Mahindra & Mahindra, Ltd. is an Indian company. They started out as a general heavy industrial manufacturer -- built Jeeps under license from Willys-Overland -- Then in the 50' started making IH tractors under license. They are multinational these days (like most companies). Can't speak for all their tractors, but my 6500 breaks down like this:
Engine, tranny, final drive, frame, and most bodywork -- Mahindra/India
Front axle/drive -- Carraro/Italy
Wheels, tires, canopy -- Various/US
Loader, hydraultics -- KMW/US
Assembly -- Mahindra/US (Tomball TX and Calhoun GA)
While I love mine, the bottom line on tractors is a) what works for you and b) dealer support. I'm haying about 26 acres of pasture -- with the tractor at 5-15 degrees (up, down, or side) on almost all of it. I needed weight, stability, and power and found both a tractor that does that for me and a great dealer with Mahindra.
Given what you have described, I think most of the comments are on target. But the test is go to a bunch of dealers, try (drive and if they'll let you actually do something with them) tractors, get a feel for the dealers. Some will fit you better than others. Some dealers may be very attentive, others disinterested or lackluster. No one tractor is best for every person and every job -- in fact no one tractor is best of every person and a single job, or every job with a single person. This board is a great place to start and learn a LOT -- but ultimately what you get has to fit you, your jobs, and your budget (hated to mention that). Even buying used, I'd visit a bunch of dealers -- not necessarily to buy, but to get a feel for dealers -- that real "steal" on a Framistat 880 may be because the current owner got fed up dealing with the Framistat dealer. 2,000 hours is just well-broken in for most utility tractors. The key with used is how has it been maintained? Does the present owner have good records? Does the oil on the dipstick look reasonably clean, or more like overbaked cherry pie filling? Do the zerks show evidence of being greased recently or is there dried old grease that looks like 10-year old ear wax? My first tractor, the Allis 5020 was 20 years old and well over 1,000 hours (on a compact), but the guy had good maintenance records, manuals (that had enough dirty fingerprints to say they had been used), and knew exactly what wasn't working, what he had already done about the problem (or at least tried), a list of parts sources, ... clearly, though it looked pretty bad (rusted hood and fender removed), it was mechanically a very sound tractor. And that little two-banger diesel is one hard working son-of-a-gun ... So just take your time, learn all you can on here, and look and try a LOT!
Good luck and good hunting,
