Are all sub compacts essentially equal?

[madmax12]

OK So the 99% use piece would be mowing the lawn, maintaining a 275' gravel driveway and moving "stuff" around with the FEL for DW who loves to garden but needs help with the heavy stuff. The extreme projects would be clearing downed pine trees (with the help of a chainsaw) digging drain lines and clearing brush from our 2.5 acre hill.
Best
Chris

I don't think brand name matters. I chose mine for its capabilities. It is the strongest in its category for FEL and 3pt lift. Mahindra was strongest in each size, in 2012 (though I remember that wasn't the case for the backhoe, but that wasn't relevant to me). You would have to check against current models, as that may have changed.

FEL lift would matter in loading/unloading pickup/trailer, as well as land clearing, etc.

If you aren't looking to push to capability limits, then brand doesn't matter, to me.

Things to look for, include, ground clearance, joystick position, transmission range, speed, cup holder, pedal positions/comfort. Look for what is most comfortable when you use it. For mowing, using a rear finish mower makes brand less important and reduces cost by $2000, I think. For middle mount mower, brand offerings may have bigger differences.

Dealer can be important. That did influence my decision.

Best price, in my area, would have been LS.

Are you any closer in your choice? Have you selected a size yet?

 

[Gary Fowler]

LS is no longer a part of LG either.. LS is a spin off.

Being a "spin off" or subsidiary doesn't mean that it isn't totally isolated from the parent company. Parent companies usually keep a tight reign on there siblings, so while LS isn't LG it certainly has the genes of the parent and to me at least, they seem to maintain a good quality mindset.

 

[Gary Fowler]

When I look at tractors, the first thing I look for is ergonomics. Does it fit ME. Are the controls placed where they are easy to use. If the answer is no then I don't need to look at the other features and specs or the major one PRICE.
Finding a tractor that fits you like a good quality glove (not a $2 work glove) takes a lot of time and patience going to all dealers, sitting/driving all brands and models to finally get the choice down to 2-3 then dickering on price can be frustrating. TBN has helped a lot of folks get the dealers to their bottom line I am sure.

 

[Cherokee140]

I think t depends....distance CAN have something to do with it. I did not even look at anything more then an hour away. You also have to remember the guy that sells is very different from the guy that is going to change the oil. One JD dealer here has a fantastic parts and service department, however I will NEVER buy a tractor from them. Sales guy I talked to was a total ***.

 

[GManBart]

I think we have come to the agreement that New Holland does not have something marketed in the sub compact area. That will leave you with the others we have talked about.

Simply untrue. Posting information like this, when you've never seen the machines in question, and haven't even taken a minute to check the stats on them does a disservice to people looking for help. You saw a Boomer 30 at a show, but that's a much bigger machine....like 1,200lbs heavier and over a foot longer.

The Boomer 20, 24 and 25 are virtually identical in size to the Deere 1025R, and several others that you suggest are "real" sub-compacts.

 

[GManBart]

Being a "spin off" or subsidiary doesn't mean that it isn't totally isolated from the parent company. Parent companies usually keep a tight reign on there siblings, so while LS isn't LG it certainly has the genes of the parent and to me at least, they seem to maintain a good quality mindset.

Absolutely, and with the same family owning/controlling both companies, is probably even more likely to be the case. Bet it's hard to marry into the Koo family!

 

[JDgreen227]

To me the deciding factor in purchasing my CUT was the DEALER...I could have purchased Kubota from a seller five miles away, or NH from a seller twenty miles away, but neither shop impressed me although they had fair prices and comparable models to what I wanted. Kubota dealer looked clapped together, service area was a mess...NH dealer was a tiny place and looked very marginal...they closed a short time after giving me a quote. I rated Deere, Kubota, and NH on ten major factors, one inclusive of the dealership and the Deere came out way ahead...yes, my experience relates to a CUT and not a SCUT but I strongly advise you to stick with a major brand name.

I am not bashing the off brands because they often build good quality equipment, BUT...for a long term purchase, stick with something you know will have parts and service available down the road.

 

[Cherokee140]

Simply untrue. Posting information like this, when you've never seen the machines in question, and haven't even taken a minute to check the stats on them does a disservice to people looking for help. You saw a Boomer 30 at a show, but that's a much bigger machine....like 1,200lbs heavier and over a foot longer.

The Boomer 20, 24 and 25 are virtually identical in size to the Deere 1025R, and several others that you suggest are "real" sub-compacts.

My bad. On the new Holland site they have them called Compact tractors and not Sub compact tractors, John Deere calls them Sub compact utility tractors...guess that is what tossed me....so if we want to get all technical New Holland does not have a "real sub-compact"

It also looks like NH puts several different sized machines into that same bucket, where I THINK the others have them in different areas on their site.

But true I have never laid eyes on one of the Boomer 20 or 25's I guess the 24 is something that just does not exist at least on their web site and you should have taken a minute to check the stats so you don't do a disservice to people looking for info.

There is a New Holland dealer down the street from work....I will run down during lunch today and see if they have one in stock....I want to get out of the office anyway.

some snips from the NH web site.

 

[GManBart]

I am not bashing the off brands because they often build good quality equipment, BUT...for a long term purchase, stick with something you know will have parts and service available down the road.

Ask Cherokee140 how he's doing finding parts for his JD650. If memory serves me, he was down to hoping salvage yards might have the parts he needs....maybe he can update us.

The current reality is that none of the brands discussed in this thread are really "off brands" as they've all been in business a while. People might read your comments, think "I'll stick with a big brand name" and head off to their local New Holland, or Case dealer, and buy a compact, or sub-compact, and not realize it's made by a Korean company. Or, they might buy a Deere, and not realize it's made by a Japanese company. Just buying a big name, even Deere, doesn't guarantee future parts, or service any more.

 

[Cherokee140]

JD650 update....

I found a few salvage yards that had a clutch for the 650....but some wanted north of $1000 for the clutch

John Deere no longer makes this part for a machine made in 1986....Really ticked me off, as like you would think Deere parts we all thought would be available....nope. I was told to check with Yanmar, then Yanmar told me to get with deere.

I did finally find one at a local salvage yard for only $400...it was a used part....but what are you going to do. I then went back to the dealer to order some parts for the "mule drive" the pully system under the PTO....Bearings belts and such. Finding those parts took the dealership 2 days, the mower deck and mule drive are not listed with the tractor....but they did find them. I have all the new parts installed, 2 drive belts, 1 new idle pully, and a couple bearings that I needed to press in and it all works great. The dealership really came through finding the deck drive parts. So I am belly mowing again, but OMG what a pain.

Moral of the story is Just because it is Green Orange Red or PINK it does not mean it will still be made even 30 years later. The tractors are built to last, but you might be needing a machine shop to keep everything working. The thing that really got me was the finger pointing....talk to Yanmar, but the tractor says John Deere, yea but it is a Yanmar tractor....call Yanmar...No we don't have parts for it, talk to Deere. Then in buying a new machine....this 1 series that is a Deere....but the engine says Yanmar....yea but it is a Deere....funny that is not what your parts guy told me, they told me Yanmar built it and Deere just painted it green and slapped a sticker on it....oh, well it is not that way now.

So I bought a Kubota, they make the engine, and most bits in the machine. I am sure there are sub sources in the machine, but it sure does not have other peoples engine in it.