Noob Here...Seeking a Tractor Education, Please

[Ashland268]

My tractor picking method was thinking about it off and on for about a year to wrap my head around the $. I hadn’t even gone to a dealer yet.

One day my brother called and told me to come over and look at his new toy. A sparkly JD4066R!

I then made the mistake of taking it for a little spin around his property to check it out. It was a 90 degree day and humid. The AC was heaven and the whole tractor really just felt right.

The following Monday I bought the same tractor new off the lot of my nearest JD dealer. 2 weeks after that, they dropped it off. I had the things added to it that folks here recommended…..HD bucket, 3rd, 4th, 5th, Rim Gard, IMatch and a BB.


Shopping, Research and obsessing is overrated …..not a single regret for me.

 

[Molalla1]

You are lucky. Most will tell you it doesn't matter if you finance or not, still the same price.

Really? I sure have not experienced this.

 

[Ashland268]

In my case, I think a cash deal helped. About $1000 discount versus taking 0% financing.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I'm new here and have been reading the forum now for several weeks trying to prepare myself to make a knowledgeable tractor purchase in the future. I've never owned or driven a tractor before, but I now have land (10 acres). Something I've not been able to discern across all brands is this...what features are essential in making sure that I'm comparing apples to apples across different brands? Without initially comparing dealers and parts availability, but machine to machine, I think they might be:

1. Weight
2. HP at PTO
3. ?

Being in north Alabama, I've access to most any brand. All inputs/thoughts are appreciated. Thanks for having me!

Buy a skidloader. There, you've graduated from tractor class.

 

[Torvy]

In my case, I think a cash deal helped. About $1000 discount versus taking 0% financing.

That is a horrible deal. The average annual rate of return in the stock market is about 10% over the past 50 years. Your 30000 spent in cash could have been making $3000 a year in profit. Even if you only manage to net half of the average over a 5 year loan, you are looking at about $7500 thrown away to pay in cash.

 

[Ashland268]

It may have been more than than $1k. It was just before Covid started so times were a little different maybe? My salesman didn’t really seem to care one way or another if I bought cash or did the finance deal, but he did “throw in” the beet juice too.

I do believe in borrowing money, particularly at 0%, but mine was a case of having saved for it and wanting no payments. Nothing else really.

 

[rScotty]

That is a horrible deal. The average annual rate of return in the stock market is about 10% over the past 50 years. Your 30000 spent in cash could have been making $3000 a year in profit. Even if you only manage to net half of the average over a 5 year loan, you are looking at about $7500 thrown away to pay in cash.

Hmmm. I disagree with it being a horrible deal. INHO, too much is made of the importance of price. Viewed as a purchase of something that will last a lifetime, a few dollars one way or the other doesn't much matter. I prefer to do as Ashland did. Take the discount up front and get on to other things.
rScotty

 

[OzarkChris]

Really? I sure have not experienced this.

Around here the Orange & Green dealer refuse to budge on price (this was pre-covid) on compacts or utilities. They really don't care about you unless you are dropping 6-7 figures for a rig. My red (Mahindra) dealer wrote up my last slightly used purchase (pre-covid) 0% to seal the deal. Maybe it's just a local thing.

 

[tradosaurus]

Around here the Orange & Green dealer refuse to budge on price (this was pre-covid) on compacts or utilities. They really don't care about you unless you are dropping 6-7 figures for a rig. My red (Mahindra) dealer wrote up my last slightly used purchase (pre-covid) 0% to seal the deal. Maybe it's just a local thing.

I think its a local thing, at least with Kubota.

 

[rademamj1]

Around here the Orange & Green dealer refuse to budge on price (this was pre-covid) on compacts or utilities. They really don't care about you unless you are dropping 6-7 figures for a rig. My red (Mahindra) dealer wrote up my last slightly used purchase (pre-covid) 0% to seal the deal. Maybe it's just a local thing.

You will certainly find some dealers who are locked on MSRP, but even many Kubota and JD dealers will provide some discounts to confirmed customers. Just like you, what I am seeing more of, is a reluctant sales staff wanting to discuss and meet potential customers, shake hands and bring new customers on board. Perhaps it's a lack of sales training. Due to this pandemic, training seems to have suffered and is low priority among corporations.