Comparison Kubota vs Mahindra & throw in LS tractors

[Gary Fowler]

Messick quote;I have them under CNH now, I don't know the LS equilivant model numbers. They are the same tractors with different hoods.

How can you state that they are the same tractor with different hoods if you havent seen the LSMtron model. Saying that a contract built John Deere is the same as a Yanmar is being quiet naive, just as saying that a contract built NH by LS or Case by LS is the same as an LS branded tractor. Lots of companys built other equipment to the standards listed by the company that they have a contract with. This may mean that the contracted equipment has higher standards than their own branded name or lower. They are rarely just a different color with the exception of those like Montana who really have no brand standards just importing someone elses brand and sticking a name on it is not contract building. Like Timebak, I looked at all brands before buying an LS and found them to be more ergonomic than any other tractor on the market and more standard features that I needed and many dollars less. The quality of the LS models I looked at far surpassed the cheap plastic on your Kubota and operationally is much more suited to a tractor operator with the controls where you can reach them. Draft Control and position control standard equipment. Kubota operators / owners dont even have that option available, but if all you do is move snow with the FEL or pull a trailer out of the woods loaded with wood, or use your rear blade/box blade to grade your road, then you wont miss those things at all. Take a serious look at the real LS tractor from the seat of each operating them rather than a sales brochure and see if you can back up your statement with some facts on just how the quality of a Kubota FAR surpasses LS.

 

[LittleBlueTractor]

I have them under CNH now, I don't know the LS equilivant model numbers. The fit and finish is not nearly as good, the egronomics are poor with levers where they don't make sense and pedals that are too close to the operator. Most of all, the hydro's are totally gutless. The 30hp dogs out in high range on a level parking lot. I can't say much about the utility tractors that you seem to have driven since I don't have those yet, but first impressions are not good and the pricing is far from outstanding.

Accepting that this is your honest opinion, it seems wrong that you are a dealer for products that you clearly do not respect or like. Admittedly, I don't know how the tractor dealer business works, but perhaps your dealership could tell CNH you aren't interested in selling the re-branded LS/CNH line right now. You could always bring them back at some later date if your opinion changes.

 

[bp fick]

Dealers that have grown accustomed to having their New Holland built by Shubaura (sp) or their Case built by someone has gotten used to a certain fit, finish, ergonomics, and over all quality.

Suddenly, corporate switches contracts and has them built by someone else, in this case, LS. These dealers are bound to notice. Some of this can be marked up to people simply not liking change.

If you were a dealer for Mercury outboards for years and years and suddenly you were shipped some other brand from a different county, with a totally new look and feel, you'd be in for a time of major adjustment too. You might grow to appreciate the new outboard, but then again, let's be honest here. They might never grow to like it and have reasonable reasons for their dislike.

Take or leave Messick's opinion, but it is an educated one and he's entitled to it.

 

[crazyal]

Accepting that this is your honest opinion, it seems wrong that you are a dealer for products that you clearly do not respect or like. Admittedly, I don't know how the tractor dealer business works, but perhaps your dealership could tell CNH you aren't interested in selling the re-branded LS/CNH line right now. You could always bring them back at some later date if your opinion changes.

You would be assuming that the person posting here is the own of the company or has the power to decide what brands they sell. Also I don't think he said they were bad tractors, just that the fit and finish on the Kubotas were a notch above in his eyes.

At the end of the day you usually get what you pay for.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Messick quote;I have them under CNH now, I don't know the LS equilivant model numbers. They are the same tractors with different hoods.

How can you state that they are the same tractor with different hoods if you havent seen the LSMtron model. Saying that a contract built John Deere is the same as a Yanmar is being quiet naive, just as saying that a contract built NH by LS or Case by LS is the same as an LS branded tractor. Lots of companys built other equipment to the standards listed by the company that they have a contract with. This may mean that the contracted equipment has higher standards than their own branded name or lower. They are rarely just a different color with the exception of those like Montana who really have no brand standards just importing someone elses brand and sticking a name on it is not contract building. Like Timebak, I looked at all brands before buying an LS and found them to be more ergonomic than any other tractor on the market and more standard features that I needed and many dollars less. The quality of the LS models I looked at far surpassed the cheap plastic on your Kubota and operationally is much more suited to a tractor operator with the controls where you can reach them. Draft Control and position control standard equipment. Kubota operators / owners dont even have that option available, but if all you do is move snow with the FEL or pull a trailer out of the woods loaded with wood, or use your rear blade/box blade to grade your road, then you wont miss those things at all. Take a serious look at the real LS tractor from the seat of each operating them rather than a sales brochure and see if you can back up your statement with some facts on just how the quality of a Kubota FAR surpasses LS.

