Buying Advice Kioti CK 3510 - reliable?

[timmy59]

Thank you all for the responses. This is a great forum. To answer to some of your comments:
1. My two Kioti dealer options are one 20 miles away and another (out of state) 50 miles away. The latter sounds more responsive, has a better price, and both charge the same for tractor service transportation.
2. I debated hard about getting a trailer, for this and other purposes, and it doesn't make sense for me. I'm just a homeowner with 3 acres of land, lawn to mow and driveway to plow. Occasional landscaping and small construction projects. Rough grade to level currently, after deforestation.
3. I pressed this question on CT dealers (Kubota, Mahindra, Kioti) and they would not send a mechanic over for any issue, big or small. They want the tractor brought to them. I wish I could find an independent, professional mechanic willing to come to my house as needed but that's a hard find.
4. I'd love to have the time to do maintenance on my cars and tractor but I just don't have it. Given the prospect of having to pay $$$ to haul it to the dealer, I might have to get into tractor maintenance.
If I knew that the risk is minimal to have anything happen with the tractor if used "prudently" and maintained well (and if such maintenance is not demanding) I would have an easier time to take the plunge here. But dealers admit that they get a number of tractors back under warranty for various glitches, which would add thousands in transportation costs. Perhaps I just need to think of the price that way.

With these statements I'd just about bet you could hire out for the tasks for less $$ than buying a tractor for 3 acres, but that just my opinion..

 

[Luke009]

With these statements I'd just about bet you could hire out for the tasks for less $$ than buying a tractor for 3 acres, but that just my opinion..

To level 2 acres of rough, rock-littered terrain to mowable grade, a contractor would want 10-15k (got quote of 25k for golf course like grade). Then mowing would run about 3-4k/year and snow plowing who knows, 1/2-1k. Then some 2-3 possible construction and landscaping projects and the flexibility to do it when the schedule permits. All this versus up front cost and ongoing tractor maintenance, and having to deal with and coordinate contractors. I agree it's not a clear call but I'm inclined to having a tractor with loader and mower.

 

[paulfun9]

I don't mean to diverge the conversation but, between Kioti, Kubota, and Mahindra, do you guys have an opinion as far as reliability? I'm talking 25-35hp class. I haven't bought my tractor yet.

We have owned many different brands over the years but not Mahindra. About 3 years ago I purchased my First Kioti and have been very pleased so far. I only have had one problem so far and that was just recently I seem to have lost the pin that keeps the seat for the Backhoe in an up position when not in use. Now as far as the other brands that we have owned Not a one of them ever made it past the 2 year mark without needing something under warranty. Now some of those things were very small and some were not but the bottom line is this is the very first tractor that has not had to have any bolts turned under warranty weather the dealer did the fix or me.
Now I must say I have some friends and family that have had good luck with Kubota and Massey but they don't seem to run their machines as hard as I do with only one exception and he runs a Kubota. So taking the time frame and how hard I tend to be on my equipment, so far I must say that I have no problems with saying reliability sure seems to be there. Being that some of my tractors are now 37 years old and have been with me since new the real answer will probably not be available from me but rather my heirs so I will ask them to drop buy here in 34 years and let everyone know how reliable it was.!

 

[1965]

Thank you all for the responses. This is a great forum. To answer to some of your comments:
1. My two Kioti dealer options are one 20 miles away and another (out of state) 50 miles away. The latter sounds more responsive, has a better price, and both charge the same for tractor service transportation.
2. I debated hard about getting a trailer, for this and other purposes, and it doesn't make sense for me. I'm just a homeowner with 3 acres of land, lawn to mow and driveway to plow. Occasional landscaping and small construction projects. Rough grade to level currently, after deforestation.
3. I pressed this question on CT dealers (Kubota, Mahindra, Kioti) and they would not send a mechanic over for any issue, big or small. They want the tractor brought to them. I wish I could find an independent, professional mechanic willing to come to my house as needed but that's a hard find.
4. I'd love to have the time to do maintenance on my cars and tractor but I just don't have it. Given the prospect of having to pay $$$ to haul it to the dealer, I might have to get into tractor maintenance.
If I knew that the risk is minimal to have anything happen with the tractor if used "prudently" and maintained well (and if such maintenance is not demanding) I would have an easier time to take the plunge here. But dealers admit that they get a number of tractors back under warranty for various glitches, which would add thousands in transportation costs. Perhaps I just need to think of the price that way.

I rented a trailer for $36 a day U-haul to drive mine home from 200 miles away when I purchased it used. An inexpensive option to buying a trailer I had no use for.