BX2660 vs Deere X748

[bxkubota]

I have been reading this forum for awhile now and my father-in-law is in the market for a new tractor. Yesterday we started out for the Kubota dealer and found they were closed on Mondays so we stopped by the John Deere dealer. He immediately was drawn to an X748 with the iron 60" deck. An out the door price of 11,795 with a mulch kit and turf tires to allow for the striping kit already installed. I have been a Kubota fan for years and am a fan of the BX line. So today we hit the Kubota dealer and he found a BX2660 with the 60" deck no hydraulic ports for 12,300 out the door. Cash deal no financing needed. The mower will be used for mowing a little under 2 acres with a pretty good hill on the back side. The option of a snow blower or plow might be an add on in the future, but a walk behind blower handles the 300 foot paved drive for now. The current tractor is a Gravely 20G that needs a new deck due to not being cleaned very often during the past 15 years. Just looking for anyones two cents on the right choice.

 

[bp fick]

They are both fine machines, but vastly different. To the beginning shopper, it is all a blur, but slow motion shows some big differences. The X700 is premium, riding lawn mower. Maybe, the best there is.

The BX2660 is way, way above the x700 in power and tractor features. Those tractor features make a long list. Honestly? They don't really compare, more like apples and oranges. The Deere subcut 2305 or even 2320 would be more closely related.

In my opinion, FWIW, Kubota doesn't make anything that competes directly with the X700 series. But then, Deere doesn't make anything that competes directly with Kubota's B1860. The BX1860 can be had for much less than the X700, but again, one is a premium lawn mower and the other a baseline BX tractor with ROPS, Cat 1 3 pt, FEL options, etc. Not really the same, although some overlap in utility.

 

[LBrown59]

I have been reading this forum for awhile now and my father-in-law is in the market for a new tractor. Yesterday we started out for the Kubota dealer and found they were closed on Mondays so we stopped by the John Deere dealer. He immediately was drawn to an X748 with the iron 60" deck. An out the door price of 11,795 with a mulch kit and turf tires to allow for the striping kit already installed. I have been a Kubota fan for years and am a fan of the BX line. So today we hit the Kubota dealer and he found a BX2660 with the 60" deck no hydraulic ports for 12,300 out the door. Cash deal no financing needed. The mower will be used for mowing a little under 2 acres with a pretty good hill on the back side. The option of a snow blower or plow might be an add on in the future, but a walk behind blower handles the 300 foot paved drive for now. The current tractor is a Gravely 20G that needs a new deck due to not being cleaned very often during the past 15 years. Just looking for anyones two cents on the right choice.

Jumping from a glorified lawn mower to a real tractor for only 205 dollars more is a no brainer.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

They are both fine machines, but vastly different. To the beginning shopper, it is all a blur, but slow motion shows some big differences. The X700 is premium, riding lawn mower. Maybe, the best there is.

The BX2660 is way, way above the x700 in power and tractor features. Those tractor features make a long list. Honestly? They don't really compare, more like apples and oranges. The Deere subcut 2305 or even 2320 would be more closely related.

In my opinion, FWIW, Kubota doesn't make anything that competes directly with the X700 series. But then, Deere doesn't make anything that competes directly with Kubota's B1860. The BX1860 can be had for much less than the X700, but again, one is a premium lawn mower and the other a baseline BX tractor with ROPS, Cat 1 3 pt, FEL options, etc. Not really the same, although some overlap in utility.

Good explanation...it is an apples to oranges comparison of function.

 

[bp fick]

Good explanation...it is an apples to oranges comparison of function.

Maybe I should have said, Green Apples to Oranges?

Look, despite the "glorified lawn mower" comments, which should be taken with a grain of salt, as the X700 series IS INTENDED to be a GLORIFIED lawn mower. The BX series is intended to be a Swiss Army Knife type compact tractor.

Yup, Green Apples to Oranges in comparison. They simply are different. If all I had to do was mow 5 hours a day, every 3 days, the expensive X700 might be just the ticket. I don't. I needed the BX for tractor duties that the X700 simply cannot do as well. The jobs intended must influence the decision.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I have been reading this forum for awhile now and my father-in-law is in the market for a new tractor. Yesterday we started out for the Kubota dealer and found they were closed on Mondays so we stopped by the John Deere dealer. He immediately was drawn to an X748 with the iron 60" deck. An out the door price of 11,795 with a mulch kit and turf tires to allow for the striping kit already installed. I have been a Kubota fan for years and am a fan of the BX line. So today we hit the Kubota dealer and he found a BX2660 with the 60" deck no hydraulic ports for 12,300 out the door. Cash deal no financing needed. The mower will be used for mowing a little under 2 acres with a pretty good hill on the back side. The option of a snow blower or plow might be an add on in the future, but a walk behind blower handles the 300 foot paved drive for now. The current tractor is a Gravely 20G that needs a new deck due to not being cleaned very often during the past 15 years. Just looking for anyones two cents on the right choice.

If money is also a big deciding factor I believe the price on the Kubota is a bit high with a MMM instead of a FEL. Have him or you contact Barlows or one of the other dealers that sell online and deliver to your area. If for no other reason than to get a price to go back to the local dealer.

