trying to choose between three tractors...

[Spencer]

Re: Thanks Murph!

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Also, for what its worth, although I'm not financing it, they (Kubota) have 0% interest for 36 months right now../quote]

I like to pay cash too but with 0% financing they are practically giving you money. Check with your accountant on this one, I bet he will tell you to finance it.

 

[BobinCols]

You're doing the right thing by driving each machine at the respective dealer. I'm glad the Kubota dealer has you looking at a 3130 which is more comparable to the JD and NH models. If you buy the Kubota, spend the extra money and get the 3130 over the 3010. Good luck and have fun. You can't go wrong with any of them.

 

[JimMc]

Re: Thanks Murph!

There is no such thing as 0% financing. The is always a cost for money over time. The question is what kind of cash incentives can you get in lieu of the "free" financing and who has a lower cost of money - you or them. If your money is in CD's your cost of money is lower - take the incentives and pay cash. If your money is invested at a higher rate than the incentive return use their money. Of course, if you aren't in a position to cash flow the purchase, use their money. But don't let anyone fool you into thinking there isn't a cost.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

All good advice....

I drove back up to Mayfield, and sat and fired up the JD 4310...I have to admit, I really liked the Deere..quiet, smooth from the start up...the dealer was also a good one, broke things down for the bucket, belly mower and tractor...the price on the Deere for the 4310, with a 72" belly mower (obviously with the optional mid-PTO), and JD 430 loader is 21,900. They will order the 4210 with the same attachements, except the loader is the 420 for 20,700. The dealer told me at those prices, he was making a 6% profit on the loader, and 9% on the tractor. The other nice thing was he didn't have a bad thing to say when I told him I had narrowed it down to the Orange and him (although, he did say, he thought I'd look better sitting on the green.....) He said he felt the JD hydraulics were a little better, but otherwise, both were great tractors...the differance for the JD is about 2 grand more.....

I sure like the green and yellow..., but, think I will wait to make the final decision and pull the plug when my local Kubota dealer gets the L3130's in (should be in the next 10 days or so)...I've about got my wife talked out of the B series Kub, and let her read your posts as to why.

Both are GREAT tractors, and I understand the money op on the 0% (of course, it's not REALLY 0, there are loan costs incurred, about $180, and the fact that you have to insure the tractor)

Will stay on the thread, and let ya'll know which one winds up on Shadow Creek Farm here in far West Kentucky....thanks for all the thoughtful posts.....Capper

 

[grandad]

Re: Thanks Murph!

I would echo some of the other posts about the size of tractor. If you are going to bush hog any sizeable part of that 24 acres, you'll want a respectable sized cutter - probably 6 or 7 ft - just so you don't take so long doing it. I think a 30 hp tractor is just a smidge small for those size cutters, and you'd be happier with something bigger. The tradeoff is if you have lots of close-in maneuvering, which is tougher the larger you go.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Thanks Murph!

<font color="blue"> There is no such thing as 0% financing. </font>

True. And there is no free lunch either.

But, all things considered, if Kubota Corp [or anyone else, for that matter] is willing to give you free use of their money, as an incentive to get you to buy a tractor, then this is essentially free use of their money.

This is because the dealer can still give you the best deal he can, considering his costs and needed profit margin to stay in business. Whether you pay him cash or finance the purchase means nothing to the dealer. UNLESS the dealer pays some penalty on sales that are financed. This does not seem to be the norm in these 0% financing offers.

So the reality of the matter is that if you strike the best deal possible, *and* also get 0% financing, then you really do make out if you have the cash in hand but finance. You gain interest on the balance of the money that remains each month as it is consumed during the payoff period.

If you don't have the money in hand to pay cash, you still make out when you finance for free, the difference between the no-interest and the best-rate payments being your gain during the finance period.

If there is a choice of cash incentives, or financing then as JimMc says...you have to look at both and see which makes the most sense in your specific case.

Are tractor dealers offering an either/or? Hadn't heard that...

From the buyer's perspective there certainly can be such a thing as zero percent financing. But you have to look close to be sure...and let the selling company pay the cost to give it to you.

That's the way I see it...maybe worth no more than the ink on this paper... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[thcri]

Re: Thanks Murph!

When someone tells me they have free financing for a year or whatever I usually tell them I don't want it. None of us here are dumies. There is a charge to finance money and there always will be. The money for the finance company is buried in there someplace, we just don't know where it is. I sell heating and air conditioning equipment. The manufacturer comes up with free financing but I have to share in the finance cost. So yes you would think that I can charge more for the product. Manufacturer says I can't legally do that. (But who are they kiddin) GM offered free financing or 2,000 cash back, you all seen it, Ford did it too. That tells me that the finance charge for that free year is 2,000 dollars

Make your deal with them based on the fact that you are going to pay cash and then at the last minute tell them you decided to take them up on their offer of free interest for a year and watch them squirm. Unless he figured you out before you will find him doing some studdering.

murph

 

[crown]

Re: Thanks Murph!

Thats what I do everytime I go car shopping and the salesman always backtrack and say "uh I don't think we can do that deal" /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Nothing in life is free.

 

[JimMc]

Re: Thanks Murph!

In these days, most folks know the score, but a few of us learned the hard way. Some dealers may push the financing, but just like their automotive counterparts, even if there isn't a cash incentive, you can't get "best" price and the "free" financing. I used to bargain for the cash deal and switch at the last minute just for entertainment, but it really isn't fair to the dealer to put him in the position of "telling" on the manufacturer. Bad way to start what we all hope to be a long term relationship. However, if you think a guy is trying to rip you, and he's not getting your business anyway, I'm not beyond teaching him he's better off to tell the truth the first time. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[BigDave]

Re: All good advice....

I just paid a visit to Kubota's website to do some research for you and they made my job very easy: they have a comparision of most all of the tractors you have mentioned.

Grand L Comparisons

They are grouped a little differently - L3130, 4210, TC29D & L3430, 4310, TC33D. I would be tempted to look at the L3430 or even the L3830 given healthy weight of the tractor, and especially if you have any hills.

P.S. IMHO, I don't think the TC33D belongs in the group in which Kubota placed it, since the specs of the TC35D are much closer to the L3430.