Both nice machines... BIG, too. Do you need one this big, does it come under your $20k limit mentioned in the first post? Between the two, you'll be splitting hairs, so the next question is, how do you like the dealers?
Newbie buying first tractor - need help
- Thread starter landsurv
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So far I have only been able to get to the Kubota dealer. Why does work always seem to get in the way of the stuff we want to do (like tractor shopping)
The GL 3540 might be a little big for what I need, but I only plan to do this once, and I don't want to be wishing 6 months from now, " ... if I only had a little bit more tractor"
The quote that I got from the Kubota dealer, was about 21,500 with the 724 FEL w/QA bucket. I'm hoping to get closer to my budget on the comparable Kioti - we'll see!
Buy the way, so I don't sound totally ignorant - is Kioti pronounced like Coyote or Kee-oti
Gittyup
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like coyote
WilliamBos
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So far I have only been able to get to the Kubota dealer. Why does work always seem to get in the way of the stuff we want to do (like tractor shopping)
The GL 3540 might be a little big for what I need, but I only plan to do this once, and I don't want to be wishing 6 months from now, " ... if I only had a little bit more tractor"
The quote that I got from the Kubota dealer, was about 21,500 with the 724 FEL w/QA bucket. I'm hoping to get closer to my budget on the comparable Kioti - we'll see!
Buy the way, so I don't sound totally ignorant - is Kioti pronounced like Coyote or Kee-oti
Do yourself a favour, and ask around about the dealers. After purchase service is likely most important, and a friendly dealer is priceless.
To be honest, I hate ALL shopping and I really did NOT do much "shopping" for a tractor (nor a dealer) I went with Price only... (& I'm paying for it now ).
).
As for me, it was if I only had a little more money... so I can buy attachments!!!
I think I have it narrowed down to 2 tractors. I went by the Kioti dealer today, and test drove the DK 35SE HST and loved the tractor. I especially loved that the quote that I got which was more than 2k lower. Plus the fact that the rear hydraulic remote was standard. I don't know yet what I would use it for but nice feature to have in case?. I also liked the two pedals for the HST over the rocker that the Kubota has. Just felt better driving, more natural.
Sounds like a no-brainer, right. Well, the Kioti dealership is primarily interested in selling the Bobcat tractors, and were trying to push me toward the CT335. They probably have 5-1 Bobcats over Kiotis on the lot. In fact, they told me that they are probably going to discontinue carrying the Kioti line in the near future.
The nearest other Kioti dealership is 75 miles away.
The Kubota dealer did not seem inclined to budge off of his quote. I liked both salesmen well enough and felt they were being honest, and neither wanted to trash the other product too much. The guys in the shops seemed knowlegeable and helpful and knew things about the product that the salemen did not know (I know - go figure).
Decisions, decisions.
Sounds like a no-brainer, right. Well, the Kioti dealership is primarily interested in selling the Bobcat tractors, and were trying to push me toward the CT335. They probably have 5-1 Bobcats over Kiotis on the lot. In fact, they told me that they are probably going to discontinue carrying the Kioti line in the near future.
The nearest other Kioti dealership is 75 miles away.
The Kubota dealer did not seem inclined to budge off of his quote. I liked both salesmen well enough and felt they were being honest, and neither wanted to trash the other product too much. The guys in the shops seemed knowlegeable and helpful and knew things about the product that the salemen did not know (I know - go figure).
Decisions, decisions.
I bought a 2008 L3400 with FEL. I have been roto-tilling 2 acres and doing landscaping. I´ve been very happy except when digging out roots. The FEL is a little underpowered for my liking. If I had it to do over again, I'd get something bigger with quick attach implements.
Having said that, let me take a minute to brag on the Kubota dealer that I used. If I were making the decision you are, I'd ask him for advice.
Here is what happened. The Kubota dealer in Taylor, TX beat my dealer in Roswell NM by over $2,000.oo So, I drove the 16 hour round trip to pick up the tractor.
After using the brand new 5 ft Kubota tiller for 45 minutes, it broke. I tried taking it in for warranty work locally, but my Roswell dealer said Kubota didn't want to repair it, and he told me it wasn't worth it to him to bother spending any time on the phone trying to get them to fix it. (Even though he gets paid to do warranty work).
