Question about buying used versus new

GKChesterton · Oct 24, 2018

I'm looking at buying new for a ck2610 or ck3510 (possibly for the SE variety). I'll be using the tractor on a two-acre home property and a hunting property (within six months) that will be in the 20-40 acre range.

Close to pulling the trigger on one. I've recently found a guy selling a CK4010 with lower hours (under 200) and about four years of the power train warranty left. He bought the tractor two years ago from a dealer a couple hours away from me. His initial asking price was only about $500 less than a new CK4010. He is including a basic five foot rotary cutter, but that deal didn't appeal much to me.

After speaking to him, he's come down a little on the package deal for the tractor and cutter. He's currently about 2 thousand under the price for a new CK4010. That's the same cost as the CK3510SE version, which has some nice extra features. He is a thousand or more over the price for a new CK2610.

Here are my questions, having never owned or purchased a tractor before. What kind of price difference from new that one should expect on a tractor with low hour usage and some warranty? I was hoping to be around 4 thousand under new, which seems to be the going rate on used Kubotas in the L class. How much support am I giving up by not buying from the dealer? Could I have issues if I need warranty work done? I'm worried that if I buy this tractor and have an issue, then I'm going to feel on my own in terms of dealing with it or trying to work with a dealer two hours away who doesn't know me at all. Anyone know how much backup Kioti provides owners for working on warranty issues with a dealer you didn't purchase from?

Finally, the guy seems honest and forthright, but any advice on how to make sure the tractor is lien free would be appreciated also.

As always, if there is anything else you think I should consider, please let me know.

shooterdon · Oct 24, 2018

I would call the dealer and ask about support.

If it was me, I would buy a new machine. I gave up on finding a good used small tractor at a decent price. My current machine came from the estate of a deceased friend and the machine was in very poor condition but it was priced accordingly. I gave the widow more than she was asking for it none the less.

MtnViewRanch · Oct 24, 2018

You don't have to pay what the asking price is for anything? If it's more than you want to spend, either offer what you are willing to spend or move on. Almost sounds like you are some what uncomfortable getting a used machine, piece of mind is worth some $$$$ also.

Good luck.

TrevorK · Oct 24, 2018

GKChesterton said:
I'm looking at buying new for a ck2610 or ck3510 (possibly for the SE variety). I'll be using the tractor on a two-acre home property and a hunting property (within six months) that will be in the 20-40 acre range.

Close to pulling the trigger on one. I've recently found a guy selling a CK4010 with lower hours (under 200) and about four years of the power train warranty left. He bought the tractor two years ago from a dealer a couple hours away from me. His initial asking price was only about $500 less than a new CK4010. He is including a basic five foot rotary cutter, but that deal didn't appeal much to me.

After speaking to him, he's come down a little on the package deal for the tractor and cutter. He's currently about 2 thousand under the price for a new CK4010. That's the same cost as the CK3510SE version, which has some nice extra features. He is a thousand or more over the price for a new CK2610.

Here are my questions, having never owned or purchased a tractor before. What kind of price difference from new that one should expect on a tractor with low hour usage and some warranty? I was hoping to be around 4 thousand under new, which seems to be the going rate on used Kubotas in the L class. How much support am I giving up by not buying from the dealer? Could I have issues if I need warranty work done? I'm worried that if I buy this tractor and have an issue, then I'm going to feel on my own in terms of dealing with it or trying to work with a dealer two hours away who doesn't know me at all. Anyone know how much backup Kioti provides owners for working on warranty issues with a dealer you didn't purchase from?

Finally, the guy seems honest and forthright, but any advice on how to make sure the tractor is lien free would be appreciated also.

As always, if there is anything else you think I should consider, please let me know.

This passed summer I purchased a used 12hr ck3510 for 5k less than I was quoted for a new one. I also was worried about a lien, I read somewhere where you could call the dealer with the vin number and ask about a lien on that VIN.(don't know how true that is) The guy I bought from had proof of purchase and receipt from his original sale so that's why I felt comfortable with not calling the dealer.

Now warranty work I haven't had to use but, when I called about the warranty transfer I was told that the warranty follows the tractor no matter who owns it. As I look at it the machine was bought and paid for already so the kioti corporation has already a commitment to the warranties that they provide at sale. Now if warranty work comes up my tractor may not be first in line to get worked on per say, but they do have a legal obligation to stand behind their product/warranty I would say.

It was very hard for me to find a used compact tractor that was not used and abused, and reasonably close to me in the first place so when I seen a chance at saving 5k for a practically new machine I jumped on it. Now if the rotary cutter isn't a big deal to you I wouldn't really factor that into your purchase, or sell it after the purchase.

prof fate · Oct 24, 2018

well, there is a good deal of difference bewteen a 26, 35 and 40...are they all hst or geared or what?

