This is a relevant question for me also, because I will be looking at a new JD or Kubota or Kioti in the next year or so. They are my local dealers, and my only local dealers. The closest JD dealer shut down and the only one left in our entire county is quite a drive. So the Kubota dealer, who has been there a long, long time, and is well established, and the Kioti dealer, who is a local farmer that also sells equipment, both have their dealership plusses and minuses. And I have driven the 50hp Kioti and it is very, very nice.
Ultimately I'm going to look around in the cab and try to figure out if the seat is comfortable for my bad back, can I get in and out easily, and how complete is the warranty. How noisy is it? How much effort do the controls take, do they work smoothly and intuitively, and would I be comfortable for a long work day? And mostly, will the dealer show up in a day or two if I say it's important? Some dealers are so busy they can't. Does your local dealer stock a lot of parts or is everything ordered when you need it. If you go to a restaurant and the food is marvelous, but the service is poor, you won't go back likely. Same with tractors for me.
In the under 50 hp range, are there any diesel tractor engines made in the US anymore? I don't think so, who would make them? Cummins? Caterpillar? Cat starts around 33hp, and put them in premium zero turns. Why don't we see Caterpillar engine options in tractors? Always seemed strange to me, they are so big in marine engines. They use to put some 3208N's and I think 3208T's in some Olivers and IH, but I'm not sure of my facts here. Wouldn't it be nice if you could buy a John Deere with a Cat motor in it? Instead of a Yanmar? Or would the engine in my 1986 Case IH 255 come from the US, because it's in a nice red IH, but no, it's a Mitsubishi in drag. Not my choice.
And a fine engine. As are the South Korean diesels, the Italian diesels and certainly the Japanese diesels.
So for those of us who want to at least try to buy "American", it's pretty hard until you get up to what, about 60-70hp when JD switches over?
If your choice is between a Japanese made Kubota, regardless of where they assemble it, or a Japanese badged JD in the low HP ranges, it doesn't seem to make a difference any more because nothing is made here anymore anyway. It's all about that model's quality and performance. So I think what you are hearing here is that the Ford vs. Chevy approach to this just isn't helpful, it's what makes you feel good, like a comfortable shirt. And hopefully what will make you feel good a year from now.
But I think this one is going way better than a one between the orange brands:laughing:
