Why buy new

[Geotech]

^^this here. Financing or not, I have a busy life and just dont want to spend the time driving 100s to 1000s of miles all over north Texas in search of THE used tractor deal. I can afford new and just have other things I need and want to spend my time on. I know for a fact that the time I dedicate to work and school puts way more money in my pocket than the time to spend hunting for good used stuff, tractors or otherwise. I have passed up on good real estate investment deals to focus on career and came out ahead.

Tractor is just part of my life... not my life. In this phase of my life and career, time is more critical than money.

 

[wcampbell47]

In the course of 10 years I have purchased 3 new tractors, one used skid steer and one new skid steer. With very few exceptions when I turn the key on the new machine it starts and performs as I expect it to. I can complete the task at hand without stopping to figure out why this or that is not working. Usually one good days work on any of the new tractors would pay the monthly payment. The new skid steer takes about 12 hours work at my billing rate. The used skid steer is a completely different story. About 3 months into owning it I had to put it in the shop for a new main pump. Then new rollers on one side. Repack the hydraulic cylinders and now a new alternator. I will never be able to sell that machine for what I have in it. I would rather be working at my billing rate on a project than for $0 dollars per hour working on the old machine. I use the old machine as a back up and occasionally rent it out on a daily basis. Not the smartest buy I have ever made. I don't work on it because I don't have the heavy tools necessary. Just saying.

 

[rScotty]

@rScotty- I'm early 40s and don't know if I belong in the 'old fart' camp on the young whipersnappers, not for me to decide .

In the last year I've purchased both a new tractor as well as a used one. And here's why:
Used - Antonio Carraro TTR4400 - this style tractor was a really good fit for our property. SNIP

Kioti RX7320 - the farm needed a utility tractor that could do 'real' farm work and the old Case 1490 just needed to much work to get it going each time.

So far so good but only time will tell. So the answer for me was when I was able to find something I trusted and felt was worth the money I bought used and when the savings on used wasn't significant enough to go without a warranty I went new. I'm fortunate to have both machine paid off so financing didn't play any role for me.

Wooly, I agree with that sort of thinking....not because it's correct - although it might be. I think I agree because it's basically the same way that I think.

And I'm looking forward to hearing more about the Antonio Carraro TTR4400 through the years. They are a fascinating tractor, just not common in the US. Maybe that style of tractor won't be common here until one of the Asian companies starts producing them.

For a bulletproof chore machine I'd think it would be hard to beat your old Yanmar 240D. Surprised you didn't just keep it.

Re the old Case and new Kioti - The Kioti seems likely to be a worthy successor to that nearly 40 year old Case tractor. We'll know that answer in about 30+ years..... I'm betting it will depend on parts. Case was merely decent rather than great at at providing parts or at designing their older machines for repairability. It will be interesting to see how the Kioti compares.

Uh.... much as I'd like, I can't help with the old fart versus young wippersnapper definition. I'm about twice your age and still can't figure out which one I am myself.
rScotty

 

[rScotty]

^^this here. Financing or not, I have a busy life and just dont want to spend the time driving 100s to 1000s of miles all over north Texas in search of THE used tractor deal. I can afford new and just have other things I need and want to spend my time on. I know for a fact that the time I dedicate to work and school puts way more money in my pocket than the time to spend hunting for good used stuff, tractors or otherwise. I have passed up on good real estate investment deals to focus on career and came out ahead.

Tractor is just part of my life... not my life. In this phase of my life and career, time is more critical than money.

You know, Geotech....that's a real common comment that you have. And I think you might be on to something.....something so obvious we're in danger of overlooking it.

It is way too difficult to search for a good used tractor and it shouldn't be all that hard to do. Especially with the internet and this TBN site to help.
Someone ought to figure out a way to make searching through used tractors easier to do. That's what we need if the used tractor market is ever to get healthy.

And it makes sense for us to improve the used tractor market. It makes sense because even if every single one of us on TBN bought their tractor new, what we have today is a used one.....and not only a used one, but a used one with it's entire history right publically online for everyone to see.
All the accolades, complaints, and breakdowns. All in one place, What a tremendous resource this TBN site would be for used tractors if we want to do it.

rScotty

 

[kenmac]

I will never be able to sell that machine for what I have in it.

new / used. isn't this the case with most things ?

 

[woolyAcres]

And I'm looking forward to hearing more about the Antonio Carraro TTR4400 through the years. They are a fascinating tractor, just not common in the US. Maybe that style of tractor won't be common here until one of the Asian companies starts producing them.

