I started looking in Aug of 2019, and I finally purchased in March 2020 with a delivery in mid July of 2020. YES, in the middle of Covid.
After 7 months of use, half a summer, and most of a winter, 50, 100 and 200 hours services, I can share that my experience with this purchase has been a mixed bag.
Delivery July 17 2020 NEW
Kubota L3650HSTC Cab $52,500 (0% Interest - 84 months/$603 per month)
($1000 Buy down for 0% - $ 1,000 Cash
No KTAC Insurance ($5200) Purchased my own Inland Marine Insurance at $225/year ($1575 for 7 years)
Kubota 3rd Function Valve (Kubota Branded - not After market Land Pride)
805 Loader (Did not make sense to order with smaller loader 645?)
B92 Backhoe 9'2" (Did not make sense to order with smaller Backhoe 7')
LandPride SGC1072 Grapple (Dealer)
Spill Guard (hydraulic control - does interfere somewhat with Grapple/Fork use)
Defrost (all windows options)
Rear wiper
R4 Tires
Sales
The sales side of the adventure was lackluster while dealing with the dealership. Twice, I was told by the sales representative that I could take my business elsewhere when I stated that there was little to help me from their quotes in differentiating pricing with any other quotes I had received.
Once was with a threat that if I did go to another dealer, they would not refund my $1500 deposit.
Another instance I was told that I could take my business elsewhere and they would refund my deposit when I expressed again, a second time, that I could not follow their pricing structure (in comparison with another dealer I searched out online to get a 3rd quote for validating that what I was paying for was competitive).
In any case, it was a difficult period for everyone, as Inventory (whole goods, and parts) were being held closely by dealerships due to non replenishment from Kubota during the beginning months of the Pandemic
Implements:
$3600
HD round Back Bucket (Dealer)
Harbor Freight Quick Connect 3 Point adapter $78
Titan Pallet forks 3000# $625
Titan 3point to Quick Connect adapter/ Trailer hitch $225
Titan 48" 4 ft high pallet work Platform $545
Used - Brush Hog Post hole w/12" auger (Dealer) $900
Auction- 84" Titan HD back Blade $575
Trailer:
Trailerman 21ft $1750 (USED)
New Tires (2) $175
Chains/Ratchets for tie down $270
4 Wheels $350
Lights $70
Title/License/Registration $240
200 Hour Breakdown on Usage
20 Hours - break-in and learning equipment - Loader/Backhoe/Backhoe removal and Install
mounting and adjusting implements, testing and validating implements/ Safety
110 Hours - Grading and sloping, removal of old water tank (800 Gallon steel), Gravel install for driveway
100 yards Gravel
35 Hours - Wood splitting support, Logs, moving of material, relocating/Stacking, IBC Totes with Firewood
20 Hours - landscaping (Grapple), foundation work (Porch footings), Road Travel to locations for work
10 Hours - Tree Trimming with work Platform (25 foot lift)
5 Hours - Post hole and post installs
Time at Dealership (out of Service)
1 week - (Sep) 50 Hour service, review of steering, 3rd function Valve Install (not available at time of delivery)
Install of Grapple and Test by Dealership
1 week - (Oct) 100 Hour service, Issues with Front Loader FEL hitting Tire under load.
7 weeks - (Nov) Checklist of issues for dealer due to warrant coverage 25 to 30 items, 200 hour service
Parts listing on order for replacement by Kubota Service Rep expected April to May 2021
General Experiences:
I can't compare this machine to anything as I have never owned or even operated anything like this period.
I can say that Dealer support was almost non existent, and that if it were not for my relentless communication with Kubota directly (Customer Service Line) due to warranty covered issues, I fear I would have no recourse with respect to much. The dealership has little respect for my concerns.
Given that, I have purchased garden tractors and other equipment from this multi location dealer and have had positive results in sales, but this is a major Tractor dealer of many many brands of tractors and farming implements... so it behooves me as to why they have taken this approach toward hobby Farming customers purchasing Kubota Equipment.
