Need opinions on future tractor purchase.

[joshua5438]

MESSICKS AGAIN:

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How close are your nearest two Kioti dealers?

Thanks!

I have two within 30 minutes of me. I also have three Deere dealers, one LS, one Branson and one Kubota dealer all within an hour from me.

 

[majorwager]

Thanks!

I have two within 30 minutes of me. I also have three Deere dealers, one LS, one Branson and one Kubota dealer all within an hour from me.

Joshua,

You might take a look at the RK Tractors website. They may not be on your list but the pricing on their website is the straight forward net cost.
NO guessing about list price discounts. Use this tool as a guide for what a new tractor should cost !!

There is an RK forum on this TBN site if you have interest.

 

[rScotty]

But I like Green!

Me too! We've always had green tractors - mostly older used ones...but generally green. Well, there were a couple of small Yanmars in the mix, but since Yanmar actually built the entire JD green compact line at the time, I think we could count them as sorta, wanna be JDs. Or maybe the other way round....? Whatever....

So one day my wife said, "It's time to go get a newer tractor, and this time I want you to get the one you've always wanted. No second hand old tractors this time. Get a new one and get what you want"....well, I did like our old tractors, and I'm not a complainer....but not a fool either, and when your wife makes a statement like that it's time to shut up and pay attention.
So off we went to the JD dealer. On my list was a SSQA front bucket that would lift a ton, an engine with a throttle that responded automatically to load and then auto returned to idle, an easy-to-use transmission with lots of ranges that didn't keep pulling at idle in gear (because I use it on icy hills a lot), a backhoe attachment, and a position control 3pt hitch. Wide stance with tires that wee good on frozen ground.

When my wife saw the prices, she took it well....but I could tell she was shaken. Seriously shaken. Not that she wasn't going to back down, but she was kinda stunned at what she had started.

After the first JD dealer didn't have anything suitable so we go to another JD dealer....and realized that in 2008 they just were not making the kind of tractor that appealed to me in the 30 to 60 hp range. I was disappointed. Here I had been dreaming for years of getting a brand new JD built like they used to make them, and while I was dreaming the company had gone off in a completely different direction. Nothing wrong with that, but it just didn't fit what I wanted. So over the next few months we tried NH, MF, JBC, Zetor, Cat and some new imports and didn't find it either. finally after a few months we stopped by a Kubota dealer that we passed most every weekend on our search just because I wanted to show her why we weren't looking at orange tractors.
Plus I didn't care for the color.... at all.. Orange? Like a Cheeto? Really?? What will the neighbors think?

Long story short, they had just what we were looking for and it didn't take long for me to see that it was built right. I was stunned that it wasn't a JD. We bought that M59 in 2008 and it has been the "go to" machine for a decade now. We normally have 3 or 4 tractors and they all work well, but the Kubota is the one that gets the most use. It's just so rugged and handy. Built like a tank, starts and runs perfect, fingertip controls, and has that 3 range H/L hydrostat with variable attack rate and auto-throttle.

And true to her word, my wife took their zero interest payment offer and somehow made those payments every month for 5 years...she said it really was zero % interest and no catches.

Good luck with your search. I just thought I'd share our search so you'd know you weren't alone. Hope your's turns out as well.
I'm even getting used to the color.
rScotty

 

[joshua5438]

Me too! We've always had green tractors - mostly older used ones...but generally green. Well, there were a couple of small Yanmars in the mix, but since Yanmar actually built the entire JD green compact line at the time, I think we could count them as sorta, wanna be JDs. Or maybe the other way round....? Whatever....

So one day my wife said, "It's time to go get a newer tractor, and this time I want you to get the one you've always wanted. No second hand old tractors this time. Get a new one and get what you want"....well, I did like our old tractors, and I'm not a complainer....but not a fool either, and when your wife makes a statement like that it's time to shut up and pay attention.
So off we went to the JD dealer. On my list was a SSQA front bucket that would lift a ton, an engine with a throttle that responded automatically to load and then auto returned to idle, an easy-to-use transmission with lots of ranges that didn't keep pulling at idle in gear (because I use it on icy hills a lot), a backhoe attachment, and a position control 3pt hitch. Wide stance with tires that wee good on frozen ground.

When my wife saw the prices, she took it well....but I could tell she was shaken. Seriously shaken. Not that she wasn't going to back down, but she was kinda stunned at what she had started.

After the first JD dealer didn't have anything suitable so we go to another JD dealer....and realized that in 2008 they just were not making the kind of tractor that appealed to me in the 30 to 60 hp range. I was disappointed. Here I had been dreaming for years of getting a brand new JD built like they used to make them, and while I was dreaming the company had gone off in a completely different direction. Nothing wrong with that, but it just didn't fit what I wanted. So over the next few months we tried NH, MF, JBC, Zetor, Cat and some new imports and didn't find it either. finally after a few months we stopped by a Kubota dealer that we passed most every weekend on our search just because I wanted to show her why we weren't looking at orange tractors.
Plus I didn't care for the color.... at all.. Orange? Like a Cheeto? Really?? What will the neighbors think?

