New or Used

[75H2]

Long time lurker. Recently registered. Here is my 1st thread.

Question: Do you buy new or used & why.

In 6 weeks we are moving to our new house. 3.5 acres, long driveway lots of landscaping to be done. In short I need a bigger tractor (SCUT or CUT) Looking at MF GC2300, Kubota BX 2350, B7510, JD 2305, 2320.
New prices range from 12,200 to 18K I hate to spend money. But, I believe this is a one time lifelong purchase. Hopefully I'll wear out before the tractor does. Did you buy new or used? Do these small tractor depreciate enough for it to make sense ot buy after a few hours? Or, if there too much of a tradeoff & risks buying someone elses' unit. for the record, I've purchased 1 new thing in my life all the others were used. Give a newbee some advice please.

Thanks & Happy New Year!

 

[john_bud]

A lot of the answer depends on you. Are you comfortable inspecting equipment? Are you willing to pay to have it checked out, if you are not ? Should part of it break, are you able to fix it yourself? Able to part with the $ and time to have it repaired by a pro? Is the shiny bright paint worth an extra 30-70% premium over a fully operable unit with some "character"?

For many folks the answers point them to new tractors in the class you are investigating. For others, they are willing to buy used and balance off lower initial cost with the possiblility of repair cost and down time. Still others want a decent used unit and find that the cost for a 3-500 hour machine is 80-85% that of a new one or 2000 hours and it looks it! Some markets are hot for used SCUTs.

If you can find a BX class machine in good shape with 100 hours / year or less - probably a jump on it deal.

Good hunting,
jb

 

[flusher]

Long time lurker. Recently registered. Here is my 1st thread.

Question: Do you buy new or used & why.

In 6 weeks we are moving to our new house. 3.5 acres, long driveway lots of landscaping to be done. In short I need a bigger tractor (SCUT or CUT) Looking at MF GC2300, Kubota BX 2350, B7510, JD 2305, 2320.
New prices range from 12,200 to 18K I hate to spend money. But, I believe this is a one time lifelong purchase. Hopefully I'll wear out before the tractor does. Did you buy new or used? Do these small tractor depreciate enough for it to make sense ot buy after a few hours? Or, if there too much of a tradeoff & risks buying someone elses' unit. for the record, I've purchased 1 new thing in my life all the others were used. Give a newbee some advice please.

Thanks & Happy New Year!

Bought a new Kubota B7510HST with the LA302 FEL (4-ft wide bucket) in May05 for $12600 plus tax (10% down, 0% for 36 months). Decided to buy new since this was my first tractor purchase. Looked at pre-owned Yanmars, Ford 8Ns, Isekis but decided to go with Kubota and get the benefit of the 36 month warranty.

Used the 7510 a lot for landscaping around my new house and around my 10 acre parcel (flat pasture land). Bought a 4-ft King Kutter box blade and 4-ft KK rotary mower (brush hog) right after the tractor was delivered. Added KK middle buster plow and sub soiler that were great for preparing the landscaped areas. Also bought a pre-owned Yanmar RS-1200 rototiller (4-ft wide, $300) for landscaping work.

In July06 I bought a 1964 MF-135 diesel (45 hp engine) to do heavy plowing and discing work after I decided to get into haying. Paid $3600 for the 135 and spent a few months refurbishing it (cleaning, new gauges, rewiring, new paint/decals, etc). A great way to learn your way around tractors. Old iron is really simple compared to the new tractors with all the electronics, safety and pollution stuff. The 135 runs fine. New 45-hp tractors are way beyond my budget so buying used was the only option.

Eventually I get a used 60-70hp (engine) tractor.

So in my case buying new was an option for small SCUTs but was not economically feasible for larger utility tractors.

 

[mjncad]

I went new when I bought my JD 4200. Anything I found used with comparable specs was out of state and/or had high hours for not much less than new.

Plus I like to be the first to screw up a piece of equipment...

 

[MACDABS]

I was in the same boat you are in 2003 , looked in your area at several used machines that needed work or looked like it. At the time 0% 36 financing was available from JD and a 4310 was purchased. I just ordered a 110TLB, should be in mid Feb. , and my 4310 with hoe has 280 hrs. will be traded.

