Buying Used

[Hay Dude]

That was exactly my experience in trying to find a good used tractor. Either clapped out trashed out for a lower price, or if I found something good, they wanted new or near new price for it. So I bought new.

^^^^^
Found similar results
Older trucks did not have the specs I was looking for, either.
Trucks that were 3-5 years old, maybe still had a little warranty, were $50K and never seemed to be equipped the way I liked.

 

[Big Barn]

Over a fifty year stretch on the farm it would break down something like this:

Tractors 95 percent new

Heavy trucks 95percent new

Light duty trucks 80 percent new

Farm implements 90 percent new

Processing equipment for farm 100 percent new

Personal vehicles 90 percent USED.

 

[RSR]

I have bought one car new. I swore I'd never do it again, and never have.

However, I bought my tractor new. It was an entirely different situation. I've never owned a tractor so was less confident about what to look for and used prices were 90 - 95% of new prices. It was a no brainier.

The other thing no one has mentioned is the value of time. This varies throughout life. Right now, I don't have time to spend looking for used deals, driving all over to check things out, waiting for the right deal to pop up, etc. If you have time, those deals can be well worth it, per many earlier examples. But, the time saved by buying what you want when you want, has some value too.

I'm in the market for a wood splitter this fall. I could probably save some money trying to find something used, but the many hours invested in doing that isn't worth it right now, so I'll buy new. When im retired, or kids are out of the house, it will be an entirely different story.

 

[Big Barn]

When im retired, or kids are out of the house, it will be an entirely different story.

Not necessarily....

 

[coobie]

I'd like to explore what people think about buying used versus new. Specifically new versus used tractors and implements. I'm under the impression that it used to be more common to buy things used than it is today, and I'm curious to hear if others think so and how it got that way.

Just using my own example, I'm an older guy, mechanically capable who has usually bought on the used market, and been decently successful at it.

My favorite purchases have been proven, classic or sought-after examples with low hours on them. Tractors, tools, cars, whatever.....from people who appreciate them and cared for them. That way I get the twin advantages of the previous owner having proven that the tool is good, and I save a little money in process. A few hundred hours of considerate use are as likely to be as valuable to me as a warranty.

Opinions? Differences?
rScotty

I agree 100% Scotty there are deals to be had.People get too old just want to sell mint stuff to down size or they pass away and there kids sell there belongings on the cheap because they have no $$ invested.Personally I have purchased both ways new and used depends on the deals.I do believe we will be headed towards a recession in the next year or 2 might be a good time to have extra $$ on hand.On the other hand there are a lot of folks who are in HOCK up to there azzes and will try to get the price of new out of used equipment or cars/trucks just to pay there loans off.

 

[rScotty]

I also have no problem buying used.

I do have a HUGE problem with paying almost new, new, or even higher than new prices for used equipment.

That is just stupid.

And I'm not stupid.

If I can find a good deal on a used piece of equipment, that isn't destroyed or nearly unusable due to wear and abuse? Sure, I'm in.
If you're asking new price for your used piece? Even if it's museum preserved condition? I'm heading out to buy somewhere else while muttering, "Good Luck, Buddy." As I drive down the road.

Well, if you see someone wave as you drive down the road, be sure to wave back because that's me driving in the other direction. I prefer to buy used, but ONLY from someone who maintains their equipment well. No problem there, because that's pretty easy to tell. A glance around the property as I drive up is usually enough. Once I get there, a look at his equipment and maintenance tools and records will tell the story. Yes, they probably are asking near new price. That's OK by me.

If none of that is right, then I'm not interesting in negotiating price, I'm simply saying goodby and driving away. No reason to even talk price because that person doesn't have what I am looking for regardless of price. But that's usually no problem; most people take excellent care of their machinery - or today they have the dealer do it. In either case, the records are complete.

How used means it is used too much? Well, my preference would be to buy right after the warranty has expired but before wear sets in. Around here that would be somewhere in the 3 to 5 year old machine with between 250 and 750 hours. Those hours are nothing on a machine that should go another 4000 hrs easy with little more than routine maintenance - but I'll probably have someone want to buy it from me before that happens. And if they don't, a tractor with 4000 hrs is far from done. It still has real value.

