I just bought a new MF1523 gear drive (my first tractor) a couple of months ago and I am extremely happy with it. I am going to work on my 50 hour service this weekend. I purchased it at Georgia Deer Farm near Carrollton, Georgia out side Roopville to be precise. I paid $13,400 (no sales tax in GA) for the 1523 with a front end loader and a 4' International rear rough cut mower delivered to me. I added a 4' United box blade a couple weeks later. When I bought mine, they had a 1523 hydro and I think he still has one. When we started talking the hydro was $500 more than the gear drive I ended up with. Also, I did not finance mine so I don't know how that might change the price.
When I started tractor shopping I was looking at sub compacts units. We are fortunate to have Kuboto, John Deere, and Massey Fergussen Dealers all within 20 to 30 minutes of home. As I said in other posts all the dealers were very, very, tolerant of my endless questions and very willing to let me test drive all the subjects. I really started off thinking that the JD would end up at the house. I am a new guy remember, so I was thinking likely purchase order would be: JD, Kubota, and better look at the Masseys, they are just down the road too. I only rode around in the parking lot to test but with no experience that was my only real option.
I liked the Massey GC2400 the best of the sub compacts that I tried, but Roger had the two 1523s and after my description of my needs he suggested trying them too. The main items that steered me toward the 1523s were the additional ground clearance, larger wheels and tires, suspension seat (getting old ya know), more upright seating position due to the height of the steering column, and the overall more roomy rider/operator compartment, while still being narrow and short, i.e. super maneuverability. The gear versus hydro 1523 decision was two fold with the floor area being less cluttered on the gear model (hydro pedal location mostly) and I was just more comfortable with the manual transmission. I am sure that I would adapt to the hydro but remember my major newbee (sp) status, and also I just felt really comfortable with the super low granny first gear on the non-hydro model.
Take it for what it's worth, but as I said I feel I made the correct purchase.
Also I don't know if you are considering used but Roger had a used 1528 with a loader and rough cut mower, and a GC2310 (back hoe) last weekend. I would think that low hour used compacts and sub compacts are few.
Gotta love this place. Frank
