LS vs New Holland vs Kioti vs Mahindra

[oldpilgrim]

I agree with you Dick, and I had the same experience with my local Kubota dealer.

 

[blb078]

I had a Bobcat (Kioti) CT445 a while back and recently drove a similar sized JD for a little mowing project. I was really impressed with the JD as it just felt like a higher quality machine compared to the kioti. Shifting into h/l range was simple where the kioti h/m/l seemed like I was always messing with the shifter to get it into gear as it seemed to stick sometimes. The JD ran out strong, even when mowing and never slowed down.

I think in general you get what you pay for with tractors. The cheapest ones are usually just that. A quick glance at the front page of this forum will show you which brand of tractors are broke down often. A warranty can be very deceiving.

I'd take into consideration the dealer as well. Look for a long time dealer of this brand and an established business with full service and parts. Many of these value minded tractor dealers are selling tractors on the side and simply can't offer the service level that a real full service dealer can.

While I see what you're saying I definitely don't agree with it. Looking at reviews I see LS and Kioti getting pretty good reviews, every bit as good as JD and Kubota. And whether it's an LS, Kioti, JD, or Kubota they all seem to be made in an Asian country. A Kia is cheaper than a Chevy and a Kia is every bit as good. I'm more concerned about getting parts later on or even right now. It seems you can't get a factor 3rd function for the LS or even a backhoe thumb, or adding a 3rd rear remote. This are some pretty basic add ons I would think. And if I can't get stuff like this now what happens 10 years down the road when I need a part to get it back running if they start producing tractors under a different name or something. That is my concern. I know JD and Kubota parts are easy to get and dealers are all over.

 

[oldpilgrim]

People seem to worry about getting parts and it's a legit worry, if you need them.

One of the reasons I picked Mahindra was parts availability. Mahindra is a HUGE company with several large distribution centers across this country, so I figured, all is good with the parts situation. I wasn't proven wrong.

When I got my tractor, I wanted a larger fel bucket. I had the dealer order one, it got it in 2 days.

When one of my fel lift cylinders sprung a leak at the weld, I told the dealer on a Thursday, I had another on Monday. When I wanted a 10 inch bucket for the BH, I got it in 3 days.

Every time, I've wanted filters, they have them in stock. If they didn't, I know I'd have them in 2-3 days.

LS, I wouldn't know about. There's no dealers around here. Kioti, I don't know about. There's only one small lawn and garden shop dealer about 10 miles away. Kubota, I'm guessing all would be good. JD, there's a large dealership about 12 miles away, but I'd need to mortgage my house for a part. There are 2 Mahindra dealers, one 10 miles east, one 10 miles west of me. So far, Westville Equipment has taken real good care of me.

I have no regrets with Mahindra.

 

[paulfun9]

I had a Bobcat (Kioti) CT445 a while back and recently drove a similar sized JD for a little mowing project. I was really impressed with the JD as it just felt like a higher quality machine compared to the kioti. Shifting into h/l range was simple where the kioti h/m/l seemed like I was always messing with the shifter to get it into gear as it seemed to stick sometimes. The JD ran out strong, even when mowing and never slowed down.

I think in general you get what you pay for with tractors. The cheapest ones are usually just that. A quick glance at the front page of this forum will show you which brand of tractors are broke down often. A warranty can be very deceiving.

I'd take into consideration the dealer as well. Look for a long time dealer of this brand and an established business with full service and parts. Many of these value minded tractor dealers are selling tractors on the side and simply can't offer the service level that a real full service dealer can.

My more recent experience running other folks JD's has done nothing more than confirm that I made the right decision when I purchased my Kioti.

 

[coobie]

My more recent experience running other folks JD's has done nothing more than confirm that I made the right decision when I purchased my Kioti.

+1 agree but I am a switch hitter.

 

[Turbys_1700]

My local dealer services and supports New Holland, Kubota, and Mahindra. They have parts in house and that is worth a lot to me. I drive right by there every morning going to work. Very convenient. The closest Kioti dealership is 35 miles out of the way but they are excellent also. I think that they just added Branson. Actually the closest Kubota dealership is only 12 miles away but they carry mostly lawn and garden tractors. They are also a Woods dealers but when I needed blades they did not have them in stock and wanted to place an order. I can do that at my PC. I guess I'm lucky to have choices.

 

[GManBart]

I had an LS R4047H for about 15 months and it was great....only sold it to go much bigger. I only needed two parts, and had no problems getting them at all (both were mistakes on my part, not the machine). When I bought mine there was only one dealer in the area, and there are now three from what I've heard (only been to two of them).

There are one or two places that sell any LS part you can think of, and if it's a model sold as a NH or Case you can also get parts from any NH or CaseIH dealer if you know the corresponding model that NH or Case uses. The exception to that is that LS uses their own loader, and CNH uses one they source themselves.

I think some of the instability in LS dealers is that some of the smaller places who can't get a big name got a shot with LS, and not all of them made it. If your local dealer has been around a while selling other makes, I wouldn't be too worried.

 

[DK35vince]

My more recent experience running other folks JD's has done nothing more than confirm that I made the right decision when I purchased my Kioti.

The previous tractor I owned for 15 years was a John Deere 850.
It was a good machine, but I like my Kioti DK 35 I've owned for the past 15+ years better.
Its been very good.

 

[TheMan419]

For me final choice was the NH because I like the layout. I test drove JD, NH, Kubota and MF. Those are the dealers near me. The NH just seemed to work better for me.