3203 Cruise Control?

[rdam]

No cruise? No hand throttle to set RPM either?
Boy, I guess my antiquitated designed 790 with hand throttle isn't so bad after all!

Why not the TC 30?

2520 is too light. TC30 doesn't seem right, and the dealer is....not good. Like before, I'd rather go bigger than I need. I may take on some side work now that I'm "living" on my acreage.

The local JD dealer is great. No fooling around with prices. Next model up from the 3203 is the 3120. More features (E-Hydro and cruise) but a couple less ponies. More $....$17,320 out the door w/ loader.

 

[MajMac392]

Rick, that price is interesting. I just visited a JD Dealer this weekend in Wilton, ME and got a price from someone who I didn't consider overly knowledgeable about CUTs. He pulled all the prices from the JD site, just the same as you or I would "Build One". It was a bit annoying because it took quite awhile for the PC to refresh/repaint each page, every time he clicked away. He said the price on a 3120 would be right at $22k w/FEL. I swallowed a little hard on that and told him that was more than I planned on paying for a tractor. He said a 3203 would be around $15+ for the tractor and another $3K or so for a loader. When I left I looked at a 3203 that he had on the lot and the price on the hand written tag on it was $19,342.

 

[rdam]

Rick, that price is interesting. I just visited a JD Dealer this weekend in Wilton, ME and got a price from someone who I didn't consider overly knowledgeable about CUTs. He pulled all the prices from the JD site, just the same as you or I would "Build One". It was a bit annoying because it took quite awhile for the PC to refresh/repaint each page, every time he clicked away. He said the price on a 3120 would be right at $22k w/FEL. I swallowed a little hard on that and told him that was more than I planned on paying for a tractor. He said a 3203 would be around $15+ for the tractor and another $3K or so for a loader. When I left I looked at a 3203 that he had on the lot and the price on the hand written tag on it was $19,342.

Way too high. I probably won't buy a JD. I can get LOTS more Kubota for the money, and I already have a good prior experience with my L3830. It's too bad, because the JD dealer who consistently gave me "reasonable" prices is close by, and a real nice guy. You can get tractors shipped all day long for $1.60 per loaded mile...Or borrow a trailer and take a vacation to Florida.

If you PM me I'll geve you the info, the price on the 3203 w/loader was $15,400

 

[Mike5252]

You might also consider a MF 1531. I've seen a couple of them listed on tractorhouse.com for right at 15.5k. To be honest, I've never looked at one hard, but on paper they seem pretty attractive..

 

[MajMac392]

Rick, I appreciate the offer but I'm in the research mode at this point checking to see what my options are in the 30HP range are. There are many items that here in the NE the freight/shipping adds to the overall cost. I have not been in a JD dealership for several years, for lots of reasons, and thought I would stop. I went back to a local publication for early May and found another dealer was offering the 3203 for $18,600 w/weight box, rear blade, FEL, and 5' RC. So I suppose if you drop the blade and RC the cost gets nearer your cost in FL.
BTW. Yanmar and Cub Cadet have formed a new CUT company to be based in Ohio that will produce a new line of CUTs. The first of the line is due out late summer or early fall and I would expect if Yanmar is making them at least the engine/drive train, etc will be similar to the JD line only different sheet metal & plastic and badged in Yellow and Black.