Buying Advice Old Or New?

[D2Cat]

Deadshort, I agree with you.

I was looking for a used L because of the reasons you mentioned. I contacted one dealer in the KC area with three locations three times asking what they had on their lots. Called one other dealer 20 miles from me 3 or 4 times over several months, and went there twice to see if anything changed. Asked if they had any trade ins coming in... Called a dealer 60 miles south with the same inquiry. None of them had any L's (used) and didn't anticipate any coming in.

To think these dealers don't or won't service a piece of equipment brought to them that was not purchased from them is about as ridiculous as Mc Donalds not selling you a drink because you didn't buy a hamburger!

If you were a long time customer, with multiple purchases and operating a business needing their equipment they would more the likely push that equipment to the head of the line if repairs were needed. Probably even have a loaner, if available, to keep them going while the repairs were in progress. I would expect that. But to say they line up repairs/maintenance by where purchase was made if foolish.

You can't buy used from them because they don't have any to sell! They also wholesale trade ins to their selected re-sellers to help push folks to buy new with their available financing.

 

[varmint]

So many opinions, and all with reason behind them. That said, I think that buying a used tractor makes perfect sense if you can find a good one. Tractors are basically very durable machines, and unless someone was negligent in maintaining it, they should remain basically trouble free for well over 1000 hours, years don't matter as much if they were kept mostly indoors, out of the sun. Batteries and filters, and to some extent tires, are all replaceable and should be considered service items. My first Kubota was 20+ years old, with only about 800 hours on it, and in fine, serviceable condition when its 4th owner took possession. The tires, original, were in fine shape. A barn goes a long way in that aspect. In fact, I would say it was in better overall shape when I sold it than when I got it, due to additions and care. My present L3400, going on 10 years old, is the same story. Again, the barn, plus care makes a world of difference. For what I have in our L3400, I couldn't begin to approach something new that would do its work.

 

[adventure bob]

I'm not sure the DPF failure arguments have held up over time. DPF is not a new technology nor is the electronics that make it work. Same arguments were stated against electronic fuel injection in the 70s. An informal poll of members on this forum or others and who've had an actual DPF failure would be small. I would venture to say the number of DPF failures prbly is about the same as the number of failures of any other component on their tractors. I've had no DPF failures in over 500hrs on two Kubotas, but I have had a wiper failure and a light quit.

 

[deadshort]

I somewhat disagree with the statement that DPF is not new technology. I suppose if you are one who trades equipment or vehicles every year then you would be one to think that something three years old is old. I have a few tractors around here from the 1950's that are still going strong so I consider a 3 year old tractor with DPF relatively new technology. I don't doubt for a second that the DPF system and controls will be problem free in the short term. My concern is when this stuff is 10,15, 20 years old and it starts to act up. Will it be able to be supported? Will parts be available? Who will work on it? Will you have to hire the 12 year old neighbor kid to come over with his laptop and reprogram something. I don't want anything to do with any of it.

You mention that you haven't had any DPF problems with two Kubota's in 500 hours of use. Again I don't see that as much use to qualify the DPF system as being completely fail safe. To put it in perspective wouldn't 500 hours be comparable to a vehicle having only 25,000 miles? (500 hoursX50 mph average=25000 miles). I would like to think that there wouldn't be a failure yet.

 

[kubotacres]

I somewhat disagree with the statement that DPF is not new technology. I suppose if you are one who trades equipment or vehicles every year then you would be one to think that something three years old is old. I have a few tractors around here from the 1950's that are still going strong so I consider a 3 year old tractor with DPF relatively new technology. I don't doubt for a second that the DPF system and controls will be problem free in the short term. My concern is when this stuff is 10,15, 20 years old and it starts to act up. Will it be able to be supported? Will parts be available? Who will work on it? Will you have to hire the 12 year old neighbor kid to come over with his laptop and reprogram something. I don't want anything to do with any of it.

You mention that you haven't had any DPF problems with two Kubota's in 500 hours of use. Again I don't see that as much use to qualify the DPF system as being completely fail safe. To put it in perspective wouldn't 500 hours be comparable to a vehicle having only 25,000 miles? (500 hoursX50 mph average=25000 miles). I would like to think that there wouldn't be a failure yet.

That comparison doesn't "hold water", It's too many variables.Example 500 hours of pulling a 2 bottom plow with a tractor vs 25000 miles of strictly leisure driving with a vehicle. The hours outweigh the overall conditions that was experienced driving the mileage. I'll say this.... As once a person who shyed away from DPF, I'd gladly buy another. No way I'd give dealers/sellers money equal too or slightly lower than what a brand new tractor cost with warranty for a used tractor without the DPF. Example.... My previous tractor (l3200) was purchased by the seller for almost what I paid for it 5 years earlier..Why? Because of the overall condition and the non-DPF. His decision not mine, however I'm grateful for the nice down payment.

 

[ovrszd]

I somewhat disagree with the statement that DPF is not new technology. I suppose if you are one who trades equipment or vehicles every year then you would be one to think that something three years old is old. I have a few tractors around here from the 1950's that are still going strong so I consider a 3 year old tractor with DPF relatively new technology. I don't doubt for a second that the DPF system and controls will be problem free in the short term. My concern is when this stuff is 10,15, 20 years old and it starts to act up. Will it be able to be supported? Will parts be available? Who will work on it? Will you have to hire the 12 year old neighbor kid to come over with his laptop and reprogram something. I don't want anything to do with any of it.QUOTE]

I suspect the tractor situation will be handled as the truck situation is now. Delete kits.

 

[ovrszd]

My previous tractor (l3200) was purchased by the seller for almost what I paid for it 5 years earlier..Why? Because of the overall condition and the non-DPF. His decision not mine, however I'm grateful for the nice down payment.

It's really hard to completely see this type of scenario. To know whether it's a good deal or not you would have to know what the L35xx would have cost new 5 years ago compared to what it costs now?? I'm guessing the used tractor buyer is making that comparison. And as you mentioned, what he gave you was simply a down payment. You have to compare what he gave you for the 5 year old good condition tractor versus the cost of the new tractor. Gets complicated.

 

[kubotacres]

It's really hard to completely see this type of scenario. To know whether it's a good deal or not you would have to know what the L35xx would have cost new 5 years ago compared to what it costs now?? I'm guessing the used tractor buyer is making that comparison. And as you mentioned, what he gave you was simply a down payment. You have to compare what he gave you for the 5 year old good condition tractor versus the cost of the new tractor. Gets complicated.

True. I've been curious to know how much of an increase was on the DPF tractors. It's hard to tell though unless I knew what a l3540 cost with options vs l3560 with options. Of course it doesn't really matter in my case. I knew what I wanted and knew how much it would cost to buy and I pulled the trigger. Lesson learned was to buy what you want from the start if your able to afford.

 

[ovrszd]

True. I've been curious to know how much of an increase was on the DPF tractors. It's hard to tell though unless I knew what a l3540 cost with options vs l3560 with options. Of course it doesn't really matter in my case. I knew what I wanted and knew how much it would cost to buy and I pulled the trigger. Lesson learned was to buy what you want from the start if your able to afford.

And the problem with that last part is "need" changes.