CMV
Platinum Member
Have different thread in Kubota forum since was really leaning toward either L3901 or L4701 to upgrade my little LS. In general, loader performance, especially dump clearance, is extremely high on my priority list. Otherwise, HST, SSQA bucket, ind tires are important. Everything else is gravy.
I was surprised how competitive Kubota is on price. I will be trading my current machine and borrowing the rest, so the finance deals come into play as well. But I was expecting a very large price premium on the Kubota and at least with current incentives, I was surprised how close Kubota is - even with small upcharges for SSQA vs pin bucket and industrial vs ag tires. Also compared LS and Mahindra. LS I think would be better overall value in this size but loader height just isn't there. Mahindra actually lost to Kubota on price when factoring in financing some @0% vs 6.x%. Otherwise within a couple hundred$.
What I liked about L3901 was the smoothness of loader, smoothness of engine, reputation for dependability, KTAC (even though it costs), 6 ply tires (Mahindra & LS 4 ply), and I really like the dealer and their shop.
What I disliked about the Kubota was the loader specs, cramped operator station, top of hood fuel fill, and whole right foot area with treadle and brakes right there. Almost tripped up dismounting it as my toe/heel kinda caught on the brake pedal and hump.
What I liked about the CK3510 was better loader specs, 4" more loader height/3"more dump clearance, better seat, a little more spacious operator area, layout of right foot area with 2 HST pedals and brake, and again really liked the dealer but the shop area was small (but much smaller dealership and only carries Kioti - no other tractor brands). Dealership has been around 40+ years, ~10 yrs carrying Kioti so didn't get a "fly-by-night" feel even though a smaller dealer. 2 others within a 1hr drive so that alleviated my long-term support concerns some.
What I didn't like about the Kioti...nothing really. Loader was "twitchy" compared to Kubota, but less so than what I have today. I did note that they had both Titan and Goodyear brand tires. Dealer said Titan was Goodyear brand - don't know. But ALL the Titan were 4 ply, ALL the Goodyear were 6 ply. Since both are there and Kioti has no upcharge for tire style, if I bought one I would insist on Goodyear brand tire for the 6 ply (or a 6 ply Titan brand like the Kubota had). I really don't know how much if any difference that makes, but I do know 6>4 so I want 6
Comparing prices isn't quite apples:apples since the L3901 @ 37.5HP sits right in the middle of of CK3510 and CK4010. 3510 is $1300 less, 4010 is $300 more. For -2.5HP and -$1300 CK3510 looks like a lot better deal than +2.5HP +$300 when comparing.
But to throw a wrench into it all, he also had the SE variants. Oddly, upgrading the 3510 or 4010 to SE isn't same price difference. I found that strange since the machines are so similar and couldn't see that CK4010SE had anything additional vs CK3510SE. Maybe I'm missing something? But +$1400 to go to 3510SE, +$1800 to go to 4010SE. Unsure why the $400 difference there. Anyway, remotes, closed area under seat, and the 3pt hardware upgrades look like money well spent. I don't think I care about the linked throttle, mirrors, cruise control, auto PTO, or floormat, but would be nice to have if I discovered they were awesome. CK3510SE was $100 more than L3901, so even at -2.5HP, that's a lot of bells & whistles for close enough to call it same price.
Also to note Kioti dealer said prices were -$2100 if I paid cash vs financing. So 0% financing isn't a real thing - you're just buying down the loan. Kubota might be exactly the same but dealer didn't quote me that way - just 0% up to 60 months, +$600 to go to 84 months but still 0%. SO I can't say for sure if paying cash (or using other form of borrowing not thru manufacturer) the Kioti CK3510 would be $3400 less (quite significant!) since I wasn't told about an option for lower price tag for Kubota cash deal, but from info I have it looks that way. Also note, I'm comparing the numbers each dealer initially offered. I haven't asked either to budge on price or throw in any freebies. Kioti dealer loads tires for free, Kubota installs rear work light for free. Neither has looked at my tractor to give me a firm trade-in value - both working from a ballpark # that is the same, so I'm guessing that will be real close to what each actually offers. I think I'm losing ~$2k trading to either one vs selling on my own, but I'm not dealing with 100 yahoos and 1,000 scammers on clist, or having a period of 0 tractors or 2 tractors depending on timing.
Last note....was also very interested in DK4510 but HST is a "must have" for me. Dealer said DK4510 HST is coming very, very soon but was unsure exactly when that would be. That would give me a significant increase in loader - enough so that it is exactly (from spec sheet anyway) what I would want. No idea price difference but suspect going up a frame size and more HP is a price tag I don't want. If anyone knows when those will actually be available and pricing, I might hold off and choose that instead.
So since I'm probably the 1,000th guy on this forum to go thru this process (and asked these questions) and have narrowed down the choices to Kubota L3901 HST or Kioti CK3510/4010 HST, what other questions should I be asking? Does one have some distinct advantage over the other? Does $1500 more for 4010 over 3510 make a lot of sense if going Kioti route? 5 more HP/15% more sounds great but @ $300/HP?
