Farm/Retreat Soon - Then Tractor - Help

[ovrszd]

John,

What do you (all) think of this offer - received this afternoon from an Alabama dealership (not local)?

Steve,
I got with Kubota and found a New (2010)L5740 cab and Kubota LA854 quick att. loader, the price is going to be $36,385 plus 2.75% sales tax, we can't get the rebate, but can get the 0% for 60 mo. Please let me know if you would like to get this one. it will take about 3-5 days to get everything ready. Thanks

I don't think anyone can tell you if that's a good price based on the information given. The L5740 with cab and loader has an extensive list of pricey options that are available. Some that will be needed by you, some that will not. Things such as weights, loaded rear tires, rear remotes, 3rd function loader controller, cab frills, etc., etc. These options could easily add or subtract $3K on the price. So if this is a bare tractor w/cab and loader it's not a bargain. If it's a loaded setup, it's a lot better.

Also looks like you are paying around $5K for the additional HP when compared to a L4240. Pretty small percentage of the total cost if needed. That money would buy a lot of attachments if the HP isn't needed. Kinda like your boat/truck story. Why didn't you buy a crewcab 4wd 1-ton dually diesel truck or a 50' boat??

 

[Sniggle]

I would not forget a landscape rake...it is a great tool. I turned 3 acres into pasture 1.5 years ago and I used it alot.

The landscape rake is great for collecting debris (roots, stick, ect) sitting on the top of a newly cleared area. It is also work well to rough level an area quickly. Finally, if you turn the thing around, it is very good at covering pasture seed in loose soil.

I also used my box blade with teth down to pop out roots and surface rocks.

I hope that in 15 years I am looking at a similiar project to yours....

 

[sbakf]

I understand better now. You bought a Blazer in 72(73) and you paid all those extra costs for gas since 72 and was glad you did because 4 years later you needed a vehicle that big. Same fuel consumption usage applies to tractors. Bigger use more fuel which is a big factor when you start pouring it in that hole on a real regular basis. Are you saying you kept the same vehicle for over 4(3) years??? Having traded/bought over 120 cars since 1965 as desires, money and demand came forth and having purchased/traded 9 Kubotas in six years as tractor applications have been determined/refined I come from the other side of the mountain than you. I've also been up the scale and back down on size of tractors and found trading back down in size is much more expensive than trading up in size. Contact Barlows and get a price which you can use to determine if the price you are getting locally is high, low or in between and if they are way low they'll deliver one to you. They also don't charge sells tax for out of state sales. I also love porches across the front of a house. Here's how much I love front porches.

John,
Thanks for suggestion on making contact with Barlows - I'll do that today. I've always sought out multiple and documented quotes before making a big purchase, but trying to get such from dealers around here is proving difficult. They seem so disinterested in working for (toward) a sale. I'll have to check with my tax guy about the sales tax issue. Alabama tax return instructions state that such out of state purchases must be declared and the appropriate (state) taxes paid. So don't know if I would save by going with an out of state dealer. Service and support would also be an issue. Nevertheless, getting another quote would be helpful.

What really prompted me to get that Blazer was a event that could have easily killed me, my wife and 2 y.o. daughter, except for some grace from above. Sitting at the rear of a stalled line of traffic on a narrow rural road, an old '49 Ford came over the hill behind us going way too fast. The guy locked his wheels, fishtailed, then rolled gently on his side and came to rest about 20' behind us. We were all in my little '66 MGB - wife and I in front and our daughter sitting on the deck behind us. Another justification, to be honest, was my passion for deer hunting - MGB's don't do well in Alabama deep woods mud.

In late '72, the difference in price between an Impala (family car) and a K5 Blazer was less than $1,000. The difference in gas mileage between the two was about 10 miles/gal. Gas was then near $0.30/gal (or less with the price wars). Putting on around 10,000 mile/yr, I figured the Blazer would cost me an extra $150/yr in fuel consumption (i.e., about $15/mo in the early years). Well worth the extra cost - at the time. Might add, my wife loved driving the K5. As a physical therapist for the State of Alabama, her job required many visits to handicapped children in rural counties - she often needed that 4WD.

I sold that '72/'73 Blazer in 1994 (Christmas) for $4,800 - near $800 more than I paid for it new. I replaced it with a used '89 K5 Blazer (72K miles @ $8,750) and I'm still driving it. Like my dad, I seem to keep things forever - I still have that first '66 MGB and that big boat. They're both in need of restoration, but that must wait until my new shop gets built - along with my many others.

 

[sbakf]

I would not forget a landscape rake...it is a great tool. I turned 3 acres into pasture 1.5 years ago and I used it alot.

The landscape rake is great for collecting debris (roots, stick, ect) sitting on the top of a newly cleared area. It is also work well to rough level an area quickly. Finally, if you turn the thing around, it is very good at covering pasture seed in loose soil.

I also used my box blade with teth down to pop out roots and surface rocks.

I hope that in 15 years I am looking at a similiar project to yours....

I haven't - its on my list.

