Buying Advice L3240

[Cougar8008]

Hello all. I'm new to TBN but have been reading a lot of treads. Couple of month's back I started looking in to buying a tractor. I did the JD and Kubota dealer rounds and talked to ALOT of people. I had finally come down to a Kubota L3240 or L3540. I wasn't sure. Last Sat I took a ride to my dealer and he had a L3240 in for service I could test drive. After driving the machine and the salesman telling me the 32 was find for me, I didn't need the 35. We went inside, sat down and did the paperwork. He told me it would take 2 weeks to get my New 3240 in and set it up with the FEL and all. Come Monday morning I hear from the dealer saying he has Great News we had a L3240 at another location with the loader already on it. They ordered it in as a display for an event. I asked the delivery date of the tractor and its 5 months old. I asked "How many hours are on it?" I get answered "I'll tell you tomorrow morning when it gets here." The next moning i hear .6 tenths of an hour are on it. He also told me the tractor was in the crate up until 3 weeks ago so it's brand new. I understand this is a new machine but I'm feeling like a bait and switch is happening here. I also wonder if he talked me to the 32 because he had one already. Can anyone tell me is this normal practice for dealers to do? I was told the tractor would be ordered and was using those 2 weeks to prepare the garage for its arrival. Then I could be ready to pick it up and not let it sit outside. Now my new tractor has been sitting outside in the sun and rain for almost a month. Please let me know your opinion on this? I'm almost ready to call the dealer and get my deposit back. Thx Ed

 

[kuboman]

Hello all. I'm new to TBN but have been reading a lot of treads. Couple of month's back I started looking in to buying a tractor. I did the JD and Kubota dealer rounds and talked to ALOT of people. I had finally come down to a Kubota L3240 or L3540. I wasn't sure. Last Sat I took a ride to my dealer and he had a L3240 in for service I could test drive. After driving the machine and the salesman telling me the 32 was find for me, I didn't need the 35. We went inside, sat down and did the paperwork. He told me it would take 2 weeks to get my New 3240 in and set it up with the FEL and all. Come Monday morning I hear from the dealer saying he has Great News we had a L3240 at another location with the loader already on it. They ordered it in as a display for an event. I asked the delivery date of the tractor and its 5 months old. I asked "How many hours are on it?" I get answered "I'll tell you tomorrow morning when it gets here." The next moning i hear .6 tenths of an hour are on it. He also told me the tractor was in the crate up until 3 weeks ago so it's brand new. I understand this is a new machine but I'm feeling like a bait and switch is happening here. I also wonder if he talked me to the 32 because he had one already. Can anyone tell me is this normal practice for dealers to do? I was told the tractor would be ordered and was using those 2 weeks to prepare the garage for its arrival. Then I could be ready to pick it up and not let it sit outside. Now my new tractor has been sitting outside in the sun and rain for almost a month. Please let me know your opinion on this? I'm almost ready to call the dealer and get my deposit back. Thx Ed

Sounds normal to me. Yes you were talked into the 32 because they had one available that they wanted to sell. I am guessing you got a better deal. As for sitting outside for a month all I can say from my experience is 'IS THAT ALL' only a month.

 

[arsenix2001]

1. Every tractor sits outside. Dealers do not garage units, even the shipping crates are open. Worrying about your tractor sitting outside for a month is like worrying about driving your car in the rain. Its normal, happens all the time and is nothing to worry about. Although im confused, is it sitting outside at the dealers lot? The only issue there is that i would pressure them to get the darn thing done.

2. It is VERY common practice for a dealer to locate a unit in thier inventory or even another dealers stock and dx one to get it to you faster. They never want to order inventory if its already built. My dealer did this for me all the time. You would be looking at a LENGTHY wait for an ordered unit.

3. I was in your shoes about the 32/3540 decision. Spoke to three different dealers and all three reccomended the 32 over the 35. I only went with the 35 because i was getting a cab and the extra few hp was nice for the parasitic draw of the ac system. Unless you are running pto hp hungry equipment, it will run out of traction before hp.

4. In my book, anything under 5 hrs is brand spanking new. Im estatic to see a sub 1 hr machine. So I wouldnt worry about it at all.

Relax and enjoy your new toy when it arrives.

 

[hawkeye08]

Sounds like a good deal for both of you.

 

[PoorPlowboy]

The tractor isn't allergic to a little rain and sunshine. Matter of fact, if you aren't giving it any yourself, you aren't exercising it enough.

 

[Monster5601]

Dealers often work together to get product to their customers. Kubota doesn't send out a truck to the dealers until so many pounds of product are ordered (15K I think my dealer told me). It is common for the dealers to move product between them and to make orders together to get product from Kubota.

If you are really set back because your new tractor (may have) got wet, may be you should re-think your purchase. It is a tractor, it will get wet, muddy, dusty, dented, and have the sun shine on it.

Enjoy your new tractor, don't forget to post pictures.

 

[Baby Grand]

My dealer did a deal with a nearby dealer to get my tractor. This saved me several weeks of waiting. Sounds like your dealer is doing you the same service. The business is different from car sales, which was all the experience I had to compare to. You'll be very happy with the results, I predict. That's a nice machine and as Arsenix says you'll run out of traction before you run out of power in most cases.

Enjoy your new ride!

 

[k0ua]

My new tractor sat out on the lot for over 6 months. I have seen some new tractors 2 years old. The hitch balls, and suspension seat were rusted, this is pretty common for tractors to sit out on dealer lots for some time..I would say you got lucky to get one so quickly and .6 hours is really low. enjoy your new tractor, it is a good one.

