Buying Advice Used Kubota L3450 or Finance new New Holland Boomer 40?

[SufferingJukebox]

Hey folks looking for insight on these two tractor options for our 4 acre vegetable farm (4 acres production on about 150 acres):

The first is an older but impeccably maintained Kubota L3450. Seller asking $10000. The mechanic i had look at it had this to say:

"it is 100% mechanically sound, no problems he detected. He's not nervous about the head gasket (seller told me head gasket was replaced 1 or 2 years ago so I asked the mechanic to take a look). There are few cosmetic issues (torn seat cover, etc). The tractor is old, built between 1990 and 1993, but only has 533 hours on it. With proper maintenance it should last between 6000 and 8000 hours."

Pros: Below budget and leaves us wiggle room to put money toward a new rototiller and brush hog.

Cons: Old. No warranty.



The other option is to buy from a well recommended New Holland dealer who showed us a Boomer 40 that might be right for our purposes. This is a difference of, like $16000. But it's 0% to finance right now. As an added bonus Skip, the owner, said he'd come by and take some our defunct fleet and implements off our property, and put their value towards the cost of the tractor. It's all in pretty rough shape though- could be worth 1000$ could be 3500$ I dont know. Also, Does anyone have any strong opinions one way or another on the computer systems and displays on new tractors? Seems like a lot of breakable stuff and plastic...

Pros: New. Warrantied. Dealer close-ish. Dealer will take a bunch of eyesores off our hands and put their value to our purchase.

Cons: Much more expensive. Uncertain about the sustainability of new features and such.



Thanks for any help, Y'all!

 

[Peter 315]

Hi 16k is a lot of coin I would try to get the kubota if its mechanical sound offer them less and work your way up I guess, 5xx hours its just broken in...:laughing: You can sell the other stuff on CL yourself....:2cents:

 

[ericm979]

If both will do what you want, it depends on your finances and how comfortable you are with the added debt. Also how comfortable you are doing basic maintenance. Though in many areas dealers will work on brands they don't sell, and there are independent mechanics too.

You'll probably get more money selling the implements yourself. Like with used cars, the dealer has to give you less to make room to pay for their time and make a profit.

 

[Roadworthy]

How much repair work will $16,000 buy on the Kubota? I'm guessing a LOT and it will likely need little or none for many years to come. How long is the warranty on the Boomer and what are repair prices on the bells and whistles after the warranty is up? The more bells and whistles the more stuff to go wrong. I'd go with the Kubota personally.

 

[RSR]

I don't know where you are, so conditions may vary by state/region, but frankly, if it were me, I would wait 6 months to see what happens with COVID-19 and the economy. You may find in 6 months time there are some REALLY good deals to be had.

 

[johncanfield]

I sold a 1998 Kubota L2900 with about 500 hours two years ago with several attachments, believe I got $13,000 for the lot. That L2900 was a really dependable tractor, just minor things that needed maintenance. I had to replace all of the hydraulic hoses and have the lift cylinders rebuilt at about 450 hours. At 200 hours a front seal was leaking and replaced. Be sure you can still get parts for that old Kubota! The dealer wasn't sure if the seal kit was available for my lift cylinders but thank goodness they were.

Dealer support is a critical factor which should play a major role in your decision.

 

[SufferingJukebox]

I sold a 1998 Kubota L2900 with about 500 hours two years ago with several attachments, believe I got $13,000 for the lot. That L2900 was a really dependable tractor, just minor things that needed maintenance. I had to replace all of the hydraulic hoses and have the lift cylinders rebuilt at about 450 hours. At 200 hours a front seal was leaking and replaced. Be sure you can still get parts for that old Kubota! The dealer wasn't sure if the seal kit was available for my lift cylinders but thank goodness they were.

Dealer support is a critical factor which should play a major role in your decision.

Yup thank you- I called a kubota dealer in my town, and asked about this very thing. They said they don't normally run into sourcing issues, so thats encouraging

 

[Peter 315]

Yup thank you- I called a kubota dealer in my town, and asked about this very thing. They said they don't normally run into sourcing issues, so thats encouraging

HYD piston seals you can get at any HYD shop....

 

[Trillium Farm]

Kubota will be more trouble free IMO as it seems to have been looked after and doesn't have all the pollution & electronic stuff of more recent tractors.

 

[johncanfield]

HYD piston seals you can get at any HYD shop....

Maybe so but that's what the Kubota shop guy told me.