Went back down to the local Kubota dealership this afternoon. They seemed a bunch more receptive after I told them I had closed on the land. Guess I can understand their mood before - ... why waste time with a guy who doesn't have any acreage. Salesman ignored multiple paged calls and spoke with me for about a hour - he definitely had a better attitude today. I'm supposed to get an itemized quote tomorrow via email. He'll be pricing 4 tractor models for me, the L5740, L5240, L4740 and the L4240 (all 2010's) with cab radio (n/c), loaded rear tires (n/c), grille guard (n/c) and rear facing cab lights. Priced separately will be 2 rear remotes, 3rd function loader controller, 6' rotary cutter, grapple, rotary tiller, disc, post hole diggers (3pt with hydraulic down force assist and bucket mount), 48" pallet forks, rear blade (hydraulic adjust), box blade, rake - and others I can't remember. He wrote down the list - I didn't. No, I have no consideration of buying them all. I do have a limit on what I can spend - the salesman knows this, but he doesn't know my cut-off. I'll formulate a package based on his preliminary quotes, your recommendations and then start the negotiation.

To confirm another thread - you can still get 60 mo/0% financing, but there's a 3% tack-on premium to get it (vs the now offered 42 mo/0% financing).

 

[sbakf]

Also looks like you are paying around $5K for the additional HP when compared to a L4240. Pretty small percentage of the total cost if needed. That money would buy a lot of attachments if the HP isn't needed. Kinda like your boat/truck story. Why didn't you buy a crewcab 4wd 1-ton dually diesel truck or a 50' boat??

Asked about this today - the price difference was only $3,000. As to your final question, don't think they had crew cab, 4WD, 1-ton dually diesel trucks around in late 1972 - besides, they're too noisy and smelly for a family vehicle. As for a 50' boat, my driveway was too short and my garage too small for such. Besides, fuel costs for the Slickcraft was bad enough at 9 gal/hr.

 

[medicshawn]

Make sure you add the Skid steer quick attach to your loader. Shouldn't cost anything to add but will cost a lot to add later.

I think the 4240 May be the best value. You get the larger loader (824).

 

[sbakf]

Make sure you add the Skid steer quick attach to your loader. Shouldn't cost anything to add but will cost a lot to add later.

I think the 4240 May be the best value. You get the larger loader (824).

I did ask about the Skid steer quick attach. Salesman said Kubota's quick attach/detach loader arms would accommodate any skid steer attachment. Don't remember what loader number he said, but the Kubota "L" series catalog I have indicates it would come with a LA854 loader (10.9 cu.ft. bucket capacity). This particular loader is also listed for the L4240/L4740/L5040/L5240 series tractors. I don't see a 824 loader listed. Next size down in the table is the LA724 loader (8.8 cu.ft. bucket capacity) for the L3240/L3540/L3940 tractors.

 

[medicshawn]

It is 854 I got my numbers crossed.

You lose nothing with the SSQA but gain the ability to use any Skid Steer attachments. Such as your grapple and pallet forks.

 

[ovrszd]

I haven't - its on my list.

Went back down to the local Kubota dealership this afternoon. They seemed a bunch more receptive after I told them I had closed on the land. Guess I can understand their mood before - ... why waste time with a guy who doesn't have any acreage. Salesman ignored multiple paged calls and spoke with me for about a hour - he definitely had a better attitude today. I'm supposed to get an itemized quote tomorrow via email. He'll be pricing 4 tractor models for me, the L5740, L5240, L4740 and the L4240 (all 2010's) with cab radio (n/c), loaded rear tires (n/c), grille guard (n/c) and rear facing cab lights. Priced separately will be 2 rear remotes, 3rd function loader controller, 6' rotary cutter, grapple, rotary tiller, disc, post hole diggers (3pt with hydraulic down force assist and bucket mount), 48" pallet forks, rear blade (hydraulic adjust), box blade, rake - and others I can't remember. He wrote down the list - I didn't. No, I have no consideration of buying them all. I do have a limit on what I can spend - the salesman knows this, but he doesn't know my cut-off. I'll formulate a package based on his preliminary quotes, your recommendations and then start the negotiation.

To confirm another thread - you can still get 60 mo/0% financing, but there's a 3% tack-on premium to get it (vs the now offered 42 mo/0% financing).

Now we're talking!!! I'm anxious to see the results of the quotes. Also sounds like the salesman is covering all your options. Not saying you should buy the Kubota, but for sure you are gonna know everything necessary to make a logical decision. Keep us posted!!!

Also, when you have these quotes in writing, take them to your JD dealer and see if he can beat them. Get his quotes in writing and take them back to the Kubota dealer to see if he can match. Might save you some money and you'll then know which dealer wants your business the most.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Now we're talking!!! I'm anxious to see the results of the quotes. Also sounds like the salesman is covering all your options. Not saying you should buy the Kubota, but for sure you are gonna know everything necessary to make a logical decision. Keep us posted!!!

Also, when you have these quotes in writing, take them to your JD dealer and see if he can beat them. Get his quotes in writing and take them back to the Kubota dealer to see if he can match. Might save you some money and you'll then know which dealer wants your business the most.

Are you implying a Green tractor is comparable to an Orange tractor?