I have a 3510 'std' model with some options (link pedal, cruise, arm rest, mirror, floor mat, horn, loaded tires, rear remotes, crank adjust leveler on 3 pt) - total cost was $795. SE adds tilt wheel and telescoping arms (which I assume I could get). Not sure the extra price (qoted to me as $3500) is worth it for an SE. YMMV of course.

I've yet to use the rear remotes (plan to plumb to plow on front and hyd top link). Needed for backhoe as well.
Link pedal..not worth it for me.
arm rest? Priceless.
Cruise and mirror are great for brush hogging - half my hours are doing that.

More HP is always handy.

ON 2 acres a CK is a big unit. On 40 acres it's a pip squeak. MAY be a good compromize or place to start.

For 40 acres the brush hog will likely come in handy. bigger tracgor, more hP, bigger brush hog (i use a 6' on mine)

Paying for it..I had to finance, so going new was MUCH easier than trying to do it on a used machine.

atsah · Oct 24, 2018

GKChesterton said:
I'm looking at buying new for a ck2610 or ck3510 (possibly for the SE variety). I'll be using the tractor on a two-acre home property and a hunting property (within six months) that will be in the 20-40 acre range.

Close to pulling the trigger on one. I've recently found a guy selling a CK4010 with lower hours (under 200) and about four years of the power train warranty left. He bought the tractor two years ago from a dealer a couple hours away from me. His initial asking price was only about $500 less than a new CK4010. He is including a basic five foot rotary cutter, but that deal didn't appeal much to me.

After speaking to him, he's come down a little on the package deal for the tractor and cutter. He's currently about 2 thousand under the price for a new CK4010. That's the same cost as the CK3510SE version, which has some nice extra features. He is a thousand or more over the price for a new CK2610.

Here are my questions, having never owned or purchased a tractor before. What kind of price difference from new that one should expect on a tractor with low hour usage and some warranty? I was hoping to be around 4 thousand under new, which seems to be the going rate on used Kubotas in the L class. How much support am I giving up by not buying from the dealer? Could I have issues if I need warranty work done? I'm worried that if I buy this tractor and have an issue, then I'm going to feel on my own in terms of dealing with it or trying to work with a dealer two hours away who doesn't know me at all. Anyone know how much backup Kioti provides owners for working on warranty issues with a dealer you didn't purchase from?

Finally, the guy seems honest and forthright, but any advice on how to make sure the tractor is lien free would be appreciated also.

As always, if there is anything else you think I should consider, please let me know.

Sounds like you are concerned about service, I would be as well, around here dealers put you in the back seat if you didn't buy from them, they will service it but feel no loyalty towards you. Unless the used tractor was a smoking deal, like $4000 less than new I would buy a new one and start a relationship with my dealer..

PEJ5 · Oct 24, 2018

This summer I got dealer pricing on a new CK2610 and 3510SE each manual and each with a snowblower. They were $6700CDN apart. I then came across a used 2016 DK5010HS (hydraulic shuttle shift) and loader with 400+ hours, mostly PTO/hydraulic work - tires like new. The guy seemed honest and pointed me to his local dealer for backup. Based on the serial number, my local dealer looked up its service record before I purchased it and he told me no warranty work had been required, date of purchase, and warranty remaining. I went for it.

I purchased a used blower and wood splitter attachments from my local dealer to start building a relationship. As for price, so far I the same amount invested as the new Ck2610 and blower quote. I would think a used 4010 should be less than a new 3510SE. The SE has some nice features, likely worth more than +5HP.

I am a rookie, but the more I look at the work/fun ahead of me, am I ever glad I did not end up with 26HP. Time will tell if buying used bigger machine was a wise idea.

Good luck deciding.

Peter

Atchuuu · Oct 24, 2018

Get the best price you can from the dealer and compare that to the price of the used tractor. You will have to make some concession for the cutter unless you are pricing the new one with a cutter. (I would price tractor to tractor and deal with the cutter separately) Then figure out if the difference is enough for you to take the chance going used.

Will you have to pay sales tax new but not on a used purchase? Are you going to get insurance or finance the tractor? You might find that new offers a better interest rate than your local bank which could push you toward new.

Keep us updated.

GirlWhoWantsTractor · Oct 24, 2018

Did you ask him why he's selling the tractor?

IDK, but folks tend to hang on to tractors; the ones for sale are either old and outdated, or pretty beat up, or have a major problem, or were stolen, or got flooded...... Rarely, you find someone who bought one, hardly used it, and decided to sell. Even in that case the price difference usually isn't much around here (there was one for sale just down the road, one year old, less than 60 hours, but only $500 less than a bran-new one). Speaking as an inexperienced tractor owner, buying a new tractor with full warranty from a handy and helpful dealer was worth a lot more $$$ than that to me. Also, I'm not mechanical. If you're mechanical I think that changes the equation.