 

[bxowner]

Apparently, your father-in-law wants to mow and maybe put on a blower in the future. There's a steepish hill out back. No brainer to me... the x748.

Unless he's inclined to use ground-engaging implements or get a loader, the BX is the lesser piece of equipment for that man's application. That's why both companies offer both models... just like a Lincoln sedan vs. a Nissan pickup. The Nissan'll do more, but not everyone wants the road noise and bumpy ride if they're just cruising the interstate.

From what I've read, you can't get a better cut than with the 7-iron, shy of a walk-behind or F-series style mower.

 

[TripleR]

I yield to no one in my love of the BX2660, but the reason I went with the BX line in the first place was for its use as a multi function piece of equipment. It is a "good" choice as a tractor or mower, but not the "best" for either. If I was in the market for "just a mower", I would go for a dedicated mower.

 

[bxkubota]

I appreciate all the input and keep the opinions coming. The funny thing is my father in law doesn't cut the grass. My mother in law cuts the grass as soon as the first blade shows a sign of growth. So she is the one doing the majority of the seat time. She has no opinion either way and each day we come back from tractor shopping she asks if we got her a tractor yet. My father in law doesn't share the same passion as I for orange, but tractors don't fascinate him either which makes the decision more difficult for him.

 

[laen64]

So L.B you would really go to the BX2660?

 

[laen64]

It sounds more like you can give all the influence! Think of what you wan't for Mom and what you would like to borrow or even inherit. God Bless

 

[Hummer H1]

Jumping from a glorified lawn mower to a real tractor for only 205 dollars more is a no brainer.

Please consider the source of this comment...just another in a excruciatingly long history of "nobrainer" commentary.This guy must have some "dirt" on the moderators. How else is LB allowed to continue to post on this website

Good luck on your decision orignal poster. Both are very good machines. Both will cut the grass nicely. A bit more comfort and ease of use may be enjoyed on the X700 series tractor however. It really is the Cadillac of garden tractors.

 

[Danilo]

I have been looking at the same things, The Deere has a better cut. But being a previous BX owner (BX2230 and BX24), I have been torn as well. I was looking at the 1860 vs 2360 and then came accross the X700 line-up. Now the X700 is the base so I walked past that one. The X720 is the start of the better features like EFI. World of difference. Do you need Diesel? I looked at the X748 at 10,900 w/54" deck. Also how about obsticles. 4wheel steer is nice and can be a great feature if you have trees to mow around. Got a price on the x724 w/54"deck at $9000. 27hp 4 whl steer, but gas. Likes it the best for mowing.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

One BIG word of caution with the x700 series. There is no other piece of equipment that will depriciate as quickly as these do. You can pretty much knock 50% off what you paid right off the lot.

 

[bp fick]

One BIG word of caution with the x700 series. There is no other piece of equipment that will depriciate as quickly as these do. You can pretty much knock 50% off what you paid right off the lot.

I can't say for sure, but that might be because the buyer's of fancy machines, at this cost level, would be somewhat similar to Lincoln or Cadillac buyers, in that they prefer that new tractor smell, if you get my drift.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I was curious to see what is being discussed here. So, here is a link to see what the JD is for those that don't know and are curious like me. I'd really want to know the weight and see it before I'd have an opinion. Looks good to me. Course as Messicks says I'd also (me beng me) be real concerned about the resell price.
John Deere products for homeowners: Features for X748 Ultimate Tractor

 

[shrekbelly]

. . . once again it should be an apples to apples comparison - not apples to oranges.
i love the cut of my bx fine cut deck. i shudder to think of a deere tractors' reaction to being hauled backward, by a powerful, hugh useful torque kubota bx . . . for sure the deere, would be crying and flailing all about.

good luck in your search mower search

shrekbelly

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

One BIG word of caution with the x700 series. There is no other piece of equipment that will depriciate as quickly as these do. You can pretty much knock 50% off what you paid right off the lot.

I found several used X748 models on the "machine finder" site...2006 X748 with 185 hours for $9126, 2008 X748 with 200 hours for $9650 and a 2009 X748 with 85 hours for $10,800. I will be the first to admit that asking and getting can be two different things but these prices are a far cry from 50% depreciation the day you buy it. If I could find one of these "1/2 off list" models I would have a X749 right now.

 

[TripleR]

I found several used X748 models on the "machine finder" site...2006 X748 with 185 hours for $9126, 2008 X748 with 200 hours for $9650 and a 2009 X748 with 85 hours for $10,800. I will be the first to admit that asking and getting can be two different things but these prices are a far cry from 50% depreciation the day you buy it. If I could find one of these "1/2 off list" models I would have a X749 right now.

If you find two, I'll take one too.

 

[bp fick]

If you find two, I'll take one too.

Get me one too!!! Half off? I'd have one in a heartbeat and I don't even have decent grass to mow! Messicks might (?) be speaking from a trade in, dealers point of view here.

Last year, at this time, as we were getting our property, I studied the heck out of both the X7xx and the BX. That X7xx is 1.) expensive and 2.) an AWESOME, top of the line mower. Comfortable beyond belief.

When I realized it was not marketed as a super GT, per see, and competed poorly against the BX for my gardening/snow plowing purposes, my decision was made, a bunch of dead presidents stayed in my pocket and an $8800 BX went into my shop. YMMV.