New vs. Used: What's your experience?

[woodyacres]

I bought new because of the zero percent financing. I could have saved $3000 buying used, but would have spent that in interest. Plus I am new to operating tractors and had a fear of getting screwed with a purchase of a used one since I had no idea what to look for.

 

[tony123]

I was green to tractors, and bought a 30 year old Yanmar for my first. I've had enough small items to deal with that it's been interesting, but nothing that's been a deal breaker.

For the money I paid vs. the jobs I've accomplished in the first year of ownership, it could blow up tomorrow and was a good buy. And I'm confident it will pay for itself ten fold before its over.

 

[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.

These are the sorts of deal I was talking about. All current in Mass and listed in a local "Want Advertiser".:

2005 KUBOTA L3130 HSTF
W/6' LA723 loader w/quick hitch bucket, BH 90 9' backhoe, R-4 loaded tires, canopy. 265 hrs, home use. Exc cond. $19,800; 2005 Trlr. $1600; 2005 58" Land Pride rototiller. $2100; 2002 60" Land Pride brush hog. $750; Bolt-on forks. $300; Located in Truro. (Provincetown) (cell) 508-826-3497

2007 KUBOTA BX2350 W/ATTACHS
Exceptional pkg. BX2350 w/90 hrs. Pd $9320. Incls Kubota LA243 frt loader. Pd $2150. And Land Pride PC10 post hole digger w/24" auger. Pd $990. All purch 7/2007. Also, Woods rotary cutter RCC 42 rear mount, purch 12/2007. Pd $1595. Woods RBC60 rear blade, 4 yrs old. Pkg price, $9500 firm; (cell) 978-771-81875 (Merrimac) 978-346-9784

JOHN DEERE 3320 TLB DIESEL TRACTOR
33hp tractor w/CX300 loader & 447 backhoe. Incls 72" loader bucket w/cutter bar, 655 Frontier tiller, MX5 Frontier brush cutter & 60" Frontier box scraper. Has 125 hrs, not even broken in. Always stored inside, along w/attachments. Brand new cond, looks better than many new tractors on dealer lots. Price these items new & they total more than $35,000. Buy today for $10,000 off, asking $25,500; Call eves. (Swanton, VT) 802-527-0862

Cannot beat those prices and with hours that low I almost don't even care if they've never changed the oil.

 

[Bob_Young]

The kind of used tractor that Island Tractor is talking about, makes a lot of sense. They're about the only used tractor I'd consider. They're all CUTs and give the appearance of being sold because someone's needs changed. Probably wouldn't get burned with any of them...but they're not going cheap either. If one matches your needs and offers a good savings off new, you've got a winner. But I wouldn't buy one that didn't match my needs just because it looks like a "deal". You're paying a lot for this; might as well get what you really want/need.

But for older tractors, especially well used Ag utility tractors, it's a different game. There's a big difference between a tractor that'll run and move a wagon around a feedlot and one that can do a hard day's work. Calcified radiators, weak/unreliable hydraulic systems, serious tranny problems, reluctant starters, weak brakes and a bunch of other problems can all be hidden under a "show tractor" exterior.

Some rough looking old gals have a heart of gold and will work their tails off for you. Others are a complete PITA. When you get on them, you know you'll be walking back from the field or calling for help before day's end. No one wants to be assigned a full day's work with a tractor that has to be babied to keep it going.

So, for older Ag utilities anyway, the only way I'd consider used is if
a) I personally knew the tractor was a reliable worker.
b) I just wanted to restore it as a show tractor (not likely) and have something nice to look at
....and the price would have to be way lower than the new equivalent before I'd bite.
FWIW
Bob

 

[drivadesl]

Fist let me say there's very good advice on this post. Great reading thanks. I've had good experiences with both. My first machine was a 1989 Ford 1520 MFWA. Came with a 5' bush hog, and FEL, paid $10K. It had 100 original hours and was 10 years old. Very good condition short of a few scratches. I traded the bush hog and bought a 60" belly mower and used for utility around my home. With a back blade, I graded my swimming pool, and dug my patio and cleared my driveway of snow. Once you get a machine you just don't know how to live without one. Eventually I decided it was a little small and I started looking for a bigger machine. I looked at Deeres but the dealer was a little late in calling me back on a used machine he had, so I went to the NH dealer. They were very good, and honest, if not pricey. I bought a TN-70A, MFWA, R4's, 16 speed EHSS trans, with woods FEL. Its only got 18 hours on it now, but my buying experience on the new machine was good. They had 0% financing so unless you have a bunch of cash that is the way to go. Plus the machine has no issues which is what you expect when buying new. Of course like anything, bugs can happen. I'm sure its been said, if you can find an older machine in good shape and you have cash, you can save a lot of $$ so its worth looking to start, and if you're patient you can find deals. After I bought mine a similar new machine popped up locally, but without cash I couldn't have went for it anyway. The JDeer dealer eventually called me back you can hear his voice of dissapointment when I told him. Maybe a sign of what could have been for me....