It was a long drive back to Texas, so my dealer looked into paying to ship me a new one. It was going to cost him over 800$, so I told him a friend of mine would be coming his way in a few months and he could return the tiller and pick up a new one. In the mean time, he bought a tiller from a dealer closer to me and loaned it to me.
Of course, it was a Kubota as well, and since their tillers are garbage, it broke in 3 hours. I felt terrible. I was babying both of them, and they snapped off at the gear box.
Now my new favorite dealer (who gave me the best price of the 20 I talked to) was out 2 tillers. My friend took them back to Texas at Thanksgiving and the Taylor dealer wrote me a check to cover the cost of buying a new Land Pride tiller locally.
I couldn't believe it, we paid for one tiller, had 2 break on us, and he wrote us a check for a new one.
If I were you, I'd call him and ask for advice. He will give you the best prices I found anywhere. His name is Ray. His number is: (512) 352-5549. Just don't buy a Kobata tiller, but the tractor has been great
Having said that, let me take a minute to brag on the Kubota dealer that I used. If I were making the decision you are, I'd ask him for advice.
Here is what happened. The Kubota dealer in Taylor, TX beat my dealer in Roswell NM by over $2,000.oo So, I drove the 16 hour round trip to pick up the tractor.
After using the brand new 5 ft Kubota tiller for 45 minutes, it broke. I tried taking it in for warranty work locally, but my Roswell dealer said Kubota didn't want to repair it, and he told me it wasn't worth it to him to bother spending any time on the phone trying to get them to fix it. (Even though he gets paid to do warranty work).
It was a long drive back to Texas, so my dealer looked into paying to ship me a new one. It was going to cost him over 800$, so I told him a friend of mine would be coming his way in a few months and he could return the tiller and pick up a new one. In the mean time, he bought a tiller from a dealer closer to me and loaned it to me.
Of course, it was a Kubota as well, and since their tillers are garbage, it broke in 3 hours. I felt terrible. I was babying both of them, and they snapped off at the gear box.
Now my new favorite dealer (who gave me the best price of the 20 I talked to) was out 2 tillers. My friend took them back to Texas at Thanksgiving and the Taylor dealer wrote me a check to cover the cost of buying a new Land Pride tiller locally.
I couldn't believe it, we paid for one tiller, had 2 break on us, and he wrote us a check for a new one.
If I were you, I'd call him and ask for advice. He will give you the best prices I found anywhere. His name is Ray. His number is: (512) 352-5549. Just don't buy a Kobata tiller, but the tractor has been great
woodlandfarms
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As you can see, it is not about the tractor nearly as much as the dealer. And it is not about the dealer as much as it is about the service they provide.
I would get a list of people who have purchased, and spend some time in the repair bay. Tractors break, and generally there is no rhyme or reason.
I looked at Kubota, loved the dealer, liked the tractor, could not get around how the pedals worked (just like you). I then went to the TYM dealer and was blown away. A risk as it is not as well known as Kubota but it has a dedicated following as a high quality product at minimal price.
At the 11th hour a PT became available at the right price and I had to go with it. Happy I did as I would not be able to do what I do on my property with a normal tractor. Unhappy because there is no dealer, I do all my own work and they are not overly reliable.
In the grand scheme, nothing in life is perfect. So if you have to travel another 60 miles round trip to get parts, then that is what you do. Catch a movie, take the wife to dinner, it all works out in the end.
I would get a list of people who have purchased, and spend some time in the repair bay. Tractors break, and generally there is no rhyme or reason.
I looked at Kubota, loved the dealer, liked the tractor, could not get around how the pedals worked (just like you). I then went to the TYM dealer and was blown away. A risk as it is not as well known as Kubota but it has a dedicated following as a high quality product at minimal price.
At the 11th hour a PT became available at the right price and I had to go with it. Happy I did as I would not be able to do what I do on my property with a normal tractor. Unhappy because there is no dealer, I do all my own work and they are not overly reliable.
In the grand scheme, nothing in life is perfect. So if you have to travel another 60 miles round trip to get parts, then that is what you do. Catch a movie, take the wife to dinner, it all works out in the end.