I would not have purchased the AC if the farm didn't already have a 40ish HP tractor with loader. I think there are 2 knocks against the AC, actually 3. They are expensive, parts aren't available locally, and they aren't designed for a loader. For what I paid I could have gotten a 4WD with loader machine so it appears expensive but I can do things on/with this machine that I wouldn't attempt with the NH45DA so comparing on price only isn't really a valid way to look at it in my mind. Regarding parts, I've ordered a couple small items though the US importer with zero trouble and had it here in a couple days. So although I can't drive down the road to get parts, they don't seem to be a problem. As for the loader, I know folks have put loaders on these machines but they just aren't designed for them. I've got no interest or need to do that. It's very easy on/off machine because it's low to the ground, stability is terrific, and because it's HST it's easy for my wife and oldest 2 kids to drive. I mainly use it with the 5' flail mower that came on it but it's also used for pulling a 9' hay rake, pulling wagons (on the flat only), wood chipper, snow plow, we even use it to run the hydraulic bale wrapper. It's a joy to use and I find it very versatile.

For a bulletproof chore machine I'd think it would be hard to beat your old Yanmar 240D. Surprised you didn't just keep it.

The Yanmar was/is a great machine but it was a bit intimidating for my wife, lacked power steering, wasn't something the kids could operate (yet) and it had a loader on it (with oversized bucket) that wasn't easy to remove. For mowing, it was awkward (giant bucket) and under powered for the 5' brush hog I have. So although I'll always have a soft spot for it, I think the new owner is getting much more use out of her which feels like a good arrangement to me.

Re the old Case and new Kioti - The Kioti seems likely to be a worthy successor to that nearly 40 year old Case tractor. We'll know that answer in about 30+ years.....

I hope it takes 30 years to figure out. If something big were to go on the Kioti sooner than that, the jury would be in and it would not be favorable.

 

[woolyAcres]

^^this here. Financing or not, I have a busy life and just dont want to spend the time driving 100s to 1000s of miles all over north Texas in search of THE used tractor deal. I can afford new and just have other things I need and want to spend my time on. I know for a fact that the time I dedicate to work and school puts way more money in my pocket than the time to spend hunting for good used stuff, tractors or otherwise. I have passed up on good real estate investment deals to focus on career and came out ahead.

Tractor is just part of my life... not my life. In this phase of my life and career, time is more critical than money.

This sums it up really well in my particular situation. Time is money and right now, time is more valuable (and harder to come by) than money.

 

[shooterdon]

You know, Geotech....that's a real common comment that you have. And I think you might be on to something.....something so obvious we're in danger of overlooking it.

It is way too difficult to search for a good used tractor and it shouldn't be all that hard to do. Especially with the internet and this TBN site to help.
Someone ought to figure out a way to make searching through used tractors easier to do. That's what we need if the used tractor market is ever to get healthy.

And it makes sense for us to improve the used tractor market. It makes sense because even if every single one of us on TBN bought their tractor new, what we have today is a used one.....and not only a used one, but a used one with it's entire history right publically online for everyone to see.
All the accolades, complaints, and breakdowns. All in one place, What a tremendous resource this TBN site would be for used tractors if we want to do it.

rScotty

Not much incentive to make buying used easier when the kind of used tractors most of us want are selling for outrageous prices (IMHO). I searched for a used tractor for two years when I moved to rural MI and gave up. Nearly bought a new small Kubota BX but could not justify the cost. I got the tractor I have now from an estate sale of a local widow who I knew. So I agree with another poster who asked "Where are all the good deals?"

I believe there are deals out there IF someone knows how to work on these things. I put over $2000 into my tractor with having the dealer do the work. Likely paid twice what I should have, but that is the cost of my ignorance. The dealer is horrible...wanted to sell me a new FEL cylinder for over $600 ,and said they would not repair my old one. My buddy found that a fitting was loose and that was why it was dripping fluid.

I want a larger machine and will keep an eye out for a "good" used one but cannot buy a JD as the dealer I have is worthless. That leaves me with Kubota or Mahindra. But I am talking myself into leasing a new one for the piece of mind.

 

[wcampbell47]

new / used. isn't this the case with most things ?

Let me put it this way. Purchase price + repairs + time lost would be about equal to have a new machine 50% paid for with little worries of failure.

 

[kenmac]

Let me put it this way. Purchase price + repairs + time lost would be about equal to have a new machine 50% paid for with little worries of failure.

I can't say ''little worries of failure'' I bought a brand new zd1021 last yr. Used it 1.9 hrs when the head gasket blew and destroyed the engine
Bought a used 2013 mx5100 with 380 hrs last yr. Not a single issue with this tractor.