I have no idea what the dealer is going to ask for the machine, but I can tell you I wax it and store it in a heated garage. I can PM you the dealer I traded with is in a 60 mile range of your location. A 4310 is bigger than what you are looking for, but with the terrain you live in the bigger machine will work better. The front tires are foamed/rear calcium turf,430,forks 60'' hd bucket . I love the machine, wish I could keep both the 4310 /110tlb! I purchase the 4310 for my house and now I need to use it for work this spring and did not want to abuse it with the heavy rocky work that I will be doing for several site builds, the 110Tlb is more of a construction machine.
Macdabs

 

[gilbertmsg]

I would consider used with warrenty or new. I was in your shoes in Dec 06 and purchased used Iseki and have had lots of problems . New glow plugs, new/refurbished head, problems with PTO. Needless to say, I grew tired of working on tractor and purchased a new Kioti this month. If you go used, make sure you or someone can inspect tractor before you purchase. I did not loose a lot of money, but missed seat time with broke machine. Joke for today, the nickname of the old tractor was, I See Eddie Killed It (ISEKI).

 

[davitk]

Welcome to TBN, 75H2. I just purchased new, myself, after looking at several used machines. Bottom line to me was the 1 - 2K savings on a late model low hour machine with little or no warranty and no way to verify maintenance history (or lack there of) wasn't worth it - on a used car purchase I would probably spend that much on an extended warranty. By purchasing new (I ordered my machine, which was shipped from Kubota's central warehouse in Ohio) I was delivered a shiny new machine that had no "test drive" hours and no rain on the seat as do machines parked as inventory on a dealers lot. It arrived with .7 hours on the tach (from factory testing, loading and unloading from the flatbed, etc.) and was literally show room shiny when it arrived in my driveway (I took pictures to remember!)

On the flip side of that, 3 years ago I purchased a garden tractor on Flea Bay in superb condition with low hours for 2400.00 (less than 30% of the cost new) and have had only one minor problem with it. I may have just gotten lucky.

Good luck and remember, tractor shopping is almost as fun as tractor owning.

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

I got my dealer's "leftover model year demo machine" with 4 hours on it (the dealer used it to unload lawn mowers off the flatbed) for less than the used machines I had been looking at.
I've got a buddy at work who bought a smaller used Kubota that was expensive to work all the bugs from previous owners out of it, but has been a workhorse for him since. (was a "too good to be true" deal - once the repairs were done it was just a "pretty good deal")

good luck!

 

[kozak]

Welcome to TBN.

When I was initially looking to buy 4 years ago I was looking for used. I could not believe the high prices that used Tractors commanded. So started to look for new as it did not make sense to me to buy a 10 year old tractor with thousands of hours on it for 60 - 70% of buying new.

Fortunately, I came across a very slightly used (79 Hrs.) 35HP Beast of a Tractor at a NH Dealership. Saved $7,000 over new. Negotiated one free pick-up & delivery for future Maintenance along with 1 rear remote valve & 6 months warranty. (Tractor was already out of original warranty). So there are good deals out there but hard to find.....at least here in Canada.

Have had very good luck with tractor. Only two very minor problems that I was able to fix myself with troubleshooting help from this board.

You will note in my Profile that I only have 2.3 acres. When I was searching I wanted to make sure I went big enough the first time without needing to trade up. Well I am really happy with the 35HP machine. BIG & HEAVY enough to do all my tasks easily with lots of lift capability. IMHO, your selection of Tractors are on the small side. They will of course work depending upon what you will use the tractor for. However, I would recommend something like a Kubota B7800 or JD 3120. So if budget is a concern consider buying used & get something a little bigger. You won't regret it.

Good Luck,

Vic

 

[GLLinMO]

The biggest challenge in buying a used CUT is finding a decent one. I almost bought the "older used larger ag tractor", but my storage space is limited to a compact size. If you have the time to look and learn, used is a very viable option.

By the way - do you own ad '75 H2 Kawasaki?- nice classic bike!

 

[LBrown59]

I've found buying new is cheaper than buying used because of the ZERO percent financing on new.
The one exception was on the used Kubota BX1500 I purchased last month.
At$4500 it was enough of a price difference between going used over new to offset the finance charges on the used tractor.
Hopefully I can sell the CC it replaced and use the funds from that sale to pay off the Kubota a couple of years or so early thus saving a bunch on finance charges.
I got luck and got a good price on the used Kubota because usually the price spread between a decent used unit and new is not large enough to make buying used less costly than new.

Long time lurker. Recently registered. Here is my 1st thread.

Question: Do you buy new or used & why.

Thanks & Happy New Year!

 

[Harvey7]

If you can afford it, go new. You'll have warranty and the general assurance that it will work well. The interest rates are great and you said you believe this is a one time lifelong purchase.

Good luck, Harvey.