I was surprised how competitive Kubota is on price. I will be trading my current machine and borrowing the rest, so the finance deals come into play as well. But I was expecting a very large price premium on the Kubota and at least with current incentives, I was surprised how close Kubota is - even with small upcharges for SSQA vs pin bucket and industrial vs ag tires. Also compared LS and Mahindra. LS I think would be better overall value in this size but loader height just isn't there. Mahindra actually lost to Kubota on price when factoring in financing some @0% vs 6.x%. Otherwise within a couple hundred$.
What I liked about L3901 was the smoothness of loader, smoothness of engine, reputation for dependability, KTAC (even though it costs), 6 ply tires (Mahindra & LS 4 ply), and I really like the dealer and their shop.
What I disliked about the Kubota was the loader specs, cramped operator station, top of hood fuel fill, and whole right foot area with treadle and brakes right there. Almost tripped up dismounting it as my toe/heel kinda caught on the brake pedal and hump.
What I liked about the CK3510 was better loader specs, 4" more loader height/3"more dump clearance, better seat, a little more spacious operator area, layout of right foot area with 2 HST pedals and brake, and again really liked the dealer but the shop area was small (but much smaller dealership and only carries Kioti - no other tractor brands). Dealership has been around 40+ years, ~10 yrs carrying Kioti so didn't get a "fly-by-night" feel even though a smaller dealer. 2 others within a 1hr drive so that alleviated my long-term support concerns some.
What I didn't like about the Kioti...nothing really. Loader was "twitchy" compared to Kubota, but less so than what I have today. I did note that they had both Titan and Goodyear brand tires. Dealer said Titan was Goodyear brand - don't know. But ALL the Titan were 4 ply, ALL the Goodyear were 6 ply. Since both are there and Kioti has no upcharge for tire style, if I bought one I would insist on Goodyear brand tire for the 6 ply (or a 6 ply Titan brand like the Kubota had). I really don't know how much if any difference that makes, but I do know 6>4 so I want 6
Comparing prices isn't quite apples:apples since the L3901 @ 37.5HP sits right in the middle of of CK3510 and CK4010. 3510 is $1300 less, 4010 is $300 more. For -2.5HP and -$1300 CK3510 looks like a lot better deal than +2.5HP +$300 when comparing.
But to throw a wrench into it all, he also had the SE variants. Oddly, upgrading the 3510 or 4010 to SE isn't same price difference. I found that strange since the machines are so similar and couldn't see that CK4010SE had anything additional vs CK3510SE. Maybe I'm missing something? But +$1400 to go to 3510SE, +$1800 to go to 4010SE. Unsure why the $400 difference there. Anyway, remotes, closed area under seat, and the 3pt hardware upgrades look like money well spent. I don't think I care about the linked throttle, mirrors, cruise control, auto PTO, or floormat, but would be nice to have if I discovered they were awesome. CK3510SE was $100 more than L3901, so even at -2.5HP, that's a lot of bells & whistles for close enough to call it same price.
Also to note Kioti dealer said prices were -$2100 if I paid cash vs financing. So 0% financing isn't a real thing - you're just buying down the loan. Kubota might be exactly the same but dealer didn't quote me that way - just 0% up to 60 months, +$600 to go to 84 months but still 0%. SO I can't say for sure if paying cash (or using other form of borrowing not thru manufacturer) the Kioti CK3510 would be $3400 less (quite significant!) since I wasn't told about an option for lower price tag for Kubota cash deal, but from info I have it looks that way. Also note, I'm comparing the numbers each dealer initially offered. I haven't asked either to budge on price or throw in any freebies. Kioti dealer loads tires for free, Kubota installs rear work light for free. Neither has looked at my tractor to give me a firm trade-in value - both working from a ballpark # that is the same, so I'm guessing that will be real close to what each actually offers. I think I'm losing ~$2k trading to either one vs selling on my own, but I'm not dealing with 100 yahoos and 1,000 scammers on clist, or having a period of 0 tractors or 2 tractors depending on timing.
Last note....was also very interested in DK4510 but HST is a "must have" for me. Dealer said DK4510 HST is coming very, very soon but was unsure exactly when that would be. That would give me a significant increase in loader - enough so that it is exactly (from spec sheet anyway) what I would want. No idea price difference but suspect going up a frame size and more HP is a price tag I don't want. If anyone knows when those will actually be available and pricing, I might hold off and choose that instead.
So since I'm probably the 1,000th guy on this forum to go thru this process (and asked these questions) and have narrowed down the choices to Kubota L3901 HST or Kioti CK3510/4010 HST, what other questions should I be asking? Does one have some distinct advantage over the other? Does $1500 more for 4010 over 3510 make a lot of sense if going Kioti route? 5 more HP/15% more sounds great but @ $300/HP?
