Sub compact buying

chemistski · Feb 4, 2006

Hey everybody, as this is my first post, and I know this has been asked before, please be fair. We just bought 6 acres (no trees) property with about a 100 yard gravel driveway. Currently we are mowing about 3 acres and letting the farmer have 3 acres for hay. So went tractor shopping (as currently we just have a push mower /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif)

Got some prices for different models and just wanted feedback as to wether or not I should jump on any deals or run the other way.

All tractors include FEL, MMM( about 60 inches give or take), and a rear blade, (also I believe I have added in tax so this should be take home price)

MF GC2300 $14,500
JD 2305 $15,700
NH TZ22DA $15,800
Kubota BX2230 $13,900
Kubota BX2350 $14,900

Thanks for any insight you may have

Pete

weesa20 · Feb 4, 2006

I have the GC2300 with the FEL, no mower, and box blade. It does everything I ask it to do. My father has the JD2210 with FEL, he loves it. I like the GC better than the 2210, but then I paid for it.
Neither of us mow.
We need more info about you plan to do with the tractor. All of those tractor you list will mow and do basic landscaping work without trouble. If you plan to mostly use the tractor for mowing, you may want to look at the simplicity legacy, it is probably the best mowing tractor out there.
The biggest thing to consider would be differences in capacity (eg is one tractor able to run a bigger mower which would decrease the time mowing but might also make it less maneuverable in tight spaces?), price, and then the biggest of all: THE DEALER and how the tractor feels to you. You need to seriously test drive the ones you like the most and then test drive the dealer.

A

thcri · Feb 4, 2006

There is $1,900 difference from your low end to you high end. Don't know how long you plan on keeping the tractor but say over a 15 year period that is not much per year. Me, I would go out and do some more test driving. Which one do you like the best but most of all which dealer do you think is going to take care of you the best after the sale. When you get that down then negotiate with that dealer, make you best sale, sign the papers and take her home.

Don't let the price get in your way.

murph

newred · Feb 4, 2006

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gifI have a CaseIH DX24E - CaseIH and NH are essentially same , 24 was only 1 st year model. Very pleased with it. Your price seems good , I paid about that plus tax in cdn money for tractor and 54" mower. Your paying more with US funds than I , but your price includes tax and fel /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifWent back later and bought tiller , 5` rear blade , front mount blower and cab . Like to put fel on this spring. 180 hrs and very pleased . /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I would say go for either NH or CaseIH dpending on color ,headlights , dealer you like better. Not sure but some of the tractors listed may not have as much 3 - point capabilities and lift heights .

Code54 · Feb 4, 2006

You may want to look at he Kubota 7610 - I bought one here in WV with a FEL,MMM, HST, folding ROPS for mid 15000's - lot more for the money and I am SOOOO glad I bought bigger than what I "thought" I needed!!
Good luck

chemistski · Feb 4, 2006

The tractor will be used for mowing 3 acres and keeping the driveway clear of snow to start with. also will need to move some stones around to fill in driveway come spring. Other landscaping projects will follow after that. so far no trees on the land and it is pretty level. Hope that is a better description of the use of the tractor. Thanks so far for the feedback. Keep it coming

44trxfun · Feb 4, 2006

I pretty much agree with thcri's advice. Much of it is a matter of personal preference and that is best assessed by you, driving the different tractors. My dealer was willing to bring a MF and a Kub out to my place for me to try for a weekend. (Not all dealers will do that.)

Outside of what's been said here, I suggest you think a little bigger than the tasks you envision today. I'm not necessarily in agreement with those on the board that say get as big a tractor as you can get, but as a GC2300 owner for about two years now, I can tell you there are times I wish I had a little more power, a little bigger / heavier-duty implements, and even a backhoe. There are also times I glad I have a smaller machine that allows me to fit into tighter spots than I would be able to if I had bought bigger. Again, personal preference, but worth thinking about.

That said, I use my tractor primarily for mowing and snow-clearing like you plan to. It does most of that very well (except for heavy wet snow like they're predicting for the next couple days). I've had almost no problems with the tractor.

Lastly, and it's been said before, but I can't stress it enough, buy your tractor from a dealer you get along well with because when it comes right down to it, at some critical point you're going to need those folks. It's important to have a good relationship with your dealer. Be reasonable with your expectations of them and they should treat you right.

Good luck! Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions about the GC2300.

LBrown59 · Feb 4, 2006

but as a GC2300 owner for about two years now, I can tell you there are times I wish I had a little more power, a little bigger / heavier-duty implements, and even a * backhoe. There are also times I'm glad I have a smaller machine that allows me to fit into tighter spots than I would be able to if I had bought bigger. Again, personal preference, but worth thinking about. 
................
I think it would take about 3 different sized tractors to handle this range. 2 Might do but 3 would be nicer.
 * I have the BH so perhaps that is why I feel less like needing anything larger.
During these warm Balmy Winter Days I did a lot of land grubbing with the BX 23 In paces I could not have gotten in around and trough with a larger tractor such as
a B series. On the other hand the B model would have been nice in other areas that I cleared with the BX23. By the same token I could have used something smaller than the BX23 to clean up the brush piles behind 3 of my next door neighbors garages and outbuildings. The piles were just to close to get the BX23 between them and the buildings. This would be the 3 rd size I could use.

Volfandt · Feb 5, 2006

There are times when I want a bigger machine with more power but those times fade away when I finish mow, which is the primary function of my subcut.
The good thing about a subcut is that it will work all day long as a small utility tractor. It just takes longer than a bigger machine because the implements are smaller.
The better thing about a subcut is that it will also finish mow all day long as well or better than a dedicated finish lawn mower.

When I made my decision to go with a subcut I test drove all the models in the class to see which one fit into what I was going to primarily use it for then picked the make/model and dealer I wanted to do business with. I enjoyed the process. I've had my BX23 alittle over a year now and haven't looked back since.

Good Luck
Volfandt

LBrown59 · Feb 5, 2006

I've had my BX23 a little over a year now and haven't looked back since. 
=========
I was interested in and was dealing for a B2410 when I discovered the BX23 checked it out and switched to it.
The only thing I look back on is what would it have been like owning and operating the B2410 compared to my BX23 the past 17 months.
Of course had I got the B2410 instead I would be wondering the same thing now about the BX23.