Buying Advice Deere 1026R...can't go wrong

[BethesdaEC]

Mighty nice improvements. If you ever doubted these companies pay attention to what customers are saying, both praise and gripes, all you have to do is look at these improvements. Although I like the orange brand, being a long time owner and all, Deere has raised the bar in the subcompact category and if I were shopping today, it would be hard to walk away from that green one.

I wouldn't expect Kubota to sit back and let JD have the advantage for very long, though. Too much at stake. I appreciate having several well-managed outfits competing for the business. We get better products that way.

Here is my assessment of Kubota, they have gotten slow and bloated and have built up too much internal competition between their model lineup and have completely ignored the external market forces. Put simply they have too many tractors at too many price points with a very careful structure of subtle features differences to justify the models. Making a competitive tractor upsets this business model.

They should reduce the number of models and increase the features while holding the line on prices as best they can. There is a economy of scale that will allow cost cutting that can't be implemented with the shear number of models. Kubota has four BX models vs. two JD 1000 series. The B series has eight vs. three in the JD 2000 series. Little things like alternators, on the B series the standard alternator is 20A and you have to upgrade to the 40A. When shopping you have to be aware of these issues, especially when buying from dealer inventory.

 

[s219]

I liked the 1026R a lot, and it was high on my list; some of my few dislikes were the plastic body parts, low ground clearance, lame fuel gauge, and vulnerable fuel tank location. But the smart features (and seat) get an A+ for sure.

Speaking of JD vs.Kubota, to me the real comparison is what you can get for even money -- you can step into a compact B series for about the same money as the Deere sub-compact. There's no question the 1023/1026 are some of the best sub-compacts right now, but the pricing definitely reflects that!

Best price I got on the 1026R+H120 was $14700, and it was a no-brainer for me to step up to a B2620 for the same price, and ultimately a B2920 for $15400.

 

[s219]

Here is my assessment of Kubota, they have gotten slow and bloated and have built up too much internal competition between their model lineup and have completely ignored the external market forces. Put simply they have too many tractors at too many price points with a very careful structure of subtle features differences to justify the models. Making a competitive tractor upsets this business model.

They should reduce the number of models and increase the features while holding the line on prices as best they can. There is a economy of scale that will allow cost cutting that can't be implemented with the shear number of models. Kubota has four BX models vs. two JD 1000 series. The B series has eight vs. three in the JD 2000 series. Little things like alternators, on the B series the standard alternator is 20A and you have to upgrade to the 40A. When shopping you have to be aware of these issues, especially when buying from dealer inventory.

I think this is reasonable advice, but right now they are killing Deere on market share under 40HP. So whether you like the way they do business or not, you can't argue with success.

 

[BethesdaEC]

I think this is reasonable advice, but right now they are killing Deere on market share under 40HP. So whether you like the way they do business or not, you can't argue with success.

They shouldn't be watching JD, they should be watching Kioti, Mahindra and Jinma too. Never underestimate the American consumers ability to save 2% on a purchase and send another job to China.

 

[Martian]

Here is my assessment of Kubota, they have gotten slow and bloated and have built up too much internal competition between their model lineup and have completely ignored the external market forces. Put simply they have too many tractors at too many price points with a very careful structure of subtle features differences to justify the models. Making a competitive tractor upsets this business model.

They should reduce the number of models and increase the features while holding the line on prices as best they can. There is a economy of scale that will allow cost cutting that can't be implemented with the shear number of models. Kubota has four BX models vs. two JD 1000 series. The B series has eight vs. three in the JD 2000 series. Little things like alternators, on the B series the standard alternator is 20A and you have to upgrade to the 40A. When shopping you have to be aware of these issues, especially when buying from dealer inventory.

Choices are always good, but not so many from one brand. Just like when GM shut its doors on Hummer, Pontiac, Saturn and Olds (though a little before the others). Having too much of the same product is never a good thing. Though their prices are more competitive than Deere, more people are starting to realize there are more brands than those two. I think having all of these very similar models, with marginal upgrades is going to hurt Kubota in the long run. More overhead is not always a good thing. Although for GM most of the difference was just badges it was too much, and you can offer what the different models have in upgrades. I think they will eventually find a more basic route, but it is working for them - currently.

Another thing on a similar rant is that I wish Kubota would make a simpler naming system. JD's 1-9xxx series is super simpler. Kubota needs to figure something else out because all of the letters and numbers are very confusing, at least too me.

 

[BethesdaEC]

Another thing on a similar rant is that I wish Kubota would make a simpler naming system. JD's 1-9xxx series is super simpler. Kubota needs to figure something else out because all of the letters and numbers are very confusing, at least too me.

The first letter is fairly clear but the numbers within the series are confusing.

Here is a good example in the auto industry that compares to quarter-inching vs. position control. Electric power windows; a couple of decades ago power windows were a luxury feature and the basic models has the old fashion manual crank registers. As expectation rose the manufacturers started to trickle this feature down. Now that all but the most basic model had the power window it actually becomes more expensive to engineer and manufacture a penalty manual crank window when the power version is so cheap due to volume.

Now you adding cost to base model as a penalty in the hopes of moving some people up the next model. The first company do say hey, we have power windows on everything has delivered more for less and raised the bar for the rest. It is far to easy to get complacent in a competitive industry.

 

[Grandad4]

Here is my assessment of Kubota, etc.

