Package price included 723 FEL w/replaceable blade, Wallenstein 5" chipper, Land Price box scraper, Land Price 5' HD rotary cutter and a (brand unknown) fertilizer spreader. I got the commercial tires and had the rears filled.

I almost went for the B7800 but old hands told me to go for the bigger frame size. The layout of the controls is superb and nothing feels cheap. I'm an engineer by training, and that's a nit picky thing with me. The Intell panel (which I first thought to be a gimmick) makes sense, but I don't think I'd buy it if it was an option. The ease in and out was far better than the JD and MF I looked at for my 6'2" size. For long seat time that may be no big deal, but I'm doing a lot of rock removal and find myself on the move to the FEL constantly.

I went HD on the rotary cutter because my fields are full of 2-3" saplings and plenty surface rocks that get pushed up every winter. It's held up superbly, even bursting a few rocks into pieces.

As I'm working on muddy soils, the 4WD does get used. It engages smoothly and doesn't fight you on tight corners. The HST spoils me and I wouldn't get another tractor without it. In low gear I can get very fine and precise movements without any jerking, making mounting implements and working in tight areas much easier. The dealer swears by the Wallenstein chippers and we've been tough on it, feeding it 2-3' gummy woods like bittersweet routes and gnarly small trees. It's been flawless and never burped.

Okay, maybe it's just me: Why have the hand throttle move downward to increase throttle? Tradition?

Can't review the box scraper yet (until we pull out more of those rocks).

After just 30 hours, I have no regrets. Dealer was excellent throughout. The local JD guy just wanted to give me brochures, but the Kubota guy went the extra yard.

rantumscoot

Date Purchased: 5/2004
Purchased: New
Price Paid: US$25740
Pros: Controls well placed, quiet, good ground clearance
Cons: Hand throttle not intuitive
Rating: