Former and current Toro tractor owners, please help!

[bontai_Joe]

I haven't owned that tractor but I'll add my opinion anyway. In 1997 Toro was still Toro, now it is part of MTD.

I just wanted to correct that Toro is indeed getting some models made under contract by MTD to be competitive in the growing "box store" market, but is not owned by MTD.

 

[duane]

ORGT,

I have a 1994 266H with 320 hours. The Kohler command engine runs very well with no problems. The tractor is considered a yard tractor, halfway between a lawn tractor and a garden tractor. I snow blow with the 42" single stage with wheel weights and chains. Used it in every imaginable type of snow. Does a great job. The tractor has a tight turning radius, adjustable high back seat, tilt steering with good ergonomics. It has a quality electrical system, solid frame, and warning lights for oil, charging, parking brake and implement on. Parts are no problem. Would I buy it again, yes, although I think Simplicity lawn mower decks provide one of the best cuts available.

 

[orgt]

ORGT,

The price on that 267H seems too high. I have a 1996 520H (300 hrs.) with the bullet proof Onan 20 HP engine. I paid $5,500 new and was told by my Toro dealer that book value is currently $1,200.00. My tractor is in like new condition and the dealer said I might get $100-$200 more.....If this dealer traded this unit he probably gave the guy $500-$600 for it. I would offer no more than $1,000 for this model with 500 hrs. on it.
Good Luck!

Jeff

Thanks Jeff. Ya know... the price did seem too high to me too.

Anyway, you bring a very interesting point about "Book value."

How did your dealer determine this?

Is there some kind of Blue book for tractors too?

 

[jeffmazz]

orgt,

There certainly is a blue book for tractors. Go to a local tractor dealer and ask them if they can give you the book value of your tractor. Just about any dealer should be able to give you this info. If you can't get it I will get it for you. I will be visiting my dealer on Wednesday for some supplies, I'll ask while I'm there.

Jeff

 

[orgt]

ORGT,

I have a 1994 266H with 320 hours. The Kohler command engine runs very well with no problems. The tractor is considered a yard tractor, halfway between a lawn tractor and a garden tractor. I snow blow with the 42" single stage with wheel weights and chains. Used it in every imaginable type of snow. Does a great job. The tractor has a tight turning radius, adjustable high back seat, tilt steering with good ergonomics. It has a quality electrical system, solid frame, and warning lights for oil, charging, parking brake and implement on. Parts are no problem. Would I buy it again, yes, although I think Simplicity lawn mower decks provide one of the best cuts available.

Mornin' duane, and thanks for taking the time to share. I kinda got a giggle when I read "between a lawn tractor and a garden tractor" so there yet another category there LOL. Ahhh all those categories... but regardless this confirms my initial impression of a solid tractor.

It's too bad the dealer wants this much though. The tractor was still sitting in his yard last time I drove by, so I will give it a few more weeks and see if they take the price down or would let it go for about a grand which I think is what it's worth with over 500 hours.

To be honest with you I'm now looking at used shaft tractors because I believe that's more of what I need for my property. Don't think Toro makesd any in my ball park though, that's too bad.

 

[orgt]

orgt,

There certainly is a blue book for tractors. Go to a local tractor dealer and ask them if they can give you the book value of your tractor. Just about any dealer should be able to give you this info. If you can't get it I will get it for you. I will be visiting my dealer on Wednesday for some supplies, I'll ask while I'm there.

Jeff

Mornin' Jeff so I guess this info isn't public, i.e. available online right? Reminds me of the old days with the blue book, when car dealers jealously guarded it like a state secret LOL.

My dealer says they don't have that "book", they're an independant, maybe too small or maybe they're just giving me the runaround for some reason.

Anyway, I will take you up on your kind offer. If you would ask them what a 3185 CC with 250 hours and in apparently good condition would be worth, I'd be much obliged. It's a 1999 model with a 18HP Briggs engine.

 

[jeffmazz]

orgt,

I talked to my dealer today and got some pricing for the two tractors you are considering.

The tractor blue book only lists trade in value. They don't offer a retail # any more.

Trade in value on the 1997 WheelHorse 267-H with a 52" deck is $890.00. If the unit is in exceptional condition it will bring $100-$300 more.
Estimated retail on this unit with 500 hrs, in very good condition is around $1,400.00 (that's my dealers opinion). The dealer said considering the mowing season is nearing an end he would think your dealer would probably take $1,200.00 unless he gave too much when he traded it. The Kohler engine should last beyond 1000 hrs. but will most likely not see 2000 hrs. Some do but most don't. Considering it took me 10 years to put 300 hrs on my 520H cutting 1.5 acres every week (2 hours/week) during the season, along with using it for misc. chores.....This unit will probably give you well over ten years of service. Maybe $1500.00 isn't such a bad deal after all. I would still shoot for $1200.00 though.

