Good things to think about. Regarding the heal-toe pedal, I admit, what I describe is only my first impression. The thing that takes time is to learn those things that, once learned, can be 2nd nature that you don't have to think about. (like a stick-shift car).
I do like the econony & control of the GST type shifting, but I can apreciate the ability to let the machine do more of the work with an HST system, freeing up a hand to steer and operate machinery. I intend to be using the FEL alot and later on would like to be using a grapple type attachment on the back end when doing low impact/small scale logging.
I do like the MX5100. I also like the GL3240. Can anyone tell me which GL-series Kubota is on cost parity with the MX5100, as I try to make the quality (GL) vs. quantity (MX) decisions. Another thing I'm trying to think about, as if it's not complex enough of a decision, is looking for a tractor that for the dollar has the most of the things I can't easily get, or upgrade, with aftermarket items later (power, transmission, vehicle size, PTO, 3ph, etc.). Unlike many tractor owners, I would really like a machine with the least baseline weight for a certain power class (e.g., the L4400 vs. the MX4700, or B3300SU vs. L3200). I can always add weight for most work, but can't make a heavier tractor lighter for the soft-ground work in the woods.
Regarding price, after seeing and liking the MX5100 (& GL3240!) yesterday, I spent a while on the phone today with a friend who recently purchased an MX4700--her first tractor. She got it with full HST, 4x4, FEL (quick-attach forks & bucket), box blade, bush hog, and trailer to haul it for $27000. I've put together a price baseline based on this and on the price on the Kubota "Build Your Tractor feature (deducting 15% as some other posters have suggested). Based on that, there is about a 10% disparity between the dealer's offer and what I'd realistically like to pay. Is this a typical situation? Generally, I would like to find one dealer I can trust and with whom I can deal and stick with them for the long run. But when I sense alot of negotiating tricks up front w/ some dealers, rigidness and opacity with respect to price, it does have me rethinking buying new.
In the long run, I'm sure all this work in shopping for the tractor will pay off--shop carefully, shop once. And when you realize that every 1% of the final price is a difference of ~$300, it makes studying, looking, driving around, researching, etc. worth it--for both price and for knowing that I bought the right machine.
So, now you all have me leaning more toward the 40-50hp range and rethinking getting a GST type tranny!
This thread is really giving me alot of good advice and things to think about--hopefully it will provide good info for others too! Thanks and keep it coming