J.D. 3000 Twenty vs 3203

[Gunfighter]

What's big difference between the 3000 Twenty tractors and 3203???
Has anybody prices a 3203 with FEL recently? I'm thinking of trading
my J.D.790...

Richard...

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Different engine, 2 speed Hydro vs 3 speed ehydro, no mid PTO, no OEM backhoe, 300 FEL vs 300CX represent some of the more obvious differences. Suggest downloading specs form JD site and also do a "build you own" to see differences in accessories and attachments available.

 

[jd4310man]

I just orderd my 3203 last saturday with a 300X loader, everything including taxes and setup fees came to $17,770. If your looking for a no nonsence tractor, without all the fancy stuff but still looking for a hydro, this is your machine!! I went with the 3203 because I didnt want all the electronics, just a plain, simple machine.

 

[JDCOMPACTMAN]

I just orderd my 3203 last saturday with a 300X loader, everything including taxes and setup fees came to $17,770. If your looking for a no nonsence tractor, without all the fancy stuff but still looking for a hydro, this is your machine!! I went with the 3203 because I didnt want all the electronics, just a plain, simple machine.

I thought Deere only offered the 300 loader on the 3203?

 

[jd4310man]

According to Deere, all that is offered is the 300, But the 300X or the 300CX will fit. The chassis on the 3203 and the rest of the 3x20 series a very much the same.
My dealer had to order the correct mounts from the 300 to make the 300X fit.

 

[Sweats62]

I bought my 3203 with a 300X loader in Dec 2006. I've given the loader lots of work and it's done me right every time.

 

[Gunfighter]

I did get a opportunity to see a 3203, when you say they stripped it your right.
Most of the missing stuff I can live without, I"d prefer to keep the $4000 dollars
but why take the grab handles off the fenders, they are only a nickel dime item..

It's petty to take off the grab handles, it make getting on and off more difficult
but I just grabbed the steering wheel and pull myself up... I figured if the
steering wheel broke they'd put back the grab handles on the fenders...

Thanks for the response guys...

Richard
West Michigan...

 

[Sweats62]

Handles are nice. Steering wheels are handles. A bird in a bush is nice. Two birds... Oh.

 

[itn]

i've got a 3120 with the 300cx fel and i can't complain. my decision ended up boiling down too if i was going to possibly add some attachments at a later date that would work on a 3120 and not a 3203.

 

[jd4310man]

If you really think about it, the 3203 can handle pretty much the same attachments (within reason) as the full featured 3020 tractors. I just recieved my new 3203 with the 300CX loader. Works real good.
You have to look around what Deere has offered for this tractor, It has a lot of working potential if one knows how to get it. I am going to order a woods backhoe for my 3203 because they designed a solid mount hoe and the power beyond to operate it.

 

[Sweats62]

The 3203 has gotten a bad rap right from the start from a bunch of guys who've enjoyed a larger budget. For only a couple thousand dollars more you could've bought a machine that had the potential to handle implements you'd never been able to afford in the first place. Good on you, good machine, good luck. Work within your means.

 

[jcmseven]

I like the 3203. My only complaint about it regards what was initially a general lack of value. It was originally priced too close to the 3120, which had many more features for very little more $$$. I believe over time JD has seen this and separated the price slightly. The 3203 is a great machine for those who might be on a tighter budget, or those who are not but are perhaps more sensibly conservative--which we all should be right now. There is a pretty big difference in two things on the tractor that a potential buyer should recall: the loader capacity is quite a bit greater on the 3020 series and the two range non-ehydro is a limitation among those that live in hilly areas (such as me). I would personally love a 3203 to replace my 3720 which I just sold, but I brought one home and it had difficulty climbing my steep driveway in high range with no attachments. I am sure it would do fine in low, but not everything I want to do is a low range task. For those who live in flatter areas, this is not a liability. Bear in mind though this also affected a 4310 I used to own, so the 3203 is not alone here. One more thing, if one needs a folding ROPS its a no-go on the 3203 without having it done after purchase. This might eat into the money savings if one really needs this for storage purposes, as I did.

John M

 

[Sweats62]

Bravo!! Thank you. You handled the attributes and the limitations of the 3203 more eloquently then any so far. I would, however, like to add "the 3203 in my barn handles the 300X loader as though the two were mated from birth.