Finally made a green decision over orange.

[picker77]

After an agonizing week of studying, shopping, looking, trying, test driving, and talking to dealers, I bought a new JD 3032E today, will pick it up tomorrow afternoon. My recently sold old reliable was a Kubota, and I had full intentions of going orange with the new one, but I just couldn't get used to two things--the controls (I hate, hate, hate heel & toe HST pedals), and the fact that Kubota STILL, after all these years, doesn't seem to think there are any Americans over here over six feet tall that drive tractors. Every orange compact I tried had cramped leg room, and I got tired of looking under seats to see how I could modify them to move back further. I'm not huge, just 6' 4" and 230 lb, but my size 14's just couldn't live with the pedal and seat arrangements on Kubota compacts.

I also had figured green compacts would be too expensive for me, but as it turns out I really liked the 3032E a lot, especially the "twin touch" pedals and the extensive leg room the adjustable seat affords. I can live with the two-speed hydro and the non-detachable loader setup, since I do most of my mowing with a big zero turn anyway. Plus, the 3032E just seems smoother and easier to drive, and the configuration of the 305's cast iron loader frame partially makes up for its non-removeability by not having a bunch of braces and crap in the way of getting to the engine from all sides for maintenance. A nice surprise was the price, which turned out to be $300 cheaper around here than the best I could do on a B3300SU package, complete with grille guard and drawbar. And I took advantage of Mr. Deere's pot of money with a zero interest loan. All in all, I'm a happy camper, can't wait to pick it up tomorrow!

 

[rekees4300]

Welcome to the green team. I have a 4300 which is basically a pre-3032E and have nothing but good things to said about it for 10 years now. Hope you enjoy your new tractor and some pictures would be nice.

 

[TripleR]

Congratulations on your new tractor, John Deere makes really good machinery. My neighbor just got a new 3520 and it sure looks good.

 

[picker77]

Will do on the pictures in the next day or two.

A good chunk of weight behind this decision was related to my impression of the dealers, too. This JD dealer is 35 miles away, but has been there many, many years taking care of farmers for 50 miles or more around and enjoys a solid reputation for service. They also have a very large, clean, and well staffed/organized shop. I had a warm and fuzzy feeling from all that, comared to most other dealers I visited. Like most green dealers these folks don't do much in the way of big time discounting and low-ball sales, but OTOH I got the feeling they'll be there if and when I need them, and that means a lot to me.

 

[ham]

You made a great choice...and I joined you last week with a 4520 with cab which I plan on making a full disclosure on when I am done haying.

Here is the news folks. John Deere has decided to get serious. I was surprised to see them beat NH and Kubota both with what was actually a more powerful tractor and exactly the same amenities.

 

[picker77]

FWIW, my only other last temptation after the Kubota was eliminated from the competition might be surprising to some: A little 4WD Mahindra 2516 Gear with a quick-detach M105 loader, which was well over $2K cheaper all around. It had 12F/12R with a slick synchronized shuttle shift, and the controls were very well laid out with a flat floor, tilt wheel, and good leg room. The shuttle shift made loader use a breeze, there was plenty of leg room, and believe it or not this is a 1900-lb tractor, although overall physically smaller than the others I looked at, maybe about the overall size of a B2620 Kubota. Green finally carried the day mainly because I have brand confidence in John Deere, and the looks of the local Mahindra dealership, which to me was somewhat less than a professional-looking setup. So if you do a lot of loader work and like the simplicity of gear tractors, don't pass up trying out a Mahindra with shuttle shift. These are heavily built, very impressive compacts made by Mitsibushi and assembled in the USA, and they are aggressively priced with a great power train warranty and like the others have a boat load of zero financing options available. Just make sure the dealership looks like it will last as long as the tractor!

 

[wolc123]

Thats kind of funny about the size. It is just like the Airplanes of WW2, where the Japanese models had the pedals much closer to the seat, making it tough for an average American to fly a captured one. Some machines designed with far-east influence today must still use a smaller model of the human form. I dont think there are many folks left today who believe that JD always costs more than Kubota. In general they are close to the same, and quite often these days (as you have discovered), JD's are actually less money in the under 50 hp class. The thought that Kubotas are cheaper just lingers from 15 or more years ago, when, like the Chinese models today, they actually were cheaper. It wouldnt surprize me a bit to see Chinese tractors selling for as much as JD's and Kubotas in another 5 years or so. As America continues to crank out more and more Lawyers - hampering manufacturing, China cranks out more and more Engineers. It cant be too long before they gain a big technolgical lead, enabling them to sell a better product at a lower price.

 

[picker77]

One of the brands I looked at was the bright blue LS, made in South Korea. Actually a pretty impressive tractor to look at, but I didn't price them because I'd never heard of them. It was the alternate brand carried by the local Mahindra dealer. The C-series LS's had the absolute heaviest duty loader and loader mount of any compact I've seen, and come standard with--get this--dual remote rear hydraulics! The frame and loader mount on their 35 hp looked like it belonged on a 60 hp rig. Don't know how they'd run or what the dealer support might be like, but I'll bet you couldn't break one of those loaders. Like the Japanese, the Koreans have been building ships, cranes, and heavy equipment for a long time, and the LS tractor's design is definitely **** for stout.

 

[Pushing_Tin]

Congrats! I just made my third JD purchase last week. I did look at the Kubotas too, and I also hate the heel toe HST. The salesman there also couldn't seem to care less about making a sale which partially factored into another JD purchase. Post pics!

 

[Monster5601]

I'm 6' 4" too and found a few tractors a bit cramped. It is interesting how subjective a tractor's features can be. You hate the heal-toe pedal and I selected a tractor because of it. It just comes do to what we like and the dealer support. Congrads and enjoy.