I think it is one of the most all around platforms a homeowner can have. There is little you should not be able to do with that machine....cut the grass, dig a hole, move dirt, pluck and hold things and blow snow. It is a lot of tractor for the price. I would have gotten one instead of the 16 if i didn't have to log in ground obstructed terrain where clearances might become a problem with a smaller machine. When my property is exhausted of firewood trees, I just may trade in the 16 for one of these. You made a very salient point of matching a personality to the machine. Lots of guys go into a purchase without this important consideration.
When purchasing anything at this kinda cost level I feel everything relevant should be considered. I personally feel this is a very capable tractor for my needs, but yes, bigger is better in the tractor world. Where I live just outside a major city, I ran into having to drive to the country multiple times just to shop for a tractor. And guess what happens the farther you go into agricultural communities, the tractors definitely get bigger in size. I wasn't looking for a 500K machine, and dealer stock was limited to nothing in the SCUT/CUT class. "We can order you one, should be in around October".... This was in July. One dealer of a different brand, one I was intent on buying at the time, actually told me... "Ya, lots of farmers wives like those little tractors". I replied " well I might be a little land challenged, but that doesn't make me a woman !! They had zero product knowledge, and zero stock. I have great difficulty spending this kinda cash based on a picture in a brochure, consider me a touchy feely kinda buyer. I need to stand in it's presence and get excited about my purchase, Max spoke to me that day. But I still didn't just dive in, I actually told the dealer I just might drive him crazy before I buy... And I did. Unfamiliar with the Mahindra brand I used the time to compare everything on other tractors to Max. Ya, I weigh more, lift more, dig more, build like a brick ***thouse in this class. I coulda got hung up on that cup holder issue, instead I looked deeper, and here is the final say in my comparisons.... The Impliments !! Now check out the comparisons, team green, 47" snowblower with a plastic impeller, same cost as my 56" Mahindra, all steel with the coolest drive system I've found....
Hydraulic Shute control standard, electric, manual, or optional on other models...
62" Plow, bigger than anybody's in this class with standard hydraulic angling, no pins for me.
The subframe, yes it costs ground clearance but I am not just stressing my front frame rail like all others. It runs all the way to and ties in with the rear drawbar, and is built solid !! Besides I clear my path before I ever drive over it...
Sorry for the long post, it's just sometimes we suffer buyer's remorse. Those "I coulda got this or that for just a little more..." Or we didn't research enough, I can honestly 100% say, the more time I spend with Max, the more I actually appreciate what I got for the money. It only left me to add what I felt I needed after the fact, but that is what I truly enjoy, modding my stuff, and I think we all can enjoy what I've done, and what I will soon do... John.