Need tractor... head is spinning.

[e.myers]

Narrowed down to the following. All with hydrostatic drive, 4 wheel drive and a Loader.

I think I've narrowed it down to the 40-45 hp range.

John Deere 4105
Kubota L4400
Kubota Grand L 3940
Massey 1540 possibly 1547
Bobcat CT445

150 acres planted pines.
5 acre MX track. Ultimately I'm shooting for max 5 acre farm w/ small orchard, vineyard, small nursery and a couple greenhouses (we'll see).

John Deere dealer is right around the corner.
Kubota dealer is where I work.
John Deere is the least expensive but the Massey is very close with almost identical specs. Massey has excellent financing so it effectively makes the tractor much cheaper than the JD since I'm financing. Worry that the Massey is made by iseki, and marketed by AGCO who also sells a rebaged "challenger" version to Catapiller. I looked at the catapillars by accident and was not impressed with the way they look. Noticed also that the new massey 1600 series is out and wonder who makes those tractors and if the same will hold true.
Talked with John Deere dealer and he said that the 4105 is all John Deere except for the engine which is yanmar. Originally thought the 4105 was natrually aspirated 4 cylinder (that's what the brochure I have says) but according to the website specs it's 3 cylinder turbo. I think I'd rather have the naturally aspirated engine.... oh well. Read about the JD4105 having a "standard hydro". What does this mean? How are the other hydros different and what am I going to be lacking with the JD?

Kubotas are a possibility but are 2000 and 2500 more than the other two brands. Kubota has some good financing but they require you to have insurance AND the dealer and/or finance company wants 500 for their trouble. So, ultimately, I look at it like the "good" finance deal isn't really saving me anything. Not sure if Massey will have some of the same issues with their financing.

Bobcat CT445 can be had for 1500 less than the Deere which is the least expensive, but I have to find my own financing. Bobcat is rebadged Kioti, it's a new venture for bobcat that concerns me somewhat.

So, after everything factored in, the massey is probably the best "deal" as far as pricing goes.

Anyone know how any of these tractors stack up for my applications and familiar with features that can help me sort through this?

Anything I'm missing that I need to consider?

Thanks!

 

[carpenter383]

Narrowed down to the following. All with hydrostatic drive, 4 wheel drive and a Loader.

I think I've narrowed it down to the 40-45 hp range.

John Deere 4105
Kubota L4400
Kubota Grand L 3940
Massey 1540 possibly 1547
Bobcat CT445

150 acres planted pines.
5 acre MX track. Ultimately I'm shooting for max 5 acre farm w/ small orchard, vineyard, small nursery and a couple greenhouses (we'll see).

John Deere dealer is right around the corner.
Kubota dealer is where I work.
John Deere is the least expensive but the Massey is very close with almost identical specs. Massey has excellent financing so it effectively makes the tractor much cheaper than the JD since I'm financing. Worry that the Massey is made by iseki, and marketed by AGCO who also sells a rebaged "challenger" version to Catapiller. I looked at the catapillars by accident and was not impressed with the way they look. Noticed also that the new massey 1600 series is out and wonder who makes those tractors and if the same will hold true.
Talked with John Deere dealer and he said that the 4105 is all John Deere except for the engine which is yanmar. Originally thought the 4105 was natrually aspirated 4 cylinder (that's what the brochure I have says) but according to the website specs it's 3 cylinder turbo. I think I'd rather have the naturally aspirated engine.... oh well. Read about the JD4105 having a "standard hydro". What does this mean? How are the other hydros different and what am I going to be lacking with the JD?

Kubotas are a possibility but are 2000 and 2500 more than the other two brands. Kubota has some good financing but they require you to have insurance AND the dealer and/or finance company wants 500 for their trouble. So, ultimately, I look at it like the "good" finance deal isn't really saving me anything. Not sure if Massey will have some of the same issues with their financing.

Bobcat CT445 can be had for 1500 less than the Deere which is the least expensive, but I have to find my own financing. Bobcat is rebadged Kioti, it's a new venture for bobcat that concerns me somewhat.

So, after everything factored in, the massey is probably the best "deal" as far as pricing goes.

Anyone know how any of these tractors stack up for my applications and familiar with features that can help me sort through this?

Anything I'm missing that I need to consider?

Thanks!

So you work at a kubota dealer? I just have to ask what is your reason for not being set on kubota? Do they not offer enough of a discount to their employees? Or is there another reason? What are they gonna say when they find out you bought another make of tractor

 

[crbr]

Kubota has some good financing but they require you to have insurance AND the dealer and/or finance company wants 500 for their trouble. So, ultimately, I look at it like the "good" finance deal isn't really saving me anything.

Thanks!

Exactly. A modern myth if there ever was one.

 

[Thomas]

Have you try test spin on the tractors...comfortable/let the tractor come to you not you to the tractor.

Go w/your gut feeling.

 

[MFRED]

All the finance companies will require insurance on your investment. At least untill the loan is paid. They don't want the tractor to get trashed and then you have no way to fix it.It's actually a pretty good deal, I think it was $500 to insure my $35K tractor for 3 years. That's a no brainer, kept it and put it on the farm policy also.

Why the hate on Iseki? AGCO and Iseki have been working with each other for quite a while now. I think you'll find most of the compact companies are " in bed" with someone else.
Are you going to get the Quick Attach for the bucket? I could see where you would be using that in the future.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think all are about the same. At the end of the day the JD, which I personally do not care for, is the best deal. They have great resale based on name identity only, not necessarily the best machine. If you are wanting the best bang for the buck I would go with the Bob Cat. The best machine in my opinion is the Kubota. The Massy falls right in the middle with quality near that of the Kioti/Bob Cat.

At the end of the day it comes down to features, which one fits you best, and the dealer.

Why not look at new Holland. Never owned one but use a TC33 at my dad's place, it belongs to his neighbor, for light loader work and bush hogging and its a nice machine. My old college roommate has a Case DX29 or something like that and has had good luck with it over the last 4 years. I have never operated it though.

Chris

 

[dgl24087]

So you work at a kubota dealer? I just have to ask what is your reason for not being set on kubota? Do they not offer enough of a discount to their employees? Or is there another reason? What are they gonna say when they find out you bought another make of tractor

I think the Kubota dealer is maybe located near where he works.

 

[roadhawk]

I saw a Bobcat in action at an ArenaCross in Huntsville last weekend and it was just amazing how well he could move dirt around quickly and accurately. In the middle they had a freestyle session so he came out and smoothed out one jump that had a lip on it and turned it into a landing zone, and then knocked out 1/2 a corner for an over-run area. And then put it all back after freestyle was done and it was time to race again. There were also some other track repairs done between heats.

All this was done at a speed that I didn't even know could be reached- the thing was bobbing and weaving like a hyperactive Weeble (may wobble but not fall down!)

 

[carpenter383]

I saw a Bobcat in action at an ArenaCross in Huntsville last weekend and it was just amazing how well he could move dirt around quickly and accurately. In the middle they had a freestyle session so he came out and smoothed out one jump that had a lip on it and turned it into a landing zone, and then knocked out 1/2 a corner for an over-run area. And then put it all back after freestyle was done and it was time to race again. There were also some other track repairs done between heats.

All this was done at a speed that I didn't even know could be reached- the thing was bobbing and weaving like a hyperactive Weeble (may wobble but not fall down!)

Was the bobcat you saw a tractor or a skid steer?

 

[roadhawk]

Good point...it was a skid steer.