Should I defect from Kubota

[LD1]

You just have to get to know the guys at the dealer ship.

Maybe talk with the service manager and/or some of the techs. Do they seem like nice helpful people that will be there for you IF you have problems, OR....do they seem like ******. What does the shop look like in there. Does it look like a nice place to work? Clean and well organized? or does it look like a run down shack with parts laying everywhere?

Also wouldnt hurt to ask about who is responsible to transport tractor for warranty issues.

And as others mentioned, ask around. IF he is the only kioti dealer, that means about everyone in the area probabally bought off of him. Do you know anyone that owns a kioti? Have you seen any out and about in your area? Maybe stop and talk to people.

But it is basically just spending some time and talking to people at the dealer. You have to trust your gut on this.

 

[CPM]

It's interesting that people don't mind shopping around and finding the right dealer. A while ago I was looking at a different model, emailed a few dealers and got some responses back of "support your local dealer". It's almost as if they don't want the competition - ie don't want to drop their prices.

How competitive are dealers on prices generally? Our Kabota dealer is in a very plush showroom and doesn't seem all that fussed about selling to me (I'm too small a customer, I guess) and the Kioti dealer is crammed into a smaller lot with stock outside, not under cover. Vast difference between the 2.

Also, comparing the 2 tractors, the HP is the same but the fine print still favours the Kabota e.g. Cat 2 3pt Hitch, PTO HP and a few other points.

 

[LD1]

If you are compairing the DK50 and the MX5100, those are two VERY similar tractors:thumbsup:

The kioti is about 200lbs heavier (3700 vs 3900lbs)
The kioti has about 100lbs more 3PH lift (2300 vs 2400)
And the kioti has a little stronger loader (2400 vs 2700lbs)

In the real world, I doubt you would notice any difference in either. If you are confident with BOTH dealers, you need to take both tractors for a test-drive. See what one has the ergonomics that you like best. See what one is laid out best for your tastes.

What is going to be the price difference on these two? And if you like the kubota better after all of that, is it going to be worth that much more?

 

[IndyIan]

If you are compairing the DK50 and the MX5100, those are two VERY similar tractors:thumbsup:

The kioti is about 200lbs heavier (3700 vs 3900lbs)
The kioti has about 100lbs more 3PH lift (2300 vs 2400)
And the kioti has a little stronger loader (2400 vs 2700lbs)

In the real world, I doubt you would notice any difference in either. If you are confident with BOTH dealers, you need to take both tractors for a test-drive. See what one has the ergonomics that you like best. See what one is laid out best for your tastes.

What is going to be the price difference on these two? And if you like the kubota better after all of that, is it going to be worth that much more?

Also what's the usage going to be for the tractor? High load PTO work? Loader work? Plowing fields? If you don't really need the PTO hp or aren't plowing, then drop down to a EX45 or 40 and get the difference in implements?
If you are going to use every PTO hp for some sort of production work then probably the turbo on the MX5100 is an asset.
I went with the DK40 and I haven't even used the PTO yet, all I really wanted was a heavy tractor with a strong loader and with most "options" included, which led me to Kioti over Kubota.

 

[IslandTractor]

As LD1 has pointed out, these the MX and DK are pretty much functionally equivalent at the 50hp level. I strongly agree with Indy that unless you have a clear and regular use for the extra PTO power of the DK/EX 50 that in every other spec the 40 and 45 are identical down to the engine block. Only the piston size varies. Think that issue through carefully as the difference in price can buy you a couple of implements which will certainly make a big difference in how effective you can be. For a given frame size, HP is often over rated as an indicator of tractor effectiveness. I would gladly go 20% slower on 10% of my tasks in order to use the extra money on an implement that would make a 50% difference on 25% of my usual work tasks. Hard to be real precise about these comparisons without real world data but the point is that the right implement can be 10x as valuable as 10 extra HP in the same tractor.

 

[radioman]

ld1 is right. it boils down to the dealer. Thats why I went with kubota. they treated me right. Do a search on models you want here on TBN and other tractor forums and see what kind of similar issues you can find. visit the dealers and go ask BOTH salesperson and parts dept and get their opinion and read their body language. Alot can be said from their reactions about known issues and how fast they respond on weather its an easy peasy fix or they are tired of that crap.