Again, the dealership has treated my equipment as theirs, not informing me of issues, just repairing them, at whatever means is available to them, and then not communicating what was done other than via "self discovery" of my equipment once I've gotten it back in my possession.
Now as for Kubota, my interaction with them is 60% positive via their Customer Satisfaction Line, and so far - 110% positive interaction with their Service Representative, who I dealt with at the dealership on my last visit, on an appointment basis to review all outstanding issues with the tractor.
The Kubota side is a thumbs up, while the dealership ... the same dealership I have used for maintenance from the beginning, has been an utter disaster up to this point.
It stands to reason, and for good measure, that the dealership you use needs to be top notch in service, repair, and management, and they need to prove this to you previous to the sale.
I have no idea how they are to do that, that's their business, not mine, but due diligence is a must here for any potential buyer of any equipment that requires warranty support at any level, or just plain old service after the fact. The dealership can hurt your warranty if they have a mindset to do so. Anything the dealership touches that limits the life of something on your equipment hurts you, not Kubota. So the dealership should only touch or maintain issues that you are aware of and that you approve of.
One such issue was when the Tractor was left for the issue of a rubbing tire on the lower bracket for the Front End Loader (FEL).
The service tech, after contacting them via phone after the pickup mentioned that there had been a leak in the Backhoe control Valve, and that he went ahead and replaced the seals in the control valve body because "it was covered by Kubota Warranty".
What's wrong with this picture?
Two observations:
It could have been a great dealer taking care of a warranty issue so that I wouldn't experience any down time.
or
It could have been a ploy to get additional coverage labor $, for work not needed (and possibly not even done) but reported as needed to be completed to Kubota Warranty when it wasn't really an issue at all.
With this issue there was never a leak on my 100 hour equipment. I never reported it, I never experienced it, and I was never told until after the fact that someone at the dealer took apart my Backhoe control valve. I should have been notified that there was a leak, and then I should have been a part of that repair process... at the least to see it, and approve it.
Operation
This has been a phenomenal product. I have few words to explain how the Grand L series has delivered one after another consistently positive results, and with the comfort and convenience that I am sure I would so sorely miss if I hadn't gotten the Grand L Cab version.
Total awe and amazement when I found and I pulled an 800 steel storage tank out of the ground with the bottom at 7 feet, without missing a beat. It dragged that tank up and out of the ground no problem! That tank had to be 9 to 10 feet long and 5 feet in diameter. This Kubota pulled it like it was nothing. Amazing that I could have been surprised by such a find, and actually just take care of it right then, no issue. Amazing.
Or plowing and moving snow at 10 degrees. The comfort of this machine is crazy. I cant believe that I was thinking about and actually made a down payment on, an MX5400 open station - until I said... "Wait a minute, yes these are premium machines, but I do owe it to myself to just look and see what a cab model is all about even if it is $6,000 more..."
I sat in an open L3560 Limited Edition at the dealership while reviewing some paperwork, and within 10 minutes of sitting in that Grand L, I was at the sales desk letting the salesman know that we needed to go to the Grand L Model instead of the MX5400 Open Station.
My wife uses the Grand L because she can drive it like a car. Step on the gas and it goes. No Need to worry about clutch, RPM's or anything else... and it has a horn so she is happy!!!
Truly, this Grand L is every bit as functional and useful as buying a new Pickup for the same price... now, I just have to find a ride to work every day!!! He He He
I was told previous to purchasing that I should buy 1 step up from what I thought I needed. I even offered to purchase an L3901 that was about 5 years old with a 7' Backhoe from someone that lived close by because I thought I would not need more than that for sure. But I held onto that warning... "Dont Buy TOO SMALL it will come back to haunt you very quickly". so I jumped to the largest L, the Grand L, and the smallest engine, because I wanted to maintain as much weight in the tractor as possible. 3800 lbs. without backhoe and about 5000 lbs with. Weight is traction, and its perfect with the backhoe albeit with the rear tires filled the specs are not to use a Backhoe for extended use.
So I will only use the backhoe for pure traction when necessary.
Additionally I had the wheels mounted to give me a larger rear wheel base and can still move them out farther if I need to do so. I have relatively level ground.