Come along for the ride! From start to finish

Lastkidpicked · Mar 15, 2016

Hello All! We know how each of us like spending other's money. I thought I would document the entire ownership process from selecting the new Deere, to purchasing it and using it. I'll include the good, the bad, and the ugly. And the final post will be selling the tractor-- although that will be 40 years from now and posting from a nursing home!

First of all, I was very surprised at the negotiating process-- there was none.

We went to 3 dealers and while all 3 were friendly and professional, they all gave a similar price and there was no negotiating. Part of this might be the tractor we selected, a John Deere 3032e. This tractor, as you know, is a very basic tractor with very few options so there was no compelling reason why different customers would pay different prices.

The other surprise was the process itself. Again, each dealer was nice, courteous, and professional. But it was obvious that they would not be interested in sitting around for a few hours discussing different tractors and different pricing. They were all quite busy, and many times we could overhear the service and delivery guys discussing a backlog of several days to deliver a new machine.

If anybody is interested, I'll post more as we go along. The next step is getting approved by John Deere Financial, which should happen tomorrow.

ovrszd · Mar 15, 2016

I'll follow along.

How are you equipping this tractor?

Lastkidpicked · Mar 15, 2016

Very basic. The main reason for the upgrade is that the 8N doesn't have any of the modern safety features and it can be tempermental to start. We needed something of a similar size but new enough to be easy and reliable. So the 3032e was a good choice for us. The only thing we added to the basic tractor was a 5 foot frontier bush hog.

We did this because there is a $ 1000 discount if you buy at least one implement when you buy the tractor.

ovrszd · Mar 16, 2016

Not being familiar with the tractor, I'll ask the silly questions then. Does it have rear remote hydraulics and if so how many? Is it gear drive? Shuttle? Position Control 3pt? Draft Control? Extendable links?

Again, congrats on the purchase!!!!

Lastkidpicked · Mar 16, 2016

Thank you, Richard. But it's not ours yet.

In fact, here is another surprise... when it comes to getting a tractor purchased, the "push" seems to have to come from us, not the dealer.

Here's what I mean. We decided that if implements would be included with the financing, then we would go ahead and buy them now. Thinking 5 foot tiller, ditcher, and closer. We know that the implements are a good profit for the dealer, so I figured if I sent an email asking about it, then I would get a quick response.

Nothing.

So we called yesterday afternoon to ask about buying the implements at the same time as the tractor, and rolling them into the financing. Had to leave a message and still no call back.

I'm not complaining, because it's supposed to be bad weather this week anyway. Just very surprised that when a guy asks about buying implements people are too busy to call back. And this is a question I'm sure they get every week, so they don't have to look it up-- they know the answer off the top of their head.

Here is what we are buying: John Deere 3032E. Hydrostatic transmission with the two ranges. Loader installed by the dealer, 5 foor Frontier brush cutter (to get the $1000 implement bonus) and the only option is the cruise control, because the new Deere will spend much if its time mowing.

What cinched the deal for us is the zero down and $ 395/ month payment. We're spending almost that much in starting fluid, tire repairs, and other maintenance items on the older tractors!

Plus, you know how you have to occasionally sandpaper the points on those older tractors, especially the 6 volt units like the 8n?
You ever try to talk somebody through that over the phone?

Very excited about the idea of just walking out to the barn, turning the key, and having a tractor that starts right up!

Hoochy · Mar 16, 2016

I'll be following as well. If you were a bit closer I would ask about the 8n, might be a good resto project that can help offset the cost of the new one.
Thanks for posting about the process.

Lastkidpicked · Mar 16, 2016

Thank you, Hoochy.

We'll be keeping the old tractors around as I still enjoy running them. They just aren't the best choice for the kids as they are getting old enough to want to help.

I like the idea of the tractor shutting down if one of the kids gets off without disengaging the PTO first.

We showed them the safety videos where they take a scarecrow and drape his shirtsleeve over the PTO. It really spooked them and I'm glad for that, because I want them to stay far away from that shaft.

Lastkidpicked · Mar 21, 2016

An update for everyone: Things suddenly moved along very quickly. The salesman called to say that Deere Financial accepted our application and they could bring a tractor out that day!

The implements from the 9n hooked right up, as most of you figured they would. Here's the kids using the new tractor and the blade from the 9N to smooth out the driveway.