Comparing the orange forums to the green forums.

[DiezNutz]

Which tells me that both (ok, all three...) companies make remarkably similar competitive products.

Agree, When you break down the spec's in the same class, they're all with in spitting distance of one another and in the big picture the differences are only discernable on paper, hardly detectable in realtime operation. Key word's are "same class" which also includes the difference bwtween std and premium. That said I like the idea of competition and having more than one product to choose from in a specific class.

You guys are both dead on. It's because they're so competitively similar that you start looking even harder at those other discerning factors, like the dealer, the value, and even the online community support. The dealer/salesguy factor convinced me to buy 2 hrs away instead of from the two practically in my backyard (despite my concerns over the distance in case of major problems). Didn't hurt that I got a little better deal either.

 

[Lockport]

A think it must be said that the gest of Deeres rep comes form the big farm equipment.


A dealer once said to me, and it warrants merit, that, unlike Deer, that outsources most of its SubCUTs and CUTs, Kubota makes its own HSTs, its own Diesel engines and then the tractor. That is its value advantage.

I can see the logic in an immediate observation that this thread originates upon.

 

[irwin]

Everyone is different, so I can speak for myself. Selling tractors is very different than selling cars. We don't have the same amount of hold backs and discounts. At most, there allowances on tractors are usually not more than $500, on new models its often nothing at all. Its unusual to have a model thats substantialy lower cost than another because there are far fewer options, dating programs, etc. We get 9 month terms, so unless your not managing your inventory well you usually don't end up with many units your paying interest on. Tractors are alot more straight forward.

Hello Neil: Not to cast aspersions at anyone, lest of all you ( read too many happy customer posts on here). I was only trying to understand how a tractor dealership that sells both high quality, kings of the tractor world : john deere and kubota, how that dealership would push one over the other????the salesman could be insulting a diehard deere fan..yes?.. makes no sense unless they make a few dollars more by selling one rather than the other. I could see if someone demanding high quality, darn the cost and the tractor dealership sold kubota and a lower priced brand B. but not deere and kubota... I really am a glass half full kind of guy, I just like to look for myself and see if the glass has anything in it first..
I will say this about your operation: you must be doing something right.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Agree,
When you break down the spec's in the same class, they're all with in spitting distance of one another and in the big picture the differences are only discernable on paper, hardly detectable in realtime operation. Key word's are "same class" which also includes the difference bwtween std and premium.

I'd argue just the opposite. I think you do yourself a disservice by relying on the paper. Getting in the seat and driving somthing tells you alot more. (Okay, for me anyway. My butt maybe more sensitive since its on and off all kinds of stuff).

 

[jbrumberg]

Brochures are driven by Sales & Marketing Departments. I am pretty cynical about published "spec data" as I believe that it is market driven. There is no real consistency in how the competitors compare themselves except to put their own respective brand in the best perspective. I would not be surprised if many if not all the individuals involved in brochure publications never even sat on a tractor . I agree with MessickFramEQU . Jay

 

[Volfandt]

I'd argue just the opposite. I think you do yourself a disservice by relying on the paper

Basically that is what I was saying
There are some here that based their entire buying preference on which machine had the best spec's and probably never physically tested all the machine's available to them to test. If they had they would have discovered very little discernable operating difference between them. In the subcut class I traded in, the only discernable differences I found was in the pedal arrangement and dash layout, other than that all were about the same in real world operation i.e. driving, mowing, FEL and BH operation.

Spec sheets at their best are can give a prospective buyer a basic idea of a machines capabilities but they are also misleading in the way some of the specs are presented. If a machine in one class specs out in one category exceedingly higher than the rest one can rest assured that the measurement wasn't taken in the same way as the others. It's misleading at it's worst as it's a calculated attempt ny the manufacturer at fooling a prospect into believeing that their machine is that much better. No big ticket manufacturer is immune to this unfortunately....
Also what I was saying is that in the subcut class that I traded in, theres no one tractor that stands heads and shoulders above the others and in my case, the relationship I forged with the dealer clinched the deal for me.
A GC2310 or 2210 w/a Woods BH would have worked out well for me too and I'm sure I wouldn't have felt the need to bash a BX or the other brand I didn't purchase inorder to justify the purchase of the brand I did buy

 

[crazyal]

The main thing for me that lead me to orange was the diversity of the line. The others seam to base engine HP by weight, or vise versa. I'm looking at the 25hp to 30hp range. Kubota offers 1 BX, 4 B, 1 TLB and 2 L series that cover that HP range.

