Comparison Mahindra 2538 or Kubota 3901 anyone have experience with both.

[dickfoster]

I think they're both good tractors. I purchased the L3901 but tried to purchase the 2538 first. In my case the Mahindra dealer simply didn't return my call or fax the final deal sheet to me as requested. I waited a week for them and ended up driving 3 miles down the road to Kubota and south the L3901. I decided that if the Mahindra dealer was this non responsive with live buyer on the line how would they be if I had an issue with my tractor after purchase.

The dealer made the decision for me. It's been a month or two now (and 32+ hours on the L3901) and I'm pleased with my purchase.

Good thinking. No matter what brand you buy if the dealer is crappy then your ownership will likely be an unhappy experience. In my experience where I live it was the other way around so I got a Mahindra basically for the same reasons.

 

[mike35549]

So went today to the only two dealers that are close to me. Both of these were priced with a loader both HST 4X4, packaged with a 5' medium duty cutter, 5' tiller, and a 18' trailer. Tax and everything included.

L3901 $28,359.95 Financed for 60 months at 0% = 472.65

2538 $24,825.00 Financed for 60 months at 5.24% = 468.48

So if you finance basically the same price. Not sure how this compares to prices any of you have been quoted

 

[prichard]

~$250 higher for the Kubota over 5 years if financed. That would lead me to Kubota but I have never dealt with DEP/DPF stuff. Perhaps that would make the mahindra more attractive if I have to deal with it.

Kubota has gone to 6 years on warranty since I bought. That's pretty nice, what is Mahindra warranty?

 

[blb078]

You just hit on one of my pet peeves. A Kubota is a Kubota is a Kubota. But in this case a Mahindra is a Mitsubishi... That's it, NOTHING IMPLIED, that is one of my big reasons to stay with Kubota.

I don't think there is anything wrong with multiple companies being involved. It's almost a positive. Heck ford and chevy are making a 10 speed auto transmission together, nothing wrong w/that. I looked at kubota and JD and almost bought a kubota, then found about about LS, Kioti, and a few others. I look at it this way. You pay for more and get less w/a JD and Kubota, if you're loyal to one of those brands nothing wrong with that to each their own. I only buy samsung phones because I feel they are better and pay more for that. People often talk about dealer support and parts availability, but with the internet now you'd be amazed at what you can find for even stuff that doesn't exist anymore and I'm not talking about just tractors but that applies here too. I was talking to someone who has a couple tractors and he pretty much said it's not different than buying a car, you may have to take it in once or twice for a warranty issue or no issues at all for 10+ years as long as you do the proper maintenance. I kind of came to the conclusion of buying what I want and not what's popular as popular doesn't mean better(or worse) but after looking around other brands do offer a lot more for less than the standard orange or green and that doesn't mean that these other brands that are less popular are worse either. just my 2 cents.

 

[RollingsFarms]

There's no way I'd pay 5.24% interest on a vehicle much less a tractor. If your Kubota quote is with insurance factored in I highly suggest you consider that. You can't beat KCC insurance. Not sure what Mahindra offers in terms of that but I'm just familiar with Kubota.

 

[Snowback]

So went today to the only two dealers that are close to me. Both of these were priced with a loader both HST 4X4, packaged with a 5' medium duty cutter, 5' tiller, and a 18' trailer. Tax and everything included.

L3901 $28,359.95 Financed for 60 months at 0% = 472.65

2538 $24,825.00 Financed for 60 months at 5.24% = 468.48

So if you finance basically the same price. Not sure how this compares to prices any of you have been quoted

Mahindra price sounds pretty close to my deal back in December assuming it is at least a medium duty trailer. (I saved a grand there by purchasing my own trailer and got more trailer even for a grand less than the tractor dealer could do.) I am surprised that Mahindra doesn't have a 0% deal in that neck of the woods. The actual cash cost is 12%+ less for the Mahindra which sounds about right, and the Kubota dealer dug deep to make it that close. I assume you told them their competition. A couple/few grand is still a lot of money, but financing seems to be factored in.

You'll be happy with either one. Both seem to be great machines. Kubota a bit more refined and orange, while you simply get a non DPF engine and a little more tractor with the Mahindra in my opinion. Just weigh those factors against your needs and see what shakes out. Or just buy both and then decide after you use them both for a while, then sell the runner up!

 

[mike35549]

Neither one of those prices was with insurance. You can get 0% on the Mahindra also but the price is higher so it works out to be wash. Kinda tv same way on the Kubota. They are basically the same price any way you figure it.

 

[ProjectKing]

So went today to the only two dealers that are close to me. Both of these were priced with a loader both HST 4X4, packaged with a 5' medium duty cutter, 5' tiller, and a 18' trailer. Tax and everything included. L3901 $28,359.95 Financed for 60 months at 0% = 472.65 2538 $24,825.00 Financed for 60 months at 5.24% = 468.48 So if you finance basically the same price. Not sure how this compares to prices any of you have been quoted

That Kubota price sounds a little high. How much for just the tractor and loader? They have some really good rebates right now.

I would get the Kubota.

 

[DavesTractor]

There's no way I'd pay 5.24% interest on a vehicle much less a tractor. If your Kubota quote is with insurance factored in I highly suggest you consider that. You can't beat KCC insurance. Not sure what Mahindra offers in terms of that but I'm just familiar with Kubota.

On the theory that there is really no free lunch, generally if the interest rate is below market rate for the item being bought, then the cost of that has been added to the price of the product. Mahindra offers 0%, but if you do not use it, they reduce the price by about the amount that the 0% costs them.

The only way to avoid this I think, is if you have another funding source not tied to the equipment, but instead tied to a source for which the real rate is less. Like a mortgage. The real rate on equipment right now is around 5-6%, depending on several factors. But if you had a home equity line, which is closer to 3%, then use that and pay "cash" for the tractor, the result is a real deal low rate.

It pays to do the math though. Because with Mahindra, you basically have three prices. One for 0%, where you pay the most for the tractor. One for low rate, which varies but is often around 2.99%. And an even larger discount for cash or standard rate which is around 5.5%. But the amount of discount, or "penalty for low rate" if you wish, is based on some fancy math concerning the average package price for that model, average length of term, etc. You can beat the system a little if you buy a tractor/loader/backhoe and a bunch of implements. All of the sudden you financed an extra $10k at 0% and the penalty did not increase even a penny. By contrast, if you buy just a tractor, or just a tractor/loader, you may be better off with standard rate.

We are a volume dealer. We explain honestly the cost differences and we sell almost everything at the cash or standard rate. The only time we don't is on a really big package where the math favors the 0% or where the guy got permission from his CFO to buy a tractor, but only if it is at 0%.

 

[mike35549]

Dave that is basically what the dealer told me,he said 90% of the time the standard rate comes out cheaper especially if you are financing 60 months or less. So i guess the cheapest route would be to save up enough to just pay cash and buy the 2538.