New vs. Old

[Jtullis13]

I am all about buying an older tractor that has less electrical components. Just the shear simplicity for the ease to work on makes it worth while and there are a lot of folks out there that have them that would be willing to help you troubleshoot issues if you were to have an issue. Plus older models seem to hold their value better if you were to sell later on down the road.

 

[Milton55]

What is 'older' these days though?? Pre diesel exhaust fluid

 

[bmaverick]

What is 'older' these days though?? Pre diesel exhaust fluid

Yes and no stinking computers !

I would concur with most folks here on the new vs. old. I had a worn and beaten JD 850 with a so-called rebuilt engine. It didn't last due to the diesel guy being clueless on Yanmars. Needless to say, I looked for a replacement engine and found Fredricks just 2-1/2 hours down the road. Totally RESTORED to 'like' new condition with all of the US safety features on the machine. Price was better than putting a rebuilt engine in the old JD 850.

I would say, a restored Yanmar YM series from a UTDA dealer fit my ticket.

Sure, as I get older, I may look at one of those Yanmar newer machines that have a good reputation. Can not afford a JD new or used. Thus, I have the next best thing, a Yanmar!

 

[Jtullis13]

Yes and no stinking computers !

I would concur with most folks here on the new vs. old. I had a worn and beaten JD 850 with a so-called rebuilt engine. It didn't last due to the diesel guy being clueless on Yanmars. Needless to say, I looked for a replacement engine and found Fredricks just 2-1/2 hours down the road. Totally RESTORED to 'like' new condition with all of the US safety features on the machine. Price was better than putting a rebuilt engine in the old JD 850.

I would say, a restored Yanmar YM series from a UTDA dealer fit my ticket.

Sure, as I get older, I may look at one of those Yanmar newer machines that have a good reputation. Can not afford a JD new or used. Thus, I have the next best thing, a Yanmar!

You took the words out of my mouth! I should have mentioned the no computer thing too!! And yes pre- DEF too Milton. I agree with bmaverick I can't afford a new one to begin with, but at the same time if I could I probably still wouldn't buy one for the same reasons I already mention.

 

[CoyPatton]

While I personally own a early 80’s model yanmar ym2002d, and it meets my needs well, old used was what I choose to buy for each tractor I have owned.
All that said for me those were I still believe the correct choice and would be for lots of people, but if I was using the tractor to make living (not supplement a living but for main source of income) and my business would support the cost, then I would buy new or at least newer from a reliable dealer in my area. You get dealer support for repairs/breakdowns as well as tax benefits.
And before you criticize that view, go look at what vehicle sits in your garage/driveway. If it could be considered newer, that is the decision you have made to support your living. Same principles apply! (Newer=if it is new enough to to have computer controlled functions that basically means it is less than 25 years old!)

 

[Jtullis13]

Coy I love your response! You might laugh at me but you are somewhat correct, however situation is somewhat similar. Work full time and use older tractor to supplement, now for my vehicles, they are all diesel. I have 3 VW diesels from 2002, yes somewhat newer but pre-emission. My truck is a 1993 dodge Cummins, also pre-emission so working on my vehicles is like working on my tractors, simple, and I wouldn't do it any other way, unless I had unlimited financial resources, then maybe

 

[CoyPatton]

Coy I love your response! You might laugh at me but you are somewhat correct, however situation is somewhat similar. Work full time and use older tractor to supplement, now for my vehicles, they are all diesel. I have 3 VW diesels from 2002, yes somewhat newer but pre-emission. My truck is a 1993 dodge Cummins, also pre-emission so working on my vehicles is like working on my tractors, simple, and I wouldn't do it any other way, unless I had unlimited financial resources, then maybe

 

[CoyPatton]

Coy I love your response! You might laugh at me but you are somewhat correct, however situation is somewhat similar. Work full time and use older tractor to supplement, now for my vehicles, they are all diesel. I have 3 VW diesels from 2002, yes somewhat newer but pre-emission. My truck is a 1993 dodge Cummins, also pre-emission so working on my vehicles is like working on my tractors, simple, and I wouldn't do it any other way, unless I had unlimited financial resources, then maybe

You take me back with the VW diesels. I had a believe an 82 VW diesel ‘pickup’. Front half a rabbit rear sorta a pickup bed. Front wheel drive, 2 seater, no turbo, all torque on the low end, 4 speed manual. But all pretty basic to work on. I have wished over the years since I had kept that one. 40+ mpg even in city driving.

 

[Hay Dude]

You take me back with the VW diesels. I had a believe an 82 VW diesel ‘pickup’. Front half a rabbit rear sorta a pickup bed. Front wheel drive, 2 seater, no turbo, all torque on the low end, 4 speed manual. But all pretty basic to work on. I have wished over the years since I had kept that one. 40+ mpg even in city driving.

Many years ago, in the mid 80’s, I worked for a farmer and he had a Toyota diesel pickup. It was maybe 80HP and when I first drove it, I hated it. Then as time went by, I appreciated the thing would run like a month on a tank of diesel :laughing:
Then I began to actually like it. You could FLOG the poor thing and it wouldn’t care. Now I don’t mean beat it (well maybe a little :laughing: ) but you could drive it hard and it didn’t care. 0-60 in about a 1/2 hour...