James K0UA

 

[Mpking]

My dealer did a deal with a nearby dealer to get my tractor. This saved me several weeks of waiting. Sounds like your dealer is doing you the same service. The business is different from car sales, which was all the experience I had to compare to. You'll be very happy with the results, I predict. That's a nice machine and as Arsenix says you'll run out of traction before you run out of power in most cases.

Enjoy your new ride!

Same here. At first he said that it would be a week or two but then he called me while I was driving home 20 minutes later and said it would be there for me to look at the next day.

Your dealer is probably just trying to keep you happy with quick service. If you really do want the 3540, don't worry about all the advice to go with with the 3240, just change your mind and tell him to get you a 3540. The only real difference between the two is the engine and HP. Over the life of the machine the price isn't really that much more either. You might have to wait for it a bit longer but hopefully you'll have the tractor a long time so the wait will be worth it and you want to be 100% happy with what you get.

 

[TripleR]

As per everyone else, normal to actually a bit better than normal.

I agree with Mpking, if you really want a 3540, get it; would be my choice between the two.

 

[Grandad4]

I'm almost ready to call the dealer and get my deposit back. Thx Ed

With all due respect, you're over-reacting to a completely normal business practice. Cool down, count to 10 and enjoy your new machine. :thumbsup:

 

[BlacknTan]

I agree with everyone else..

All machines sit outside, some much longer than others. By what we know, it sounds as if your dealer has been very fair and open with you.
It also seems that you would hardly tell a difference between a 3240 and a 3540. Same frame size and features. 3 horses, while not insignifigant, would be hardly noticable, IMHO..

Sometimes Kubota provides a bit too much overlap in their lineup... and these two machines seem to be one of those areas. Again, just my humble opinion..

 

[TripleR]

I have never wished for less HP, but I have for more. I was going to buy a L4240, but got an L5030 and am glad I did; next one will be a 5740.

 

[ovrszd]

I have never wished for less HP, but I have for more.

I agree.

I saw a discussion on here the other day about the differences between the 3240/3540. It was more than just the 3 hp. I'll try to find that discussion and post it.

When I run my Brother's 3240 the first thing I notice is it's lack of hp. I always get off it thinking it's smaller than my tractor when actually it's the same sized chassis, just a smaller rear tire size. I always tease him about his "little" tractor.

 

[Agrantina]

The tractor I bought last year had .7 hrs on it and had sat there for about 8 months? Nothing a little wax on the hood wouldnt fix!-- I wouldnt worry about it- my Mr. Bota now sits in the garage out of all the heat and rain so its more appreciative. :confused2:--- I have the L3240 and love it- NO problem with HP- I did try and rotto till a swap when I bought my new tiller in Feb and did notice a little bogging down- dont understand what happened just tried to test my new tiller out 6 inch deep one pass in MUD? other than that I am fine with the 3240--and would sell it for nothing.. Now if I had more land more work and more money- I would buy more HP! But I dont have any more land, older means less work and I am broke!

AndyG

 

[Elcid76]

My L3240 that I bought about 18 months ago has about 300 hrs on it now. I cannot imagine why it took me 25 years to decide to chuck the Old AC D17 with snap couplers and move into the modern world of "usefulness." Ponds, driveways, snow, mowing, even just using it as a handy wagon to collect stuff, it cannot be beat. I have dings, scratches, and wounds to prove its toughness. It is one greasy loader, well cared for "mechanically" machine. One thing that amazes me is the fuel economy. I average a little less than 1 gal per hour on the machine. I typically run it around 2500 RPM when mowing and digging (I would estimate about 200 hrs of hard usage). I probably use more fuel in my lawnmower. Remember that the larger engines use more fuel, everything has trade-offs. I may trade-up someday, but I have never been happier with a purchase in my life.

 

[arsenix2001]

I agree.

I saw a discussion on here the other day about the differences between the 3240/3540. It was more than just the 3 hp. I'll try to find that discussion and post it.

When I run my Brother's 3240 the first thing I notice is it's lack of hp. I always get off it thinking it's smaller than my tractor when actually it's the same sized chassis, just a smaller rear tire size. I always tease him about his "little" tractor.

That was me... I stated that in addition to the 3 hp, it also steps up to more cubic inches, a larger capacity cooling system, larger oil capacity and a bigger battery. So there are a few minor differences that might make it worth it if you are working it hard. In reality i wish id gone with a 4240 to get the bigger loader.

 

[TripleR]

That was me... I stated that in addition to the 3 hp, it also steps up to more cubic inches, a larger capacity cooling system, larger oil capacity and a bigger battery. So there are a few minor differences that might make it worth it if you are working it hard. In reality i wish id gone with a 4240 to get the bigger loader.

Thanks, like ovrszd, I knew I had read that somewhere, but couldn't remember. I checked their website and found the bigger engine, but couldn't tell much else.

For others, I am not saying a 3240 isn't a good tractor, I just prefer the 3540 in that size package.

 

[arsenix2001]

Thanks, like ovrszd, I knew I had read that somewhere, but couldn't remember. I checked their website and found the bigger engine, but couldn't tell much else.

For others, I am not saying a 3240 isn't a good tractor, I just prefer the 3540 in that size package.

They like to hide that trivial info in the owners manual so you can see later on what you "could have" got instead... After its too late :laughing:

 

[kuboman]

I don't want to stomp any toes here but for me if the price was the same or very close to the 3540 then I would go for the extra hp but if it was $$$$ more I don't know if I would bother. At that point I would go for the 4240 or larger and get some real hp and a stronger loader. The 3130 I had was really short on the hp.