I most likely couldn't get what I have invested in either machine back.
Most people don't get their investment back on a tractor, mower, vehicle, etc,. That's just the way it goes

 

[Erik M]

I live in a rural area on 10 acres with a 600’ lane and a tractor is a necessity in winter to keep it open. A couple years ago the neighbour with the big ag tractor moved and I purchased a 6o hp used JD 1840 with an 80” blower that had just had a complete rebuild, new tires, paint, etc. The fact that this tractor was made in 1981 didn’t bother me, as it had been built as a real tractor then and was designed to last. It has proper maintenance and is stored indoors, and with 50+ hours a year on snow and yard chores it will outlast me.

I paid $12K Canadian and that won’t buy much more than a glorified lawnmower new up here. What I have is perfect for my needs as it is simple, uncomplicated and reliable. Each person has to decide what they need, want, and can afford to pay. I certainly wasn’t willing to pay new tractor prices for what I needed to move snow, etc.

 

[rScotty]

Let me put it this way. Purchase price + repairs + time lost would be about equal to have a new machine 50% paid for with little worries of failure.

We keep coming back to "more repairs on used machines". And we all know that's what common wisdom says...but I'm not so sure that is truly the case.

Here's a thought.... Many of us here on TBN bought new tractors, and we now own that same tractor - which has now become a used tractor with somewhere between 100 and 2000 hours on it. So did your new tractor require more repairs during the warranty period, or has it needed more repairs in the years since then? Not routine maintenance, but repair.

Maybe we should take a poll?
Because when I look at the messages on TBN, I seem to see distinctly more posts from owners whose tractors are needing repairs during warranty than later on.
just sayin'
rScotty

 

[kenmac]

We keep coming back to "more repairs on used machines". And we all know that's what common wisdom says...but I'm not so sure that is truly the case.

Here's a thought.... Many of us here on TBN bought new tractors, and we now own that same tractor - which has now become a used tractor with somewhere between 100 and 2000 hours on it. So did your new tractor require more repairs during the warranty period, or has it needed more repairs in the years since then? Not routine maintenance, but repair.

Maybe we should take a poll?
Because when I look at the messages on TBN, I seem to see distinctly more posts from owners whose tractors are needing repairs during warranty than later on.
just sayin'
rScotty

Scotty, I didn't even mention my 1980 ym3110 that I purchased used.
In the 10 yrs I have owned it. The only repairs have been to installed (upgraded) from the original VR and alternator to an up graded alternator without the use of an external VR

I would not say that buying used will give more issues than new. Only difference is, the new will be covered under a warranty that you paid for up front

 

[Steppenwolfe]

We keep coming back to "more repairs on used machines". And we all know that's what common wisdom says...but I'm not so sure that is truly the case.

Here's a thought.... Many of us here on TBN bought new tractors, and we now own that same tractor - which has now become a used tractor with somewhere between 100 and 2000 hours on it. So did your new tractor require more repairs during the warranty period, or has it needed more repairs in the years since then? Not routine maintenance, but repair.

Maybe we should take a poll?
Because when I look at the messages on TBN, I seem to see distinctly more posts from owners whose tractors are needing repairs during warranty than later on.
just sayin'
rScotty

I'm possibly a rare case here, but ALL of my equipment runs out of warranty on time, before hours. My MX is 6 years old and 135 hours, my 3301 is 4 years old with 120 hours, my mini ex is 4 years old with 110 hours... The " new warranty" is virtually worthless to me. All of my equipment is shop kept, serviced, and well treated. So... guess what? When I go to sell I want top dollar.

 

[Geotech]

We keep coming back to "more repairs on used machines". And we all know that's what common wisdom says...but I'm not so sure that is truly the case.

Here's a thought.... Many of us here on TBN bought new tractors, and we now own that same tractor - which has now become a used tractor with somewhere between 100 and 2000 hours on it. So did your new tractor require more repairs during the warranty period, or has it needed more repairs in the years since then? Not routine maintenance, but repair.

Maybe we should take a poll?
Because when I look at the messages on TBN, I seem to see distinctly more posts from owners whose tractors are needing repairs during warranty than later on.
just sayin'
rScotty

Likewise all these super reliable used machines guys are talking about were once new. You hear about the issues since if there is no issue there is nothing to report. I posit most of these tractors are pretty reliable or nobody would sell extended warranties. Buying new means that I know the history. That means a lot to me since I may not be able to discern what noise is normal and what is not if not experiencing the machine since new. Those with a lot of machine and wrenching experience may not need that assurance. I also control the maintenance schedule, hence having a better idea what is going on if something funny starts acting up.