclosed with a high fence so we couldn't even see the model we wanted(TC30)

So came home and did a little looing around and these are the models we are considering so far:

Kubota L2800/3400 HST.
http://www.kubota.com/f/Products/L2800.cfm

John Deere 3203 with HST.
http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCa...r=678DLV&tM=GC

New Holland TC30(although we haven't SEEN one up close)
http://www.newholland.com/h4/product...series=5787411
Any other thoughts/alternatives?
Mrs oz being the more sensible one thinks it best we stay with a known brand and buy as big as we need as this will be a LONG time investment.

[sage]

Hi Oz,
We looked at the NH too, just more money than we want to spend. JD I think is over priced (we did look at them too). Kabota for the money we want to spend is the best deal.

sage

[oz in SC]

Well the NH is still a mystery to us,we haven't even sat on one.

The JD seemed a good size and all and from doing a little investigating it 'might' fall into our price range,I guess it depends upon how badly the dealer wants to deal.

It seems almost all the manufacturers are offering great finance terms right now although paying off $20,000 in 3 years would be a steep payment.

[sage]

All the manufacturers also have financing for longer terms out to 84 months, of course you will pay interest on it. We were going to finance it but we decided it would be better to just pay cash. No payments then!

[Ramblin Wreck]

All the tractors you are considering will probably last a life time if properly maintained/used. I bought a Kubota 3130L with 4x4 and a loader three years ago on one of their three year interest free deals. At that time, the drive out price was $16,200 (with the biggest loader it could handle). It's been a great tractor with no warranty work required. My BIL asked me to find him one, and I got him a 3830L for a little more in price...but it does have 7 extra horsepower. That can be a good thing sometimes.

[Rickydink]

Oz,

We just took delivery of a JD 790 4WD with FEL for $13895. Perfect size for our 6.5 acre mini farm. It is my Dad's 1st new tractor and he is 67 yo. He loves it.

We have a Yanmar 1700 2WD now for sale as the dealer did not even want to bother.

Good luck and I am sure you will enjoy your new toy.

[zukgod]

I used to have one of those Yahmar 1700 2wd. It was a good tractor but really needed 4wd. I honestly don't know why anyone makes a tractor that is 2wd.
Back to the subject, good luck with your tractor search hope you find what you need.

Josh

[Up North]

Oz - For a fun way to locte tractors and compare what retail price ranges various models are going for, you can go to the following sites, and search by geographic concentric circles outward from your location.
www.machinefinder.com is hosted by JD dealers, you enter zip code and then select tractor by horsepower class(it lists used of all makes, not just JD.

Also, www.fastline.com has advertisers of all makes and can do a geographic search. Start at zip code, then keep expanding mile range outward to see what's in your area.

Gives you a reference point anyways...good luck

[oz in SC]

Well thank you all,it is interesting taking a look at the various makes and models.

I went and looked at the Kioti,Mahindra and the Montana websites as well,just to add a little confusion into the mix.

The Montanas seem a little high to me but MSRP isn't necessarily a good indication of what a person will end up paying.

Kioti had the CK30 HST but couldn't find a price.

Mahindra had this one:
http://www.mahindrausa.com/tractorDetails.php?p_ID=21

I also contacted a Kubota dealer who would sell the L2800 4WD HST,Ag tires,Kubota loader,King Kutter box blade,posthole digger and bushhog,and a trailer for under $18,500.

I am not sure if we should buy the implements new and included in the package or buy them used...

[hunter63]

Originally Posted by oz in SC

.

Mahindra had this one:
http://www.mahindrausa.com/tractorDetails.php?p_ID=21

This is my tractor, w/loader/60 in brush hog/ back blade delivered for 16K, 2005, sold and serviced thru JD dealer (they share about 60% of the parts)

By not taking the trailer and letting the dealer know that it wasn't for "commercial" use, (hire out) got some Ag tax breaks.
( have a trailer).

Be sure to ask about this, as states vary on what you do with it.
WI doesn't charge sales tax on Ag equipment (I was told this), but you do have to file Ag tax forms, profit and loss etc.

