HLC,
Couldn't agree more with the posts so far. I researched till I was orange in the face. I had and have a lot of family and friends that are strictly John Deere, so I naturally gravitated that way, too. But, I actually bought a Kubota B7500, and now I know I couldn't be happier (not because I was disowned). I couldn't find a Deere 4010 or a 4115 to try out before I bought mine... and actually wondered if I was making a mistake when I ordered orange, but with the popularity of Kubota in my area, I felt I couldn't be far off. I have a landscaper friend who runs alot of orange, and I felt that if they depend on it over JD, it must be a good machine.
I finally found a 4115 after my B7500 purchase, and as I wrote on a past recent post, I feel the JD couldn't compare to the Kubota in terms of fit, finish, durability, or price. That is my opinion. Kubota's are simple and made to last a lifetime. There are no pretty orange throttle levers controlling cables, or cigarette lighter plugs for cell phones (JD X595 Garden tractors), or electronic switches to get wet or short out over time on the Kubota. It is all controlled by mechanical linkage - simple, but functional.
I actually have five John Deere dealers "locally", of which three outright told me that JD builds compact and garden tractors to feel good to the user... appearance and ergonomics. "Built for the residential user" they'd say. Certainly, they were not saying JD sacrifices quality, but they do focus more on the user's comfort. These same dealers also said that Kubota builds a fine tractor, simple, tough, and built for longevity, but not as comfortable. One dealer sells orange and green (what a job, eh?) and will plainly tell you Kubota builds a better compact tractor, and outsells Deere at least 2-3:1. Garden tractors are a different story.
I looked at the history of Kubota (in business longer than Deere), their frame construction, the heavy duty front axles (4WD), reputation on engines, etc... and that is why I went Kubota. JD brags on parts availability, but I know several Kubota owners who also have parts in a couple of days. I also figured that the $3,000 more for the JD was too much for a mere comfortable seat... I can buy a new one for barely a $100.
Bottom line... try them out. Who will give you better service, especially on Saturday at 2:00 when you blow a hydraulic hose? Who has the better reputation in your area. Any local users you can stop and talk with on their models, or their experiences with their particular brand, or dealer experiences?Go back and operate the models again. Wait a few days and do it again.... if you have the time. If it feels good, do it! The $ in your pocket may smolder a little longer as you make your educated decision, but it won't burn a hole your jeans. I am certain that if I had a JD 4115 in my barn, I'd be happy, too. JD builds a great machine. They have stood the test of time, and obviously are one of the top in the market for a reason. Either way (Kubota or John Deere), you can't go wrong. I'm sure on this site, you can find one happy JD owner for every happy Kubota owner.