Quotes in hand- Massey GC1710/1720, and Kubota BX-25D. What to choose?

plowhog · Dec 9, 2015

I have quotes in hand for the Massey GC1710, GC1720, and Kubota BX-25D.

I am working with three different dealers. Each dealer is only quoting one machine. Prices do not include tax. I believe all three are competitive quotes, but maybe not down to the "last nickel."

Here is what I was quoted:

Massey 1710 is the baseline-- I got a very good quote. (Mid $16,XXX)
Massey 1720 - $1,508 more than a Massey 1710
Kubota BX-25D - $646 more than a Massey 1720
Kubota BX-25D - $2,154 more than a Massey 1710.

My impressions:
a) a BX-25D at only $646 more than a GC1720 would likely make me choose a Kubota, even though I like the Massey a little better (personal preference.)
b) a GC1710 at $2,154 less than a Kubota seems pretty significant. Spending more than $2,000 for the Kubota name and other niceties might be hard to do.
c) A dealer who I respect and trust told me any of the machines will meet my needs for my small property (2.5 acres, I have never owned a tractor before.)

I'm leaning toward the Massey GC1710. But I'm looking at a Massey GC1720 today to see if the extra 2HP and a better seat are worth the added cost.

If you have received quotes on machines, do the relative price differences align with your past experience? And if you were choosing, what choice would you make?

davesl708 · Dec 9, 2015

The question is, which dealer is the better dealer. You will have the tractor for a long time. Resale/trade-in values are good on all three machines. All three will do the job. So which dealer is the better dealer to work with?

The price differences are minimal spread over the life of the tractor so which do you like to operate more?

teg · Dec 9, 2015

Over the life of the tractor... be it 10, 20 plus years, $2k is not that much money. Around here the kubota would hold it's value a little better.

plowhog · Dec 9, 2015

Out of three Kubota dealers, I only liked one dealer, but that's enough of course. The smallest Kubota dealer knew his stuff, and spoke to me about matching the right machine for my needs, which I appreciated. One other Kubota dealer was entirely non-responsive, and the other was immediately bashing competitors and trying to talk price incentives and rebates even before I understood what a BX-25D was and what it could do. That was my first visit to a tractor dealership and it was a turn-off.

There are two Massey dealers. One is mom-and-pop, very likeable and seemingly rock solid with integrity although with the risks that any small operation has-- future longevity. I am visiting the other Massey dealer today, who has been in business for a long time and is a much larger operation. Both are within reasonable servicing distance. The competitor-bashing Kubota dealer is close by, and the one I like is about the same distance as the larger Massey dealer.

Personal preference is that I like the Massey SCUT more. But I know the Kubota BX25 is the safe, logical choice. So my purchase decision is that I "should buy" a Kubota, but "want to buy" a Massey. A difference of a couple of thousand dollars, amortized over time, just isn't very much.

Grandad4 · Dec 9, 2015

Don't know your age, but suspect from your other posts that, like me, you're somewhere on the "senior" end of the scale. If that's the case, most certainly you should get the one you want and like, regardless of all the "logical" considerations. This is a time for you to enjoy your life and do what you want. If you get something else, you'll be second-guessing yourself every time you get on the thing.

Gary Fowler · Dec 9, 2015

I have never sat on either of these machines but as Granddad4 said, get what you like the best and what fits you the best. The Kubota will likely hold its value much better (at least around my part of the country) but if you like the MF then by all means get what you like and what fits your AXX the best.

plowhog · Dec 9, 2015

Grandad, in years, I'm 60 years old. My problem is that mentally I still think I am thirty!! Sometimes that causes problems .... but that's another story.

8 years ago I nearly died from cancer, which fortunately is now completely gone. The bad news is that the aggressive treatments to cure that aged me so I now have creaks and rattles that are more typical of someone older than me. I think that any of the small/bouncy SCUT tractors might be a little annoying compared to a larger smoother tractor, like a Kubota B series. But my 2.5 acres is relatively smooth without much slope, and if it was a bother I could mow part one day and part another. I'm retired, so I can choose to work more on "good days" and less on the other.

I appreciate all of the great advice I have gotten here. I recognized early that not choosing an industry leader (Kubota, John Deere) has risks, and that choosing a dealer and then a tractor is a wise route. All of the replies have been very helpful for me to weigh the relative safety of choosing Kubota versus maybe the more risky route of Massey Ferguson. I still have a decision to make, and it might wind up that I buy a SCUT now and upgrade to a B later if I don't like its operation.

Another person suggested checking the B model now, which I believe is also very good advice. In rough figures, I think my earlier research was that an entry-level B model Kubota was close to $10,000 more than a BX-25D, but I never got any specific quotes. I can afford to go either route, so maybe its best to look at the B series before deciding.

rgr33 · Dec 9, 2015

Any of the tractors you listed will do everything you will want to do on your 2.5 acres. Reading your post, I am just a couple of years older than you, and even though you say your ground is relatively smooth, I would urge you to consider the seat comfort, and operator ergonomics . A comfortable ride and a good service /parts dept. will make you happier with your tractor after you decide which one you want. Once you pull the trigger on your new rig, you won't think about the purchase price any more.

jenkinsph · Dec 9, 2015

I recommend you buy what you want, including brand and size. I would also say that Massey Ferguson is a top quality line of tractors with a well satisfied following. Kubota is also an excellent brand and a good choice in the small tractors particularly. Either one of these should be a good choice but buy what you like, it is your money.

paulfun9 · Dec 10, 2015

You should buy the tractor that you are most comfortable on. In todays market it really doesn't matter if its a Kioti, Kubota, JD, New Holland, Massey, Mahindra or LS as they all make very good tractors and any one of them will give you good service as long as it has the capacity for your needs.