What should I buy

[Moneychanger]

Dear All,
I am shopping for a tractor. I thought I was settled on a Kubota, but I've now talked to various other people about several different kinds of tractors and, though I'm not confused, I'm now undecided.
Without instigating a "mine is better than yours," can y'all please tell me, if you own a tractor in the size range I'm looking for , what helped you make up your mind about the brand you purchased?
And now for what I'm shopping for:
I want a 40-45 hp tractor that has 4wd and a front end loader. It probably goes without saying, but I want something, also that I won't ever have to worry about getting parts for. I'm currently there with the tractors I'm trying to sell and I don't want to go there again, as I'm not a collector.
To add just one more restriction, I'm not shopping new. I want to spend $12k or less, period. I'm working from savings, so that's all there is.
Thanks to all in advance.

"It's impossible to know what the farmer's real work is whether it is to plow, sow, and mow or whether, at the same time, it is to eat and drink fresh produce, have children and breathe freely. Since all these things are closely connected, when he does one of them, he completes another. Everything is labor and nothing is labor. In the social sense of the term it is his life."

 

[beenthere]

Because you said..
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ..., also that I won't ever have to worry about getting parts for )</font>

My suggestion would be to look at the dealer you want to , or think you want to, be working with in the future if anything goes wrong (and it might). He might be the most important part of your 'equation'.

 

[gamble77]

Sent you a PM

 

[gmsssi]

Get a copy of Fastline magazine (Fastline.com) for your area and have fun shopping!

 

[N80]

I was in a similar position (budget and tractor specs) and gave up on buying used. I had a certain amount of available cash, but to get what I wanted was going to cost more than what I had. I was very discouraged with the high prices of used tractors in good shape. This meant that I was going to have to borrow money. Which I did not want to do.

Enter Kubota (or JD) 0% financing. This allowed me to spread the cost out over time but without _any_ interest penalty.

So, I got an L4400. Take a look. Its a lot of tractor for the money. Paid around $18,000 with loader and 4wd. I've had it about 2.5 months now. Love it. Very powerful tractor in a small package.