 

[Barnone]

I been owning JD and Kubota tractors for over thirty years for use on my small ranches in FL and NC. Granted I don't use them too hard and do keep up with the proper maintenance but have never taken them back to a dealer for anything. Done the repairs myself. Two of the dealers where I bought new tractors went out of business after many years of being open so I don't put much stock in finding the best dealer.
Also I would not worry about resale value. Like mentioned above, find a tractor that will do your requirements for a long time and don't count on getting a lot on resale.

 

[BleedGreen]

To suggest that a deere only depreciates 25% while the Kioti depreciates nearly 50% clearly indicates you aren't making statements rooted in objectivity. It's just an absurb comparison. Just as suggesting that because BC was bought by a Korean company they are somehow now less concerned with their reputation and quality is also plain not good common sense. Must be the green paint talking, or trying to justify the outrageous price paid for green. Around here, 9 out of 10 skid loaders are BC; they aren't going to put their good name on something that doesn't uphold their values. I love green - well engineered and very reliable. My next GT will most likely be a JD. But I'm not foolish enough to give them thousands more for less tractor.

I've had my Kioti for almost seven years now. I've been offered (and turned down) a price that is about 84% of what I paid for it. And from what I'm seeing the used asking price is similar for most modern Kiotis.

You are completely missing my point. Neither tractor in my scenario was any particular brand. One started higher, one lower. What I was trying to explain is in regard to "the tractor cost less to start with so it obviously should be worth less at resale time". The scenario is saying you need to look at how much the tractor cost to aquire and then what it was sold for and look at the percentage - that was all - but I appreciate you calling me absurd and commenting on the outrageous price everyone pays for green paint.

 

[LD1]

Also what's the usage going to be for the tractor? High load PTO work? Loader work? Plowing fields? If you don't really need the PTO hp or aren't plowing, then drop down to a EX45 or 40 and get the difference in implements?
If you are going to use every PTO hp for some sort of production work then probably the turbo on the MX5100 is an asset.
I went with the DK40 and I haven't even used the PTO yet, all I really wanted was a heavy tractor with a strong loader and with most "options" included, which led me to Kioti over Kubota.

As LD1 has pointed out, these the MX and DK are pretty much functionally equivalent at the 50hp level. I strongly agree with Indy that unless you have a clear and regular use for the extra PTO power of the DK/EX 50 that in every other spec the 40 and 45 are identical down to the engine block. Only the piston size varies. Think that issue through carefully as the difference in price can buy you a couple of implements which will certainly make a big difference in how effective you can be. For a given frame size, HP is often over rated as an indicator of tractor effectiveness. I would gladly go 20% slower on 10% of my tasks in order to use the extra money on an implement that would make a 50% difference on 25% of my usual work tasks. Hard to be real precise about these comparisons without real world data but the point is that the right implement can be 10x as valuable as 10 extra HP in the same tractor.

Along those same lines.....If you dont need every ounce of power, look at the MX4700. Like the DK40/45/50, the MX4700 and MX5100 are identical in all aspects, just less ponies under the hood:thumbsup:

As mentioned, at this point, I think the descision is going to have to be made more on ergonomics and dealer support rather than kioti vs kubota.

If you like the Kioti's ergonomics better and think the dealer is better, then its a no-brainer....get the DK. BUT...If you like the bota better and the bota dealer better, then only YOU can answer wether you think it is worht the extra $$$. Which how much extra $$$ is probabally yet to be determined at this point in the game. When you get serious and start dealing, you will know just how much the true difference is going to be:thumbsup:

 

[IslandTractor]

Along those same lines.....If you dont need every ounce of power, look at the MX4700. Like the DK40/45/50, the MX4700 and MX5100 are identical in all aspects, just less ponies under the hood:thumbsup:

As mentioned, at this point, I think the descision is going to have to be made more on ergonomics and dealer support rather than kioti vs kubota.

If you like the Kioti's ergonomics better and think the dealer is better, then its a no-brainer....get the DK. BUT...If you like the bota better and the bota dealer better, then only YOU can answer wether you think it is worht the extra $$$. Which how much extra $$$ is probabally yet to be determined at this point in the game. When you get serious and start dealing, you will know just how much the true difference is going to be:thumbsup:

x2. At the very least, play the two dealers off against each other. I would be happy with either tractor so best price/deal should be high on the list of considerations.