Resale value of PT

[dbetts]

I've had it one week and just hit 16 hours on my PT 425. I always have buyer's remorse when I make a new purchase...until now. This machine is a truly good value! The stability on a hill and traction and maneuverability are incredible! It has exceeded my expectations in every way. I'm doing alot of dirt work right now, and while I can understand a desire for more power , it will certainly do most tasks around a very demanding yard. I will fix my Toro 520-H and keep it, as it is always nice to have two tractors, but I would not buy anything but a power trac. It does not disappoint. db

 

[MossRoad]

Un-repairable is a hard thing to diagnose. Everything is repairable if you want it repaired, but is it practical to you? Only you can answer that question.

That is the dilemma. We had a similar situation several years before we bought our Power Trac. My late 60's Simplicity blew an engine. I opted to replace the engine for a little less than $700.00. This was a 30 year old lawn tractor with a 6HP engine and 26" deck. But at that time, it did everything that I needed to do. Mowed the lawn, had a snowblower, a front blade and a rear weight. It towed the fertilizer spreader, too. I had to put in an 8.5 HP because that was the smallest thing that fit. I weighed the option of putting the $700.00 towards a new lawn tractor. We already had a huge IH tractor/loader for use on our property. We bought it for the express purpose of cutting in a road, taking out some trees and mowing between trees for 5 years, at which time we would get rid of it and get something smaller. We wanted to spend as little money as possible for the biggest thing we could get. We didn't want to put any money into it and we planned on driving it into the ground. So at the time, repairing the Simplicity was the right thing to do for us. Five years later, and I would have scrapped it.

So, I guess you have to decide if the Bolens is worth $2000 to you to repair. If you repair it, will it do everything that you want it to do? Can you put several hundred dollars a year into it and will you be happy with it? Most importantly, is it worth the extra 12 - 15 thousand dollars to you to get a larger tractor and attachments? If you want a larger tractor and attachments, and are willing to spend the money, and you have the means to do it, then I would think spending money on a new tractor and attachments would be better than spending money on the Bolens.

 

[djsch]

Yep, that about sums it up! The Bolens has done the job but will continue to need repairs. And our new house has a steep lower driveway and it would be really nice to have the 4WD to push the snowblower up the hill. (Right now I can only work down the hill.) And it would be nice not to have chains that scratch the concrete! Take the $2K that would fix the old one and apply it to a PT and the cost is reduced "just" $11K. I think I'm rationalizing so I can buy a new toy! (Don't tell the CFO OK?)

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[bmkar]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Do you, Moss, (or anyone) have any insite on this predicament? )</font>

You bet!!!...Get the Power-Trac...
I couldn't go down a county road before without craning my neck to look at an old Cub, Gravely, Case/Ingersoll, Deere, Simplicity, etc. You name it, I looked (and coveted) it. I liked something about each of them, but the thought of changing tools on any of them made my knees hurt or the thought of maintaining 3 or 4 engines thru the seasonal changes got tiring as well...

Now,... life is good , 1 engine to maintain, most parts can be second sourced (if convenient or cheaper) and tool (implement) changes don't even require a thought (let alone, wrenches & screwdrivers). The simplicity of design is a comfort that I've come to appreciate even more as I use it (only 57hrs so far)...

A possible downside, if comparing to other makes is that fit and finish wil not compare to mass produced machines. It is a handmade machine, but therein lies it's strength...It is overbuilt...If you back into a tree or drop something on that "expensive" Brand X hood or fender, you've just experienced a major "dissapointment" in appearance, while the same incident on a PT would go unnoticed. (It is unlikely that a hammer or channel lock pliers would be useful to reshape a bent part, generally a welder would be required /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)...soooohhh...

My perspective is to get the PT early in your life to get the best of it's benefits...

ps. The fact that you are asking this ? on this PT forum told me that your mind is open to the possibility /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> fit and finish </font>

That of a tank, comes to mind. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Form Follows Function

 

[smartguyz]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It is a handmade machine, but therein lies it's strength...It is overbuilt...If you back into a tree or drop something on that "expensive" Brand X hood or fender, you've just experienced a major "dissapointment" in appearance, while the same incident on a PT would go unnoticed. )</font>

I totally agree. I let my good friend and neighbor drive my PT soon after I purchased it. He proceeded to go down a bank that I had never attempted (due to the 35-40 degree slope), and it was very stable (I'm still chicken to do it), and he also accidentally backed into one of the 8x8 pillars that holds up the deck - it took a horrific chunk out of the pillar (which I glued back in place later), and would have put a huge dent in my Deere 318, or have crushed the hood on the 318 - easily. On the PT, it DIDN'T EVEN SHOW. It hit solid plate steel, and there was absolutely no visible signs of damage. I was duly impressed, as was my neighbor. I still have the 318, which has been relegated to duty as a 'vacuum' unit, for when I need to pick up leaves or need to bag the lawn, and for general pick-up duties with the front slip-loader, but the PT does everything else. I have found it indispensable. My wife told me last night that she enjoyed me being the 'gardener' on the property, and that I was very 'industrious'." Such kind words!

-Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif