Trying to decide Kubota BX25 or 1025R

[nightdevil]

I still haven't bought a tractor yet as it is a big decision and I know both tractors are good. I actually like the John Deere and think it is probably a more capable tractor (and it is green) but the dealership won't even deliver or agree to pick it up/deliver for warranty work while the kubota dealer says they will. Also the deere dealer is saying the kubota dealer is lying about free pick up and delivery.

So besides the deere probably being a more capable tractor it is more expensive and the kubota being cheaper with pick up and delivery. I also get the feeling the Deere dealers feel I should buy it because it is a "deere" if that makes sense. I also think Kubota has the better financing deal and cheaper implements.

One deere dealer has both a bx25 and 1025r in stock and I plan on going to visit to check them both out side by side.


help :cool2:

Also look at what the deere comes with in terms of ergonomics and accessories stock. That won me over to be honest. Although the kubota 84months 0% apr is really great.

 

[sixdogs]

Look at them both and just test them the best you can at the dealer and get the one YOU like the most. I know it is easy to say but a little more money over the life of the loan to have the one you really want is worth it. More than once I bought the 'cheaper" item and later regretted it. Then later sold the cheaper one (at a loss) to get what I really wanted in the first place.....
Both are good machines and there is a good chance that neither one will ever need warranty work

Took me a while to learn that. Buy the best quality, buy what you want and order what you'll need with it. This is the cheapest it will ever be. Know that in looking back on life, you will more regret the things you wanted to do but did not.

 

[AxleHub]

I don't get it . . . A buyer prospect doesn't talk about the different features or lack of features in a kubota or deere or massey . . Only about free delivery and pickup ????? Or the financing option ??? Come on.

My priority was and still is:

1. Research, study, and test drive to find the product you most like and desire.

2. Then find a dealer who sells that product that you trust or can work with.

3. Then find a price you can afford.

Why this focus of priority? Because you will see and use your product choice multiples times each week. If your product choice is good you will see your dealer only a few times a year. And if you researched fully . . you will have uncovered financing options or pricing that others never explained or knew.

My point is also: "closeness" of a dealer is too often too big of a consideration. Once you are farther away than tractor driven distance from a dealer (1 or 2 miles or 3) . . the same trailering and trucking is involved . . Whether its 5 miles or 75 miles or 100 miles.
. . Same loading and unloading too . . Just highway travel distance is the difference. So get the product you want.

 

[Shutesbury]

Hurricanoday - I bought a BX24 used. I've worked it hard, and it keeps on going, at 1,700 hours now. I've always been happy with it, and had no experience on other tractors. Last year I had access to a large manure pile and a JD1025 to load my dump trailer on site.

These three things made me really dislike the JD:

1 - When trying to 'bounce' the loader bucket into the full dump position, so the shock would clear the wet, gummy manure, the JD could not do it. The BX does it well, and I do that with virtually all materials on a very regular basis...

2 - Trying to raise the FEL while smoothly tilting it to keep the load level and not spilling front or back, the JD would not do it. I could only move in one plane at a time... It was annoying, dirtied the hood, and would be dangerous with larger materials like firewood, logs, etc. There was just no 'smoothness' to the FEL control on the JD. I noted that it had low hours, compared to my BX, but didn't think it would 'break in' over time. After using that JD to repeatedly load, I was SO GLAD I had the BX!! In fact, I ended up bringing my machine over for my last few days of repeated loads, because it was faster and felt much safer, with less banging of my trailer sides. The hydraulics at all RPMs on the JD were just so comparatively slow that my normal swoop, raise, tilt, lower dump routines didn't work at all with the JD.

3 - The seating position felt very, very cramped. I'm heavier than I should be, but I had the seat back as far as possible, and never felt I had the thigh and lower leg room I needed to be comfortable. That being said, the two pedal system for forward/reverse was better on the JD than the rear rocker for reverse on the BX... but you get used to it.

If there was a tilt wheel option on the JD, I never found it, but my issue was leg length and lower area space, not that I was hitting the wheel.

