Help selecting either a subcompact or compact 25HP tractor?

[rhatfiel]

The pricing is really not that much different when you finance. Maybe one payment difference. I got my BX for far less than MSRP. Yes you will have to get insurance (KTAC) but KTAC is awesome and covers damage to the tractor. Just make sure you drive a lot of different machines.

Cash pricing vs. financed pricing is the difference of a couple grand?

 

[sixdogs]

Kubota L2501. No emissions, a heavier frame than a B and lots around so new or used parts likely never an issue.

Thanks, but that is about $3K more than the other options I am looking at

Well, haggle for a bigger discount and/or get creative. Fight harder and be persistent. It's worked for me.

On a more deep-thinking level, all things could be argued to be the exact same price, despite the difference in price, when all known facts are considered. Something higher would be more highly regarded by the market based on buyer experience and expectation. Something cheaper would be the reverse. The market tells you what is what and what the value is. The market is your friend.

 

[JK22]

Cash pricing vs. financed pricing is the difference of a couple grand?

I’ve heard that argument on these forums before but that was not my experience. My dealer gave me a price that was several thousand below retail, I told him I wanted to finance, and he gave me the paperwork that showed the price we agreed on. The only thing I gave up by financing was the $500 rebate. I It should make no difference to the Kubota Dealer. He either gets paid directly by you or by Kubota Credit Corp.

When you finance you do also have to pay for for KTAC insurance, but that is really a blessing in disguise. I think I’m much more likely to have accidental damage than a serious warranty claim.

 

[jeff9366]

Looking at the Wall Street Journal, Japanese interest rates on ten year gov't money are .011% today. ( 11/100's of 1% per annum )

Looking at the Wall Street Journal US interest rates today on ten year gov't money are 2.71%, ~~245 times higher~~ than Japan.

I presume Kubota can borrow money in Japan to finance US consumer tractor purchases cheaper than North America based suppliers can borrow money in the USA.

 

[shooterdon]

If you can save, or make money with the machine, financing will normally make sense. Tractors are not like vehicles. They have minimal depreciation. I would not finance a truck or a tractor that will be a toy. A tractor that can save me money is different....especially if buying used is not practical.

Just my $.02

 

[Jchonline]

LS sounds like a great option. As previously mentioned, be sure to demo these machines on the lot. Drive them around, forward/reverse, use the loader controls to simulate raising/dumping etc. Adjust the seat/steering to fit you. See where the controls are in relation to how you sit on the machine. Get on and off 10 times. See what fits you best.

 

[cathy liebchen]

Thanks, but that is about $3K more than the other options I am looking at

L2501 is well worth the extra investment, and you get the difference back on any resale, so it is just a sunk cost

 

[scaredychicken]

The options, considerations and opinions are endless.
I've had my Kubota BX23S (new) since September 2018, and in the past 4 months it already has 55 hrs on it. I love it, does everything I need so far. It suits my purposes and my property. It is more than the budget mentioned, but your described purposes would probably require a bigger machine.
I would suggest looking for a larger tractor in a lightly used condition, that would be within the budget. The B series, B3030 interested me, when I had different needs. There are lots of options, just sharing my experience. All the best.

 

[jeff9366]

Looking at the Wall Street Journal, Japanese interest rates on ten year gov't money are .011% today. ( 11/100's of 1% per annum )

Looking at the Wall Street Journal US interest rates today on ten year gov't money are 2.71%, ~~245 times higher~~ than Japan.

I presume Kubota can borrow money in Japan to finance US consumer tractor purchases cheaper than North America based suppliers can borrow money in the USA.

UPDATE: Looking at the Wall Street Journal, Japanese interest rates on ten year gov't money are .00% today, 1/25/2019.

No typo; ZERO!

 

[RalphVa]

For what you want to do, an 18 hp one would do fine. Only trouble is, practically no one builds one that small any more with a couple another requirement: Turning brakes. Need these for snow work and for garden row work. My first tractor, a JD 2 series was just that: 18.5 hp. Worked great for 9 years and 660 hours until the Ujoint out of the engine blew apart. I then (at persuasion by sales person) went to a 1025R JD, which proved to be inadequate and a lemon. Finally back into a 2 series JD 2025R, a good tractor but with the same Ujoint issue.

Kubota makes a nice 22-23 hp model in their B2301. I'd give it a look, if you don't mind their treadle peddle for reverse. I should have gone with one of them when I bought the 2025R, but they were just out then, and the Kubota people didn't have one set up.

Ralph