Yes he did try hard to earn my business and put together a great deal. It's not that I don't think it's a good deal, it's just trying to balance the new vs used savings. Of course the brand new shiny one is very appealing.
As for payment I'll be financing it. The price quoted for the new one is the cash/standard financing price, add about $1800 to get the 0% financing - which is more than I'll pay in interest at the term I'm borrowing. Rate on the new one is 5.74%, and my credit union that I've been with for over ten years won't go under 8% since they won't count a tractor as collateral - they consider the loan a signature loan.
And yeah I'd be lying if I said I hadn't considered putting that savings toward a 3 point tiller and a landscape rake. Our garden is currently about 700 square feet that I till with a 20" rear tine. I'd love to at least double it and start up some taters and such and a 3 point tiller would make the prep part a breeze.