Lesson Learned, Be Advised

[Big Wave D]

I've never bought a new tractor from a dealer, so I have a question.

If I go car shopping, I'm wanting to try out various makes and models. I ask the salesman to take a test drive and they will produce a car in the model that I'm asking about; however, that doens't mean it's the exact one I'd be interested in. It could be a different color or even options package, but it does represent the make and model for most of the things I want to know. I've never been to a new car dealership that has every car prepped and ready for a test drive. I can't see them wanting every car with mileage of double digits or more on their odometers.

It would seem to me to be the same way with tractors. A dealer doesn't want every tractor on his lot accruing time, so I can't imagine that he's going to let every one of his units off the lot to be demo'd.

Therefore, when you slap your hard earned cash down and have that new one assembled out of the crate, how are you going to know about that leak, etc? Unless you're buying the demo because it passes your muster, you'd never know until it is going to be a situation of where warranty work is being performed.

Besides, most dealers don't even stock every model and options available anyway.

Am I wrong about being able to demo when it comes to tractors???? Can I request to use/try anything sitting on their sales lot?

Seems like this is something rather important to know for any possible purchases.

 

[Z-Michigan]

In my experience dealers will let you test drive on their lot any tractor you seem legitimately interested in. So if you're a suburban homeowner I don't see them handing you the keys to a 300hp row-crop tractor; but if you are there because you just got 10 acres and want a utility machine, they should happily show you appropriate sized machines and let you drive them around the lot. Unfortunately an around-the-lot drive only tells you a little - basically turning radius and how the transmission works.

I read of others on here who got a demo on their own property, but that doesn't seem to be common in my area. Maybe it's a regional thing.

Dealers vary in what they carry and desire to order. Often you'll get a somewhat better deal if it's already on their lot, much like cars, but in many cases their inventory is small compared to the huge range of options and ordering the exact features you want will be no issue, with the crated tractor arriving in maybe 1-2 weeks.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Depends on where the leak is.
A loose zerk, no big deal; unless the threads are stripped.
Loose oil drain plug, or filter, also no big deal.
Leak from the crank case seal either indicates a replacement is needed, or more ominously, that a repair may have been done (or worse, found but not done) that wasn't reported to you.

Being an ex-Air Force vehicle maintenance controller; I'd recommend putting a tractor and attachments through their paces at 90 to 100% maximum recommended load/use capacities, then letting it set overnight before reinspecting and accepting delivery.

And a good dealer will walk you through what was done for a deal prep. An even better dealer will also walk you through daily and periodic user maintenance items. Don't be in a hurry to get it home and start running it. You paid enough for it, you should learn as much about it as possible. Even if you're hearing the same thing for the umpteenth time, you can always use a refresher, and you might learn something new that you didn't know, or had forgotten.

 

[rutwad]

"Being an ex-Air Force vehicle maintenance controller; I'd recommend putting a tractor and attachments through their paces at 90 to 100% maximum recommended load/use capacities, then letting it set overnight before reinspecting and accepting delivery."

Exactly!! Of course the tractor was cranked to be unloaded, and there were no leaks. But with some time mowing and letting the tractor sit overnight, that's how I discovered the leak.