I did note also that the JD loader moved under low RPMs, unlike my BX, but I kind of felt it was almost a hidden safety feature to have to rev up the BX before you could raise, tilt back, etc., esp. when teaching others how to use the machine.

Rear wheel spacers (just 1.5 inch each side) made a world of difference on stability with BX. Don't know if the JD has the same issue, from my limited use.

Just test / try those things when you do the side-by-side operating comparisons. Good luck, have fun with whatever you decide.

 

[hurricanoday]

I don't get it . . . A buyer prospect doesn't talk about the different features or lack of features in a kubota or deere or massey . . Only about free delivery and pickup ????? Or the financing option ??? Come on.

My priority was and still is:

1. Research, study, and test drive to find the product you most like and desire.

2. Then find a dealer who sells that product that you trust or can work with.

3. Then find a price you can afford.

Why this focus of priority? Because you will see and use your product choice multiples times each week. If your product choice is good you will see your dealer only a few times a year. And if you researched fully . . you will have uncovered financing options or pricing that others never explained or knew.

My point is also: "closeness" of a dealer is too often too big of a consideration. Once you are farther away than tractor driven distance from a dealer (1 or 2 miles or 3) . . the same trailering and trucking is involved . . Whether its 5 miles or 75 miles or 100 miles.
. . Same loading and unloading too . . Just highway travel distance is the difference. So get the product you want.

While you are correct I don't know every feature of both models and as I said I will be going to a dealer that has both for a side by side. Also not sure if you missed it, but for someone not having a truck right now paying to have a dealer pick it up could get spendy. While I know everyone says these tractors never break down I'm sure they have and can break down. So I really can't see how you can't see why that could be a priority, even if you have a truck taking a tractor to the dealer "a few times a year" We are talking 30-60 miles one way, not down the block. Same goes for unloading and loading, why would I do that if a dealer is offering that service? Seriously not sure if you are trolling or what, but my time is valuable to me.

That has all has to do with "finding a dealer that you can trust and work with" I don't know how well you can trust a dealer by speaking on the phone and going in a couple of times to check out what they have. Everyone could be awesome and then they get your money and crap goes wrong.

I think most people on here would agree both the BX25 and 1025R are very capable machines, the things setting them apart to me so far is the financing and dealer service. It isn't like I'm comparing a bx25 to john deere push mower, both are subcompact tractors.

Maybe the deere will blow me away and I will be willing to pay more for the tractor

 

[nightdevil]

I don't know how well you can trust a dealer by speaking on the phone and going in a couple of times to check out what they. Everyone could be awesome and then they get your money and crap goes wrong.

100% agree.
When I buy a car I'm more concerned about quality, longevity, and overall service of the company under warranty circumstances. Both have that. Being new to the tractor game we have no experience with service issues at least in my area, nor do I know anyone else who had to deal with the maintenance department.

Go compare! Just remember whatever you decide YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Why would you think the BX25 is less capable than the 1025R?

 

[TractorGuy]

Something I've learned in today's business models. Get EVERYTHING you want in writing. Talk is cheap and often isn't worth the time it took to listen to. Handshakes mean nothing any more.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I don't think I'm missing anything, the massey seems like a great tractor but I'm sure the other tractors are selling like crazy also.

The dealer while I'm sure good is pretty far away, the salesman admits they are a feed store and don't really have the service yet. He even said they are training a guy that just finished school. They do not deliver and they will not pick it up for warranty stuff. Even if I had a truck those two things seems like some great selling points. Not to be a super nitpick but it took him 2 days to get the estimate. I'm sure they are just really busy.

I got a quote from the john deere and it is about 4k more than the kubota. While I'm sure all the tractors are great and they each will do a great job while having their own plus/minus, the one kubota dealer is the one offering to deliver with a session on operating the tractor and to pick up for warranty.

I think the dealer with great service is pushing me to kobuta not the brand if that makes sense. If the massey would do that I think I would go with massey. Still going to go walk into the john deere before making my final decision.

I see you've met the local Massey SCUT rep. :drink:

 

[sixdogs]

I was at a Kubota dealer the other day and looked over a 25TLB. Sure looked like a lot of well-built tractor for the money to me.