Heading to the Deere Dealer Friday...

[couchsachraga]

I'm posting this here rather than elsewhere as it is Deere specific. Those of you that have helped me thus far Thank You again!

I talked to the salesman I met at the fair over the summer today and made an appointment to see him Friday afternoon - it's an hour away, so if I'm heading down and taking some time off work I wanted to be sure he'd be there.

I'm really leaning towards a 4520 with cab, ePTO, third function hydraulics up front and 4th and 5th in the rear (and top and tilt) with R1's. iMatch and auto style cruise, plus some lights and wipers.

I've made a list of other things to ask about and price out including:
400CX loader
grapple rake (if I sell mine with my current tractor)
4 in 1 bucket (I don't think I'll even get the standard bucket)
power beyond (may get a backhoe), have to buy when ordering the machine, or can you add it later?
Creep to reposition (see above)


What else should I consider, or ask about?

I'll be bringing pictures of my potential trade in (33hp Yanmar 336D, loader with extra hydraulics, grapple,top and tilt, soft curtis cab, new rubber all around). I'll be curious to see what they offer up.

I'll be mowing 5 acres, up keeping a mile of dirt road and several miles of woods trails as well as clearing brush and loading logs on my small bandsaw mill.

I was planning on waiting until spring, but looking at the prices used equipment seems to go for, and the decent prices for new (esp financing) I decided it was worth a trip down, whether I purchase or not now.


So, questions to ask, things to think about, and if you've purchased a similar JD recently ballpark what you paid and where you are would be greatly appreciated


Thank you all in advance!

 

[grsthegreat]

I'm posting this here rather than elsewhere as it is Deere specific. Those of you that have helped me thus far Thank You again!

I talked to the salesman I met at the fair over the summer today and made an appointment to see him Friday afternoon - it's an hour away, so if I'm heading down and taking some time off work I wanted to be sure he'd be there.

I'm really leaning towards a 4520 with cab, ePTO, third function hydraulics up front and 4th and 5th in the rear (and top and tilt) with R1's. iMatch and auto style cruise, plus some lights and wipers.

I've made a list of other things to ask about and price out including:
400CX loader
grapple rake (if I sell mine with my current tractor)
4 in 1 bucket (I don't think I'll even get the standard bucket)
power beyond (may get a backhoe), have to buy when ordering the machine, or can you add it later?
Creep to reposition (see above)


What else should I consider, or ask about?

I'll be bringing pictures of my potential trade in (33hp Yanmar 336D, loader with extra hydraulics, grapple,top and tilt, soft curtis cab, new rubber all around). I'll be curious to see what they offer up.

I'll be mowing 5 acres, up keeping a mile of dirt road and several miles of woods trails as well as clearing brush and loading logs on my small bandsaw mill.

I was planning on waiting until spring, but looking at the prices used equipment seems to go for, and the decent prices for new (esp financing) I decided it was worth a trip down, whether I purchase or not now.


So, questions to ask, things to think about, and if you've purchased a similar JD recently ballpark what you paid and where you are would be greatly appreciated


Thank you all in advance!

if your getting a cab, ask for rear wiper and radio, as these are not standard..but way worth having.

also, personally id sell the old tractor private party, as you'll get ALOT more for it than a dealer can offer you. IU was only offered $2,500 for my old JD870 , 14YO with 1,400 hours. I sold it privatly for $10,500.

 

[couchsachraga]

We'll see what they offer - I have a general idea what I think it's fair value is. I know a few folks that have traded their tractors in there and have been given very fair prices. While I usually never trade things in, and go for the higher prices often obtainable via private party, I'll be curious to see what they offer.

 

[grsthegreat]

We'll see what they offer - I have a general idea what I think it's fair value is. I know a few folks that have traded their tractors in there and have been given very fair prices. While I usually never trade things in, and go for the higher prices often obtainable via private party, I'll be curious to see what they offer.

good luck with your purchase. I loved my old JD. When i tried to buy a new cabed 4000 series last march 2011, my local JD dealer refused to give me anything off of the suggested sales price.

Even though i had purchased my old one from them, they were real &^%$ about it.

I ended up buying another brand from a dealer that treated me nicely. If my old loyal JD dealer would have offered me 12-15% off of mfg suggested price we might have had a deal. I was even offering a 100% cash sale.

Sounds like your dealer is willing to help you out...thats always a great thing.

oh..did i mention the rear wiper...man that things a life saver :laughing:

 

[couchsachraga]

Rear wiper, and extra lights are on my list - thank you for confirming they are a good idea!

Horn too, actually. I can't imagine a piece of equipment without a horn.

We have a few dealers around here - one Deere dealer is much closer, but by reputation and past experience I'll not be going there. The owner always treats me well (it's where I bought my Yanmar used), but if he's not around I get sneered at and they aren't much help.

The folks I'll be visiting have a great reputation, especially for service after the sale, as well as a "fair" price. We'll see what my experience is....

 

[grsthegreat]

Rear wiper, and extra lights are on my list - thank you for confirming they are a good idea!

Horn too, actually. I can't imagine a piece of equipment without a horn.

We have a few dealers around here - one Deere dealer is much closer, but by reputation and past experience I'll not be going there. The owner always treats me well (it's where I bought my Yanmar used), but if he's not around I get sneered at and they aren't much help.

