Well, I got a late start so I wasn't able to see all I wanted. The jury is still out.
First stop was the Kubota dealer...I kinda had a bad feeling when I was told that the salesman (they have one, apparently) was 'on a smoke break.' But he did join me a few minutes later. However, he didn't seem very interested in selling tractors today. I told him my requirements, and he suggested a L3800HST. Then he stood there. After about a 30 sec pause, I asked, "is there one you can show me?" "Uh, yeah, I think so."
So we go out to the lot and he shows me a L3800 with no FEL, but a cutter on the back. "There it is." Um, ok. He rattled off some statistics. OK. I asked some questions. Then he asked if I wanted a brochure. Sure. So he ushers me back into the office without offering/ asking if I wanted to sit on it or start it or anything. No quote. Hmmmmm....whatever.
Next, had trouble finding the MF dealer...so I call, and Im told it closes in 10 minutes, but "I can look through the fence at the tractors." Ummmm, no thanks. I'll come back to them later.
Next was the JD dealer. The salesman there was courteous, and suggested either a 3038 or a 4105. He didnt have a 3038 to hand, but he had a 4105 with FEL in the lot. He suggested we go out and 'tear up the parking lot.' Now we're talking!
At least he acted like he'd like to take my money....
It was a HST and he showed me all the bells and whistles, and I toodled around the parking lot and played with all the buttons while he was helping other folks. It looked/felt like a well-made tractor.the fit and finish was very good...... the loader control was very intuitive and the HST was nice (although it whines at low speeds, I guess thats normal?)
Back inside, the JD guy quotes me 19.1k for the tractor, 4.5k for the loader, 2.5k for a rotary cutter (holy cow :confused2: ) and $575 for a box blade, making the whole deal ~ 27.1 k. He did say he'd load the rear tires for free, though
Last stop was the Mahindra dealer, but as I suspected, he was closed by the time I got there. He had a 4010 shuttle and a 4035 HST on his lot, so I sat on them and made 'vroooom' noises like a little kid. The 4035 had clearly been on the lot a while as the steering wheel was faded and cracked, and the instrument panel was fogged up and hard to read. The fit and finish on the Mahindra def did not seem as nice as the JD, but since I couldnt start it or anything I dont know how the mechanicals compare.
So, one good experience, one not-so-good, and two places to return to for more info.
Any thoughts/advice? Things I need to ask on the second round?