This is an uninformed statement. You may have to get up to the utility AG tractors to get draft control, but to say that Kubota does not even have it is just plain incorrect. Here is a link to their economy AG tractors that have draft control as an option and as you go up in size, draft control is std.

Ergonomics are a personal preference, something that you hate doesn't mean that everyone dislikes it. As far as cheap plastic, I doubt that any of the plastic on any of the makes is cheap. You talk as if there is no plastic on the LS tractors, they have their share of plastic also.

You have a nice tractor, there is no doubt and at this time period the best bang for your buck. But none of that needs to be defended to a point of posting inaccurate information. And yes, you would think that you would need to see a tractor before you could pass judgement on it, so Neil was making an overall judgement based on certain models and that is wrong also.

Just my :2cents:

 

[LittleBlueTractor]

Take or leave Messick's opinion, but it is an educated one and he's entitled to it.

I never even implied that Messick is not entitled to his opinion or that he is mistaken in any way. If that's the way he feels then the only thing he can do (in good conscious) is steer potential customers away from the LS re-brands and toward the Kubota line -- which is exactly what he has been doing in his posts to this thread. I merely suggested that perhaps they shouldn't have them on the lot until he feels they are a worthy product. Not sure if that's even possible, but it seems like it would be fairer to CNH and their re-branded LS tractors.

 

[rocknrod]

I now sell an LS tractor, as well as Kubota. ...

I have them under CNH now, I don't know the LS equilivant model numbers ...

Sounds like someone is attempting to sell something here.
Your statements don't add up.
And are incorrect.
As a recent buyer and shopper (for six months) I found your statements lend themselves to being disingenuous at best.
Of course coming from a salesman selling a certain line I can understand that. I have personally driven what you are pushing and found the LS models no less that the rest with even more standard equipment than the options your are pushing.
That may be the underlying issue here.
For those of us in the know - your quite transparent.

 

[LittleBlueTractor]

You would be assuming that the person posting here is the own of the company or has the power to decide what brands they sell. Also I don't think he said they were bad tractors, just that the fit and finish on the Kubotas were a notch above in his eyes.

You're right, I did assume "MessickFarmEqu" speaks for the dealership. If not, then perhaps the owner should ask the poster to use a different handle.

I have them under CNH now, I don't know the LS equilivant model numbers. The fit and finish is not nearly as good, the egronomics are poor with levers where they don't make sense and pedals that are too close to the operator. Most of all, the hydro's are totally gutless. The 30hp dogs out in high range on a level parking lot. I can't say much about the utility tractors that you seem to have driven since I don't have those yet, but first impressions are not good and the pricing is far from outstanding.

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure (whomever the poster is) he/she thinks they are "bad tractors".

I have a LS S3010. Admittedly, it's my first tractor, but everything (levers, knobs, controls, pedals etc...) seems to be where it logically should be for convenience. Perhaps CNH is making LS put them somewhere else for the re-brands, but I can't say as I haven't seen any of them.

 

[art]

There is no perfect seat for everyone.
People buy different makes for different reasons and the list is long.

When you have more choices in hand, you have the chance of a better fit.

I always liked the phrase, "it's the best in the industry" at least that I sell.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Right Art.

Notice I did not say that an LS/CNH tractor was not the right fit for some customers. It maybe. I'm speaking for myself. I'm fortante to work for a dealer who has several product lines and we can pick and choose the best products from those companies. Without question, the ISM compacts where much better than the LS ones are... however they where too expensive and in the long run selling an economey machine (even if its more crude) may turn out to be the better business decision. I support what CNH is doing, but lets call a spade a spade... All tractors are not created equal, and whats comming from LS is not up to par with ISM, Kubota, Deere, etc.