Long story short, they had just what we were looking for and it didn't take long for me to see that it was built right. I was stunned that it wasn't a JD. We bought that M59 in 2008 and it has been the "go to" machine for a decade now. We normally have 3 or 4 tractors and they all work well, but the Kubota is the one that gets the most use. It's just so rugged and handy. Built like a tank, starts and runs perfect, fingertip controls, and has that 3 range H/L hydrostat with variable attack rate and auto-throttle.

And true to her word, my wife took their zero interest payment offer and somehow made those payments every month for 5 years...she said it really was zero % interest and no catches.

Good luck with your search. I just thought I'd share our search so you'd know you weren't alone. Hope your's turns out as well.
I'm even getting used to the color.
rScotty

haha. Great story! I have a buddy that has an "Orange" tractor and he loves it. But like you, why orange? As a kid my dad had an old G and an A John Deere. My best friends dad was all about Farmall. I remember my friend asking my dad if he knew why John Deere was painted green.... It's so they can hide in the field when a Farmall comes by.... haha.

 

[jeff9366]

I have two Kioti dealers within 30 minutes of me. I also have three Deere dealers, one LS, one Branson and one Kubota dealer all within an hour from me.

Dealer proximity should be considered from transportation cost standpoint.

Common dealer charge in Florida for transporting a tractor behind dealer's HD trailer/HD truck/driver is $2.00 per mile.

25 miles X $2.00 = $50.00 X 4 (two round trips) = $200.00 for tractor transportation.

Give Kioti extra consideration. Buy from the Kioti dealer where you will also buy service.

 

[prof fate]

Overkill and a waste of money.

I spend about 3k for a mower/tractor device, lasts 10-15 years. So in a lifetime I'll need 3, $9k, maybe 4 perhaps - 12k. I sell 3 (and die with the last one in the shed) for $300-400 each, so thousands less than yours

All depends on what you need to mow. I still have teh push mower bought used in 1981 for $40 that I used at a house I rented.

Heavier duty decks, heavier duty transmissions, heavier duty frame, Etc,Etc.

My zero turn cost closer to $12,000 OTD. Certainly not cheap, but built very heavy duty.
35HP, 72" deck, suspension seat, flex forks, will mow at 14 MPH, weighs 1600 lbs vs your 550.
Likely nearly every part on it is heavier duty than the low end residential models.

 

[joshua5438]

Dealer proximity should be considered from transportation cost standpoint.

Common dealer charge in Florida for transporting a tractor behind dealer's HD trailer/HD truck/driver is $2.00 per mile.

25 miles X $2.00 = $50.00 X 4 (two round trips) = $200.00 for tractor transportation.

Give Kioti extra consideration. Buy from the Kioti dealer where you will also buy service.

I already have plans to purchase a 20' dovetail trailer to pull behind my F250. I am not too worried about having to take the tractor to the dealer if need be. I do plan to buy local but dont mind driving a little farther if the price is right.

 

[majorwager]

RScotty,

As you survey the field today, is it your feeling that only Kubota builds a tractor that would meet your needs TODAY ? Believe much has improved since 2008. Do you disagree? Do you keep abreast of current offerings?

To JOSHUA, (moot point, w/ a trailer purchase)

And Joshua, suggest you have a dealer discussion concerning warranty transportation. If the dealer performs proper pre-check, no need should exist for tractor return to dealer. However, due to unforseen circumstances, this matter should be described in the contract to avoid misunderstandings. My last tractor purchase included warranty transportation, albeit language via fax, since I had never met the dealer.

Many dealers today have mobile service trucks, these often deal w/ issues subsequent to warranty expiration.

 

[Newby first timer]

haha. Great story! I have a buddy that has an "Orange" tractor and he loves it. But like you, why orange? As a kid my dad had an old G and an A John Deere. My best friends dad was all about Farmall. I remember my friend asking my dad if he knew why John Deere was painted green.... It's so they can hide in the field when a Farmall comes by.... haha.

You guy's could always paint them Green

HA HA HA

Mine is Orange as well

 

[rScotty]

haha. Great story! I have a buddy that has an "Orange" tractor and he loves it. But like you, why orange? As a kid my dad had an old G and an A John Deere. My best friends dad was all about Farmall. I remember my friend asking my dad if he knew why John Deere was painted green.... It's so they can hide in the field when a Farmall comes by.... haha.

That's funny, I had never heard that about JDs hiding in a field. Thanks for the laugh. Not being in a growing area for pumpkins, oranges, or persimmons I'm having problems have problems finding a place to hide my Kubota!

I don't know that I agree with dealer proximity being as important as the depth of technical service that the dealer has available if it is needed.
As far as having access to a dealer for minor work or advice, I've never found those things to be important. Tractors rarely need anything from the dealer - and warranty work is rare. As to advice, I can't imagine what kind of advice would be needed.
But just to protect myself in case warranty work is needed, I do strongly prefer a dealer who has field service trucks, a good service dept., and who is willing to do the transporting of the tractor back and forth for any needed work during the warranty period. I put that right on the sales contract & both parties initial it.
rScotty