Easy, there, kemo sabe. Sorry if you felt the need to go on offense by detailing what you perceive to be wrong with Kubota. Was not trying to start a brand debate here.

The guy just got a new tractor. I was just trying to tell him how nice it was.

 

[Bob77064]

Good lookng tractor.

 

[TripleR]

Don't know why a guy getting a very nice new tractor on which many Kubota owners congratulated him on had to turn into yet ANOTHER John Deere v Kubota thing.

 

[BethesdaEC]

Don't know why a guy getting a very nice new tractor on which many Kubota owners congratulated him on had to turn into yet ANOTHER John Deere v Kubota thing.

Usually because some Kubota guy comes and says Kubota is better than JD, I am looking at you Eagle107. I guess the real funny thing is Eagle107 has a New Holland.

 

[TripleR]

Usually because some Kubota guy comes and says Kubota is better than JD, I am looking at you Eagle107. I guess the real funny thing is Eagle107 has a New Holland.

As noted Eagle is NOT a Kubota owner and he explained in post #16 that it was a tongue in cheek comment and agreed the John Deere was superior.

Man, seems no one has a sense of humor any more.

 

[zippogeek]

GENTLEMEN!

Eagle 107 failed to use an emoticon in his post :mur: and no one but me knew he was joking (we've been through a lot together the last thirty years; he once broke my finger and I retaliated by busting his head with a 1/2" socket wrench :thumbsup: But that's a tale for another day...)

I hereby sentence eagle107 to ten seconds of self-reflection for his outrageous breech of netiquette. NOW EVERYBODY PLAY NICE.

New guy out! :newhere:

 

[crashz]

Well said, and WELCOME!

Sweet tractor. The loader looks beefy in that photo! Its probably stronger than the 70 on my old JD770!

A couple of pics pushing snow or getting dirty is now required. We can only assume that it has been returned to the dealer without working photos.

 

[zippogeek]

Well said, and WELCOME!

Sweet tractor. The loader looks beefy in that photo! Its probably stronger than the 70 on my old JD770!

A couple of pics pushing snow or getting dirty is now required. We can only assume that it has been returned to the dealer without working photos.

Thanks. Understood on the action photos. Will get right on it! :thumbsup:

 

[wcampbell47]

Zippo - you obviously like your tractor as we all do. I'm not knocking Green because I don't have one. Had one back in the 60's. You have 12 hours on it and the dealer has had to repair it once already. "can't go wrong" is a pretty strong recommendation.

 

[mwb]

Nice tractor! That looks really sweet. I didn't know what you meant by "Idiot proof H120 loader; no need to dismount tractor" but I found some info on the Deere site - that loader support is a really good idea, and easy to add to other loaders . Wonder what happens if the lift cylinders slump down (while loader is parked) though? Probably not a major issue.

 

[Martian]

Don't know why a guy getting a very nice new tractor on which many Kubota owners congratulated him on had to turn into yet ANOTHER John Deere v Kubota thing.

I don't think it was as much a Deere v Kubota thing, maybe a little. Deere has the sub-compact market right now, on features, not necessarily price. As one posted they got a B for nearly the same amount as a 1026. If you want a sub, Deere is the way to go, currently... then it got off into the lettering and that Kubota was going to come back and make a product better than Deere and the only winners out of their competition is us because they are constantly trying to make a better product than the other... which had absolutely nothing to do with anything at all, I don't know where I was going with that... and then it got even more off topic about how Kubota has so many more tractors and that something similar to GM eliminating brands was similar to that?? I don't know where I was taking that one either... it's amazing how fast we can get off topic... All in all he got a good tractor:thumbsup:

 

[TripleR]

I don't think it was as much a Deere v Kubota thing, maybe a little. Deere has the sub-compact market right now, on features, not necessarily price. As one posted they got a B for nearly the same amount as a 1026. If you want a sub, Deere is the way to go, currently... then it got off into the lettering and that Kubota was going to come back and make a product better than Deere and the only winners out of their competition is us because they are constantly trying to make a better product than the other... which had absolutely nothing to do with anything at all, I don't know where I was going with that... and then it got even more off topic about how Kubota has so many more tractors and that something similar to GM eliminating brands was similar to that?? I don't know where I was taking that one either... it's amazing how fast we can get off topic... All in all he got a good tractor:thumbsup:

Can't argue with that as I said essentially the same thing when they introduced the 1026R.

People will continue to buy the BX for a variety of reasons; price, don't need the added features etc., but Kubota is going to have to match or exceed the 1026R or a lot of people like me will not get another subcompact Kubota.

I am pretty color blind, had a BX2200 then John Deere 2305 then BX2660, still have the 2305, but don't care for it; like the 1026R.

 

[zippogeek]

Fair critique. But for this tractor newbie, it really can't be beat. It had a warranty repair that was handled incredibly fast by John Deere, so as far as I'm concerned, one can't go wrong with this tractor. I've been reading it bedtime stories every night.

If you wish to disagree, then it's nerf pistols at dawn.

 

[Martian]

Nice tractor! That looks really sweet. I didn't know what you meant by "Idiot proof H120 loader; no need to dismount tractor" but I found some info on the Deere site - that loader support is a really good idea, and easy to add to other loaders . Wonder what happens if the lift cylinders slump down (while loader is parked) though? Probably not a major issue.

You would still have to push the levers or whatever you want to call them for it to release and allow the loader to "come undone". I guess it could happen but it would be pretty miraculous for both sides levers to get knocked into the off positions and the loader to fall down just right.