Mahindra vrs JD

[shamban]

Bob,
I posted a few pages back how I intended to proceed. I can see why you (and everyone else since no one commented) missed it. Although I have found this thread very informative, I have not been checking in on it much as of late because it has went so far off on a tangent. People are passionate here, that is for sure.

 

[Poncho]

Uh.... Cowboy, better check the Mahindra website. Mahindra offers the 4510 CAB. They probably didn't offer a cab back when you bought... but they do now, and if the orignial poster is still hanging around and needs a cab, this tractor is probably up his alley.

To the original poster..... In the overall scheme of things, I would bet Mahindra is going to be around for a good while. What you've seen in all the bantering back and forth is preference in machines, preferred dealer relationships, resale... etc. A tractor with a lower price is certainly going to bring less of a resale value than a tractor bought at a higher price. Somebody referred to national vs international markets, well, there ar markets here in the US also, i.e. brand loyalty and market penetration is going to be major factors. Around here in N Florida, Mahindra dealership numbers are comparable to Kubota, NH, JD & Massey so resale is not going to be as big of an issue because there is an established market and the Mahindras are well respected. I look at the tractor market and remember the mass introduction of import automobiles... people said the same thing about the imports.... and we know what happened there. When I was looking at similarly optioned equipment between Mahindra & JD.... the Mahindra was considerably less, by thousands. People speak to parts availability... again look at the automotive market.... Mahindra wouldn't invest in the market as heavily as they have without product support (duh!) besides, it's a proven fact that Mahindra's are a well made durable machine.... and the fact that it's durability is made overseas doesn't bother me. If a machine holds up well in India, that's good enough to me for North Florida.

 

[cowboydoc]

That is a compact tractor to me. I was looking for a cab on a utility tractor or a tractor in the 60 plus pto range.

 

[viking]

It is amazing how regional tractor pricing can be, but then again the same can be said with automobiles, houses and land. In my neck of the woods John Deere remains king followed closely by New Holland with Kubota closing the gap, Kioti and Mahindra are also being represented on many of the smaller farms around. Being in the market for a 50 hp utility tractor, I cannot find a used John Deere 5205 MFWD with loader for the price that I can get a new Mahindra 5500 or even 6000 with 6ft medium duty bushhog and PHD. So, I can get a new tractor with two implements for the price of a used John Deere of similar specs. I know the JD wins the hydrolics issue hands down, but even the smaller (5500) Mahindra outweighs the JD by 2000lbs.

 

[slaveToHorses]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Bob,
I posted a few pages back how I intended to proceed. I can see why you (and everyone else since no one commented) missed it. ... )</font>

I missed it too. I saw an earlier one describing your intended usage. RanchMan made a good response that I will add to.

I would not necessarily choose a tractor that will work for all your needs, as a criteria. You will end up with something that might be too compromised for any one of them. I think you will find yourself purchasing a second tractor!

You will want a smaller 4wd tractor with an FEL and backhoe and a larger 2wd or 4wd for field work. I find that an FEL gets in the way of a field tractor but is imperitive for the utility tractor. Choose which task is more important to do first. Consider renting a tractor, or trackhoe to do the pond digging or other immediate task.

As to Mahindra v.s. JD. Heck I would go for a used JD. If you really felt the need for a new one then from what I can tell, you should be fine with either.

But, one thing to keep in mind. Resale value is important because this is your first tractor. Chances are that you will find out that you should have gotten something different despite all your research. Then the resale value becomes important.

Then there is your wife's opinion. Bring her into the discussion.
This is often overlooked. Believe me. At first you will want to do all the tractor work yourself. That won't last and you will want your wife to feel like she has some ownership. My wife loves the Deere color scheme and I have found great value in that!!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Buy as many implements as you can with the tractor, the dealers will give you much better breaks on price then.

Also make sure your dealers will give you a loaner in case repair work needs to be done. Talk to the service manager not the salesman. If they are one and the same then go to a larger dealer!

Don't be affraid to buy a used tractor. I purchased some parts for a 60 year old tractor at one of the JD dealers near me and they had it in stock! Just make sure it wasn't a rental tractor. I made that mistake once...


