New tractor advice

[rScotty]

Thanks rScotty. Probably is the best way to go. Think a JD 1 series is enough machine? How about any of the other makes? I keep reading the upfront cost of a deere pays off on long term reliability and resale.

I would agree that Deeres hold their resale better (and cost more, too) - but disagree that means it has any advantage of long term reliability. I don't even think those things are related. As I see it, Deere's better resale is more a matter of popularity than reliability.
Fact is that all the "premium" makes of tractors are extremely reliable. Especially so when you consider how hard they work.

JRJM, after you read through this forum for awhile I think you will find that all of the popular brands have roughly the same built in reliability. Breakdowns are about equally distributed - reading between the lines might make you think as I do that that breakdowns on your top half dozen best (and most expensive) brands have more to do with how it is used than who made it.

That said, every brand has a few lemons. That's when a dealer - rather than the - really makes a difference.

Bottom line: Reliability is probably not the main thing that you should be looking at. It will be the same with any of the premium makes.
Concentrate on features.
rScotty