I thought buying a tractor was suppose to be fun

[SleepingDog]

Hi all,
I'm having second thoughts, third thoughts and more about my tractor hunting. First looked at the greymarket, sent a post to TBN. Then looked at rental returns of the major colors, then another post. Test drove gear versions to get a larger tractor for my price, another post. Another go around and it seemed the only way for me was cutting back...implements, size and HP. I settled on the NH TC24DA with 12LA FEL. Got pricing from 4 different dealers and quoted from Corriher (this was the cheapest even with shipping from NC to CA) 16K. I hadn't test drove a TC24 until today. I only drove 29, 30 and 33. I walked into the dealership and saw the shiny new 24 sitting in the showroom like some Lexus dealer...they even Armoral the tires! After talking to the salesman I realized that he was not my local tractor guy, but a used car salesman. The vibe was clear, but he did have the 24 where as my local dealer didn't. After a few minutes he told me he had TC35D w/ 16LA, supersteer, with no hours that he just had to get rid of and would sell it to me for 20K with a 72" box scaper. The tractor is much larger then I wanted originally and more then I wanted to spend. I talked it over with my wife and she send if I think its a deal we can't pass up then we should spend the extra on it.

Pass on it or take it? Its not the dealership I would like to buy from but it seems like a nice buy.

SleepingDog

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Pass on it or take it? Its not the dealership I would like to buy from but it seems like a nice buy.)</font> The dealer you DO want to buy from should be able to get you one as well. I don't know if that's a good price, and neither do you from what I read here. You priced another tractor. Go do it again for this one. After all, you don't know what you can get until you've done that same leg work. Any NH dealer should be able to get that tractor for you, at the same price or better I would think. Good luck and keep us posted. John

 

[PineRidge]

SleepingDog if you are happy with the TC35D w/ 16LA, SuperSteer then go for it. But I would not be pressured into any tractor that I was not ready or willing to buy. Tractor buying can be fun if you are the one that is in control. Take your time, there are plenty of tractors out there waiting for you to test drive them even though the dealer would like you to believe that his may be the last one left on this earth. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[kensfarm]

The 35D w/ supersteer is suppose to have the 17LA loader.. maybe that's downside of this deal? If it does have the 16LA.. I'd make sure the bucket doesn't hit the front tires when turning sharp.. the 17LA is extended further out for the supersteer option.

 

[Henro]

SleepingDog,

Your profile says you have three acres. If this is the size of the property that you are going to be dealing with, I would think twice about the TC35. That is a pretty big tractor for 3 acres. Now if you have more property somewhere else, that is a different story. But still, it takes more trailer, more truck, etc, to move a tractor that size than it does a smaller one...

I have 3.7 acres and (after much torment) have concluded that my Kubota B2910 (which is probably about the same physical size as a TC24, or just a tad bigger, is about perfect for my needs. I used to want more, but came to my senses.

Now your situation is not my situation so you have to read between the lines and think about your specific needs, but I keep thinking...and thinking...that a TC35 is a big tractor. Knowing what I know now myself I would pass on it.

For me the problem would be wanting to get the most for my money. If I were doing it over this year, I would really want to buy the larger Kubota L3130 series, because it gives more pounds of steel per dollar spent. But I don't think I would buy one. It might be nice for the initial six months, as I have a couple acres of trees that I want to thin out this summer, but after the grunt work was done...I would be wishing for something a little smaller for the long term.

I am rambling a bit here I know. If RickJay reads these words it will bring a tear to his eye and a feel like a knife is jabbing him in his side... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif... as I always think of him as the ultimate proof that in the end tractor size to property size proprotions are strictly a personal thing. Rick as a B2910 like I have, but on 2/3 of an acre and loves it. I always hold Rick up as proof that a tractor much larger than I have would work for me if I wanted it to! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Still...I bought a second, smaller tractor to do grass cutting and other chores...which tells me that maybe the ideal tractor for my needs would be more in line with your TC24 choice. And our property sizes are about the same.

It sounds to me like you thought things through, came to the conclusion that a TC24 was the size that would work best for you, and now the practical side of you is kicking in, wanting you to get the most tractor per dollar spent.

Getting the most tractor use per dollar spent may come from buying a smaller tractor rather than the larger one.

I seem to be having putting my thoughts into words this morning! Hope some of this makes some sense... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Evasive1]

I have not followed your other posts, but in this post you mentioned price or how much you wanted to spend 4 times. You also only mention New Holland tractors. Have you looked outside of the big three brands yet. There are a lot of options out there that might fit your needs a little better and save your pocket book substantially making you and your wife happy.

If you look at the other brands and still want the New Holland then that will solidify your decision and make you feel better about it knowing you did your homework.

 

[SleepingDog]

Henro,
You are exactly right. I did the math, the spreadsheets, various phone calls with dealers, test drives, walked around my property, made list of all the possible jobs and went to bed thinking about it. I have a binder 2" thick with notes, folders, brochures, quotes and articles. I've fallen asleep with this book on my chest. I often do a lot of research before I make this type of purchase. It took me 1-1/2 years to figure out which breed of dog I wanted (I have two Weims).

Anyway, your right. When I saw the tractor I thought...BIG, BUT WOW! It was truely that bug that bit me..."if I have to spend 16k, look what I can get for 20K, just 4K more and I can get all this". I was feeling quite proud of myslef get thinking the extra 10HP for 4K. But I also thought "can't haul it". Might have to get my brother-in-law's rig to haul it around and then what kind of work would it be doing after the major improvements I need to do get done? I tried to make up stories in my head to justify the deal. I wanted to be the guy who got the great deal. I guess I wanted the research to be rewarded by the grandest sale. Then I could post to you all how this city-boy transplant got this hot deal...I'm so predictable. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I knew I needed to sleep on it and ask TBN. I have come full circle and know I never should buy when I feel pressured. I'll take more time and keep looking

Thanks,

SleepingDog

 

[DavidJ]

Only a few observations from someone who's been there. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

First and foremost, never let yourself be pressured into any purchase. If that ain't the dealer you want to do business with; walk away.

Secondly, if you've found a dealer you really like and you're ready to make a purchase, go there and let them know that if you and they can come to an agreement you will buy from them. You may be surprised.

 

[jinman]

I think you are experiencing the "bait 'em up" technique. $20k is a lot more than $16k and you end up with something that's probably much more than you need. I'd reexamine my needs and uses of a tractor and then go buy exactly what I need. I also think the dealer is a little high on this tractor and if it has a 16LA attached on a supersteer tractor, /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif run like heck. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Poppa]

Amen Brother.

I feel your pain, I just assumed this was fun. I too went to the dealer and got pitched a little bigger for more money. I came home so excited and confused. Started thinking about bigger and bigger all by myself. Finally, after nearly a week something clicked and I asked myself why I had gone to the dealer in the first place. Oh yeah, it was to get a quote on the smaller tractor (which by the way I just realized yesterday, I NEVER GOT!!). The point is that I had done the analysis and I had DECIDED that the smaller tractor would fit my bill 90 percent of the time. So a week is wasted except for the pain of second and third and fourth guessing myself. I still don't have a quote for the tractor I am interested in although I have quotes for three other BIGGER tractors.

Is this fun? yabetcha /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif But I sure am looking forward to the "Fun" ending and the "WORK" beginning.

Mike