eBay Victory!
Model Year: 2005
I looked for a while before I found my New Holland. We looked at Craigslist and eBay, but to find the right tractor at the right price (and within reasonable shipping distance) was tough. We then looked at new, which due to the deals, seemed like the best way to go. We looked at and drove the equivalent John Deere and Kubota, but needed to wait a bit to save up the extra cash it would take. Then, I discovered the New Holland on eBay and with free shipping. Wow. We were cautious, which is limited to asking the right questions and gut instinct. In our case, it paid off handsomely! Overall, I'm happy and love to use it. I've now fertilized and rototilled my 3 acres of vineyard and move some dirt around. Next, ag tire, spraying the vines and mowing in the spring.
Pros: We knew we needed 35 hp due to our need to drive a sprayer, but found that each of those ponies is really necessary to climb our steep hills. The 4wd is also key, as well as the occassional diff lock. Next, I need ag tires, as any mud will stop it on the steeps. The supersteer option was included and man, is it great. We have a vineyard and it's tough to get into the rows without hitting anything.
Cons: Any niggles I have are small, such as the slowness with which it locks the diff. As I turn up into a steep row, I just pray that it locks and I don't get stuck (a pretty big deal if I'm pulling my spreader and the tractor goes backwards). Another issue is changing gears. It often resists shifting and I end up clutching/unclutching, reving the motor to get it to change from neutral to first. It happens just often enough to be a pain.
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