Bx1500 or hold out for a bigger unit?

[2ndhalf]

Sorry to hear that but don't worry there is a never ending supply of used tractors that cycle through the classified land. Just a friendly tip, if you throw in some paragraph breaks in your posts they are more likely to be read. I know I often just glaze over and move on when paragraphs are so large with not breaks.

Maybe it is just me though : ) Good luck though!

 

[deathtoblackberries]

Yeah PASS enough said. $10,800 is $2,593 off list for a BX1880, I got $2,400 off list on my BX2380 recently so that sounds like a fair deal for the BX1870. Your not stealing it but not paying full retail either.

 

[robertm]

Sparky, not being a smart arse here, but I really don't think you'll be ultimately happy with an old used tractor like you say. It sounds like you are well ahead in life in your thirties, and I can tell you seriously, every nickel you spend fixing a worn out $5,000 tractor, you will beat yourself up thinking about lost time and money out the window when you could be productive.

I think, and I've been around the block long enough to know, you might want to consider a used warrantied unit in better condition from a dealer, put all your money down on it, and 0% the small balance and pay it off early. I can't tell you how maddening it will make you when you wait for parts, have to tear something apart, when you had plans and a timeline.

Now, if you have time to waste when you'd rather be being productive, great. If you don't get excited when you settle for less only to get your wallet and week beat up by the unknowns, great. Keep looking. But, it sounds like you've worked hard to get where you are, and to achieve all your goals. Why settle now? Why buy something just to sell it later. If it's just to do a project and sell it for good and get a push mower, that'll work. But in the long run, with the possible exposure on a cheap tractor without any guaranteed history, you'd be MUCH better paying someone to do it for you with their equipment. Take it with a grain, but I've been there.

 

[deathtoblackberries]

Sparky is trying to be smart with his money I get that, but agree with Robert. You can absolutely shoot yourself in the foot by going too cheap on a tractor. Buying the cheapest tractor you can find is a gamble, might pay off or could become a money pit. My time is the most valuable thing to me, wasting it fixing the tractor instead vs using the tractor would drive me nuts.

 

[Sparkynutz]

Sparky, not being a smart arse here, but I really don't think you'll be ultimately happy with an old used tractor like you say. It sounds like you are well ahead in life in your thirties, and I can tell you seriously, every nickel you spend fixing a worn out $5,000 tractor, you will beat yourself up thinking about lost time and money out the window when you could be productive.

I think, and I've been around the block long enough to know, you might want to consider a used warrantied unit in better condition from a dealer, put all your money down on it, and 0% the small balance and pay it off early. I can't tell you how maddening it will make you when you wait for parts, have to tear something apart, when you had plans and a timeline.

Now, if you have time to waste when you'd rather be being productive, great. If you don't get excited when you settle for less only to get your wallet and week beat up by the unknowns, great. Keep looking. But, it sounds like you've worked hard to get where you are, and to achieve all your goals. Why settle now? Why buy something just to sell it later. If it's just to do a project and sell it for good and get a push mower, that'll work. But in the long run, with the possible exposure on a cheap tractor without any guaranteed history, you'd be MUCH better paying someone to do it for you with their equipment. Take it with a grain, but I've been there.

After seeing how well the owner ran that tractor made me realize how inexperienced I am and reinforces the truth in that I really don't know what I want. I am planning on contacting the friend of mine that has that bx2670 I tried out and ask if he'd be willing to do my yard for me if I pay him. He's retired and plays on his just for something to do so it's worth a shot. He's really **** about his stuff so I'm surprised when I asked him about his tractor he just up and offered to let me play on it if I came over sometime which I did a few days later. It was very nice and looked brand new except for worn bucket and a small dent.

I do know that it is very early in the year and have plenty of time yet for more research and price checking not totally ruling out a new bx with a backhoe that I've had my heart set on. I tried talking my grandpa into going in with me one one for years with no luck. Today after using his trailer and coming home empty handed talking to my grandma it might be worth a shot to ask if they'll come to a dealer and look at one with me.

