Price Check This seems like a good deal?

WW2017 · Jul 22, 2019

Good morning TBN!! First time posting but I've been a "lurker" for several years. This is my go to site for any questions I need answered. A little background. I grew up driving tractors on a small cattle hobby farm. Dad never had any "good" equipment but we got the job done with 8Ns, AC WD45, Farmall M, etc. I got married, started a career and a family and didn't want anything to do with cattle, land, etc. Kids got older and that itch of going back to my roots in the country became too irresistible so in 2017, we bought 22 acres and we LOVE it!! I feel like I missed a lot of years of living in what we feel is paradise, but raising two kids to be responsible, productive adults didn't leave much room for all the work that I now find myself doing and I'm enjoying every minute of it. Wish I could retire right now and do this FT!! Someday soon

Now to the question I have. A year ago, I bought a great little tractor, a 1960 Ford 861 Powermaster. It reminds me of what I grew up driving, just a bigger version. I have a 6' beat up, worn out Howse rotary I use, and while it doesn't look like much, it does more than an acceptable job of mowing roughly 14-15 acres of the 22 acres. This land is a mixture of flat areas with some low, rolling hills. 861 handles it just fine.

We have a small creek in the woods that needs to be cleaned up, along with lots of landscape beds that previous owners let go. Had some timber harvested last year in my woods (roughly 8 acres) and I still need to get that cleaned up. I have lots of projects that my current setup just can't handle, and I'm not getting any younger (49), so I'm looking to supplement with a SCUT. I have thoroughly researched (this site, other tractor forums, YouTube, local dealers, etc) other makes (LS, Branson, TYM, Kioti, Deere, MF, etc) but either the prices weren't comparable or was not impressed with dealer support.

Saturday, I went to the local Kubota dealer (10 minutes from house) and drove a 2019 BX23S (loader and backhoe). I've not done much BH work in my day but I can run a loader. Dealer let me play around a little on it and offered me a price of 19K, with the 5 yr/0% financing. I could pay cash for it but he said it was already priced so low that the cash price would be the same. In looking at other 2019 models of this tractor, I can't find anything cheaper (Messicks was 19,500 and didn't include shipping, Barlows says they don't ship that far anymore). I'll also be adding a 4' Land Pride rotary and also getting the KTAC (again, thanks to this forum). Dealer has already loaded tires so that price is included. Dealer has been around for many, many years and is the go to place around here for all things Kubota and NH.

Am I missing something and does this seem like a good price? Sure seems like it to me, considering the hours of looking I've done. Also, I feel (again from all of the research I've done) that this machine will do all I need for now (supplement mowing, removing small stumps, hauling mulch, rock, working on landscaping, woods cleanup/management, reworking/cleaning up creek) but I want the valued opinions of TBN members. Additionally, in the next few years, we would like to start our own small hobby farm. No plans for cattle but will have large garden, possibly plant some small crops (garlic, berries, etc) that we can sell mainly just to have something to keep us busy in retirement.

BTW, since this will probably be asked, I'm located in southeast Missouri. Thank you and have a blessed day.

skipperbrown · Jul 22, 2019

You will be challenged by the low ground clearance with the bx series. If you buy this, be sure to buy a guard for the underbelly. The hydro cooling fan used to be completely unprotected and if it is still the case, you will need it before traveling into the area where the timber was cut. Unless the bx is going to do 80-90+% duty as a lawn mower, I'd be looking for something bigger. Also with a bigger unit, it will be much, much easier to use implements you may already use on your older tractor (i.e., the 6' mower likely won't work on the bx without cutting the pto shaft and even then will likely lift the front end before lifting the mower[not that a 6' mower is a routine implement to run on a 23 hp tractor]). Good luck with your research!

CobyRupert · Jul 22, 2019

"...offered me a price of 19K, with the 5 yr/0% financing. I could pay cash for it but he said it was already priced so low that the cash price would be the same..."

0% means you're paying the "interest" up front as part of the purchase price. Cash price should be lower or the laws of economics are broke.
The flip side is: If you pay more and take the 0%, you still have most of that $19K to invest and can (hopefully) make up the difference.
On a related note, with a loan you would also be paying with "future" money, which if you look at what a dollar is worth today as compared to the past, paying with future money isn't as much money as paying with today's money.

dalola · Jul 22, 2019

As far as the "deal", $19K seems fair. Not fantastic, but not high either.

You don't really go into the reasons you prefer the BX over a B or L. Given your situation as described, I would tend to agree with skipper, you might be better suited with a bigger rig. If we're missing something, fill in the blanks.

EarPlug · Jul 22, 2019

Going from a 6 foot mower to a 4 foot mower is going to increase your mowing time by about 1/3. Another way of saying this - if you spend 10 hours with the 6' it will no take 13-14 hours with the 4'.

WW2017 · Jul 22, 2019

Thanks for the responses. Yes, it has the protective shroud on the HST fan and the "cash" I said I could use to pay for the tractor is invested and making way more than 0%. So, seems really silly to take that out of investments. I understand the limitations with this size tractor but I'm actually needing something this size that will be easily maneuverable in the woods. Just refinance the mortgage so the difference in payment will pay for this little worker!!

WW2017 · Jul 22, 2019

As I said in my original post, this tractor is NOT going to replace what I'm currently using to mow with. I will still use the 861 and the 6' and my wife or son will follow on the Kubota. As to my specific reasons for not looking at the B or L, I didn't even bother looking at the L as the B series was going to be about 5-6K more. I can't justify spending that much more on something that is a "supplemental" piece of equipment. As far as the mowing, I have gotten by for the last year using that setup. Takes awhile, but I enjoy it. As far as the other projects I have planned, again, I can do those as well with my current setup, a chainsaw, a utility wagon behind my garden tractor, muscle, sweat, time, etc. I am aware of the limitations of this tractor from reading/researching many, many posts from people who have this tractor. My woods have trails already cut and if there is an area that is too low, I will either find an alternate route or "dig my way in!!!" I appreciate what y'all are saying and am considering all of your responses. Thanks to all of you.

dalola · Jul 22, 2019

WW2017 said:
As I said in my original post, this tractor is NOT going to replace what I'm currently using to mow with. I will still use the 861 and the 6' and my wife or son will follow on the Kubota. As to my specific reasons for not looking at the B or L, I didn't even bother looking at the L as the B series was going to be about 5-6K more. I can't justify spending that much more on something that is a "supplemental" piece of equipment. As far as the mowing, I have gotten by for the last year using that setup. Takes awhile, but I enjoy it. As far as the other projects I have planned, again, I can do those as well with my current setup, a chainsaw, a utility wagon behind my garden tractor, muscle, sweat, time, etc. I am aware of the limitations of this tractor from reading/researching many, many posts from people who have this tractor. My woods have trails already cut and if there is an area that is too low, I will either find an alternate route or "dig my way in!!!" I appreciate what y'all are saying and am considering all of your responses. Thanks to all of you.

Fair enough, go for it! You've already proven to yourself there isn't a better price near you. Post pix when you get it home.

nikerret · Jul 22, 2019

CobyRupert said:
"...offered me a price of 19K, with the 5 yr/0% financing. I could pay cash for it but he said it was already priced so low that the cash price would be the same..."

0% means you're paying the "interest" up front as part of the purchase price. Cash price should be lower or the laws of economics are broke.

A few years ago, the cash price was only $65 less than the 0%. I’m guessing they weren’t moving much. It was from October-December 2015. Fortunately, I bought mine on December 31, 2015. The next day, the 0% price was over $800 higher. Glad I pulled the trigger, when I did. From what I’ve seen the 0% usually costs $500 more.