As for price, that's always negotiable & depends on a lot of things. I might even go new price for the right one. In fact I have done just that. Price is flexible because saving money is not my goal. I'm buying used because I'm after proven reliability and proven performance; not some a brand new machine with unknown problems.

Look at it this way: A new tractor warranty is something dealers offer to used to cover manufacturing mistakes, right? Well, I'm not interested in hassling with manufacturing mistakes. Let someone else waste time wrestling with that. I'm interested in the machine AFTER that has been done and the machine is a proven worker.
rScotty

 

[Hay Dude]

Well, if you see someone wave as you drive down the road, be sure to wave back because that's me driving in the other direction. I prefer to buy used, but ONLY from someone who maintains their equipment well. No problem there, because that's pretty easy to tell. A glance around the property as I drive up is usually enough. Once I get there, a look at his equipment and maintenance tools and records will tell the story. Yes, they probably are asking near new price. That's OK by me.

If none of that is right, then I'm not interesting in negotiating price, I'm simply saying goodby and driving away. No reason to even talk price because that person doesn't have what I am looking for regardless of price. But that's usually no problem; most people take excellent care of their machinery - or today they have the dealer do it. In either case, the records are complete.

How used means it is used too much? Well, my preference would be to buy right after the warranty has expired but before wear sets in. Around here that would be somewhere in the 3 to 5 year old machine with between 250 and 750 hours. Those hours are nothing on a machine that should go another 4000 hrs easy with little more than routine maintenance - but I'll probably have someone want to buy it from me before that happens. And if they don't, a tractor with 4000 hrs is far from done. It still has real value.

As for price, that's always negotiable & depends on a lot of things. I might even go new price for the right one. In fact I have done just that. Price is flexible because saving money is not my goal. I'm buying used because I'm after proven reliability and proven performance; not some a brand new machine with unknown problems.

Look at it this way: A new tractor warranty is something dealers offer to used to cover manufacturing mistakes, right? Well, I'm not interested in hassling with manufacturing mistakes. Let someone else waste time wrestling with that. I'm interested in the machine AFTER that has been done and the machine is a proven worker.
rScotty

Pretty sound logic. Usually I wont buy something new unless its been around a few years and proven by other users, then Im ok with it. I could see being wary of buying a new version of a new machine (08 trucks with new DFP system, tier 4 tractors when they first came out, etc). I bought a 5000hr Massey Ferguson 7495, but did my research beforehand and knew it would suit my needs pretty well.

 

[Gem99ultra]

My mod of operand seems to be 'buy high and sell low' :thumbdown:

Furthermore, when when I do buy used at a competitive price I usually find some hidden defect a week after I've brought it home. I have learned that when buying used anything, there was a reason that the seller is "letting it go". yeah, right. The game is discovering what was wrong with it. Then weighing whether the cost of repair puts the value close to new price or not.

Of course, buying new usually has some flaw or defect that's not discovered until well after the warranty, if any, has expired.

 

[dodge man]

I bought three used trucks a row and a used car for my daughter and learned something is always wrong with them. Usually something fairly minor, say a power window switch, electric door lock etc, something I could fix myself but would have liked to find it ahead of time to lower the price a little.

 

[rScotty]

I bought three used trucks a row and a used car for my daughter and learned something is always wrong with them. Usually something fairly minor, say a power window switch, electric door lock etc, something I could fix myself but would have liked to find it ahead of time to lower the price a little.

I don't think I've ever been surprised by some mechanical problem that the seller didn't mention.... certainly don't ever remember it happening.
But it is necessary to ask the seller in the right way. That helps both buyer and seller arrive at a decent price.

My experience is that most people won't lie if asked direct questions. I've heard people say that may be a regional western kind of thing, but I don't think so. Not that it makes much difference since most people buying used are buying locally anyway.

I simply ask the seller to tell me every single thing that is wrong with it before I will consider buying something used. Often I take notes so I can think them over later.
Like I said, I've not had anyone deliberately lie to hide anything - not on a truck, tractor, or tool anyway.
rScotty