The two John Deere dealers closest to me now have one of the 1026R's in stock. I talked to one this morning, and they will be mounting a loader on the one that came in yesterday today. I was going to get some pictures for everyone, but the battery in the camera that I keep in the car was dead. They seem to have everything one would need, I like the fender mounted lights though I don't think they would work with a Curtis style cab, and I like the attachment points for the loader hydraulics a little better than the larger ones. It is in the floorboard, fender rather than being below it as is usual for JD's. It somehow seems larger even than the 2305 is, but perhaps the hood is higher, and that is what makes it look that way. The seat is very comfortable to me. I'm still deciding how I feel about the looks....... it is more different than I thought it would be. Perhaps the body shape overpowers the tire size a bit more, or somethiing, but I sure wouldn't kick it out for eating crackers in bed as my Dad used to say. All in all, I think JD will do well with it as long as the "street price" remains doable. It is more money, but at least you can see things that you are getting to justify it a bit anyway. My thought is that it is starting to look too close to the 2320 in size, and price and it is large enough that I wonder if it will be any better at mowing than the 2320 is.
