I'd like to thank everybody who participated in this thread and on the Massey forum. I've learned more and received better advice, suggestions, and routes to explore and learn about from the Massey forum than anywhere else on this site.
As I said at the OP, I'm closing on the 15th next week on a neat bit of real estate. I've been waiting to test out Deere's new 4066R to finalize my choice, but considering I've already priced it out at $54K plus tax, and I close on 2950 feet of lakeshore on the 15th, I plan to pull the trigger without waiting for the new Deere 4066R.
Of the tractors I've looked at, the Massey is, to my eye, the best looking. The Massey has the best hydros, speed wise, and looked as though it has the most robust chassis with tie rods mounted behind the front axle and beefier components, but the cab layout is traditional, and not as ergonomic as other OEMs. Kubota's
L6060 has some nice features (I especially liked the engine acceleration button on the joystick), higher quality automotive feeling controls, but for the price $52K plus tax (keeping in mind that I shopped 2 or 3 dealers for each model whenever possible), Kioti's NS6010 is in the front running since it is $12K less than Kubota's
L6060, $6,000 less than Massey's MF1758, and $14K less than the Deere's yet-unseen 4066R. The Kioti's cab controls are nice enough, and with the exception of the rear window wiper position and only one strut holding up the rear window, as well as the cheap feeling rear window latch, it has the best cab layout insofar as control positioning. Kubota shot themselves in the foot by getting rid of the knob to control their electronic HST for a single mode button, that at once I found to be difficult to use and irritating. Kubota did have document storage built into the bulkhead, which I thought was nice, and insofar as detailing, Kubota's cab was well put together except for being able to see the sun shine orange through the HVAC vents. I liked the map light Massey has as well as the courtesy dome light. Subjectively, I liked Massey's instrument layout the best. I did not like that all the light switches are located in the headliner and it isn't obvious to me that the factory thought about owners adding additional switches. Kioti has blanks in the B pillar for adding more switches to run whatever the owner dreams up and one 12v power supply already built in. If the Massey could equal the cab layout Kioti, I'd get the Massey on the perception that the Massey is built better or is, at the very least, pretty. The Mahindra, while less money still than the Kioti, started cold very poorly, one of the air vents in the cab literally fell off in my hand when I touched it, and the cab layout was similar to the Massey and John Deere 4720, which I did not like. Both Massey and Kioti offer projection lights up front. I'm amazed that people aren't jamming in HID kits behind them, but projector lights alone are a step up and I noticed and appreciated this detail.
Special purchasing considerations are that due to a complete lack of fear on my part, my body is pretty banged up, including my back and neck, and as a result a key selling point for me is how easy is it for me to look backward at the 3 pt in the cab. I felt that Kioti is the best followed by Mahindra, Kubota, Massey and then the old Deere 4720.
Things that I was amazed by is that not one OEM offers a true 3rd loader function. Not one OEM offers a HD rearview camera and monitor and only Kubota and John Deere offers an OEM top and tilt. All the OEMs offer a diverter valve for a 3rd function except Kioti. Michigan Machine offers a diverter valve for Kioti but it lacks a factory feel.
Anyway, unless a 4066R falls out of the sky within a week and I fall in love with it, I plan to buy a Kioti NX6010. At just under $40K, it is hard to pass over the Kioti even if I will need to fab up some bits for it.
Here is what else I'm buying.
Photo from north western corner property marker. The property extends all the way down to the point, around the point, and halfway around they bay on the other side of the point. Once cleared enough, a home on the point will enjoy lake views to the south, west, and north, along with sunsets over the water and a gradual sand beach.
