Question about buying used versus new

[shooterdon]

Did you ask him why he's selling the tractor?

IDK, but folks tend to hang on to tractors; the ones for sale are either old and outdated, or pretty beat up, or have a major problem, or were stolen, or got flooded...... Rarely, you find someone who bought one, hardly used it, and decided to sell. Even in that case the price difference usually isn't much around here (there was one for sale just down the road, one year old, less than 60 hours, but only $500 less than a bran-new one). Speaking as an inexperienced tractor owner, buying a new tractor with full warranty from a handy and helpful dealer was worth a lot more $$$ than that to me. Also, I'm not mechanical. If you're mechanical I think that changes the equation.

The only exception I see are the SCUT's. There seem to be quite a few for sale in like new condition in my area but they are also way over priced and most have the backhoe. I suspect buyers find they hardly ever use the BH and the tractor is a bit too small for the work they wish to do. So they have a lot of money tied up in something that does not work well for them. It seems many of them use it mostly to cut grass, but load it up with a BH that hardly gets used. Really dumb move. You can buy a nice ZT for the cost of a BH.

When buying a used package, look hard the implements that are included. Do you really need them and if not, what will they net if you sell them.

Buying used means you need to be patient to get a good deal. Most people are not. Understand your needs as it is easy to rationalize getting more than you need.

 

[newbury]

Did you ask him why he's selling the tractor?

IDK, but folks tend to hang on to tractors; the ones for sale are either old and outdated, or pretty beat up, or have a major problem, or were stolen, or got flooded...... Rarely, you find someone who bought one, hardly used it, and decided to sell. Even in that case the price difference usually isn't much around here (there was one for sale just down the road, one year old, less than 60 hours, but only $500 less than a bran-new one). Speaking as an inexperienced tractor owner, buying a new tractor with full warranty from a handy and helpful dealer was worth a lot more $$$ than that to me. Also, I'm not mechanical. If you're mechanical I think that changes the equation.

But it does happen.

For my first tractor (B7610) I looked for months. But I was aided by the economy. It was early 2009 and the economy was tanking. The seller was motivated by declining business (landscaping), health (needed surgery) and the economy still looked bleak.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/141768-need-feedback-b7810.html

For my second tractor (M4700) I looked for about a year. Finally got one at a Public Surplus auction. Being sold because it was being replaced during "normal rotation". Some government entities replace equipment more on an age basis than if it's broken



Buying new would have been SO MUCH easier. Diligent looking saved thousands.

 

[oosik]

I wish I had sage advice to pass on but - no joy here. Been out here 37 years and have yet to find ANYTHING that is used that I could use. Most used stuff around here it either 350 hp+ or cuts a 40' wide swath. I gave up looking about 30 years ago and committed myself to the purchase of equipment - new.

I swear - folks buy something new - keep and use it until its as old as Methuselah - then out in the front yard as a decoration or sold as an antique.

There is a family down the road with a cog wheel driven sickle bar side cutter - I don't even think the company that manufactured it came over on the voyage with the Mayflower. You would have the unique and singular opportunity to manufacture any needed parts yourself.

There is a rumor on this side of the world - I have no idea of its validity. The rumor goes this way - - "anything you want to sell must be first transported east of the Mississippi". After 37 years - I can see some validity to that rumor..............:laughing: :dance1:

 

[GKChesterton]

Lots of good points and very helpful. Gave me a lot to think about. I went back to the dealer and he offered me a great deal on a new 2610 hst with 4030 fel - a little over 15k. I couldn稚 pass it up. With the lower price, I was able to add the features I wanted - remotes, work lights, cruise, link pedal, telescopic ends, etc - and stay a lot lower in price. Time will tell if I will regret not getting a few extra hp for mowing but I think this is the right size for me and a good bit larger than where I started my search months ago which was looking at the kubota B series or Deere 2025r. Very excited to get the tractor. Engine sounded great and it handled very well. I just liked the feel of the kiotis better than the other brands I drove. They feel solid. Good balance. The seat is awesome. I don稚 think I値l miss a six foot cutter as long as it will handle a five footer well. As a boy, in Oklahoma I used to mow four acres with hills with an 18 inch push mower. My dad痴 view was why buy hp when you have a son. So, I am pretty sure any kind of mowing where you get to sit down will feel like hog heaven to me.

 

[4570Man]

Did you ask him why he's selling the tractor?

