Buying Advice Grand L versus M

[dougrout]

I was at my Kubota dealer last week looking at RTVs and made the mistake of looking at tractors. I currently own a John Deere 3320 and have been thinking of trading up to a larger tractor with cab. The Kubota salesman showed me a Grand L 5740 - terrific looking machine! If I want a larger tractor with cab I wondered if I should be looking instead at an M series Kubota. I think the M series is more tractor? And if I move up to a tractor over 60 hp I've heard that I might not have to pay Ontario HST (13%).

The Grand L 5740 is the same price as the M series tractor just over 60 hp so I could save over $5000 in tax!

Does anyone know if I don't need to pay tax on the larger tractor. And how do the two machines compare?

 

[nybirdman]

The grand L's have more standard features than the M's.One of the guys in Canada (Canoetrpr) I believe just when thru the same thing and bought a M for the savings in tax.Either choice is a good one.

 

[creekbend]

I am not familiar with Canadian tax laws but this may be somewhat helpful in regards to comparing. I have a L4400. TractorData.com - information on all makes and models of tractors

 

[dougrout]

The grand L's have more standard features than the M's.One of the guys in Canada (Canoetrpr) I believe just when thru the same thing and bought a M for the savings in tax.Either choice is a good one.

Good to hear about the tax situation. I was just looking at the Kubota website and noticed that some M series tractors have synchro shuttle while others have hydraulic shuttle. What's the difference? I do like the HST on my JD for loader work.

 

[hrcarver]

hst is not available on the m series, it is more of a small ag tractor. The hydro shuttle allows clutchless forward to reverse. The synchronized means you to have to push the clutch to change direction, but not be at a complete stop. Mine is hydro and I like it, but the way I use it (mostly row cropping) I could live with out it.

 

[Martian]

Both are good machines. Never driven either but have sat and looked at them at a local Kubota dealer. I've looked real hard at Kubota's before but never had that it factor for me.

I think the cabs on the comparable 4520 are much superior. You get a lot better AC and heat. I think its something like 7-15 degrees difference max for the Kubota and 30 for the Deere. So on a 100 degree day thats the difference of 70 degrees and 85 degrees - in the cab. That to me is just not acceptable for an AC unit these days. Also JD has the quietest cab in the industry and sealed air tight so if you have any allergies they don't get in - I can't confirm but Kubota's website doesn't mention this. Not to mention I like the look of JD's interior much better, just looks cleaner to me - but I guess that's an opinion.

Also the little experience I've had with a Kubota HST transmission with the single rocker that you tilt your foot back and forth is just not as nice to me as the twin touch. The new Deere HST have a lot of new improvements too. They have it so it is like a car where the more you push the accelerator the faster/more RPM's it will put out. Which is perfect for loader work. Its the easy use of HST with the power benefits of a gear.

According to the build your own features of both websites the 4520 Deere would cost about $2000 more than a Kubota. I had the CX loader for the Deere - another benefit with the self leveling over the Kubota's standard loader. But The Deere was about $45,000 and the Kubota at $43,000 from the build it yourself. A lot of times those prices are a lot less or more though.

Maybe this is just because I bleed green but when there's a better deal I'll say. The Kubota will definitely be less. You pay premium for Deere because they just go the extra mile. I've owned Deere tractors all my life without any problems. I've looked at many Kubota's and the price alone I'd have to go with a Kubota but The only place that Kubota has over Deere is the M59. Deere just has no comparable. I would go Kubota there, Deere everything else. Something said about American design, engineering, and production too.

If I were you I'd look into a 4520. In my opinion a much better tractor for the minimal price bump. And a JD dealer will give you more on a trade in than a Kubota dealer would and more from a Kubota dealer if it were a Kubota. They believe in their product more. If 60HP with a cab is your goal I would get a 4520 with a cab. That's just me though.:thumbsup:

 

[slowzuki]

This is preference thing, I can't stand the twin pedal designs, I've got over 1000 hours on the rocker pedal style now and offered to help grade some gravel with a friend with the twin pedal. I looked like an idiot jerking and jumping around, beyond just location and muscle memory, I found it hard to modulate. I gave up and jumped into the 100 hp tractor to shuttle gravel to him instead.

Also the little experience I've had with a Kubota HST transmission with the single rocker that you tilt your foot back and forth is just not as nice to me as the twin touch.

 

[k0ua]

This is preference thing, I can't stand the twin pedal designs, I've got over 1000 hours on the rocker pedal style now and offered to help grade some gravel with a friend with the twin pedal. I looked like an idiot jerking and jumping around, beyond just location and muscle memory, I found it hard to modulate. I gave up and jumped into the 100 hp tractor to shuttle gravel to him instead.

Same here I much prefer the single pedal design, I think it is much faster to change directions and is all around more convenient. But I think it is all in what you get used to. I am certain the twin pedal lovers would beg to differ on my opinion And I am cool with that.

James K0UA

 

[Martian]

This is preference thing, I can't stand the twin pedal designs, I've got over 1000 hours on the rocker pedal style now and offered to help grade some gravel with a friend with the twin pedal. I looked like an idiot jerking and jumping around, beyond just location and muscle memory, I found it hard to modulate. I gave up and jumped into the 100 hp tractor to shuttle gravel to him instead.

Can't argue with that. With him being from a Deere I was expecting him to be used to the twin touch pedals though. All my HST transmissions are the twin touch with Deere though, from my lawn mower to my compact. I also have a shuttle sync 5410. My muscle memory is wired to the twin touch. I'm sure I could use the rocker. Just in the little time I had on a friends Kubota I looked like a child. I would expect the OP to experience the same learning curve. He could definitely get used to it but I like the twin touch personally.

 

[kuboman]

Well we are welcome to our opinions. Mine is that the Kubota L5740 would be as good a choice as the JD. I have had and still have many JD tractors and like them all but to say they are better than anything else is well......:laughing:
You do pay a premium and you will receive a portion of it back at trade in but is it worth the extra output at purchase? I say no. Kubotas bring the same premium around here but cost less to start with. It all come down to the features and dealer support. Make your choice on the machine not the color.
As for a L or M. The L has more features the M has more size. All depends on what you need.