As you read all these posts you certainly hope its required reading for dealers. Though there might be some small percentage of buyers that seek snooty sails people and dealerships that do not even think about dealing I am willing to bet the vast majority of buyers prefer a pleasant, competent down home kind of interaction heavy on service. It isn't rocket science but if dealers are indeed people then the percentages say that some of them will be poor at social skills and salesmanship. So it comes as no surprise that a large number of these decisions are made on the joy of the experience as many of these tractors are quite nice and get the job done. Design aesthetic preferences will always differ ie Ford, Chevy, GMC, Ram pickups.
Next, since human relations play such a big part of negotiating a deal its not surprising there may be quite a difference in price in like tractors without any consisitency.
Next there are desperate dealers that need to move inventory etc and these give rise to the great/rediculous deals we see quoted here...some of which I think are enhanced with individual enthusiasm. I also think there are some dealers using loss leaders or are just down right ornery.
My creds include growing up on a very large Farm/Ranch in the west. I have run a lot of machinery in my day, but now I large hobby farm and on that acreage I began with an old 8 N. I hit the big time when I purchased a
L3710 Kubota after looking at Massey, JD, and NH in 2000. It was Hydro with FEL, Ag tires, and cabbed. This year I purchased and have went through one full haying cycle with a 4520 cabbed, FEL, R4 tires John Deere with air seat.
When I looked at JD in 2000 all I saw was an amercian made japanese me too and I expressed my dispeasure. It was much more expensive than the Kubota and just simply not as nice.
The Kubota, like mentioed many times, has a bullet proof engine, and suffered no major break down. But...the thing about it is you can tell it is a Japanese from the beginning machine. By that I mean somethings are made a bit too little, chincy isn't the right word, but just not a robust for a tractor. The radiator is just big enough for instance, but don't push it too much or overheating will occur....unless you want to pull out the screen and either wash or blow it out every 2 hours in heavy dust like you get during hay season in the West. THe latches on the side didn't break but everytime I had to open the hoods I felt I had to be a bit careful or they might snap. And you had to remove three panels at least to really get at things...just sort of a fiddle faddle nuisance.
It whined a lot when roading, you get used to it, but its plenty loud. Its kind of hard to put into words...did it get the job done...yes...did I ask more of a 38hp tractor than I should...most definitely. But overall I still say its just a bit too much toy like...I like Japanese cars and even on my 93 Landcruiser you occassionally find the little small weakeness in what is overall an overkill monster. And the seat was okay...but a bit cramped and not that comfortable.
So I was going to trade up to a
L5740. I thought they fixed the hood issue but they just rearranged the problem...getting at that battery would be a bit of an issue...not good when you live in Montana. The seating position and feel hadn't improved a bit, and the cab not a bit quieter. The rocker pedal was night and day better. And the price....not a penny cheaper than the John Deere, and the trade in...not as good as the John Deere....hmm...though I am getting ahead of myself.
So just as a lark there happened to be a 4520 cabbed JD right there on their lot as I went home...I, you see, was unaware that apparently the Deere company has been listening. The Cab was much improved, I like the pedals better than the rocker (I know...and individual preference), the air seat was oceans better in every way than the Kubota. The real american made 4 cylinder John Deere engine with turbo was extraordinary, and the cab just incredibly quiet...even my two daughters just gushed at the silence...I believe the comment was "Gees...you could easily talk on your phone in here with the engine on!" I thought my Kubota was quiet and had no complaints...until I sat in the Deere. Most of the componetry had been beefed up and upgraded. I like the cockpit feel...I always have, but the head room was great. The sales rep was a real pleasure and as soon as I am home and get time I hope to put the real sales slip on here so we can start a new era of honest reporting on what I paid.
So I think it does depend on the range of tactor you are buying..each brand seems to strive to cover every need and size, but I think they all have their sweet spot. In John Deere, if you are looking for Cadillac, that would be the 4 series...no question. All of them are good, but the 4 series was designed when they all had had their coffee and their brains turned on.
Hence at no time is anyone on one of these threads going to be able to make ther ascertation stick that one brand across the board is best.
And 40 years from now we will either be a smoldering heap of molten metal, or we will farming on Mars
And thats my buck twenty five.