 

[JSR LLS]

I'll put my two cents in here. I just last month bought my new JD2320. I love it. I was in your shoes. We had moved to this place in late summer of 2006 and the GX345 I bought just couldn't/wouldn't handle the things we needed it to do. I found a 10yo JD 755 equipped how I wanted it(except no front snow blower) with super low hours in great condition. They wanted 10K for it. Now, with just moving and having two little kids in day care, we aren't made out of money and planned on financing for as long as possible, so...I ended up going new and trading the GX. I figured, if I bought the 755 and kept the GX, I would end up with an even older machine with possible repairs needing to be made through the term of the loan. I also figured, if I traded (we didn't really need two machines anyway) and bought new, I would have a newer machine when the loan was over and repairs (hopefully none) made under warranty. Good Luck. Oh and Welcome to TBN.

 

[75H2]

JSR,

Sounds like I'm in a similar situation. New house (Mortgage) 2 kids in daycare (like a 2nd mortgage) Still up in the air, but guidance seems ot be pointing toward new. Just wish the MF 0% to 60 months wouldn't come with so many strings. I actually work for a business that among other things sells ag equipment including MF. I used my considerable negotiating skills to convince them to sell me a tractor for $800 MORE than I could buy it elsewhere. Not going that route.

BTW I'm blown away by what used '55 Series JD tractors still bring. I "lust" after the 955 the guys use who take care of our office grounds. Do I need to seek professional help?

 

[john_bud]

Do I need to seek professional help?

Obviously, but you are here where 99% of us are in as bad or worse shape than you!




jb

 

[CurlyDave]

For me the deciding factor was that I had absolutely zero experience with tractors and not the smallest clue of how to inspect a used machine or even tell "something wrong" from "normal operation".

I knew what I wanted to do with the machine, but I had to teach myself the correct techniques and gain experience myself. The very high probability that everything I encountered would most likely be normal operation gave me a lot of confidence to try things.

I know I could have hired someone to inspect the machine and someone to teach me, but I decided I would rather apply that money to a new tractor with a warranty and a high probability of nothing being wrong.

With a couple years of experience under my belt now, I might be more willing to look at a used machine, but I would have to come up with a very compelling need for a bigger tractor to part with my JD 110 TLB.

 

[chh]

If you have a good bank that you use on a regular basis, I have had good luck buying the equipment at the cash price and financing it at the bank. I pay off notes early, ASAP, and it works out cheaper that way for me. A good loan officer can make the process much easier.

 

[PA hayseed]

auctions, adds, and trade magazines are possible options when looking for used, as well as many of the dealers carry them too. Don't forget, if you have been lurking here, you will probably get PM'ed by a dealer. Not a big deal, as they support the site and are truly helpful. If I wouldn't have gotten such a great deal from my local dealer, a dealer in PA that supports this site would have definetly gotten my business.

used - saves you money (possibly)
New - costs more upfront and doesn't have problems (possibly)

Your finances should ultimately determine which purchase you make. Buy as much tractor as you can afford, as the attachments you will want to add down the road are not cheap. If your payment is too tight, you can forget the attachments that make life so much more fun/easy.

 

[75H2]

Hayseed,

Thanks for advice. Looking for that special PM If any dealer is out there lurking. My favorite colors are (in no particular order) Red, Green & Orange. I wear a size SCUT or small CUT with loader & MMM. Santa didn't get the job done this year. Like to have something to play with before the Easter Bunny comes to town.

Happy New Year everyone

H2 (2 wheels not 4)

 

[Bob_Young]

75H2,
A few thoughts:
1) Whether you buy new or used, you're going to be taking a sizeable financial hit. Like Kozak said, the good used ones aren't cheap and they are hard to find. How likely is it that when you finally find one, it'll be exactly what you want? As long as you're paying big bucks anyway; buy new and get what you want.

2) A well cared for and fully functional tractor will, after 6 or 7 years have passed, sell for about the same dollar amount as you paid for it. This varies some, of course. Some makes, models and options are more popular. Still, when you look at it, you're getting the use of a tractor for about what you'd get in interest on the initial purchase amount. Yeah, buying new is the bigger hit; but with reasonable care, you'll get most all of it back...with fewer headaches along the way.

3) To me, used is only considered when I know the person who owned it, know and approve of how he cared for it, and know what its work/maintenance history has been. My life & money are too short to buy problems.

4) On edit: I don't buy high-ticket items unless the money to pay for them is in the bank. This may influence how much weight you're willing to give the above 3 points.
FWIW
Bob