Buying Advice Still shopping around...new or used?

[ispan1]

Hi folks, I've been looking hard at both a new l3700su for 17500 and anything that looks workable in the used market and have received some excellent advice from you all.

I was hoping to get some more feedback on my latest used find, a 2008 l2800 with 150hrs, 3pt sweeper, landscape rake, back blade (said he needed to look for it), and a quick hitch for 13,800.

The deal doesn't sound bad to me except that it has loaded ag tires and I really want r4s, so I can use a rfm on the lawn. I called a local dealer to price replacement tires but haven't heard back. Does anyone have an idea how much I would pay for a set? I'm not sure if I could use the same rims or even if I would want to. It might even be nice to have an extra set of turfs to mow with, but I can't imagine wanting to switch them out that often?

I am also wondering if I can expect an l2800 to do all that an l3700 would do. The most taxing work I will likely be doing is regrading/leveling a 3 acres of bumpy clay lawn (probably with a 6ft bb)and bush hogging (5ft). Any l2800 owners who can let me know?

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

With what is going on in Japan there may be some tighting of supply of new tractors as their focus becomes more internal for the near future. Today it is hard to make a case that new or used will be cheaper in the near future.

How long do you want to own the tractor will be a factor. If one is 60 and might want a tractor around the place for another 20 years the net cost difference between new and new like used will be nill. 5 HP too many is better than 5 HP to small.

Actually it seems HP only comes in second place to the weight of the tractor in my experience. One can drop down a gear in a flash.

 

[johnk]

I was just at a Kubota dealer today and asked him about the effects of the eartquake in Japan on the Kubota tractor market. He said he got word that there weren't any plants affected and production will be normal.....

 

[art]

I didn't see a loader on that L-2800? Did I miss it?

I'd rather have a different PTO then the L-2800 gear drive not to say that you can't use it.

Many have operated the live PTO systems and they are easier to operate in open areas. To have any trim work now that is where it get's tricky!

 

[CompactTractorFan]

back blade (said he needed to look for it)

Does that mean he lost it???

 

[ispan1]

Does that mean he lost it???

Apparently. It's being sold by a small housebuilding company that had a bunch of equipment listed and it was actually his other partner who said they would throw in the blade.

Yes, there is a loader on the l2800.

I seem to have overlooked the difference in the pto. Can someone bring me up to date? What is different about the l3700?

As for how long I will keep it? Probably forever. I'm 35 now and wouldn't mind passing it down to my 6 month old son in 30 years. I'm sure I could do that with the 2008 l2800 just as well as a 2010 l3700, but I see the point that a few grand isn't much difference over 30 years.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

New vs used???? I've bought a lot of cars and several tractors. Bought a lot of used cars. Never bought a used tractor. With used cars I always compromised what I wanted. I could never find the exact car with the exact color or transmission or options. If that doesn't bother a person then I guess used is OK but it always bothered me. One example: Had a 67 Corvette Coupe with 2 speed automatic instead of 4 speed. Really wanted the 4 speed. Always bothered me that it was the 2 speed auto.
When I look at used tractors, there's the "it's not exactly what I want". Also more than that there is the price difference between a new and considering the value of the 0% interest vs the price of a decent low hours used machine that I would have and the "true" cost of the new being less or so close to the same that I've never been able to go for a used tractor.
There are occassional good deals that come up on the purchase of a good decent priced used tractor but from what I've seen, those good deals are rare. I believe people saying they are every where are confused or doing wishful thinking.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

New vs used???? I've bought a lot of cars and several tractors. Bought a lot of used cars. Never bought a used tractor. With used cars I always compromised what I wanted. I could never find the exact car with the exact color or transmission or options. If that doesn't bother a person then I guess used is OK but it always bothered me. One example: Had a 67 Corvette Coupe with 2 speed automatic instead of 4 speed. Really wanted the 4 speed. Always bothered me that it was the 2 speed auto.
When I look at used tractors, there's the "it's not exactly what I want". Also more than that there is the price difference between a new and considering the value of the 0% interest vs the price of a decent low hours used machine that I would have and the "true" cost of the new being less or so close to the same that I've never been able to go for a used tractor.
There are occassional good deals that come up on the purchase of a good decent priced used tractor but from what I've seen, those good deals are rare. I believe people saying they are every where are confused or doing wishful thinking.

Great points.

 

[TripleR]

I would go with an L3800 or Grand L if you can swing it. I just don't see how you will be happy with an L2800 for thirty years.

 

[bigbull338]

when you buy a tractor its alot like getting married,its a lifetime committment.so your better off trying to get what you want from the beginning.