First Tractor...JD vs NH vs Kubota vs Mahindra

[coobie]

I would also look hard at Kioti tractors also.Good luck,it sure is fun buying a new tractor.coobie

 

[Conn]

thanks for all the feedback and comments. I think I've narrowed it down to Kubota...the fit and finish just seems to be a higher quality. The shuttle shift is nice on the M Series and, of course, the hydrostatic is as simple as it gets on the L series. I'm leaning toward the M....50 or 60HP with FEL and a 72" cutter. No real break for buying the cutter from the kubota dealer so I'll probably shop around... but all in the all , the dealer has a very good rep and seems very responsible and reliable.

Jackster,

I beat myself up for over a month on the Mahindra 5500 and 5525 vs the JD 5103/5203 and the Kubota M5040. I never considered NH's TT series.

I drove all of them and the Kubota seemed to fit me best. It was much more egronomically fitting for me. There's no way I could sit on the 5103 for more than a couple of hours without being terribly uncomfortable. I COULD have bought a JD that was equally as nice,(tilt steering, nicer seat, armrests, bigger platform, etc.) and equally as equipped as the Kubota, but would have spent another $8K doing it. ($26k was the price for the "nicer" 4wd 55hp JD, I can't remember the series.)

I priced a Kubota M5040 2wd for $16600 with no FEL. I had a 5103 priced at $14614 out the door. I settled for the 4wd M5040, since it was in stock, and priced at $18953. Just looking over the engine and components, the craftsmanship looked better on the Kubota. Sitting on it felt much more comfortable. I had to reach out to the steering wheel on the 5103, and the seat sat you too high in the saddle to be comforable.

Someone from JD may be a little hesitant to tell you their tractor is made in India. At least my salesman was. Kubota has been Japanese from the get go and doens't hide it. We've got three Kubotas on the farm now for good reason. They seem to hold up great, and hold their value well.

Just my .02.

I'm as cheap as the day is long, and spend my money in the best way I can. I think I made a good decision by buying orange. I can get ANY part for my 1983 B6100E that I need...all the way down to the headlight switch. Parts support seems to be great.

 

[RWolf]

My JD dealer didn't hesitate at all to where my 5103 came from. He qualified very well "JD is a world company. Regardless where the tractor is made it has to meet the same quality as if it was manufactured in the USA." So far I've not been dissapointed.

 

[AndyMA]

Well after doing a lot of research, it seems that Deere makes the most heavy duty tractors. They might cost more, but in this case, you get what you pay for. I was researching new tractors and decided to get a Deere.

And just how did you come to that conclusion? For years the Deere compacts were lower quality than Kubota or Ford/New Holland. Now I would agree that they are on par with Kubota and New Holland but certainly not superior.

andy

 

[AndyMA]

OK...this is tough. I've got ~18+ hilly acres to care for and want to do some plowing and tilling on about 1 acre this year.... I've owned diesel engines, I've driven tractors but have never owned one or used one routinely. We have a good dealer here in town dealing in NH and Mahindra and I'm torn between a TC48DA and the Mahindra 5530.. I know these don't seem comparable..and thats my dilemma...TC48 seems to have the power I need, but the mahindra got an xtra ton in weight on it. I've driven both and you can feel the firmness of the weighty mahindra which feels good. On the tc48, there's a lot of fiberglass(or plastic) which wont rust, but doesn't seem as sturdy...of course the manhindra's finish is not as nice with ample spots of metal to rust. The mahindras got 24's in front vs. 16s on the NH. Ok, I've looked at deere..the 5203 probably makes the most sense, but I might as well buy the mahindra as it is an Indian made tractor too and I'm confident the mahindra facility in india has been making tractors longer than deere...in india that is. I haven't really looked at kubota...a lot lighter...maybe I should. I'm looking to put a loader on whatever I get and pull a 72" brush hog behind it...

I'm sure I'm not the first to have this dilemma...interested in getting thoughts. Thanks

Don't overlook the TC 48. It is based on Ford/New Holland's 2120 which is one of there most populat models ever. It is a considerable step up from a TC45. I have run a 2120 since 1987 and used it very hard. It has been a solid trooper.

Andy

 

[Raptor53]

And just how did you come to that conclusion? For years the Deere compacts were lower quality than Kubota or Ford/New Holland. Now I would agree that they are on par with Kubota and New Holland but certainly not superior.

andy

I have always heard that Deere compacts and larger tractors were the best out there (and Kubota doesn't even make really large tractors). From what I have heard, Kubota is 2nd best, with New Holland being 3rd. And each brand is priced accordingly. Seems that the main reason some people go with Kubota or New Holland instead of Deere is because they cost less than Deere on average. Now this is all hearsay and opinion of course because there is probably no true "best" brand, but Deere definitely has been around the longest and has the best reputation, dealer network, and parts availability. Also, why do you think it is that Deere tractors have the highest resale value of any brand?

Look at Consumer Reports ratings of Garden Tractors. I know they are not the same thing as diesel tractors, but still Deeres are rated the best, and that says something.

 

[MDM]

Kool-Aid anyone?

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Kool-Aid anyone?

Obviously, it must be "lime green" cool-aid....It's amazing what "hearsay" is out there....Since were dealing in "colors" here...I hope our hearsay poster is old enough to remember a tractor logo from years past...."Don't farm part--Farmall!" Oh, since I mentioned a red tractor, the old Farmall H outsold every other tractor in history with over 390,000 sold....just beating the Ford 8N...Gee, don't see any green here...BobG in VA

 

[scott_vt]

Obviously, it must be "lime green" cool-aid....It's amazing what "hearsay" is out there....Since were dealing in "colors" here...I hope our hearsay poster is old enough to remember a tractor logo from years past...."Don't farm part--Farmall!" Oh, since I mentioned a red tractor, the old Farmall H outsold every other tractor in history with over 390,000 sold....just beating the Ford 8N...Gee, don't see any green here...BobG in VA

Mornin Bob,
And................... you can still get parts for them too !!! Another vote for old time RED !

PS , didnt mean to deviate from the original question, just my 2 cents !

 

[Soundguy]

Oh, since I mentioned a red tractor, the old Farmall H outsold every other tractor in history with over 390,000 sold....just beating the Ford 8N...BobG in VA

Hmm... 390,000 beating over 500,000 I think that must be some new math or something? My 52 8n sn is 504580.

8N's were produced from late 1947 thru mid 1952.

The 390,000th 8n was probably made in mid 1951.

Considering the farmall H was made from 39-53.. It's easy to see that it sold / made less units per year than the ford 8n. Now..just compairing number built from 39-53 if we go back to 39 and include 9n / 2n into production with the 8n.. then you get over 800,000 units.. etc.

Not sure where you got fords 'low' production number from..?

Soundguy