New vs. Used: What's your experience?

[Mech]

I think Sunset Dr is south on Elk Creek Road? I live north on Elk Creek in Elk Falls Ranch.

The gray market tractors generally have good parts supplies and apparently many of the dealers are good, but the tractor I bought was almost 30 years old, had zero hours on the meter and who knows what it had been through. I paid over $8000 for it and bought my new 790 for about $15000 with a zero interest loan. It is a Yanmar but a significantly bigger, stronger and heavier tractor. I just think 1/2 of a new one isn't a big enough discount for the age and risk.

 

[yankee7]

I think Sunset Dr is south on Elk Creek Road? I live north on Elk Creek in Elk Falls Ranch.

The gray market tractors generally have good parts supplies and apparently many of the dealers are good, but the tractor I bought was almost 30 years old, had zero hours on the meter and who knows what it had been through. I paid over $8000 for it and bought my new 790 for about $15000 with a zero interest loan. It is a Yanmar but a significantly bigger, stronger and heavier tractor. I just think 1/2 of a new one isn't a big enough discount for the age and risk.

Yes, Sunset is south of 285. Have they completed the new interchange there yet? I haven't been back for about 2+ years...not since before Safeway moved. I hear a lot has changed since then!

At this point I'm kind of leaning towards a new Kubota L3400 with the 0% financing. I can't seem to find what I want used (low hours) for what I can get a new one for. I'm looking for at least 28 HP (but really want 30+), a FEL and a BH to start. Most used deals I;ve found don't have the bh and buying one and getting it installed (mainly the required frame addition) brings the cost of the used package up pretty close to new. ANd if I finance it it'll cost me more than used/month. Still, I haven't bought anything yet.

Dave

 

[Mech]

No interchange at Shaffer's Crossing. Maybe it will start in 2009. Stauton Park which we back up to can't open until the interchange is done. New Safeway, a king Soopers, lots of eating places, etc. Glad we are 8 miles from all of that.

I have a JD 790, will probably by a JD 3720 cab tractor when I retire and start doing the grading and snow removal for a living. 790 is a great tractor (I have added a canopy, tool box, TNT, hydraulic angle for my front blade, extra lights) and it has tons of power, but non-syncronized gears, no cab, will be a pain in the winters doing lots of loader work.

 

[IslandTractor]

Except for the lack of cut rate financing, I think getting a low hour, recent tractor is a great way to save bucks. Factory warranty can be up to four years on some brands so you are not taking a huge risk. Getting an appropriately sized almost new tractor from someone who is either moving up or moving out and has taken care of it (not that hard to figure out with questions and inspection) is a can be a real deal, especially if you can bundle some implements. CUTs from the top six or seven manufacturers are all pretty comparable with regard to reliability and performance so if you are looking to get the most tractor for your dollar be flexible as to color.

 

[Carpenter]

I've owned 2 used and now 2 new and no problems with any of them. I was recently looking for a used compact TLB and had a heck of a time finding anything within a thousand miles. I finally gave in to Kubota's 0% financing and bought a new L39 from a dealer 40 miles away. I would have gladly bought a reasonably priced used one if I could have found one.

 

[rpoage]

For me the most important thing would be to get the tractor or equipment that is right for the job. Late in 06 I was ready to buy and wanted to get a used Kubota BX I was looking for a BX23/24 with low hours and felt that 12,500 to 13,500 would do the job. I had cash so I was cocky enough to think that I could get a good deal because not that may people would be ready to plunk down that amount of cash, I was wrong. I kept finding used equipment that bid up way too close to new for my taste. Considering the difficulties with transportation (for those of us who are trailer challenged) and the disappointments of being out bid in the last 2 seconds by automated biding programs (did I mention that I hate EBay). I ended up buying new (had to lower my expiations to the BX2350 and forget the BH. Paying the sales tax and higher price but I got pretty much what I wanted, when I wanted it and they delivered it. I have been hunting around for a good tiller and sprayer for a year now and I'm sure that I will be buying those new when the time comes. I see the great deals guys get posted in TBN all the time but I don't seem to have that kind of timing or luck.

 

[mark4Jesus]

If looking for used, the secret is to be patient. My first tractor was a Kubota B1250 13 yrs old with 1800 hrs. on it. Great tractor! My next, and present, tractor, a MF 1433v 1.5 yrs. old with 140hrs. Great tractor! I bought both from dealers. I think dealers are not likely to put a bad tractor on their lot for fear of bad PR. Both times I spent several months looking before I found them. January and February seem to be good months to buy because things are slow, if you can wait. The used tractors that I looked at that individuals were selling were wore out, so I concentrated on the area dealers.

 

[Rara Avis]

OK...amongst all the recommendations/opinions on what tractors to buy, some people suggest new and others say used. I've bought both new and used cars over the years and have to say that while new -- with a good warranty -- offers some peace of mind, used offers often substantial savings and allows getting "more" for your money. Of course the trick is how can you avoid the headaches that come with wear and tear of used equipment?

So my question is, for those of you who have bought used: do you regret it? Would you do it again? Are tractors different than cars -- better built -- so that buying used (with low hours) isn't as much of a risk?

OK, that's three quesitons, but they's all trying to get at the same issue: new or used, which way do you lean based on your experience (not just your opinion).

Thanks!

Dave

Bigger AG tractors I buy used, because a large chunk of depreciation was eaten by the first owner...
CUTS I tend to buy new...because I've seen some operators thrash their little tractors beyond belief...

 

[rcrcomputing]

I bought new because I was not a wrench man and knew nothing about tractors. (My tractor almost got non-diesel oil in it the first change. Happened to read on this site to get diesel the day before I changed it!)

That was about three years ago now.. Now I turn a wrench, weld, torch, etc. And am a greaseaholic All because I bought a tractor.

Buying new was the thing for me to do.. Lately, I've been looking at some old tractors... Though I still wouldn't attempt to rebuild a motor or something like that.
My Kioti has been really dependable.

 

[johnnydel29]

If you buy new, great. If you decide to buy used to save some cash, buy from a good dealer w/ good service that fully inspects the machine before it leaves the lot and make sure you get some sort of guarentee from the dealer. Stay away from those "AS IS" deals.

A friend of mine bought an older Massey from a guy up North. Worked fine when he went to look at it. He brought it home, used it for 3 hours and the clutch blew. The guy that sold it to him would not even respond to his phone calls. A good dealer would have probably taken care of the problem.

Used tractor equiptment needs to go through a complete inspection from a professional mechanic that knows that particular equipment inside and out before being sold.