Comparison Standard vs premium tractors

[flynlow8740]

Thank you everyone for the good advice and info. I need to get by some larger dealers and check the deluxe models.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Like most things in life, better quality = more dollars. I believe you get what you pay for. No such thing as equal tractor for less dollars. Something has to give.

 

[murphy1244]

Like most things in life, better quality = more dollars. I believe you get what you pay for. No such thing as equal tractor for less dollars. Something has to give.

To a point Yes. Some are more equal than others.

 

[RNeumann]

If you are going to travel to different dealers I have a wrinkle for this discussion. Some of the other manufactures have more features than the basic models without all of the cost of a full on premium.

I'm a part time user when it comes to the tractor so I couldn't justify the premium- if I was a full time user heck yes I'd have every option and the best of the best! However, after looking around, I found a happy medium outside the JD or Kubota. It has some of the premium features like the better loader control location, weight, tilt wheel, speed control, FEL lifting capacity etc.

 

[Wagtail]

I have been considering buying a new tractor. I have green and orange dealers locally. If you compare a 3038E to a 3039R or a L3901 to a L4060 there are lots of differences, not the least of which are more weight, better hydraulics, and higher lift capacity. There may be some I am missing. Are the premium models worth it for the most part? I will be doing mostly mowing and road maintenance. My current tractor is a 1960 MF 35 diesel, so anything with power steering will be a major upgrade.

I've gone all the way back to the OP (after having read all of the other posts). You're not a newbie but you obviously want the most bang for your buck for the size (HP) that you need.

You can ultimately decide for yourself as to what you need, plus what you would like to have, depending of the conditions that you're going to use the tractor in... that includes your terrain and conditions of use (yearly weather and fair-weather/anytime). If you use your rig daily, for extended periods of time or a physical requirement, then so-called luxuries will cut down on your own fatigue (which is a factor of comfort). That is a "premium" tractor where you can add 'goodies' to or truly up-grade.

I have a 'bare-bones' tractor. (the JD 4105) I have no 'goodies', although it does have power steering & is HST, 4WD via a lever, etc... There is no cab option with its environmental controls (but I'm somewhat of a 'fair weather' tractorer, so it's not a factor for me). There's no cruise control, no anti-vibration matting. BUT it is 41hp. Which is what I needed to handle round bales.

I could've bought 3039R (equivalent) at the time, but my salesman advised me on the less expensive option. He sold me the tractor I needed.

So, my advice is to purchase a modern tractor 'standard/bare-bones/non-premium' rig that has the minimum requirements that you want.

The pretties can wait 'til you're old and feeble.

[disclaimer: it's Saturday evening & I've consumed a bottle of quite excellent Shiraz! roposetoast:]

 

[daugen]

If most of the OP's time is spent mowing, a basic tractor would be great; really an issue if he wants a cab or not for hvac.
Personally I think the biggest issue is hydrostatic or not. I own both. My stick tractor is a beast to maneuver in tight areas vs the hydrostatic.
so if you have a fair amount of loader work, and don't want your left leg to fall off, a hydrostatic trans is super nice.
My Kubota is a premium model, and I admit I'm not sure if Stall Guard or some of those other features are really helping me.
three speed hydro is nice.
I'd start out determining use.
Then power needed and 2wd vs 4wd
then implements needed within budget
anything else is gravy
I happen to like gravy...

The pretties can wait 'til you're old and feeble.
and some of us happily resemble that :dance1:

 

[flynlow8740]

I had this same discussion with my Kubota dealer while getting some parts for my RTV and learned that the price difference is not at severe as I thought. The L3901 with a loader was priced around $23K, while the L4060 was $27K. Since the loader for the L60 is bigger, better, more expensive that is about $1500 of the difference. For the better hydraulic flow and larger tires that the L60 has, I think the cost is justified.

 

[LD1]

I had this same discussion with my Kubota dealer while getting some parts for my RTV and learned that the price difference is not at severe as I thought. The L3901 with a loader was priced around $23K, while the L4060 was $27K. Since the loader for the L60 is bigger, better, more expensive that is about $1500 of the difference. For the better hydraulic flow and larger tires that the L60 has, I think the cost is justified.

I dont now current prices so I cannot say....But I think either the dealer is offering a heck of a deal on that L4060......or charging too much for the L3901......or a little of both.

The L4060 sticker is about $6k higher.

Dont know what teir 4 prices have done, if they really added ~$3k, but the previous versions of the L3901.......the L3800 and L3400....could typically be had under $20k with loader and HST.

But as I have said all along.....different things matter differently to different people. Lets say you were shopping and in the market for that L3901. And found out you could upgrade to the L4060, which is overall a bigger, heavier machine and stronger loader. And that upgrade would only cost you $4k-$5k.

Then you found out....for the same $4k-$5k, instead of buying the luxurious Grand L series, you could get a MX5200. Which physically (weight, size) compare about identical to the Grand L........but you get an extra 12 ponies under the hood, Turbo, and a stronger loader?

 

[mike69440]

Not buying enough can be expensive.
My neighbor, an equipment newbie was going to buy a B seires, was convinced to step up to a L3901, Got into cattle, and ended up also buying an CTL SV90 he rented, as he found out being able to do heavier work is nice, vs hire out.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

My tractor probably isn't considered premium by most people. But it has a cab with heat and AC. That means my wife is comfortable working in 90 degree heat and 40 degree days with a bit of a wind chill. That means I have help when I'm working. In that regard, those premium features are worth every penny. In a typical weekend, she might spend 10 hours, actually in the tractor there have been days where she has moved rock or soil from dawn to dusk. No way we could accomplish as much without climate control.