Buy Land Pride if you want true value. If you want the cheap, buy the Itialian built. I have dealt with the Itialians and still do on a daily basis. Here is what I have observed.
They are much more laid back than we are in the states. They try to enjoy life maybe a bit more than us. That part of their culture I admire.
They do shutdown all of their manufacturing during August. If we need parts we have to make sure we have them before their summer holiday shutdown. Customer doesn't always come first. They do have to be badgered at times to get service. Their quality is decent, but it never seems to be overbuilt. If your problem isn't solved by thier quitting time it can wait till tomorrow. It is tough to get them to tell you the whole story when you have a warrenty claim also. then you have to watch them or you will still get a bill under warrenty and have to negotiate it.
The analogy I would use, would be comparing the value of an 80hp 1960's vintage Fiat Tractor and the value of a 1960's John Deere 4020. The 4020 is still in great demand and price and the Fiat might be tough to give it away. You don't see many Fiat cars on the road today or in great demand in the States. If it wasn't for CNH Fiat wouldn't have been in position to go after Chrysler. It is there connection with purchasing American companies that has made them legit. They even make fun of Fiat cars over in Italy.
Buy the Land Pride. It is a Great Plains company which is very solid and a significant player in the large ag equipment business. I believe they are the largest privately owned farm equipment manufacture in the US and wouldn't have a deal with Kubota if they didn't build great stuff.
Their price would reflect what it really cost to manufacture, not a subsidized price. IMO.