-grego

 

[consaka]

I believe that Mahindra is here to stay, They have invested a lot of money in the US market. So I would assume that both makes will be around for the next 10 years. If you want a heavy, rugged machine with a high 3 pt lift capacity that costs thousands less then go with the Mahindra. If you want a superior FEL, superior paint job, and want to be the envy of all your neighbors, then get a Deere.

heh, When you read things like people saying Deere Fels are better then you better compare because I would have said that Mahindra Fels are better though the deer bucket may be better. I think my 2615 bucket is bent.

 

[consaka]

I wrote.

By the way, I think it would be helpful to us all if you could give even MORE detail as to your tractoring plans. Because I am not sure if you are looking at a big enough machine. Like I wrote, size is relative. For your size property, 33hp would not be too big, but it really depends on your uses.

When I got my mahindra I considered size. I like bigger but I also needed to be able to move it around without too much trouble. My "dealer" treats the state line with some kind of phobia and will not cross it no matter what. That means for any repairs I have to truck it 60 miles south. The 2615 was the biggest I could get that would fit my dual axle 14 foot trailer. Even then it sticks out a bit if you get a backhoe on it.
I just mention this because mobility may be a factor for you as well considering that you can suddenly become popular with family, friends and church members if they find you have a decent sized tractor.

 

[consaka]

Bob,

If you got the lowest price of any other tractor out there, Mahindra and Kioit included, got service above and beyond your expectations, had never been down even with a major problem for more than 4 hours, had phone calls returned within an hour or questions answered immediately, had your dealer arrange meetings with deere corporate for problems unresolved within a week, and treated you with the utmost respect would you not be pretty high on that company as well?? I am very picky and I'm probably the biggest miser you will ever meet. If I thought for one minute that another company could match what deere has done for me I would sell every green piece of equipment I had and buy it.

You got to be the luckiest bloke out there if you get all that. You marry the dealers daughter? I think what you have there is a one in a million deal. That being said id be thrilled if a Mahindra dealer moved in up here in Vancouver WA. Here JD is just down the street with the Kubota dealer around the next corner. I swear they compete to see who can post the highest prices.
I know that no tractor is perfect but my less then steller dealer would finance through agricredit. My credit wasn't as perfect a few years ago as it is now and none of the local dealers would offer me financing. If Kubota had offered financing and come within a thousand of the mahindra dealer id have gone with him despite the lower lift capacities just because my grandfather always owned them and they seemed to hold up pretty good. I guess im a kubota fan driving a mahindra at least the color is close. Wishing I had your dealer in any color. :thumbsup:

 

[consaka]

.

That is the way it is for us in the real tractor world. No repairmen drops what he is doing, loads up his tools, and comes to fix you equipment at any failure.

I would. Not only that id offer a loaner tractor for people in a bind. Especially if the diff gears went out and they are looking at weeks waiting for parts. It isn't going to kill a mechanic to go look at something that could be minor. charging 200 to haul it in is kinda crazy though.
If I was a dealer with mechanics on staff id have a big trailer and truck standing by to do just that.

I don't have the money to go into that business If I did I think brand loyalty might go right out the window as Id want the absolute best product for my customers. If I tell someone it is good then the darn engineers better have the customer in mind as well. none of this aluminum axle stuff.

 

[consaka]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( No repairmen drops what he is doing, loads up his tools, and comes to fix you equipment at any failure. )</font>


Well not to speak for Cowboydoc, but my headlamp on my Ventrac burnt out. It is under warrenty. I was talking to the dealer about something completely different and he asked about the tractor. I told him the fuse for the headlight blew several times, I told him I suspected a dead ground. He told me he would drive down to fix it. It is a 7 hour drive from Central Lawn & Turf in the middle of Wisconsin to drive to the outskirts of Lowell, Indiana.

I told him not to bother, I don't use that tractor in the dark. He told me if anything else happens he'd come down, pick up the machine, get it & the light fixed and get it back to me.

surely someone up here in WA or OR can beat that? If that dealer was local id want to work for him. Or buy from him. I love doing any kind of business with honest people like that.