As far as I can tell I can buy a B7800 (economy model) that weights at least 1000lbs less than what either green or blue offers. But they also offer a deluxe model (b3030) also in that weight class. Then they offer both an L2800 (economy) and a GL3130 (deluxe) if I want the extra weight. There's also the TLB26. Although the TLB is slightly less that's still 4 different tractors have almost the same HP. They are not just the same frame/ engine with or without a few options but each one is really different from the next.

I'm not saying that other brands don't have a nice line up but maybe it's because Kubota makes it's own engines (etc.) or who knows but to me what does stand up a little above the rest is that one brand offer numerious choices in my HP range.

 

[jcmseven]

I have looked through the same JD forum pages that our original poster did, and aside from the usual maladies that can be associated with just using a tractor of any brand or type, I cannot see the dysfunctional quality he describes on the forum. I am perhaps the typical non-farming John Deere owner. I did not grow up on a farm nor did my father bring me home JD propoganda to read. I came to JD because it offered me the exact piece of equipment I needed when I did, and it provided me with good service. I in essence was a satisfied customer. Since then, I have owned over 10 JD tractors. I do not think the quality of JD is diminishing, the spirit of competition is instead narrowing the gap between brands. This is a point I have stated in other posts in recent months. The implication that JD is simply remarketing Yanmar tractors simply is not true. JD and Yanmar have had a longstanding relationship that is beyond some other makers existence, and while Yanmar does manufacture some tractors for JD, their predominant role is still as an engine manufacturer. If anything, with the advent of the 4000 series compacts, JD is reducing Yanmar's powerplant role in some product lines, rather than increasing it. The simple fact is this, that is if JD did not produce quality equipment and simply tried to make it on past merits, hats and toys and its reputation, it would now be a dead entity. Instead , it is one of the most stable companies in difficult financial times. Its stockholders generally are happy, and its customers are also. I am one of them. I do not dimish the accomplishments of Kubota, or NH or others, as I think these companies make excellent machines. Those that buy them probably do so for the exact reason I bought JD green. The point I make is that the original impression listed is in my mind, incorrect, and the thought that those who purchase JD products somehow have been victimized by a clever marketing ploy is foolish. When I am box blading my drive or using my loader, I do not really think about those things. I neither should the rest of us. We should use whatever machine we bought and enjoy it, regardless of brand.

John M

 

[Chris2520]

I am surly no Farmer by no means. Though i have worked on about every kind of tractor in the last 30 years. my JD 2520 , is my First own Tractor. I am very pleased with it. and its quality. and yes i drove Newholland and Kubotas. and there nice machines. Thay just had short comeings i did not like. the JD was a more comfortable Tractor to drive and operate. I think all these Tractors in same size class are pretty equal in specs. what it boils down to , is your dealer. and what you like. for me. the JD suited my needs more than the other brands. That is why i went with John Deere. and most likely i will buy another one unless other brands make some changes that i like...

Chris....

 

[DieselPower]

Just got to throw my 2 cents in here. Personally I currently own a 3020, 4230, 7410, 2440 John Deere's, a MF 750 combine, NH LS170 skid steer, a antique IH Super A and numerous NH and JD, Woods and other implements. All are excellent pieces of equipment with some of the tractors having over 5,000 hours on them and still running strong. Would I buy a Kubota, I sure would and am actually looking at either a NH or Kubota currently to add to the fleet. I don't play the brand or color war, if it works and is reliable I really don't care what make or color my equipment is.