Another buying/pricing/comparison thread?!?!?!

[Cherokee140]

Yea, yea, yea....how many of these do we have to have.....well I don't have one yet so here ya go :laughing:

Looking for a (what I have learned to be) SCUT....before we called these things little tractors. My good ole JD650 has given all it can give, over heating issues, PTO gone to the happy hunting ground, wheels leak (just had a new wheel custom made) It is time to just let go....hours quit working at 4000 and change, it has been a good machine. It will be lived on by an old 8n that will take care of some of the mowing duty.

Anyway I am looking at the new (or not much used...seems to be a lot of those) tractors in the range of the Kubota BX, John Deere 1 series, M-F GC.....or anything else I might have forgotten about.

I have been reading this form for quite some time now, and so many have asked this same question.....the answer is usually the same, all the machines are about the same, get the one that feels best to you....darn good advice....but how bout a side bar to that question.

We are having a "farm show" here next weekend....you are given the chance to see each machine under one roof...sometimes right next to each other (I remember years ago doing trade shows I hated that) You will have a rep. from each maker there to ask questions, sit and generally play on the machine....but I highly doubt run them.

What would you ask.....what would you look for. I am interested in the different specs that are a little hard to find....how much does this one lift, how much fuel per hour at X load....things like that.

What am I looking for....well you have the list of machines, but it needs to have the loader and backhoe....(I learned another term hanging around here TLB) mowing is something it will also do. It needs to be pretty easy to get on and off of, I am not as young as I once was....and with enough metal in me to make the guys in the airport stop to take a second look....and to think I was thinking they are looking at my......manly-ness.

What I have....well property is 13ac, all pretty flat and all will be mowed, again most by the little 8n with the pull behind, and right up next to the house by a mower, but this for that inbetween area. Going to be doing some digging, stump removing, and we are thinking about putting in a few peach trees...small orchard. (hay could I take it off my taxes)

Lots of other jobs on the list, a chipper/shredder is on the list to do away with some black locust trees, hedge (if the shredder is stout enough).

Anyway....I tried to make this fun, hope you can help this old guy out.

Thanks.

 

[davrow]

What would you ask.....what would you look for. I am interested in the different specs that are a little hard to find....how much does this one lift, how much fuel per hour at X load....things like that. Thanks.

I wouldn't worry too much about asking questions. 1) the salespeople won't know 2) the answers are similar between machines.

Concentrate on ease of use for you. Not all SCUTS are easy to mount from the right (disqualified them for me). The backhoe is easier to use on some. MMM connection is easier on some.

Don't believe anything the reps say about competing brands, and take what they say about their own with a grain of salt.

Mostly relax, enjoy the experience, and maybe one model will call to you. As you said, they are all good.

 

[murphy1244]

And watch what RPM's you need to reach PTO speed, some of them are real screamers.

 

[Cherokee140]

The one other question I had was why are so many of these for sale used with just a few hours on them.....Tractor house is full of them on all brands. Do people get this machine and think....I really needed something bigger. Or do they get this machine for their 1ac and think they have so much to do....do their one thing then sell it? or are they just not up to the task (seems unlikely with all the folks on the internet that seem to like them)

That is another nagging question I have.

 

[Cherokee140]

As an example....just found at a local well respected JD dealer a USED 1025r with loader and backhoe for 18.5k. Not a bad price.

How many hours do you ask.

.4

yup .4....how the ________ does that happen.

 

[ENC]

I chose Kubota because the dealer is in my town has been there for years and has a good reputation. They also own a much larger dealership 45 min away. You are shopping for future service as much as the machine.

 

[Cherokee140]

Dealer availability is one of the hidden things in the back of my mind.....there is only 1 M-F dealer within 100 miles of me, I have at least 7 JD dealers in that same range and about the same Kubota dealers.

The MF dealer has been there for over 40 years, so they are well known and established.....but they are the only 1. That is weighing on my mind. I like the looks of the MF, but service is a key issue that I need to keep in mind.

 

[kcflhrc]

I just got a smokin deal on a new JD 3032E from Legacy Farm and Lawn in Nevada. Beat everyone else by $2,400. You might give them a call.

 

[Cherokee140]

I just got a smokin deal on a new JD 3032E from Legacy Farm and Lawn in Nevada. Beat everyone else by $2,400. You might give them a call.

Not too far from me. I am going to talk to them at the show....not sure if dealers are there as well or just the makers. I am thinking about pulling the trigger on this next week.

 

[TSO]

I wouldn't worry too much about asking questions. 1) the salespeople won't know 2) the answers are similar between machines.

