JD / Massey / Kubota Comparison w/prices

Matt400 · Feb 10, 2010

Don't know if I will pull the trigger on one of these or not and am looking for input..
The prices listed are out the door, sales tax & all with HST,FEL and factory Cab.

I like the 1635 for its HP and width of 64.5" and just so happens its less.
I can get 0% for 60 months with 20% down and a 5 year power-train warranty.

The 3320 is 5.5" more narrow and on our sloped property I figure wider is better. Financing is 0% with 10% down for 48 months

The L3240 is 4.7" more narrow than the MF. Financing is 0% with 20% down and for 42 months. Not sure I would like the brakes on the right side and I don't think they want to work on the price much.

All 3 tractors weigh in about the same around 3500 lbs with the factory Cab and no FEL. The intended use is to rotary mow a 1.5 acre sloped hill and snow removal on a 50'x150' commercial lot with possibly a 6' pusher. I am still looking at used for options in addition to simply putting a plow on my pick-up for snow removal and using a Garden tractor for the mowing.
A new V-Plow and new GT with locking differential is only $8,000 but not sure I want a plow on my pick-up, its an 05 Dodge Diesel and very capable.

Any input much appreciated!

toddol1971 · Feb 10, 2010

well, for 33 grand you can buy a used tractor and a zero turn for less money. Now you might not get everything you will get with the new tractor though. I dont like cabs. I feel claustrophobic in it, but if I lived in the north I might change my view. LOL. If you could do without a cab you'd save a bunch of money.

Matt400 · Feb 10, 2010

I just hate the idea of plowing in the winter while its snowing or raining. Before I set on an open cab I would for sure put a plow on my pick-up

RPW · Feb 10, 2010

Wow, for 33k I could have bought a whole lot more tractor and more attachments than I did. I guess it's the area but here in Texas I got a 2008 brand new 5103 (45HP) with FEL, shredder and HD box blade for just over 20K. Now mine is an open station and you might be wanting a cab. Not sure what specific requirements you need but an extra 10k for a cab? Again Wow. Just my opinion.

Good luck.

TheRegMan · Feb 10, 2010

I haven't priced either of the three you asked about but I did recently price a Kubota L3940. That's quite a bit more tractor than the 3240. The phone price I got was 24,500 (no cab). That was without even going to the dealership. I suspect I would get a better deal if i decided to go that route and negotiate a bit.

My understanding was that a cab typically adds about 6K to the price. That would take the price of the L3940 with cab to 30 - 31K.

Based upon that, I would say you definitely need to shop around.

I would also advise you take a look at the Kioti. It's a solid tractor; much heavier and significantly better FEL capacity than the 3 you are looking at for significantly less money. Just something you might want to consider.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Matt400 · Feb 10, 2010

If I take the price of a cab off and the sales tax it looks like this:

MF - 22.5
JD - 24
Kubota - 24.8

So sales tax being over 8% and just under 7K on a factory cab really drives up the price but I can't justify a tractor of this size with no cab. To go cab-less means it would just be a mower and will be parked in the winter in which case these models would not be considered.

TheRegMan · Feb 10, 2010

Matt, I understand your need for the cab but look at the price differences I pointed out; 24,500 for an L3940 without cab and you are saying 24,800 for a 3240 without cab. There is a big difference in those tractors.

I'm in NC so maybe there is a significant price difference based upon location but I would definitely recommend you check around.

Ask your dealer for the price of a 3940 for comparison purposes. You may find you could buy from out of state and have it shipped to you and still save a bunch of money.

Good luck.

toddol1971 · Feb 10, 2010

If you want a cab then get a cab. I just know for me that working around the edge of fields & going thru the woods I'd rip the cab off. I understand wanting one though. I think there way overpriced. I think you should check out some used ones. I'd say 12 to 16 grand would get you a good tractor.

Matt400 · Feb 10, 2010

TheRegMan said:
Matt, I understand your need for the cab but look at the price differences I pointed out; 24,500 for an L3940 without cab and you are saying 24,800 for a 3240 without cab. There is a big difference in those tractors.

Totally agree and is reason for not wanting the Kabota as the dealer is quoting 28.00 under msrp. Not my kind of deal.