Last time I asked them to go with me shopping for a 17hmr I had my heart set on I looked it over and realized it wasn't exactly what I wanted. My grandpa on the other hand looked at the most expensive browning 17hmr they had and told him he'd take it and put a $400 scope on it. That was probably 10 years ago and it's still in the box never been shot. I never did buy one and I'm hoping to inherit it some day.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I hesitate to continue responding but one more and that's it. I bought a BX1500 MMM with 750 hours in great condition two or three years ago for $5500 for my son in law (His gas box store mower died)from Barlows. I've also been told I don't do enough paragraphs and that's OK with me and if anyone doesn't want to read my posts that's also fine with me, I'm not on the get paid for each read program. I started to make that last statement a different paragraph but chose not to. Also Robertm used machines do not get the 0% but Kubota does offer a lower rate for used Kubotas bought thru a dealer also could have made this a different paragraph for the english/literature teacher in the group. I taught College for some years but I didn't teach Englis/Literature but do read two to three books a week, obviously doesn't help with my one to two finger typing and proper spacing to make the english critics happy on the Kubota tractor forum. :laughing::cool2:

 

[bspeedy]

After seeing how well the owner ran that tractor made me realize how inexperienced I am and reinforces the truth in that I really don't know what I want. I am planning on contacting the friend of mine that has that bx2670 I tried out and ask if he'd be willing to do my yard for me if I pay him. He's retired and plays on his just for something to do so it's worth a shot. He's really **** about his stuff so I'm surprised when I asked him about his tractor he just up and offered to let me play on it if I came over sometime which I did a few days later. It was very nice and looked brand new except for worn bucket and a small dent.

I do know that it is very early in the year and have plenty of time yet for more research and price checking not totally ruling out a new bx with a backhoe that I've had my heart set on. I tried talking my grandpa into going in with me one one for years with no luck. Today after using his trailer and coming home empty handed talking to my grandma it might be worth a shot to ask if they'll come to a dealer and look at one with me.

Last time I asked them to go with me shopping for a 17hmr I had my heart set on I looked it over and realized it wasn't exactly what I wanted. My grandpa on the other hand looked at the most expensive browning 17hmr they had and told him he'd take it and put a $400 scope on it. That was probably 10 years ago and it's still in the box never been shot. I never did buy one and I'm hoping to inherit it some day.

I wouldn't do a partnership on any machine. I wouldn't do a partnership with a family member on anything for any reason.

 

[fried1765]

I wouldn't do a partnership on any machine. I wouldn't do a partnership with a family member on anything for any reason.

Not even with your Grandfather?
Awh ...come on!

 

[Rock Crawler]

I wouldn't do a partnership on any machine. I wouldn't do a partnership with a family member on anything for any reason.

Oh-oh! My father put $13,000 cash of the $22,000 cash down on OUR B2650. I will pay the remainder of the $10,000 0% loan off myself.

But then again, my father has been my best friend for most of my adult life, and I do not trust anyone as much as I trust him. If he breaks it, I fix it. If I break it, I fix it. That has been how it goes for decades. But he is always there with me arguing with me and telling me how I am doing everything wrong as I argue with him and do it my way regardless... I fear the day when my father leaves this earth. But I have no fear of splitting ownership with him.

 

[bspeedy]

Not even with your Grandfather?
Awh ...come on!

Granddad has been gone since 1995, and I miss him almost daily. Fortunately my oldest son is just like him (and named after my dad, to boot), so I get to see him every day kinda.

My father was partners with his father and brother in a business. Total mess with Dad getting the short end of things most of the time. Misunderstandings, expectations not met, etc.

My dad is the most honest, trustworthy, capable, straightforward person I ever met, and I aspire to be just like him in almost every way. But I'm way to independent to be his business partner or to buy equipment to share with him.

I'm at the point in life where I have only one partner, and that is my wife. She is the only person in the world I have to clear any decision with, and that's the way I like it. We don't argue about much. If we can't afford it, we don't do it. No partnerships for me.