Looking to buy a new garden tractor and have narrowed it down to the Deere x500, Simplicity Prestige and Cub 3200. I think the Cub and Simplicity are the most tractor for the money. I'm looking for Cub owners to talk me into the 3200. Lets hear why you think these machines are the best. Thanks in advance for the help.
Cub Cadet owners
- Thread starter vamil93
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micman32
Gold Member
For me it was the shaft drive. I had a Craftsman that was always slipping the drive belt. I also wanted a more heavy duty machine as my yard is hilly and rough in places. My 2518 has served me well for the past 3 years. The problems have been few with this machine. My dealer experiance has been great. I am a very satisfied CC owner!
micman,
thanks for the reply. were you able to get the dealer to budge very much on pricing? dealer is running a sale on Simplicity Prestige for 5375, which looks like a really good deal. I like the looks of the Cub. I am looking at the 50" deck. I got a quote on a Deere x500, and it just looks like you get more machine from the Cub and Simplicity. Don't see myself paying that much for less machine and green paint.
thanks for the reply. were you able to get the dealer to budge very much on pricing? dealer is running a sale on Simplicity Prestige for 5375, which looks like a really good deal. I like the looks of the Cub. I am looking at the 50" deck. I got a quote on a Deere x500, and it just looks like you get more machine from the Cub and Simplicity. Don't see myself paying that much for less machine and green paint.
I admit I am biased towards Cub Cadet, but do not own a newer one nor am I a dealer.
But.. build facts are clear, a CC 3000 series GT is hands down the ruggedness winner over the JD X500 or Simplicity Presige, the latter two with vertical crankshaft engines and belt drives with lighter gauge frames I do not consider to be true garden tractors but SLT's (Super-lawn tractors, basically along the lines of a Cub Cadet 1500 model.) My humble opinion, of course, is the prices on Simplicity and JD are just too high for what you actually get.
You might find the CC 3100 or 3200 to be the value winner over your other picks- easily. I like Simplicity, but you likely won't find the parts and service you will find with JD or Cub, and the Simplicity models seem to fall into obsolesence quickly where Cub and JD don't, an important factor 10 years down the yard. Parts and service with JD and Cub seem to be on the equal from my experiences, yet you will find Cub parts to be MUCH less expensive than JD prices. And yes, everything will require parts or service at some time, so it is a factor.
With a CC 3000 series you are looking at a lawn-garden tractor that has the credentials to easily last 20-25 years with proper care, and will have the performance to take on any work task fitted to its size, with parts and service support easy to obtain.
Hopefully more actual owners of these machines will give you some better scoop.
-Fordlords-
But.. build facts are clear, a CC 3000 series GT is hands down the ruggedness winner over the JD X500 or Simplicity Presige, the latter two with vertical crankshaft engines and belt drives with lighter gauge frames I do not consider to be true garden tractors but SLT's (Super-lawn tractors, basically along the lines of a Cub Cadet 1500 model.) My humble opinion, of course, is the prices on Simplicity and JD are just too high for what you actually get.
You might find the CC 3100 or 3200 to be the value winner over your other picks- easily. I like Simplicity, but you likely won't find the parts and service you will find with JD or Cub, and the Simplicity models seem to fall into obsolesence quickly where Cub and JD don't, an important factor 10 years down the yard. Parts and service with JD and Cub seem to be on the equal from my experiences, yet you will find Cub parts to be MUCH less expensive than JD prices. And yes, everything will require parts or service at some time, so it is a factor.
With a CC 3000 series you are looking at a lawn-garden tractor that has the credentials to easily last 20-25 years with proper care, and will have the performance to take on any work task fitted to its size, with parts and service support easy to obtain.
Hopefully more actual owners of these machines will give you some better scoop.
-Fordlords-
iquester
New member
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- Aug 7, 2006
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Here's the deal for me. Shaft drive, great dealer/parts network, ability to "take a licking, and keep on ticking," a real transmission (3000 series) and the availability to function as a real garden tractor, as well as a great mower.
If I could have afforded to buy new, it would have been a better value than the competition in terms of functions and features for the price. I bought used for the same reasons, and am pretty impressed with a nine year old garden tractor that still runs like a top and is not a hunk of junk.
That's just mho of course, but I am pretty convinced.
M Gardner (1997 3185)
If I could have afforded to buy new, it would have been a better value than the competition in terms of functions and features for the price. I bought used for the same reasons, and am pretty impressed with a nine year old garden tractor that still runs like a top and is not a hunk of junk.
That's just mho of course, but I am pretty convinced.
M Gardner (1997 3185)
Bob_Bainbridge
Platinum Member
I had a Cub 1450 for 26 years so I'm sold on the quality although the 1450 was made by IH before MTD bought the business from them. I wanted a cast iron differential which meant the 2000 or 3000 series. I had a 34 inch riding tractor from Penney's before the Cub. It had an 8 hp Tecumsah engine which used oil from day one. One day a bolt or pin exited from the differential, punching a hole through the aluminum case. I repaired it and epoxied the hole. I finally sold it with 450 hours on it. After the 1450 srtarted getting a little long in the tooth, I looked at the new (2004) Cubs and decided to get the 3235 with 54 inch deck and triple bagger. I liked the power steering, tilt wheel and the shaft drive to the deck, which my 1450 didn't have. The dealer gave me $450 trade-in on my 1450 so it ended up $6646 out the door. I have 130 hours on it so far and have never had it back to the dealer.
Bob B.
Bob B.
DaveVales
New member
vamil93 - Some of your answer may depend on what type of property you have and how much you want to do with the garden tractor. Can you opt for a "lesser" tractor - meaning a 2000 LT series rather than a 3000 GT series? Do you need more tractor including a front end loader and decent rear 3pt hitch?
I too made many comparisons way back in 1998 - the Cub was hands down the best value at that time and it had so many nifty attachments I thought i could do things with. I bought a 3225, a 1998 model - first year model with all the bugs... but I still have it. Bought a blade, cart, and rear 8hp tiller and Cat 0 3 pt hitch. Maybe things have changed and the Cub has gotten better or worse, I try to keep up, and looking at the current specs I would still conclude the Cub gives you the best value.
BUT, the MTD relationship rubbed my dealer the wrong way and after many years with Cub he quit the line. I am upset about that. So I order parts on line and have to do repairs myself - which I have found that parts are VERY available and easy to get, so that is not a problem.
Over the years I have commented to myself about the "softness" of the metal used in my machine. I have bent and broken parts I thought should not do that, but maybe my property needed a bit more than what a GT would give me. I have definitely USED that machine (460 hours).
I mow about an acre around the house - VERY interspersed and I am super thankful for the power steering, and 2.5 acres of animal-divited pasture with grass getting up to 3.5' high at times. The Cub has held its own, albeit with its share of repairs.
I recently bought a Kubota BX24 because I needed a full Cat 1 3pt, a FEL, and a BH. The mid mount mower and especially the blades that Kubota offers do not seem as stout or "simple" as my Cub 3225 54" deck. I have put that Cub deck through A LOT, probaly mowed 350 of those 460 hours, and have only gone through 3 sets of blades. Moles like to dig up everything, including large stones, and that really tears up a blade when you go over their mound without kicking it down first.
So, after my rambling, go with the Cub because you should be satisfied, but ask yourself what you REALLY want to do with the tractor and what your property is like. I use ag tires exclusively and find mself using the rear diff lock to frequently get out of softy spots and up inclines. Back in 1998 I thought I could do all I wanted with the Cub, and I have done a lot, but had I bought more, I could have done more, because I really needed more.
I too made many comparisons way back in 1998 - the Cub was hands down the best value at that time and it had so many nifty attachments I thought i could do things with. I bought a 3225, a 1998 model - first year model with all the bugs... but I still have it. Bought a blade, cart, and rear 8hp tiller and Cat 0 3 pt hitch. Maybe things have changed and the Cub has gotten better or worse, I try to keep up, and looking at the current specs I would still conclude the Cub gives you the best value.
BUT, the MTD relationship rubbed my dealer the wrong way and after many years with Cub he quit the line. I am upset about that. So I order parts on line and have to do repairs myself - which I have found that parts are VERY available and easy to get, so that is not a problem.
Over the years I have commented to myself about the "softness" of the metal used in my machine. I have bent and broken parts I thought should not do that, but maybe my property needed a bit more than what a GT would give me. I have definitely USED that machine (460 hours).
I mow about an acre around the house - VERY interspersed and I am super thankful for the power steering, and 2.5 acres of animal-divited pasture with grass getting up to 3.5' high at times. The Cub has held its own, albeit with its share of repairs.
I recently bought a Kubota BX24 because I needed a full Cat 1 3pt, a FEL, and a BH. The mid mount mower and especially the blades that Kubota offers do not seem as stout or "simple" as my Cub 3225 54" deck. I have put that Cub deck through A LOT, probaly mowed 350 of those 460 hours, and have only gone through 3 sets of blades. Moles like to dig up everything, including large stones, and that really tears up a blade when you go over their mound without kicking it down first.
So, after my rambling, go with the Cub because you should be satisfied, but ask yourself what you REALLY want to do with the tractor and what your property is like. I use ag tires exclusively and find mself using the rear diff lock to frequently get out of softy spots and up inclines. Back in 1998 I thought I could do all I wanted with the Cub, and I have done a lot, but had I bought more, I could have done more, because I really needed more.
micman32
Gold Member
vamil93 said:
Vamil93,
I paid $3899 plus tax for my 2518 in 2003. I think the list price at that time was around $4600. I was looking at a JD 235 also. They wanted $5400 for a 18hp and 42"deck. My 2518 has 20hp Kolher command engine and a 44" deck plus the shaft drive. For me CC was the best for the money.
My dealer experience was top notch. They didn't try to push anything on me.
I use my Cub mainly for mowing. I have a dump cart and a triple bagger.
Problems have been few and most of them being covered under warranty.
I have my machine dealer serviced every winter.
The 3000 series is one fine tractor. I think it would serve you well.
Let us know what you decide..... Michael
I have had my 2550 since June with almost 40 hours use so far. I got it because it was the best price for shaft drive and I'm very glad I did. I mow about 3.5 ac, with some hilly parts and a lot of rough ground. It took me a few cuts to work out the best cutting hight and I have found out that it does it's best work when run a little slower than flat out. Except for something very minor which was covered all has been well. The price was almost the same at the 3 area dealers I checked and chose the one that that offered free delivery and "house calls" for minor repairs at no extra charge.
Bouvier
Bouvier
OhioGuy
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2003
- Messages
- 595
- Location
- Northeast Ohio
- Tractor
- Ford 1220, Case 245, Cub SZ60, Cub 2284
I've owned a 149, a 1862 a 1860 a 1872 and a 5252.
The engines ranged from the single cylinder 14HP Kohler to the OHV 25 in the 5252. The decks ranged from 44 inch to 60 inch.
The only tractor the went back for service was the 5252 because it was under warranty. Every other repair, and they were minimal, was done by me. I'm not a great mechanic, but theres so many people willing to share info and the tractors were all easy to service. I'm real organized when it comes to maintaining, greasing, lubing, paying attention when something doesn't sound or feel right.
I think the new stuff pound for pound is as good as the old.
My 5252 at 25HP burns half as much gas as the old 1872, that I still have.
But, you gotta love the old SGT's, 60" deck, front Hydro ports wider wheelbase and roomier seating, I paid $2000 for mine 4 years ago with a 54" hydraulic dozed/snow blade and I picked up a 45 snowthrower cheap!
Throws that snow a mile....
I have to admit I've never owned anything else in that range, I have an old Ford 1220 with a FEL and BH that does the heavy lifting. It's an awesome piece of equipment also, the only diesel I've ever owned. Man, I guess I just love tractors.......
Curt
The engines ranged from the single cylinder 14HP Kohler to the OHV 25 in the 5252. The decks ranged from 44 inch to 60 inch.
The only tractor the went back for service was the 5252 because it was under warranty. Every other repair, and they were minimal, was done by me. I'm not a great mechanic, but theres so many people willing to share info and the tractors were all easy to service. I'm real organized when it comes to maintaining, greasing, lubing, paying attention when something doesn't sound or feel right.
I think the new stuff pound for pound is as good as the old.
My 5252 at 25HP burns half as much gas as the old 1872, that I still have.
But, you gotta love the old SGT's, 60" deck, front Hydro ports wider wheelbase and roomier seating, I paid $2000 for mine 4 years ago with a 54" hydraulic dozed/snow blade and I picked up a 45 snowthrower cheap!
Throws that snow a mile....
I have to admit I've never owned anything else in that range, I have an old Ford 1220 with a FEL and BH that does the heavy lifting. It's an awesome piece of equipment also, the only diesel I've ever owned. Man, I guess I just love tractors.......
Curt