Price Check Is this a good price? X748SE w/7 Iron & Bagger

[Engine66]

Thanks for the advice guys. It is a bit scary to plop down that much to cut grass and such, but the Chief Financial Officer here at home has authorized the purchase. Funny though, she didn't ask how much it was going to cost. Showed her the picture and told her I won't need her help collecting all the clippings which entails 3 hours for us and the kids together. I got the thumbs up. Usually, there's 3-4 weeks between our trips to this property, so the grass gets pretty high. The GT5000 needs several passes to get it down, and the lawn sweeper is simply overwhelmed and essentially useless...especially when the ground is a little wet.

Does anybody know of upcoming incentives from JD...rebates preferred....I'll be buying with my visa...that will get me a few air miles. Then I'll transfer the balance to another 0% interest card and chip away at the balance. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has done this. (Right?) When I get it, I'll give you guys a review and some pics...I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this JD...

 

[cast_and_blast]

I promise, I'll stop with the 2305 talk...

JD has 0% financing for 36 months on their sub-CUTs. Big difference in overall purchase price (depends on what you're putting down I guess). A scenario:

x748 series with attachments purchase @ $14,850. Add tax on (assumption) at 6% and you're at $15,741. Put 10% down and put the balance ($14,167) on credit card with, let's say, 6 months of 0% and then 9% for the duration.

Assume that for the 6 months of 0% you're paying $400 per month towards the balance; this would leave $11,767. $11,767 @ 9% for 2.5 years compounding monthly is going to compute to a payment of $439 per month and over $1400 in interest. Total cost = $17,158.

JD2305 with similar attachments purchase @ $14,850 (although you shouldn't be at that number with only a MMM and bagger, but I digress). Again, add tax @ 6% with 10% down (JD financing requirement) and finance the balance ($14,167) with JD Credit at 0% for 36 months. Monthly payments = $393.53. Total cost = $15,741.

The JD2305 with bagger system and 62C deck comes out with a MSRP of $14,300. Take the same 5% discount as you received on your x748 and you're at $13,585 plus tax instead of $14,850 plus tax.

Just food for thought - I'll drop it now. Promise.

Good Luck and enjoy (with whatever JD you choose)!

Scott

 

[RollTideRam]

You didn't add the extra $500 on the 2305 for the seat that comes on the SE x series. JC

 

[Engine66]

Cast and Blast...I've contacted John Deere's corporate office to "field promote" you to senior sales/finace rep. I believe they need your middle name for the plaque and business cards as well as the signing bonus check. "It's in the mail." LOL

Seriously, you make good sense. One of the reasons I am somewhat reluctant to the 2305 is I already have a Kubota L3830 with all the goodies. I am attracted to the X748SE for a variety of reasons and think it will fill our lawn/trail needs. I can't say I absolutely need the X748SE, but I am willing to spend that much for a machine that will cut & bag and go the distance in comfort. When I go to the JD dealer and ponder the options, I compare the 2305 to my L3830 and it's a relative replication of equipment. The X748 clearly outperforms the GT5000 I use now. I know the $13K+ I spend on the x748SE raises eyebrows...maybe my purchase prompts the local JD dealer owner to anounce beer and pizza on the house after I walk out the door.

Sometimes a purchase, whether it be a truck, appliance, clothing, etc. is partly based on desire vs pure function...plus the approval of the CFO. My CFO is expecting late this month...a thumbs up from her at this point is like a gift from the gods...come next month, I will have to do a rain dance to get such a nod. Imagine me asking her for a another "tractor" when I already have one...now imagine me asking her for a riding mower that rides like a Cadilac and picks up all the leaves and grass and can go into our walking trails.

Sorry to say guys, but right now I'm at about 6'2" 195lbs...she's well over 200lbs at my best estimate...my nicknames for her include "Big Rig" and "2 Ton." There's a saying that a "Happy wife is a good life." For me, it's about survival. If I show up with a 2305 on my trailer, she is gonna sit on me for getting another "tractor" and I will cease to exist. Some of you will miss me...some will not. I cannot justify a smaller tractor, but with a X748SE, I can convince her she will love mowing with it.

Look at this way...I survive, crack a beer, and watch her dominate my lawn and trails with a smile on her face as one of my older kids feeds and changes our newborn. That is priceless. (Of course, if any of you decide to spoil my plan by "educating" her...I'm toast.) So all I ask is Honor, Respect, Loyalty. Isn't that the motto of TRACTORBYNET?

(Just kidding...hats off to all those serving our country as reserves, guards, or regulars.)

 

[cast_and_blast]

Mum's the word...we want pictures when it shows up.

Good Luck!

Scott

 

[jcmseven]

I think you are making a good decision with the 748. I concur with BleedGreen that the SE seat could be fitted to a 748 at a lower cost. I personally do not like the extra trinkets on the SE, but that is just me. The 748 is a great tractor, and holds its value well. I have had two X series tractors, both of which I ultimately sold with 100-200 hours on each at the time of sale. Both brought a fine resale, so the thought they do not hold value does not hold truth-at least where I live. The 2305 is a nice machine and has some stock features the 748 does not and does so for less money, but I personally prefer the fit/finish and ergonomics of the X series much better. They are great mowing machines, but I used my old 595 for loader work and box blade work. Aside from its hydraulic limitations it would do everything a true SCUT would do, and with the HDAP tires I am not sure in some terrain it was not better. It was amazing what this little machine could do. I just wish they would upgrade the hydraulics a bit and add a stock three point hitch. I understand why they don't though, as that would really crimp the 2305 market.

John M

 

[danbike]

I have seen SE seats by themselves on eBay. Don't know what it takes to install it.

 

[ducati996]

I dunno guys with those sensitive backsides and upgrading seats with new machines - what ever happened to sucking it up and handle it like men? especially look back to the days when men rode around on steel plates and no padding. They were happy to do it to ! j/k for those with bad backs

All kidding aside I would be looking for a used unit at the x500 series which are basically the same as todays x700 and skip that high ticket item on a credit card "switche a roo" all together
Plenty of really good machines still under some warranty - and you save yourself considerable depreciation loss...

just an opinion

Duc