IDK, but folks tend to hang on to tractors; the ones for sale are either old and outdated, or pretty beat up, or have a major problem, or were stolen, or got flooded...... Rarely, you find someone who bought one, hardly used it, and decided to sell. Even in that case the price difference usually isn't much around here (there was one for sale just down the road, one year old, less than 60 hours, but only $500 less than a bran-new one). Speaking as an inexperienced tractor owner, buying a new tractor with full warranty from a handy and helpful dealer was worth a lot more $$$ than that to me. Also, I'm not mechanical. If you're mechanical I think that changes the equation.

I don’t know where you came up with that idea, but people do sell good tractors. My family has had dozens of used tractors over the years and not one lemon. I paid less than my 200 hour L grand series tractor than a new economy series. The Grand series is WAY nicer then the economy. I’d make the same choice again. A can’t afford what a new backhoe cost so a used 310 was my only option there.

 

[prof fate]

I don’t know where you came up with that idea, but people do sell good tractors. My family has had dozens of used tractors over the years and not one lemon. I paid less than my 200 hour L grand series tractor than a new economy series. The Grand series is WAY nicer then the economy. I’d make the same choice again. A can’t afford what a new backhoe cost so a used 310 was my only option there.

I tend to agree - you can find OLD tractors..2n, 9n, for $1200-1500 in decent shape- if you want an antique (70 some years old) and the limits that come with those old machines (2wd, 3 or 4 gears, etc).

My first 'real' tractor was a kubota L175..from the 70s. It worked, but compared to a 'modern' tractor there's no comparison.

To get a modern tractor you'll spend $8500-20k. For just a bit more you can get a new one - easier financing, warranty, options to your specs - and no issues.

I'f i'm gonna spend 10-12k on a tractor I don't want issues. rust. dry rotted tires. etc.

A friend is looking for a tractor as the pto went bad on his 70s cub lowboy, and the estimates to fix it are 1000-1200...he says tractor is only worth 2k. That's the issue with older tractors..something goes and the cost to fix exceeds the value of the unit..and you suspect something else is gonna go soon as well.

You can buy $1000 cars...and get a year or less from them.

You can buy new cars and get 10-15 years from them.

In between...2 year old probably ok, but 8% interest vs 0-2% on a new car...the payment is often the same on the new car.

$5-8k car...something is wrong or soon will be with them- or the seller would be keeping it. I know this from 40 some years of buying cars, friends buying cars. You find out in the first couple of weeks why they were selling it...when that expensive something fails.

Sometimes I'll bite- like the 05 F350 I bought. But i've put a lot of hours into working on it..and it's still a 14 year old truck with the issues ofa 14 year old truck.

 

[4570Man]

We don’t deal with tractors like that. If it doesn’t have 4x4 and usually a loader we don’t want it. We’ve sold tractors that needed TLC but never something that needed significant work. All the tractors we’ve bought fit the same bill.

 

[prof fate]

farmers here, most small farms, use OLD OLD OLD stuff...neighbor is using something from the 40s...another is an 'oliver man'...well, oliver hasn't made a tractor since 1974.

Farmers have to be frugal and cheap..I raised turkeys, already had chickens. Bought the birds at rural king, took them to a processor..with feed it worked out to $2.65 or so per lb. Well, never make a profit at that price! Have to breed or buy in bulk chicks at much lower than $7 each, and have to process them ourselves (which inolves costs in facility). And buying feed wholesale or less would be needed as well.

Now a 'freezer beef' producer I know has a newer JD, new F350 truck...but he's had his farm 40 years, all paid off. He's selling his beef 'retail' (still cheap) and in bulk, sells it year round, has a deal for cheaper processing due to volume, buys his steers so no cost to breed them. He's making money, but he also worked an off the farm job for 30 of those year, wife still does. And the new tractor (3 years old) replaced a 25 year old one. "I just go too old to keep fixing it" he said.

The only big farmer I see around here leasesland and grows 2 crops a year, if not 3 with winter wheat. 700 plus acres Has BIG tractors and harvesters - and they are 20,30 years old as well.

The only poeple that buy new it seems, are city folks, hobby farmers, etc.

Which is the category I fall into, at least at the moment.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

I don稚 know where you came up with that idea,

5 years of watching CL plus a local monthly equipment auction. Antiques and beaters, not much in between. Might be different in your neck of the woods.

 

[4570Man]

5 years of watching CL plus a local monthly equipment auction. Antiques and beaters, not much in between. Might be different in your neck of the woods.

It’s not hard to find a good used tractor although you might have to drive a bit. I drove to Wisconsin from TN to get my last tractor. I got luckier on my backhoe and got it 30 miles away. Making a trip that far isn’t all that practical but I can find plenty of tractors within a few hour drive.