Real nice thread thought, Mike! And no wars for sure. I’m adding my two cents only because I might represent one far end of the discussion spectrum.
I’ve got only 1 ½ acres, split between a 1 acre home site and yard across the street from Long Island Sound, and salt marsh/dock area on the water. I’ve got a new 4120/400X/448 BH. You’d be right to start thinking overkill. But…
There’s the tons and tons of boulders I’ve either buried or transported across the street to shore up the dock parking, the 30” maple stumps I’ve dug and buried, the 48” concrete well cap I popped, chained and transported in about a New York minute, the garage foundation I’m digging, the old concrete garage pad I dug up, the old asphalt driveway to remove, relocate and prep, and the list goes on. When I’m all done (when is that?) I’ve got a great machine for resale. And I’m currently enjoying all it’s benefits for zero percent/3 year financing. At zero percent, I made sure I bought a big enough machine to handle the planned projects as well as the extra-large surprises I was likely to dig up. I also had previous experience with a similar older Deere and knew the capabilities of the Twenty series). The FEL lift height and BH dig capacities are worth a lot to me by themselves. Think tree-trimming, house re-shingling… (yes, I visit the safety forum).
Right size, as has been discussed at length here, is very user-specific. But for my uses, with no constraints like navigating along narrow trails or under forest limbs, or using it for finish mowing, I’d opt every time for the larger frame.
Using a machine regularly within it’s design capacities, rather than taxing a smaller machine also makes me feel like I’m doing things the right way. This is a confidence-building thought for an amateur operator like me.
Green, orange, blue or whatever, after you’ve considered all your needs and the limitations where you’ll be using it, I’d advise that when in doubt don’t undersize. Dollars saved on the purchase will be long forgotten, while the inability to do the work you want will smack you in the face regularly.
Oh, and by the way, I’m 6’3” and I don’t want my neighbors to see me on a smaller tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif