Decision Time

[HappyOne]

I have had a L4350 Shuttle Shift for well over a decade. It's been a workhorse and a real joy to own. It has nearly 1700 hours. The only things I have wished for were HST, quick attach loader and a Cab. I have often thought of getting an updated model. I use it primarily for clearing, driveway maintenance, general earth moving and mowing.

I am now in possession of a 500 hour L3430 HSTC with turf tires and a MMM. Basically the three items on my wish list, but on a smaller tractor (with gripless tires). I obviously don't need two tractors, so I am considering my options. Sell the L4350, Ditch the MMM and turf tires and settle for a nice albeit less capable L3430. Or possibly trade both for a L4240.

With the two tractors side by side, it's clear the L3430 is much lighter duty. I would miss the power of my L4350, but don't really need to be pushing Cedars over with my tractor anyway. Just need to rent a dozer. The bucket size is quite a bit smaller too.

Have any of you had luck getting value out of trading in, or is it better to sell outright and negotiate with cash?

 

[TripleR]

I would go with the 4240 option.

Can't help on selling or trading, we just accumulate and move them between farms.

 

[teg]

...or is it better to sell outright and negotiate with cash?

It's tougher, I hate selling stuff (dealing with buyers and knowing what it worth). Overall it's still going to cost ya...

Life short, get what you want, if you can afford it... or live with what you got. Personally, I would love to have two tractors :drool:

 

[nybirdman]

With the prices of new tractors today I think good used tractors have a large market.Sell both and buy the L4240 HSTC...I really like mine.

 

[MHarryE]

I could probably have got more money private sale but I saved the hassle by trading and now have no regrets. Dealer must have done okay because next time I visited my old tractor was gone. I already had a hydro but I got my beloved cab plus MORE POWER!

 

[Bluegill2]

I'd probably just keep both tractors. Nothing wrong with having two Kubotas.:thumbsup:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Have any of you had luck getting value out of trading in, or is it better to sell outright and negotiate with cash?

I guess I'm qualified to answer this one. In 9 years I have purchased 13 Kubotas from Barlows. I currently have 5 Kubotas from Barlows. So that means I've disposed of 8 of them which I did sell privately one of them and that leaves 7 that I traded back to Barlows.
I think almost anyone prefers to make the most out of a deal but there are trade offs for either method. I've obviously chosen the benefits of trading with a good dealer vs trying to sell mine privately 7 out of 8 times.
The one private sale was because the Kubota I owned (a gas mower) did not retain its resale value like the diesel engined 4 wd tractors and I wasn't satisfied with the trade in offer but I still felt he offered me a fair trade in, it just lost to much value after being used, more like an automobile.
A 4wd name brand diesel tractor that is decently maintained and looks decent will bring a pretty good amount of the purchase price back or that has been my experience.
There are people that are convinced to the depths of their being that there is a great amount of savings in buying used and will hunt for only used. Dealers have these individuals show up on their lot and have to send them away with their cash. Barlows usually doesn't, they usually have a decent inventory of used in stock or due for arrival on an impending trade to serve these customers so they will give a fair price for a used tractor since they may already have 2 to 6 customers waiting for the trade in.
Maybe other dealers don't tap this market or shy away from it so there may be non trading dealers out there just like there are higher priced for new dealers that want to make more on fewer sales so they'll have less customers to "deal" with.
Any way, yes, I've traded several times and feel I got a fair trade in value while still getting Barlows standard deep discount on the tractor being purchased. Try them and see for yourself. It won't cost anything and then you'll know more than you did before you called.
Could I have saved a few dollars by selling privately?:confused2: I don't know but obviously I've felt not enough for the sometimes frustration that comes with selling a high priced item to a buyer/tire kicker/casing my place individual/no money/bad credit/going to be back/John Deeres are better individual or group. different strokes for different folks.
One could get a trade price from a dealer and then try a private sale for a week or two then go back to the dealer with the trade or the cash.

 

[HappyOne]

Thanks for the opinions. I'll stop by my local dealer soon and see if he has any interest. I'll also spend some time on the L3430 pulling my land pride AFM4211 and see if it has enough oomph and grip for general tasks around here. I can see using my L4350 as a beater and keep the L3430 shiny and clean. Storing both presents some issues, but not insurmountable. There both stored inside now.

 

[HappyOne]

I have had a year of using both and now see it's time to combine the two. The L3430HSTC is a joy to use, but under powered or lacking traction for some of the work I do and . The L4350 is a brute and has most of the power I need, but I really want a hydrostatic and cab. I'm probably going to find a L5240HSTC or L5740HSTC

I have a pretty good feel for what the L3430 will bring. The question is where to price the L4350. It's got dents and scrapes all over, but still works well.

 

[wolftree]

JamesKubota,

Consider this. List both of your tractors on craigslist and other locations. Whichever one does not sell, trade in to the dealer on what you want. If they both sell at your asking price, even better.