The folks I'll be visiting have a great reputation, especially for service after the sale, as well as a "fair" price. We'll see what my experience is....

oh ya, i forget. are the rear cab lights standard or optional? or are you adding more than the usual 4 lights?...wait, isnt a horn standard???. i thought that was standard on all larger tractors?

defiantly needed on a cab tractor. How else can you get the wife's attention when shes walking in front of me while im working. I actually removed the horn that came standard on my tractor and replaced it with a MUCH louder electric horn. the one that came with it sounded like a 1960's era VW bug. I mean...really. A BUG

 

[couchsachraga]

Not standard, at least from what I can tell. $45 for a horn! I do like to keep it all Deere though, as it has been my experience that it is often cheaper to do it that way in the long run (options from the manufacturer, vs. aftermarket).

Nice Kioti, BTW. I almost purchased one, as my preferred dealer was selling them, but decided to wait. Between then and now with the consolidation of Kioti dealerships he's no longer a dealer... so I won't be purchasing a Kioti. I'm not fond of what they are doing, but if they are using the Deere model (big dealers only) I may as well get a Deere and not have the hassle of losing the dealer I purchased from (I expect even more consolidation on Kioti's part).

I've actually spent more time testing a Kioti than a JD4520 so far. Hopefully that will change Friday It will be nice to take one for a spin, so to speak.

 

[grsthegreat]

Not standard, at least from what I can tell. $45 for a horn! I do like to keep it all Deere though, as it has been my experience that it is often cheaper to do it that way in the long run (options from the manufacturer, vs. aftermarket).

Nice Kioti, BTW. I almost purchased one, as my preferred dealer was selling them, but decided to wait. Between then and now with the consolidation of Kioti dealerships he's no longer a dealer... so I won't be purchasing a Kioti. I'm not fond of what they are doing, but if they are using the Deere model (big dealers only) I may as well get a Deere and not have the hassle of losing the dealer I purchased from (I expect even more consolidation on Kioti's part).

I've actually spent more time testing a Kioti than a JD4520 so far. Hopefully that will change Friday It will be nice to take one for a spin, so to speak.

ya Kioti sure screwed up with the consolidation garbage. I heard that the guy that started that was canned , so its no longer going to continue. Luckly i have 2 established larger dealers in my general area.

I was actually going to try another JD dealer located about 40 miles away from me, but i was told that they were owned by the same guy that owned my local JD, so i didnt bother.

I try to stick with manufacturers parts also, but wouldnt worry with a horn. first go listen to the horn there offering. If its anything like the junker mine came with, get a nice aftermarket. They simply plug right in.

 

[Martian]

I really like the 4x20's, I'd say the 4520 is the most popular as well. Good HP to Frame ratio - plenty of owners to vow for me even though I don't own one.

You've got an excellent list of attachments you want too. All the hydraulics is an excellent idea, you won't regret that, top and tilt is excellent as well. I do believe you can add the power beyond later (not 100% sure but with all that add BH's later I'm sure you can) but it is a good idea to get it out of the gate and will save you a little later.

Be sure to ask about the 3rd function loader lever, not sure when you get it and when you don't but it is very handy, especially if getting the 4 in 1.

You will not regret the 400CX's cost over the X. Self leveling is excellent. Have it on my 01 5410 and using the 3120 is a disappointment w/o self leveling. Don't have to worry about spilling the load and is great for handling hay bales (as I do) and for use with pallet forks. If I were to buy again I would get a 4x20 just for the self leveling.

Trading in is definitely a lot easier, I tend to trade in when I can, saves me the PITA later when the thing won't sell. If I was in grsthegreat's shoes though I wouldn't have excepted $2.5k either, that's just a ridiculous low ball. When you can sell your tractor for 4 times more money as in that situation it makes sense.

One thing to definitely look into is iMatch. If you don't have many 3PH attachments currently I'd either refit them or trade them in for something that fits as iMatch is great. You can swap in seconds - they even make it for PTO attachments now such as a mower or tiller. I'd definitely recommend looking into it. Although it doesn't work with all out of the box you can modify all of your current to work with iMatch (many have done it)

What implements do you already have, do you already have the mower?, box blade? I'd recommend a BB42 series box blade (Frontier, JD's implements) an 84" so you can get the hydraulic rippers to run off all your hydraulics and a great ballast. You will need a ballast no matter what though - as you probably know.

The 4520 is a great tractor though! Good luck with it:thumbsup:

 

[couchsachraga]

I have an odd assortment of attachments, most of which I'll be keeping (though twice the horsepower, the 4520 is almost identical in size (shorter though) than my Yanmar 336D.

As my closest dealer who was very helpful and great prices was a Woods dealer, over the years I've gotten mostly Woods implements, medium duty most, but not all, the time:

66" Boxblade
96" Landscape rake, with wheels
84" offsetting rear blade (if I have a 3rd circuit to the rear I'll finally put my spare cylinder on it- it fits already!)
60" Woods Brushbull brush hog mower. This is the one implement I might trade in if they'll take mine and I can get a larger one (6 or 7')

I also want to get a land plane.

I may get a Woods, only because they have their own version of iMatch which looks similar, and I'm guessing will work well with all their implements....

I'm actually looking to reduce my loader implements, from 3 to 2 - I only need a bucket and a grapple rake, not two buckets. I don't recall the last time I used the large bucket that has no teeth on it. I think the 4 in 1 will be great, and I may actually leave it on more than the grapple, but being able to swap implements out quickly vs. removing 4 pins will be a welcome improvement.