I didn't qualify, but got a discount anyway of about 1K anyway (bargaining power).

IMO, product, dealer service, then price are my criteria.

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by hunter63

This is my tractor, w/loader/60 in brush hog/ back blade delivered for 16K, 2005, sold and serviced thru JD dealer (they share about 60% of the parts)

By not taking the trailer and letting the dealer know that it wasn't for "commercial" use, (hire out) got some Ag tax breaks.
( have a trailer).

Be sure to ask about this, as states vary on what you do with it.
WI doesn't charge sales tax on Ag equipment (I was told this), but you do have to file Ag tax forms, profit and loss etc.

I didn't qualify, but got a discount anyway of about 1K anyway (bargaining power).

IMO, product, dealer service, then price are my criteria.

From the Mahindra website recommendations this tractor is probably too small,I can't really see how as it matches the other models in our list.

There is a dealer not too far away from our land in NC so that shouldn't be a problem,there is also a JD dealer in the town close by.

I think BEFORE we buy the tractor we might want to talk to an accountant or such to see how we can write it off somehow.

[Up North]

Oz- Just curious have you looked at "Cub-Cadet" series offerred by Case-IH Dealers? They would probably be in the higher end of quality and price offerings, but I think they are a good machine too.
At the end of the day the Kubota, JD, or Cub Cadet Models would be my top contenders for quality, resale, and the most enjoyable to operate.
Have fun a-lookin', that's half the fun, LOL.

[oz in SC]

One of the issues we run into with some of the compact tractors is the seating area is cramped.

Not sure on the cub cadets but I know the JD 790 was simply too cramped.

We both really liked the roominess of the L2800,we got a pretty good quote from the one dealer and I have emailed the two dealers that are relatively close by.

[hunter63]

Intresting enough that the top of this page is an ad for the Mahindra, spooky?

[Tad]

Get quotes from all the other dealers then go to the JD dealer they have a 30% markup and will usually come down a bit. WE had a JD 2940 85 horse I think it was. Traded it at 13300 hours. They said the motor was designed to last 10000 hours and usually lasted for 8000. 26 years ago it was $2000 more than a SAME, and you don't see them around anymore!

[Ramblin Wreck]

Originally Posted by Tad

. WE had a JD 2940 85 horse I think it was. Traded it at 13300 hours.

That's an impressive number indeed.

[ergoman]

posted earlier," I honestly don't know why anyone makes a tractor that is 2wd. "

Im so tired of hearing that, do you have any idea how many millions of acres over the last 80 yrs have been farmed with 2wd? Take a 20 yr old 4020 with 10000 hours out into the field instead a 20-40 hp 4x4 toy and see how much work you get done.

[2Bassetts]

I have a cub cadet that is 4 years old and it is a lemon. I had one for 20 years and it was great but the newer ones are not. The power take-off went after three years. I bought a john deere and am happy with it so far.The cubs are now made by MTD or an inferior company. No quality anymore. My 2 cents.

[MWG]

I have a TC30 and love it. It has done everything I have asked it to and more. My stepfather has a Kubota and it has been in for more service than mine. I also have a JD and used to own a Yanmar. Out of all of those I would buy the TC30 without hestitation. The dealership where I bought mine has them with a front end loader for $12,500.

[DaleK]

Depends what your needs are and how reliable you need it to be. We're just replacing a 16,000 hour JD 6400 (85hp) with a 6420. We use it for all of our feeding, at least 3 hours every day of the year, so I wouldn't consider anything other than JD for that purpose based on our past reliability (although I've never used a tractor smaller than 65hp). Other than for a tractor we absolutely NEED to use every day I'd look elsewhere than JD and look more at price and dealer support. We do also have a JD 7510 (115hp) for field work but that was a special deal we got where the dealer sold us a lease return that then was unavailable and had to give us a brand new tractor at a 1 year depreciated price because they couldn't find an equivalent one to the contract they'd signed, our latest is a used White 6124 (124hp) bought mainly because we've had good luck with the dealer on other equipment.