Struggling with MX5400 purchase — could get MX6000 for same price. What would you do?

[jyoutz]

I'd stick with your original purchase. The 5400 is less complicated. The dealer is a stones throw away.
The 5400 will do everything the 6000 will do and if you can stop thinking about this in money value,
there are other values worth considering.
Some things just can't be measured with dollar signs imo. Convenience, simplicity, closer point of service, closer parts purchasing and stop in anytime mentality is just as important than a few bucks. Loyalty seems a forgotten virtue these days.
Do you think a dealer 3 hrs away will be at your beck and call should your tractor needed to be picked up?
Yes, your nearest dealer will work on the 6000 but he will always prioritize his own customers.
I wouldn't mention what another dealer is doing. You have enough info to further negotiate if you feel the need and yes, you can respectively ask for anything you want.
If money is the issue, go to your nearest Mahindra dealer and pick up the 5145 or 5155 for 7K less and just as capable.
The 55 has a turbo complicating things but has a fel capacity of 3200 lbs. Or you can buy the stick shift 4550 for 39K and still have a beast of a tractor. No cab on these however.

I feel the Kubota is a better built tractor than the Mahindra and I sell Mahindras but the Mahindra will do anything you ask of it.
The Kubota 5400 is a tried and true machine and would serve you well.
I gave you a complication to demonstrate what a pita complications are.
May you stay happy and simple.

The 5400 and 6000 are the same machines with a different engine tune. Why would the 6000 be more complicated than the 5400? And didn’t the OP say that another local Dealer would sell the 6000 at basically the same price as the other local dealer is selling the 5400? Sounds like he has two different local dealers.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

My normal advice is always "SHOP THE DEALER." If you can't get good service, the best of tractors can become a problem. I have learned--the hard way--to make my decisions based upon that as the primary criteria.

 

[dbritt]

MX60 serviced at your local dealer, It won't make much of a difference if you buy from your local dealer they should still service your tractors minimal needs.

Key word here is "should". That doesn't mean they will, or that they will be fair with you if they do. Money talks, but it talks on both ends of a deal. If it were me, I'd see if the local dealer would match, or at least get close to the other offer. If you are capable of properly servicing the tractor on your own, I wouldn't be afraid to do the other deal. Any major mechanical issues would probably be worth paying the other dealer to make a trip to pick up and deliver it. I've done all the maintenance on my M9000 that I bought new in 2003. Then again, the only even close to major repair I've ever had to do to it is replace the alternator a few months ago. Absolutely no other major mechanical problems in 22 years. Do what's best for you by your definition of "best".

 

[jyoutz]

Key word here is "should". That doesn't mean they will, or that they will be fair with you if they do. Money talks, but it talks on both ends of a deal. If it were me, I'd see if the local dealer would match, or at least get close to the other offer. If you are capable of properly servicing the tractor on your own, I wouldn't be afraid to do the other deal. Any major mechanical issues would probably be worth paying the other dealer to make a trip to pick up and deliver it. I've done all the maintenance on my M9000 that I bought new in 2003. Then again, the only even close to major repair I've ever had to do to it is replace the alternator a few months ago. Absolutely no other major mechanical problems in 22 years. Do what's best for you by your definition of "best".

The OP seems to have 2 local dealers to choose from.

 

[arrow]

The 5400 and 6000 are the same machines with a different engine tune. Why would the 6000 be more complicated than the 5400? And didn’t the OP say that another local Dealer would sell the 6000 at basically the same price as the other local dealer is selling the 5400? Sounds like he has two different local dealers.

The 5400 can be had with gears equating to the tractive power any additional hp the 6000 provides.
Plus, most tractors lose traction before hp advantages.
The additional hp usually equates to more fuel and air in a combustion engine.

 

[drunderw]

Thanks for all of the feedback. In the end, the other local dealers price ended up being a price that had hidden fees once I started digging deeper so really wasn’t any different than the other local dealer. I decided that I did not want to take a risk on the dealer that was three hours away. While the price seems great. I really want a knowledgeable local dealer I can partner with. I want somebody that I can call and tell them what I’m trying to do and they will gladly make suggestions of equipment that I can purchase to do the job or make suggestions for the equipment that I have. In working through questions with dealers I’ve learned who wants to help and who just wants a sale. Unfortunately there’s a lot of the latter.

