Tractor Recommendations - New vs Used

browns40 · Apr 3, 2006

Hi MaineBob,

Welcome to TBN--there is a tremendous wealth of experience you will find here--it's great...

If you have the cash & don't need to finance, get yourself a used machine... use varies from the homeowner puttering around the yard to the guy bouncing down log roads dragging tonnage behind... with a private sale you can probably discern what the use has been by the hours, condition of tractor & implements, service records, etc.

I'd have gone used, but needed the financing--and 0% for 36 mos... I am pleased.... maybe buy new! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If you can find a 2-4 yr old machine that's only lost that off the lot depreciation, you should logically come out ahead overall... a lot of folks crave more & more horsepower, or want to get work done 20% faster... I'll bet there are a few that traded up to 50-70 hp instead of that "little 40-50" that was "slowing them down" /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

If you have your heart set on the 4520 though, and can swing it, why not buy what you really want?

Good luck! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

TOL1488 · Apr 4, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm tempted by a new JD 4520... This may be the only time in my life I can afford new... this may be the last tractor I ever buy. )</font>

I think the answer is right there, I know it would be for me... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MaineBob · Apr 5, 2006

To all ..... Thanks for the advice. Definitely not a consensus on new vs used, but the various comments did help. Right now, I leaning towards new .... mostly because I cannot seem to find anything used with a HST transmission. I'm not 100% convinced a HST is the way to go, but since I'll be doing mostly loader work, it seems like the best option.

I did find a 60-hours used powerreverser JD4520, but the price differential was only a few thousand $$'s. The 0% / 36 financing, establishing a relationship with the dealer, getting it configured the way I want it, and knowing the FULL history of the machine all seem to add up to more than the little savings vs a new machine. If I do go used, I will likely buy a little further south (e.g., PA) where there are more options, and talk my dad into coming up for a visit ... towing a tractor.

Besides the obvious JD vs Kubota (others create challenges with dealer proximity), I need to decide on top-end compact (e.g., L5030 or JD4520) vs low-end utility (e.g., M4900 / JD5105). The challenge with the low end utility tractors is that they do not come in a HST version. HP vs convenience??

Decisions, decisions.

canoetrpr · Apr 6, 2006

60 hours is not very much at all. Barely used I would say.

I'm not expert on tractor trannys but if I didn't have an HST I'd definately get a power reverser / GST type of tranny. Guessing they are similar? clutchless (I mean no human clutch?).

I think you should give that lightly used 4520 a second look if it saves you a few thousand. You can establish a relationship with a local dealer when you get things setup on it - purchasing a few implements, adding a remote or two.

If I had found a year or two old L3400HST, in a private sale, I think I might have jumped on it - for two thousand or so less + no sales tax on top of that (we have a LOT of sales tax up here in Canada).

Also remember even with 0% financing, the best deal can be usually had on cash alone. This is true for cars and true for tractors. Often the manufacturer will kick in a bit of cash incentive. May not be huge but any amount helps.

Good luck with whatever you decide.