Concentrate on ease of use for you. Not all SCUTS are easy to mount from the right (disqualified them for me). The backhoe is easier to use on some. MMM connection is easier on some.

Don't believe anything the reps say about competing brands, and take what they say about their own with a grain of salt.

Mostly relax, enjoy the experience, and maybe one model will call to you. As you said, they are all good.

Well said ...

 

[lt190b]

Not too far from me. I am going to talk to them at the show....not sure if dealers are there as well or just the makers. I am thinking about pulling the trigger on this next week.

Cherokee140. It was explained to me by MO MF Dealer that this show is a non selling show. I hope to attend on saturday to do some comparisons. I was looking for a thread to ask a question, when I saw your thread. Is the Grand L 4760, LS XR46HC, and the MF 1643 a fair comparison? lt190b

 

[Cherokee140]

Ok...It will still be a great chance to see all the machines under one roof. One of the key areas for me is I have quite a bit of metal in me and I have some problems if a chair or seat is not just right. I also have some problems climbing up on things....I have an old vintage model 70 and that is a real chore....this machine I am going to use, I don't need it to be a chore everytime I have to get on and off. I think this will be a good chance to sit on the machine for 30min if need be and not have to fend off salesmen with a red hot poker.

I see you are pretty close, if you want drop me a PM....(I assume this site has private messages) and I will give you my phone number...perhaps we can look each other up out there.

 

[kcflhrc]

Where is the Farm Show at?

 

[lt190b]

Where is the Farm Show at?

Western Farm Show. google it and go to exhibitors floor plan . Lots of info. lt190b

 

[Cherokee140]

It is by Kemper.

I am going to try to get there early so I can hopefully get there before the crowds.

 

[kcflhrc]

Oh cool, it's here in K.C. at the American Royal. I will have to try and get by there.

 

[lt190b]

It is by Kemper.

I am going to try to get there early so I can hopefully get there before the crowds.

Did you find what you were looking for?

 

[Cherokee140]

Did you find what you were looking for?

Yes, Narrowed it down quite a bit. Kubota BX25D or JD 1025R. The MF just did not seem to be of the same quality, the seat did not sit very well....I don't really want to run it down but it was just not for me. The Mahindra...just no thank you.

We also looked at the next step up in tractors....things along the size of a JD 2032R. We have 13ac. but my wife and I both think that the smaller machine will just be more handy in tighter spots. That next size up is really not much more money, so that is not the issue. It really comes down to the size of the machine.

In looking at the Kubota and the JD, they are really neck and neck. I like the location of the loader controls on the JD a little better, I like the seat on the JD a great deal better. I like how the Kubota is made from METAL. Why on the green earth did JD decide to make this machine out of plastic. There is no getting around it, plastic over the years will crack and get brittle. Yes metal will scratch and rust....but I have a 60yr old JD sitting in my yard right now....and just solid as a rock.....I highly doubt that the 1025R will be in the same shape in the same amount of time. There is only one reason to make it out of plastic.....it is cheaper....odd that their machine is more expensive then any of the others made from metal.

I also have a bit of a bad taste in my mouth with green paint....parts for my JD650 are not available....that ticks me off. And why are those parts not available....they are Yanmar front clutch parts....The JD still uses a Yanmar engine...yes a good engine, but I still plan to be using this machine in 25 years, just like I was using my 650 till the clutch blew out. I can't even get wheels for the 650.

So while I really like how the 1 series sits and where the loader controls are, I am leaning very heavy to the Kubota BX.

We all know the seat is where you spend most of your time while using a tractor, that means a great deal.

I am going to talk to both.....I am still on the fence, plan on swinging by a Kubota dealer after work and see. Also the dealers that I talked to are going to be calling me.

I plan on getting quotes from the dealers in my area....about 4 JD, and 3 Kubota. After the numbers come in I will make the choice. Dealer location is also a big factor, the JD dealers are MUCH closer.

I did cross the MF and the Mahindra off the list...also found a few toys to mount to the new machine.

A new machine will find its way into my barn before the end of the month....I will keep you all updated to the progress if you guys are interested.

 

[Green Power]

Buy the Kubota. If John Deere is going to make half the tractor out of plastic they don't deserve your business. Watch this video.
Kubota BX25D House Addition + Hexacopter FPV Footage - Project 03 - YouTube
This guy posts on here (TBN) quite frequently and has a BX25D. On here he is known as 4shorts.
Paul Short - YouTube

 

[davrow]

... I like the seat on the JD a great deal better. ... We all know the seat is where you spend most of your time while using a tractor, that means a great deal. ...

You do know you can put in a better aftermarket seat, yes?

Several threads here on TBN from guys who have done so.