Well I had the same problem you got,money, so I bought a chinese 25 h.p.,4 w.d.,new,from northern tool for 7,800 including taxes last year.There is a store in SALEM,VA.,where you can look at and test drive one,You can get them with front end loader as well,which should still be about 10,000,or a little less.Buying new seemed the best way for me to go,that price included a 1 1/2 year parts and laber warrenty.Look on the chinese tractor owners website for more info on these chinese tractors.Some of them,named jimmas, also come in a crate, which you assemble partialy,and these are lower priced still,I didn,t want to deal with that so I was willing to pay a little more for one already oiled up and checked out and running,plus northern I knew has been in bussiness for a long time and would PROBABLY be in bussiness for along time to come,and the tractor people there are helpfull and do return your calls.I don,t work for northern in any way,you would think though after this ringing endorsement they that I DO.Now I can't tell you how this tractor will hold up in the long run,but as of today I like it pretty good.Also by reading through these postings of the big expensive three,they are not perfact either.The only thing about buying one of those,is you should be able to personally bug,bother,a local dealer if something goes wrong,or you get a lemon. RICHARD GAUTHIER