 

[arrow]

Thanks for all of the feedback. In the end, the other local dealers price ended up being a price that had hidden fees once I started digging deeper so really wasn’t any different than the other local dealer. I decided that I did not want to take a risk on the dealer that was three hours away. While the price seems great. I really want a knowledgeable local dealer I can partner with. I want somebody that I can call and tell them what I’m trying to do and they will gladly make suggestions of equipment that I can purchase to do the job or make suggestions for the equipment that I have. In working through questions with dealers I’ve learned who wants to help and who just wants a sale. Unfortunately there’s a lot of the latter.

A good direction in my mind.
Since we don’t have any pricing that is hidden at our dealership, Im surprised tractor dealerships are doing the same thing as car dealerships simply to get you in the door to work you…cheez.

 

[ning]

The CID grapple is a ~$3k piece, weighs 200# more (eating into the carrying capacity and wear on the front axle / need for counterweight), is probably mild steel; versus the LP grapple which is ~$4.5k and made from AR400 steel. The LP is much nicer. Consider the LP unit to be at least a $1.5k price difference - I'd personally consider it worth more than that in the price difference because of the noted differences (earlier this year I made a similar choice in grapples between mild steel & heavy & cheap vs good steel & light & a bit more $; guess what I chose).

Is the local dealer also adding the 3rd function? If not, that's an added expense as well.

Do you anticipate actually having a "relationship" with the dealer?
I've had a long term barely-there relationship with my tractor's dealer who's 100mi away - I bought it 8 years ago, shook hands, they delivered it a few days later, we shook hands again. I've bought sundry parts from them via phone call -> mail delivery as well, nothing to fix problems with the tractor (except a radiator which was very much my fault). If I'd bought local for a "relationship", I would've paid a ton more for much less tractor, which also may or may not have needed a "relationship".

 

[Carl_NH]

Relationships are why people buy, but the relationship paradigm has changed over the years. My second compact tractor (not the farming tractors in the 60-70s) was a Kubota - L175DT I bought in 1999 with a FEL and BH and was mechanically good but rusted fenders and wheels, leaking hyd's etc.

In 99 the internet was slow, didn't have content, so the dealer was the place to call, then visit, sit on the stool chatting with the owner, while they looked up and got the parts. I didn't necessarily need their expertise to fix but that dealership experience led me to buy my B21 in 2001, as it was the "relationship" vs the other larger dealer in the region who was focused on volume.

It's still a relationship sale today, but today, you can find parts, how to videos, etc. so the dealer is less of a factor when price shopping, but a good dealer adapts and provides other "intangible" value you can't put a $ on..

 

[arrow]

The CID grapple is a ~$3k piece, weighs 200# more (eating into the carrying capacity and wear on the front axle / need for counterweight), is probably mild steel; versus the LP grapple which is ~$4.5k and made from AR400 steel. The LP is much nicer. Consider the LP unit to be at least a $1.5k price difference - I'd personally consider it worth more than that in the price difference because of the noted differences (earlier this year I made a similar choice in grapples between mild steel & heavy & cheap vs good steel & light & a bit more $; guess what I chose).

Is the local dealer also adding the 3rd function? If not, that's an added expense as well.

Do you anticipate actually having a "relationship" with the dealer?
I've had a long term barely-there relationship with my tractor's dealer who's 100mi away - I bought it 8 years ago, shook hands, they delivered it a few days later, we shook hands again. I've bought sundry parts from them via phone call -> mail delivery as well, nothing to fix problems with the tractor (except a radiator which was very much my fault). If I'd bought local for a "relationship", I would've paid a ton more for much less tractor, which also may or may not have needed a "relationship".

And if your dealership was 5 minutes away?
So for the same tractor you would have paid a ton more at the local dealership?
Did the local guy start at list?
If they were the same amount money wise, would you see an advantage buying local?