Matt400 · Feb 10, 2010

toddol1971 said:
I'd say 12 to 16 grand would get you a good tractor.

I agree, I found an 06 NH TC31D for 14K with low hrs but no cab. I would have to check but I think that one is pretty narrow like a Kubota B3030.
But with that one I would rather be in my pick-up with plow, so the NH would just be a big mower.

Another one I found was a JD 4720 Cab & FEL for 26K with 1500 hrs. allot more tractor for less money but 1500 hrs.

toddol1971 · Feb 10, 2010

those hrs aren't much. Just make sure the maintenance was done IE service records & receipts. I used that same tractor only open station. I loved it. I really would like that one. That sucker seemed like it had alot of power to me. It felt heavy too. I never checked, but if I could get that with cruise control I would definitely consider that one.

jenkinsph · Feb 10, 2010

Matt 400,

Just to give you an idea a brand new 4520 cab with 1100#'s of weights, mid joystick, rear outlets, updated cruise, rear lighting, rear wiper, epto and telescopic links was $34,000 without fel.

Gittyup · Feb 10, 2010

Shop around. Those prices are high, even without the cab.

You might also think about an after market cab.

The Kioti suggestion is a good one. A 35 HP Kioti is under $18K. You can get a 40 or 45 HP cab for that kind of money in a Kioti. Probably true of some other makers as well, like Mahindra, TYM, or Branson.

TheRegMan · Feb 11, 2010

My next one will be Kioti!

Matt400 · Feb 11, 2010

Sounds like nobody likes any of the 3 due to sticker shock

E/S · Feb 11, 2010

Matt400 said:
Sounds like nobody likes any of the 3 due to sticker shock

You get what you pay for.

E/S

Matt400 · Feb 11, 2010

If I could negotiate a better or good deal each of the 3, does anyone have have comparison input?

AustinTX · Feb 11, 2010

It looks like you and I are zeroing in on the same type machine - ~35 hp with a cab. While you have been looking at the bigger, established brands, I have been also considering the Kiotis and looking hard at the LS and TYM offerings.

The Kioti seems about $5k less and the LS and TYM maybe $10K less- or a couple of K less and lots more HP.

What I seem to be hearing is that the LS and TYM are quality machines, but the dealer network is pretty weak. Kioti seems to have s olid network set up.

Anyway, I have decided to go ahead and get quotes on the MF and Kubotas, as well and should have those this afternoon.

Just as an FYI- the LS U5020C with 47 HP and cab is about $30.5K. It doesn't have a hydro, but that seems like a heckuva lot of machine for the price. And I am pretty sure LS/LG makes a pretty significant percentage of all the tractors/parts on the current market. Can they get a reliable dealer network set up? That's the scary question to me.

The TYM has a 43 Hp with cab and FEL for about $25K (shuttle shift). But the only dealers I find are over 140 miles away or do not answer the phone.

I have a quote for a Kioti DK35 with cab FEL, shredder and box blade at $28.5 (5k down and 72 mos 0%) or $26.5K cash.

I am awaiting quotes on comparable Kubotas and MFs and will report back what I find, either here or in my "cab and a/c as top priority" thread.

I appreciate all input on the comparative qualities and abilities I realize everything I have listed may be apples and oranges, so its kind of difficult for a noob like me to cipher it all out.

TheRegMan · Feb 11, 2010

Just remember the Kioti DK35 is a 38 HP tractor so make sure you get comparables for price comparison. You will see JD, MF or Kubota will not even be in thge same ball park.

I agree with E/S that you generally get what you pay for but sometimes you pay for a lot more than you get!! That seems to be the case with the JD, Kubota, MF and NH tractors.

Also remember when you comp a kubota, it will take a Grand series to compare to a Kioti. There are some trade offs there. The Grand has a newer transmission wich has more features but the Kioti will still be heavier and have a stronger FEL.

AustinTX · Feb 11, 2010

I just got a quote on a MF 1635 with cab and FEL for $26K cash. The dealer raved about the FEL and cab quality, but I have not seen it. This sounds more competitive than I had thought it would be. But MF was so far off my radar, I need to do a lot of research on them.

Also, I could step up to the 1647 for another $2500