bxowner said:
I asked this question over at the Kubota thread several months ago. The response was pretty consistent - several times before landing the 'right' machine. Well, I guess I fit that category now as well, as I've just ordered a 2320.
I've spend the last few months debating the upgrade, as I bought a new house lot that's totally undeveloped. My Kubota BX1500 simply couldn't do the work I now needed (grading 1.5 acres of topsoil and chipping lots of brush). I was very happy with Kubota and the dealer, so I put all of my attention into the B7610. Drove it and loved the performance. The size seemed a bit more than what I needed in the long run, but there's no way I'd go back the BX size, even with the 23 hp engine. Just too little ground clearance. The price was expensive, but that's the cost of these machines. The quote for a B7610 with folding ROPS, larger 352 FEL and loaded tires came out to $14,212. List was nearly $16k. A very good deal from everything I read here and elsewhere on the internet.
But, just to be sure, I went to the Deere dealer to check out the ~$12k 2305 tractor. A bit better ground clearance, but was very concerned about the location of the hydraulics. So I sat on the 2320. Drove it. Immediately saw all of the benefits over the Kubota. Beyond the obvious 'position control' (was better than Kubota's 1/4 inching valve for the grading I'll need to do), virtually everything about the tractor was an 'upgrade' over the Kubota. Thicker steel fenders. Way easier FEL disconnecting system (I drover one with the 200cx). Far more comfortable seat. Better FEL control lever location. Split brakes on the left side, so I can still operate the hydro. A hood that lifts both the top and sides with the flip of a lever... So, naturally, I was afraid to ask the price (because, as they say, 'if you have to ask...'). Well, tractor, 200cx loader and loaded tires was quoted at $14,400. All those upgrades for $188?! It's to be delivered tomorrow... attachments to follow in the spring after the piggy bank is replenished a bit.
Well I was this close " " to buying a B7610. I really liked the 7610 a lot from the driving around the parking lot of the local Kubota dealer (at this point I hadn't even sat on a Deere yet. I had only been on a blue machine the day before). I sat down with the Jim the salesguy and starting talking prices. He showed me the price he wanted to sell it for, and I showed him the price I told him I'd buy it for (few hundred less.. maybe 6 hundred, I think). He said he couldn't do it, I said "OK..I'll keep shopping" and I stod up and walkd out.. He's prolly thinking.. young punk, more money than sense.... just tire kickin'...he aint serious, figuring I'd go pick up the wife and come back and take hime up on his price. Instead I hop in the truck and drive straight to the local JD dealer down the highway.
Well i got to the JD dealer and I instantly fell in love with the 2305.. the quick detach loader, the mower.. the engine.. the works! I told my JD salesguy my story about the Kubota dealer earlier that day and so he gives me a real good price on the 2305. I decided to go back outside to try around the parking lot one last time before I make my decision. There I was, just finished trolling through the ditch in front of the dealership in 4-low, coming up to my salesguy who was standing in front of the shop waiting for me. All of a sudden I feel my phone buzzin in my pocket. "Hello?" .... "Yes.. Gord, it's me Jim from the Kubota dealer, wondering if you're gonna come back to work out a deal on this here 7610.. we could probably work something out.. come on over..." "Jim.. there's something I need you to hear" I said, and I held the phone out in front of me and I cranked the throttle... maybe 15---20 seconds pass. I'm just a smilin' and my JD dealer's looking at me kinda funny trying to figure out what the **** I was doin'. I turn the ignition off of the 2305 and said "Jim.. you here that?" "Yeah" he says anxiously. "Well, that's the sound of my new tractor Jim. I'm sorry but you had your chance". I hang up the phone, turn to my JD dealer, smile and say "write it up!!"
I bought the 2305 that day, and 2 and a half years later went back and up graded to the 2520 and kept my existing loader, box blade and blower to help keep the price down. I learned that bigger
is necessarily better... and faster, well that's nice too.
But I think back now to that first day and I'm convinced that if the 2320 had been around then when I showed up at the JD to buy the 2305, I'd prolly woulda gone for it instead, and if I'd done that, I'd probably be really happy with it to this day because of its size and other features over the 2305. So to answer your question ....Yes. The tricky thing is finding the right machine at the right time. I can honestly say the 2520 is perfect for my needs. Would the 2320 have been perfect if it was around when I first bought, and would I likely still have it today? Probably. Would the 7610 have been the 'right' tractor? I guess I'll never know.
Will the 2520 be the perfect machine in 2 years? I just don't know. One thing I can tell you is I do need a hoe.. and so I'll need to be extra good next year to see if Santa's as nice to me as she has been to Runner!
One other thing I can tell you, you'll have one helluva fun time putting your new 2320 to the test to help you decide if it's the 'right' tractor for you.
GN
