New vs. Used: What's your experience?

[yankee7]

First, thanks for all the good advice! The actual experience of you guys weighs a lot more than "claims" or pure opinion. Based on this feedback I FINALLY made up my mind! I decided to buy a NEW Kubota L3400 with an FEL, BH, and 6" post hole digger. Factoring in the relatively small difference in price between low hours used and new, and the 0% financing -- including on the implements -- pushed me to new. I'll let you know when I get it and how it turns out.

Again thnkas!

Dave

 

[greggh]

Congratulations on your purchase. Don't forget to post pictures...we like pictures.

 

[Soundguy]

When i go buy a used tractor.. I like to look at the general overall condition o fthe unit.. Look at any pins and bushings, slop in parts like steeirng.. leaks.. repairs, rubber, gauges.. oil pressure.. does it charge? does it start good cold with no 'help'.. Oil look correct.. coolant look correct... all features work correctly? And then I like to drive it in all ranges at all speeds till warm.. and preferably do some work with it, if possible.

Then you decided if the price meets the condition.

soundguy

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

 

[JC-jetro]

First, thanks for all the good advice! The actual experience of you guys weighs a lot more than "claims" or pure opinion. Based on this feedback I FINALLY made up my mind! I decided to buy a NEW Kubota L3400 with an FEL, BH, and 6" post hole digger. Factoring in the relatively small difference in price between low hours used and new, and the 0% financing -- including on the implements -- pushed me to new. I'll let you know when I get it and how it turns out.

Again thnkas!

Dave

Dave,

That is a great choice and you will be happy with your purchase. I don't believe buying " Pig in a poke", although I bought second hand from a reliable fellow at work for my first tractor. I'm totally happy with it but would not hesitate buying brand new if I lived on my Property and had proper storage for it. For me a few thousand dollars extra is doable as 5-7 year old tractors brings about 75-85% of the original retail price and many unknown issues. A relatively new tractor in the hand of bad operator can be destroyed in a matter of days where the tractor may look good on the outside. Buying new, and you have full control of the maintenance and up keep of the equipment that could outlast you..... god forbid !! Lemons are few and far in between and for most parts major orange, blue and green are built pretty much the same. Congrats and post pics when you can.

JC,

By the way L-3400 is also my short list when I'm ready to buy a new rig but already am having problem to decide between HST or Gear tranny

 

[yankee7]

JC,

Thanks for the "thumbs up"! I might have talked myself into buying a bigger unit than I "really" needed, but I know I'm not alone in that "sin".

Anyway, the backhoe is back-ordered so it'll be a couple of weeks until I take delivery, then I promise to post pix!

FWIW: Regarding your "quandary" about HST vs. Gear, I went with the gear for two reasons: first, the HST sucks more HP from it and that might be a problem if and when I ever decide to do haying; second reason was cost...I had already exceeded my cutoff by a couple thousand dollars and had to make a choice. I've heard pros and cons of both, but no really bad feedback on either so since I'm comfortable with a manual tranny I went with it.

Again, thanks!

Dave

Dave,

That is a great choice and you will be happy with your purchase. I don't believe buying " Pig in a poke", although I bought second hand from a reliable fellow at work for my first tractor. I'm totally happy with it but would not hesitate buying brand new if I lived on my Property and had proper storage for it. For me a few thousand dollars extra is doable as 5-7 year old tractors brings about 75-85% of the original retail price and many unknown issues. A relatively new tractor in the hand of bad operator can be destroyed in a matter of days where the tractor may look good on the outside. Buying new, and you have full control of the maintenance and up keep of the equipment that could outlast you..... god forbid !! Lemons are few and far in between and for most parts major orange, blue and green are built pretty much the same. Congrats and post pics when you can.

JC,

By the way L-3400 is also my short list when I'm ready to buy a new rig but already am having problem to decide between HST or Gear tranny

 

[Soundguy]

In general.. any job you can do with hst/gear.. you can do with gear/hst..

might be some convienience and or time issues different though.

soundguy

I've heard pros and cons of both, but no really bad feedback on either so since I'm comfortable with a manual tranny I went with it.

Again, thanks!

Dave

 

[GCLnIndiana]

Yankee, I did the same thing. Went with the new Kubota because after factoring in the 0% for 42 months the difference between new and comparable used around here was negligible. And of course the used tractor had no warranty.

 

[irwin]

Bought both tractors with cash (rich I ain't) and had to spend wisely. The first was an older Deere 770 with FEL for okay money, not great, but sold it after two years for about the same. While I owned it the work it did saved me thousands.

The second I had time to look around. I found a Kubota L35 set up the way I wanted with the exception of a backhoe thumb, I'll add that later. It had it all, soft side cab, QA front and rear, front remotes, push button on joystick control, 2 backhoe buckets, a tiller and a snow pusher (the snow pusher's for sale). Yes it was 4 years old, but only 272 hours. I haven't found anything close to the deal I got, before or since. There are plenty L35's for sale, but not with cab and QA and frt remotes on a low hour, one owner machine.

It's a gamble buying anything that someone else had a chance to screw it up first, but careful shopping can help. So does the fact that we're talking tractors, built for the long haul.

 

[john_bud]

The real deals are on tractors that are 10-15 years old. Heck, some smoken deals on older stuff and bigger stuff.

But, unless you have a chest full of tools in the shop, greasy nails and some wisdom tucked under the hat, new is probably better for a first tractor.

But when you see a 100 hp tractor with loader under 5000 hours sell for $5500....

 

[sugarmaple]

Here's another Steven Wright quip:

I'm addicted to placebos. I was going to give them up, but I didn't think it would make any difference.

I have had 3 used B series machines over the past 20 or so years. They have all been fine, even the one that had been a rental. My worst problem was a broken headbolt on a one owner machine, and it was no big deal to fix. I have a friend that still has the B-6000 that first caused me to feel partial to the orange machines. It was bought in the mid 70's and has not missed a beat. The selling dealer who is also a friend said that he serviced it after about 20 years, the owner thinking it must need something, and it really needed nothing more than an ordinary complete service! The dealer was as amazed as I, and the owner, were. Given half a chance, these machines are tough to kill. By way of contrast, dairy farmer neighbor bought a new CaseIH 95 horse last year and it has been in the shop six times already with some serious problems (bent connecting rod for one). I made money selling one machine, and took a small loss on another, and still have two. It will be interesting to see what the market will bear if and when I sell the L series that was purchased new in an unguarded moment.