GlenMac,
[[[Subjectively, I happen to like Deere the least and actually hope to get rebutted.]]]
Thinking outside of the box, "the box" being the specified "objective comparisons", I'm wondering what you will DO with those pesky real-world "subjective" likes/dislikes which you confess to having, when the time comes to lay down your money.
At last, an answer("Yes!") to the question "Do lawyers ever smell the roses?".
Which, alas, only raises another; "Do they LIKE the fact that they smell roses?" Or is it just a distraction from their "real" world (read "objectivity")?
(Glen this is meant to be a friendly "elbow", as well as an expression of real curiosity, not a "kill-the-lawyers" personal attack.)
Speaking for myself, some subjective issues were definitely considerable elements in my decision (fortunately not at odds, in my case, with the objective ones you point out).
Being (by now I think) a true TBN'er, I'll break your "rules" forthwith, and mention those subjective elements:
I don't like the idea of riding around thinking "This is STUPID!", every time I look at my ass-backwards turn-brake pedals.
With apologies to NH owner's, to me (to ME) the super-sleek swoop-nosed models (better visibility or not) just don't look like TRACTORS.( Do I need to say "To me!" again, here?)
The fel controls on the K's look "added-on" or "afterthought-ish", whereas on the JD, they look unified, "of-a-piece" so to speak, designwise, ...as if they were considered in the overall design, and are right at-hand, where they belong.( This applies to the 4600/4700 models, which are the ones I was looking at.) perhaps I would agree with your opinions about the crowding on the smaller models.
All this subjective stuff matters however much I DECIDE it does, which, of course, can't be objectively measured.
But knowing yourself well-enough to decide how important subjective issues really ARE to YOU, is the trick.
Every time I walk up to something that is an ugly or poor design(in MY opinion), I think "Boy, that could have done so much better."(usually in harsher terms) /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif
On the contrary, when I walk up to a well-designed piece of equipment (and that includes, for ME, esthetics), I get that "Aaahhh!..Nice!" feeling. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
That's PLEASURE. It's pride-of-ownership. And if there is a price tag on the things that give us pleasure (JD design, for example,) ...what's new about that? And I'll admit that the old JD "green" traditionally associated with American farming probably tugged at me a little too(however American-made or not they are today). I should say, though, that none of these "likes" would have persuaded me to buy what I thought was an inferior machine, objectively -speaking. The money involved was too much for cavalier "tossing around". Fortunately, with my tastes, it turned out that it seemed poissible to have my cake and enjoy it too.
The objective focus of "the box" may prove that JD has some edges, in some areas, over the competition. But that won't change the practical fact that All of the current-crop of "big name" tractors will probably do the job you want done, if their size is appropriate to the task.
So, when it comes down to being satisfied with your purchase(which is what I think we're all REALLY after), This "one man's opinion" is that subjective likes or dislikes are only unimportant IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY.
If you DO, then they may be the very factors that make your choice "right" or "wrong" FOR YOU!
It feels good to feel good!(Duh!)
Here's hoping that's what happens everytime you look at your new "partner", whatever color you choose! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Larry
