Owenslee
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2009
- Messages
- 84
- Location
- Farmington MO
- Tractor
- Kubota M5040HD 4WD, Ford 8N , White 105, Case 1200 4WD, (1) TO-20 (3) TO-30 Fergusons
I need to get this off my chest...
I have recently been shopping 50 HP 4wd tractors and had narrowed my selection down to the new Mahindra 35 series in either the 45 or 50 hp versions and the Kubota M5040.
After obtaining multiple quotes form Kubota dealers for a open platform M5040HD with FEL with skid steer bucket and grill guard... the cheapest quote for a 2009 model was $6800 higher than the 4535 Mahindra and $5150 higher than the more evenly matched 5035 Mahindra. Granted...the Kubota M5040 had the Hydro Shuttle which adds $1000 over the Syncro Shuttle model... a closer match to the Mahindra. But the Mahindra has a 12F/12R trans compared to the 8F/8R Kubota and weighs about 300 lbs more. Lift capacity of the FEL is comparable with shuttle buckets on both yet the Kubota has a 72" bucket compared to a 75" on the Mahindra.
I could see an extra $1-$2K for the Kubota...but not $5K to almost $7K higher... What am I missing here?
The other issue was that I was told that dealer cost was about 20% under MSRP and that many dealers would sell at about 13 % under MSRP and still make an acceptable markup. Some would further discount last year models that had been sitting in their lot for 12 months or more. Apparently not here in Missouri. The cheapest quote for a 2009 model was $29850 and the dealer was emphatic that this was a firm price....non negotiable. I did find a 2008 model that was described as " weathered"...for $29008.00. According to the Kubota web site the MSRP for that combination is $33044. So the lowest 2009 model bid was only 10% under MSRP. Is business that good that Mahindra dealers are unwilling to be more competitive with other brands...?
I really LIKE the M5040HD...but I simply cannot cost justify spending an extra $5-$7K over a comparable Mahindra tractor that offers a good dealer network, good customer service and excellent durability record. In 2009 Mahindra touted that they were the world's 3rd largest tractor manufacturer with aggressive pricing, quality product and a strong customer following. It just seems odd that under this competitive pressure...some Kubota dealers don't realize they are losing potential business with their pricing policies.
Just my $.02...
OK I feel better now.
I have recently been shopping 50 HP 4wd tractors and had narrowed my selection down to the new Mahindra 35 series in either the 45 or 50 hp versions and the Kubota M5040.
After obtaining multiple quotes form Kubota dealers for a open platform M5040HD with FEL with skid steer bucket and grill guard... the cheapest quote for a 2009 model was $6800 higher than the 4535 Mahindra and $5150 higher than the more evenly matched 5035 Mahindra. Granted...the Kubota M5040 had the Hydro Shuttle which adds $1000 over the Syncro Shuttle model... a closer match to the Mahindra. But the Mahindra has a 12F/12R trans compared to the 8F/8R Kubota and weighs about 300 lbs more. Lift capacity of the FEL is comparable with shuttle buckets on both yet the Kubota has a 72" bucket compared to a 75" on the Mahindra.
I could see an extra $1-$2K for the Kubota...but not $5K to almost $7K higher... What am I missing here?
The other issue was that I was told that dealer cost was about 20% under MSRP and that many dealers would sell at about 13 % under MSRP and still make an acceptable markup. Some would further discount last year models that had been sitting in their lot for 12 months or more. Apparently not here in Missouri. The cheapest quote for a 2009 model was $29850 and the dealer was emphatic that this was a firm price....non negotiable. I did find a 2008 model that was described as " weathered"...for $29008.00. According to the Kubota web site the MSRP for that combination is $33044. So the lowest 2009 model bid was only 10% under MSRP. Is business that good that Mahindra dealers are unwilling to be more competitive with other brands...?
I really LIKE the M5040HD...but I simply cannot cost justify spending an extra $5-$7K over a comparable Mahindra tractor that offers a good dealer network, good customer service and excellent durability record. In 2009 Mahindra touted that they were the world's 3rd largest tractor manufacturer with aggressive pricing, quality product and a strong customer following. It just seems odd that under this competitive pressure...some Kubota dealers don't realize they are losing potential business with their pricing policies.
Just my $.02...
OK I feel better now.