Kubota L4802 vs Mahindra 5145 - Kubota $10k more, less functional?

[oldballs]

What I've seen over the past 50 years ........is that dealers, mergers, mechanics and sales people come and go. What looks good today may not be so tomorrow.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[jyoutz]

What I've seen over the past 50 years ........is that dealers, mergers, mechanics and sales people come and go. What looks good today may not be so tomorrow.

Cheers,
Mike

True, so stack the odds in your favor by buying brands that have multiple in state dealers.

 

[rScotty]

The common theme I hear on the interwebs is that Mahindra has reliability/service/parts issues but if I go with the 5145 I basically have a $10k repair budget built in before I even get to the same cost of the L4802. Normally I have no problem paying extra for more features/reliability but I get a stomach ache thinking I’m paying 1/3 more money for less tractor just because some folks on the internet think Mahindra is trash.

Lastly, I understand the L4802 is a brand new model line, which also poses some concerns since the bugs haven’t been worked out. Normally I have no problem paying extra for more features/reliability but I get a stomach ache thinking I’m paying 1/3 more money for less tractor just because some folks on the internet think Mahindra is trash.

Do y’all have any insight that can help ease my mind that forking out $10k for the L4802 is the right thing to do?

I don't like it when anyone says that some brand of tractor is "trash". For some manufactured goods that might be true, but many countries that start down the road to industrialization will begin to manufacture their own tractors. They need a lot of them for their own agriculture, and they are low tech hence are a good starting place for industry. And as the tractor industry in a country begins to mature any extras can be exported which builds GNP. Those are all good reasons to build decent tractors.

But all of this falls apart if they build trash. So why would they? I maintain they don't. They may not be as mature a manufacturing industry and won't have the parts distribution. Plus they will make engineering mistakes. And they will not have the consistent quality of an experienced manufacturer....But none of that translates to deliberate trash. And all can be offset by new tractor companies making early models that are more serviceable by their own population.

I mean, early JDs were made that way... and early Fords. Both highly successful. More recently, Struck Crawlers, Swinger Loaders, and Zetors..... and early Mahindras,.. All were basic and with problems - but easy to fix.

I'd hate to see you have a stomach ache, so you might make the decision based on your enjoyment of mechanical work.. If you have some mechanical inclination and normally do your own work then why not enjoy the $10K repair bonus that knowledge gives you? At worst, you would just have to earn it, and you might get the bonus for free....

rScotty

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I dunno, a guy here has had two broken tractors delivered from Kubota in a month... So... Take your chances.

 

[jyoutz]

I dunno, a guy here has had two broken tractors delivered from Kubota in a month... So... Take your chances.

Yes but they were due to incorrect fluid fill. Probably by the dealer.

 

[rockinbbar]

I'm gonna go against the grain here somewhat...

The prices I'm seeing for the tractors you listed are $34k to $40k-ish.

I'd be looking at machines like the NH Workmaster75 or a Mahindra 6065 or 6075. Maybe even in the used tractor market. Or a Kubota 7060.

I'm a firm believer in getting more horsepower than you think you need. And with the heavier tractors, you get a more heavy duty tractor to work with as well.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Yes but they were due to incorrect fluid fill. Probably by the dealer.

One was an engine/fuel injection issue, which has become a known defect on the 2502

 

[jyoutz]

One was an engine/fuel injection issue, which has become a known defect on the 2502

Yes, but that’s one issue, the others are dealer prep issues.

 

[sea2summit]

I really like the MX for the same reasons you mentioned but I just can’t justify the price and I really don’t need that much power. What moved me away from the MX is that I could buy the L4802 with cutter and grapple/3rd function for the same price as the base MX5400. My property will be more of a weekend getaway not a working farm.

Consider also the size of the wheels and how much smoother that makes the ride and how much farther from dangerous obstacles your oil pan will be. And you went straight to grapple and cutter as the primary tasks. Whats the hydraulic flow of the L compared to the MX and what difference will that make for you working the grapple? What size grapple and how much of the max lift does it take from the L vs MX (you don’t really want to move with more than about 50% of your max lift capacity). Next the engine, not sure of your altitude but turbo’s are a heck of a bonus if it’s hot or high. Along the hot lines, cutting puts a huge load on the engine and is some of the hardest work you can do with your tractor so the few extra HP might be helpful there.

Just thoughts to consider. It’s easy for me to spend your money but for the advantages of the MX over the L48 it’s a no brainer for me. If you would have said something like looking at an L25 or a B-something I wouldn’t have recommended it, but the max size L vs the MX…

 

[sea2summit]

I'm gonna go against the grain here somewhat...

The prices I'm seeing for the tractors you listed are $34k to $40k-ish.

I'd be looking at machines like the NH Workmaster75 or a Mahindra 6065 or 6075. Maybe even in the used tractor market. Or a Kubota 7060.

I'm a firm believer in getting more horsepower than you think you need. And with the heavier tractors, you get a more heavy duty tractor to work with as well.

7060’s are to be had for a song around me. I’m begging my wife for a third tractor!