 

[wrenchturner]

My first little tractor was a Satoh Beaver which I paid $2000 for from the orignial owner. It came with a finish mower and I used it for years mowing several acres with no problems but except for ones I caused. Later I bought a 45 hp 4wd tractor with a loader, beat up bush hog, post hole digger and and box scrape for 3900 which I thought was a bagain. I knew the tractor had some issues but every time I fixed one another cropped up. Some of the problems I fixed were: all welds on loader, drive shaft replaced, ring and pinion in front axle replaced, brake bands replaced, transmission disassembled, bearings on bull gears, rear rims replaced, front tires replaced, seals in PS cylinder. When I sold it everything was working. There is only so much heart ache a marriage with a tractor can endure. My third tractor I bought used with 575 hrs which is a MF 1250 with a backhoe and loader. Even at these hrs it had some issues but none major for me to fix. Backhoe had a broken pin, strainer in trans clogged, operator platform loose and the glow plugs need replacing.

My advice is to buy new if you can afford it otherwise find what make and model of used tractor you want and start searching for something with less than 1000 hrs. But rememeber, it is easy for an owner to disconnect the hr meter to keep from running the meter up. Once you find it, any amount of money you pay a tractor mechanic for his professional opinion is money well spent. In my case of buying used, I knew there would be some problems but do not buy a beat up machine like I did in the 45 hp tractor. If you know how to turn wrenches you will fix each and everything until you kill your self.

 

[Scott in IN]

For a lack of a better term we are "city folk" that moved to the country and I knew little about tractors (until I found this web site). However, I've got pretty good mechanical skills and I've got a couple of buddies I can call when I get into something over my head (most recently taper and eccentric locks on my new/used chipper).

My some of my relatives and friends have old tractors that they are all the time having to jack around with just to get some work done. Example, my cousin has a 1960s IH Industrial that he has to jump start, use ether and pump up the bald tires every time he wants to do some work with it. I've got too much on my plate to worry about jacking around with an old tractor.

Sooo, I bought a used (saving a couple of grand) Kubota with 120 or so hours on it. I got some nice attachments with it and it already had a couple of scratches (which would have killed me if I did it) on it. When I need to do some tractor work, I go to the barn and turn the key, no mess no fuss. Ya, I'm paying $300 a month for my tractor payment but it is some of the best money I've ever spent.

Save some money and buy a used big name, well cared for, low hours tractor and you won't go wrong.

 

[wolc123]

We have had about 20 tractors total on our farm since 1950. Only the first one and the last one were new. The problem with used is, it is nearly impossible to get a good tractor matched to you needs, when you need it. If you have the luxury of plenty of time, or are not very specific about your needs, then used may be the best choice. Getting a new tractor quick that exactly matches your needs is never a problem if you have enough cash. Once you have a tractor of any kind, you can kick back a little and wait until that great deal on a good used one falls in you lap (We got 18 or so that way). So I guess the answer to this question is, if you have time and patience - go used, if not, fork over the extra cash for new. As far as experience with new or used goes, I can tell you that we still have both of the ones that were bought new, because they exactly matched the tasks we had for them and they have had good maintenence from the time they left the factory. Most of the used ones have passed on although 4 of them are still out there working for us. Far more attention must obviously be spent on evaluating the condition of a used machine. Every one I have bought used has been from an original owner that I knew took good care of them. I am not willing to play "Russian Roulette" with a big purchase like that.

 

[Rara Avis]

These are the sorts of deal I was talking about. All current in Mass and listed in a local "Want Advertiser".:

2005 KUBOTA L3130 HSTF
W/6' LA723 loader w/quick hitch bucket, BH 90 9' backhoe, R-4 loaded tires, canopy. 265 hrs, home use. Exc cond. $19,800; 2005 Trlr. $1600; 2005 58" Land Pride rototiller. $2100; 2002 60" Land Pride brush hog. $750; Bolt-on forks. $300; Located in Truro. (Provincetown) (cell) 508-826-3497

2007 KUBOTA BX2350 W/ATTACHS
Exceptional pkg. BX2350 w/90 hrs. Pd $9320. Incls Kubota LA243 frt loader. Pd $2150. And Land Pride PC10 post hole digger w/24" auger. Pd $990. All purch 7/2007. Also, Woods rotary cutter RCC 42 rear mount, purch 12/2007. Pd $1595. Woods RBC60 rear blade, 4 yrs old. Pkg price, $9500 firm; (cell) 978-771-81875 (Merrimac) 978-346-9784

JOHN DEERE 3320 TLB DIESEL TRACTOR
33hp tractor w/CX300 loader & 447 backhoe. Incls 72" loader bucket w/cutter bar, 655 Frontier tiller, MX5 Frontier brush cutter & 60" Frontier box scraper. Has 125 hrs, not even broken in. Always stored inside, along w/attachments. Brand new cond, looks better than many new tractors on dealer lots. Price these items new & they total more than $35,000. Buy today for $10,000 off, asking $25,500; Call eves. (Swanton, VT) 802-527-0862

Cannot beat those prices and with hours that low I almost don't even care if they've never changed the oil.

These sorts of ads are going to become more common as the economy pinches people to the point that they NEED to dispose of toys...

 

[IslandTractor]

These sorts of ads are going to become more common as the economy pinches people to the point that they NEED to dispose of toys...

While the ads I listed were those that seemed like good deals on slightly used tractors from top companies, the discount from new is really only about 25% or so. That is notable for a tractor but frankly that would be routine and not much of a bargain for a one or two year old low mileage car or truck. Maybe it is an indication that the CUT market is maturing.