Buying Advice Last year model?

[northpolefolks]

If that is the biggest problem you have in your life you are a very lucky man.
So what if a decal or two didn't get a "model year upgrade" ?
It is a tractor, only a tractor.
Thirty years from now nobody will know the differences.

If you bought it as a shiny driveway ornament and plan to wax the rims every week-end to impress neighbors then sell it in two years... that would be different and I would retract.

Yeah, I envy you.

I have never had a new tractor. My last tractor was a Ford 3550 w/35 years under the belt and a lifetime of work. My implements were of the same age and era.

That being the case, I am being diligent to ensure I get what I pay for. I don't know that I will ever buy another tractor unless I obtain more property that needs it. I am not worried about a decal or two or three. If I was looking for looks I would have bought a green or orange tractor. Not the case here.

My brand tractor, like most brands do, made a significant modification a few years ago. The modification I was concerned about was a hydraulic capability improvement.

Wax tractor rims? I use my tractor, like all the tools in my barn, so no wax here. Nothing you can touch is going to the grave with you so they don't really matter in the big picture, but like most people I look at tires before I buy them because I want to make sure they will work for me. In this case I couldn't physically sit on this tractor because one was not in stock.

I have to admit though that when I was 17 I had a job detailing drag racing tractors in West Texas. This included polishing the rims! It was the only job I could find in that little town and I was waiting to marry my fiance who was still in high school. I have never been without work, but that requires not being picky on the kind of work. Yea, those tractors were for making the neighbors envy no doubt but I just couldn't make a career out of that job.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

So I need you to tell me if I am making a mountain out of a molehill.

yes. There is no such thing as year, and it has no impact at all on trade values. I'd put more money in a garage kept 2008 L3940 with 20 hours, than a 2012 with 200 hours.

 

[LastSTRAW]

The only issue I would have was if there was a different price in 2012 than 2011.

When I ordered my tractor I had to make the purchase before a certain date to qualify for a rebate. A couple of days before the promised delivery date I called and was told it was not even in the country yet. I was not happy because I needed it for making hay. Fortunately for me the price had changed since my order was made so I cancelled my original order and reordered at the new lower price.

The dealer was fine with this because he thinks the head office sold my tractor to someone else after promising the tractor to him. In the end he still made the sale.

 

[scoutcub]

The temperatures are no doubt something to take seriously. It is worth it though to live where we live.

Living here is like living down south 50 years ago. More public land than you can find in a lifetime, don't have to lock your doors (but we exercise the 2nd ammendment to the fullest) and most importantly my sons are growing up in the outdoors where I dreamed about growing up. You can't buy that.

Now when I hit retirement my wife and I will no doubt have a place down in a warmer climate as you don't see many elderly folks out in -20.

So where is this place? Are you doing contract work for Santa??:laughing:
I've had this conversation with a few dealers. Tractors are just not tied into "model years". I wouldn't sweat it....enjoy it!

 

[northpolefolks]

Central Alaska. North of Anchorage.

I bought a LS U5020 and LS has beefed up lift arm cylinders recently so I was making sure I got the newer version, which it turns out I did. Thanks

 

[Mousefield]

Central Alaska. North of Anchorage.

I bought a LS U5020 and LS has beefed up lift arm cylinders recently so I was making sure I got the newer version, which it turns out I did. Thanks

Is it coming with a block heater? :tractor:
Once in a while we get that cold artic air down this way, I think it always comes from Alaska. :dance1: :cool2:

 

[engine29]

Year is not a big deal in tractors. They just continue to produce models in to the new year. As long as there were no model changes, there is no difference.

You will find models from all brands that are the same tractor for 3-5 yrs..
Don't make an issue about it.

 

[northpolefolks]

Year is not a big deal in tractors. They just continue to produce models in to the new year. As long as there were no model changes, there is no difference.

You will find models from all brands that are the same tractor for 3-5 yrs..
Don't make an issue about it.

I'm not making an issue about it. I work in a job where we deal with people 24/7 and there are enough people out there that you just can't please sometimes.

My dealer out here seems to be a really good guy so I didn't want to pose the question to him and seem presumptive. It's always better to rile someone 5 miles away than the guy next to you.

I don't shy away from confrontation when it's warranted, but it's alot easier to travel calm water than an rough seas. That's why I threw the question to you guys and not my dealer. Thanks.

 

[MasseyWV]

I am under the impression that the term "model year" doesn't mean very much in the tractor world.

I've noticed that too but it's always nice to know what year something was made.

 

[TCowner]

I'm on the side that it does make a difference. However, the buyer should always make it clear when the deal is made that they expect a new build. If the buyer doesn't specify then the dealer can probably argue the year old model, although brand new, meets the qualifications of the deal.

A classic example for me would be the 3000 series John Deere. If you go to the "build your own" section on the Johndeere.com website you will see that they designate model years for the production runs. For example, if you want the new "4th and 5th Selective Control Valve Kit" you will see that the feature starts with MY2011 and states it is not backward compatible. Its the same for the Electorhydraulic 3rd SCV kit, starts with MY2011.

Even if these options were explained to me at the time of purchase and I declined to include them I would certainly want the ability to add them later. It would irritate me to learn that I couldn't add them a year after I purchased the tractor because of the model year change.

But I think its my responsibility to do some research as well to know what features the latest build tractors have. In my case where I spend an hour each week on the Johndeere.com website there is no chance that this would get by me. So, when I decide to trade my 3720 I will know what features the latest tractors will have and make it clear at the time of purchase that I want the newest build tractor. I would probably order the tractor exactly the way I want it so that I have no one to blame except myself. Now, I probably don't get the same price break going for the latest build, or direct order, but since I like the latest features I prefer going this route.

For more of a rookie buyer I think the dealer should be of some help. They should just be up front about it. They could tell the customer that the 3720 they have on the lot is a model year 2010 and that if they want all the latest features (which add dealer profit by the way) they would need to get a latest model year build. I think this would go a long way and keeping the customer happy.

For probably 95% of buyers this isn't important but for the 5% of the rest, like me, it is. But again, I think we as buyers just make it clear that we want the most recent build or that the a previous model year is just fine.