The 1999 Cub Cadet 3185 trade in value with a 48" deck is $2,150.00. An exceptionally clean unit will bring a few hundred more. Estimated retail on this unit with 300 hrs. in very good condition is $2700.00 (again, this is my dealers opinion).

Hope this info. helps. Good Luck with your tractor hunt.

Jeff

 

[LBrown59]

I just wanted to correct that Toro is indeed getting some models made under contract by MTD to be competitive in the growing "box store" market, but is not owned by MTD.

It's troy built that's made by MTD not WheelHorse Toro.

 

[bontai_Joe]

Starting this past spring, the Toro models LX420, LX460, LX500 and the GT2100, GT2200, GT2300 are made by MTD under a contract with Toro. These are the Toro models you currently see at the "box" stores. Toro did this to be able to compete in that price bracket with Cub & Deere, and to have affordable product to put inside box stores where the market action seems to be. Toro will not confirm who makes these when asked, just that they are made by an "outside contractor", however MTD will confirm that they are making these when asked.

 

[orgt]

orgt,

I talked to my dealer today and got some pricing for the two tractors you are considering.

The tractor blue book only lists trade in value. They don't offer a retail # any more.

Trade in value on the 1997 WheelHorse 267-H with a 52" deck is $890.00. If the unit is in exceptional condition it will bring $100-$300 more.
Estimated retail on this unit with 500 hrs, in very good condition is around $1,400.00 (that's my dealers opinion). The dealer said considering the mowing season is nearing an end he would think your dealer would probably take $1,200.00 unless he gave too much when he traded it. The Kohler engine should last beyond 1000 hrs. but will most likely not see 2000 hrs. Some do but most don't. Considering it took me 10 years to put 300 hrs on my 520H cutting 1.5 acres every week (2 hours/week) during the season, along with using it for misc. chores.....This unit will probably give you well over ten years of service. Maybe $1500.00 isn't such a bad deal after all. I would still shoot for $1200.00 though.

The 1999 Cub Cadet 3185 trade in value with a 48" deck is $2,150.00. An exceptionally clean unit will bring a few hundred more. Estimated retail on this unit with 300 hrs. in very good condition is $2700.00 (again, this is my dealers opinion).

Hope this info. helps. Good Luck with your tractor hunt.

Jeff

Wow I'm speechless this is SO nice of you (and of your dealer, wish I had one of those around here, read below)! I think that having at least an idea of trade-in value is a big help, glad to see it's still out there.

I've been doing more research lately and to be honest right now I'm keeping my options wide open. For one I'm wondering if I should even consider anything that's not shaft-driven. When I bought my last tractor my neighbor was mowing with that really nice Ingersoll (I think) and I distinctly remember him telling me that it just didn't even compare with a belt-driven machine. How right was he because a mere 7 years later I need another tractor!

That 3185 CC was quite appealing but guess what, after an initial quick reply from that JD dealer which was encouraging, I sent him back a short list of important but fairly standard questions. He hasn't bothered to reply... I guess he doesn't need my business.

Unless I missed something amongst other brands (please tell me folks!) a used 2000 or better yet (for me) 3000 Cub Cadet series are the only small, shaft tractors that would be in my ballpark even by the Spring when hopefully we have mo' money (at which point I might even be able to go new with a lil' luck LOL.)

Guess what Jeff? I just looked at your profile and I just about fell off my chair when I realized that you live only 50 miles away! Would you mind sharing with me/us who that nice dealer is? And what brands do they sell? Or feel free to PM me if you prefer. I don't mind driving a bit for good prices and service, and maybe you and I could arrange to meet too (drink's on me.)

The reason I'm asking is that I've been pretty frustrated that out the the 4 or 5 Cub dealers within 25 miles, NOT ONE has a web site (the main CC site doesn't bother listing those anyway for any of their dealers, which just astonished me, there's no excuse for that in 2006.) One of those dealers, in Chambersburg PA I know is pretty large overall because I bought machinery from them (not Cub though) back in 1999. I could not believe that they don't even list their used sales on Ironsearch or anywhere that I could find on the web.

Anyway I've got a number of specific CC questions but I should probably post those on that forum.

Thanks again.