Warning About Dealers And Their Pricing

[Hay Dude]

You and coobie obviously share the opinion that gear reduction is not needed. It begs the question then why Kubota engineers thought it did.

The F3680 and other F models like I have, have hi/lo range and split (L/R) brakes which is really helpful.
It isnt as fast as a ZT, but still considerably faster and more maneuverable than a tractor.
If your lawn doesnt mind the bar tire marks, then get a ZT with bars. I loved it set up that way, but customers complained about marks. I thought they were very minimal, but some people got nothing better to do than whine

 

[arrow]

This is a strip mine extracting copper

I use a Milwaukee battery powered chain saw, pole saw , weed eater , blower , skil saw , etc and I can tell you that their 18 volt Fuel stuff is no joke, the blower is the one thing that goes through a fully charged battery in about 15 minutes of constant use, I can saw with the pole saw for hours.

Milwaukee makes great battery powered hand tools. Battery powered circular saws, drills and flashlights, come with a different heading of usage and power expenditure.
I know 3 landscapers.
They have all tried the battery operated stuff. In some instances where demand is not that much such as a pole saw, the tools are useful. Heck, i have an old Black and Decker battery powered one and prune 6 fruit trees no problem. But I am not using this saw all day long.
And that therein lies the problem.
These tools such as a mower, blower, snow thrower and/or chainsaw, do not have the duration, sustainability or time production needed for the landscaper tradesman using his tools on a prolonged basis. Multiply that if said landscaper has a crew of 5 to 9 people, and you are looking at a mine field of problems arising such as cost, recharge and reliability.

I used to log as a profession. There were some here who would not believe I'd go through a chainsaw in 2 yrs. Why? Because as a home owner or even a self provided 5-6 cord producer of firewood, they've had the same chainsaw since 1995.

What they forgot, was that I would use a chainsaw more in a month, than they would in 5 yrs and in some cases, a lifetime.
The same applies to the tradesman who need high output and production from their tools.
I pity the landscaper folks in California who has now provided mandates for non gasoline powered equipment.
I cannot imagine a battery powered 60" zero turn going very far.
Now if it had a plutonium based battery supply the size of your fist, well then maybe, however a plutonium based battery replacement might be a bit of a problem.

 

[2manyrocks]

The environmental solution is to put up fences around all the Calif. yards and then rotate goats between each yard to eat up the grass.

 

[IndyJay]

The environmental solution is to put up fences around all the Calif. yards and then rotate goats between each yard to eat up the grass.

But don't goats produce methane like cows do?
Methane is known to cause cancer in the State of California.
Besides, California lies sheep better...

 

[2manyrocks]

PMC6316019

Plus they are entertaining.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

The F3680 and other F models like I have, have hi/lo range and split (L/R) brakes which is really helpful.
It isnt as fast as a ZT, but still considerably faster and more maneuverable than a tractor.
If your lawn doesnt mind the bar tire marks, then get a ZT with bars. I loved it set up that way, but customers complained about marks. I thought they were very minimal, but some people got nothing better to do than whine

I assume the F3680 is a rear discharge?

 

[Torvy]

Do you guys think this will be the impetus for people to learn more about personal finance? I guess if there are people gaming the system with bankruptcy etc that's one thing, but there are also many downsides to being in that financial situation. I think having a high interest loan that makes people pay more than the cost of the car in interest is a more common outcome to having bad credit. For most people having a car is a gateway to employment so as one poster said, just getting approved is the goal and overpaying for the car and interest is their only option. It world be great if people realized how important creditworthiness is from age 18-40 or so as you want to do things like get jobs, start a family, buy a home, etc.

Definitely part of the reason I went from working in lending (auto and small business) for major banks to teaching economics to HS kids. I work in a low income district.

There are some myths that abound. Poor people do not have bad credit in higher percentages than rich people. Credit is about managing your money, large or small. Big money buys big toys and gets into big trouble.

Actual lenders will go maybe 110 to 120% Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Prime customers (720+ credit). Dealer financing from New car dealers is either from OEM finance company or a bank. Buy here pay here deals are predatory.

Regulators make banks keep a balanced portfolio. Sub-prime is more profitable, but risky. The target is someone on the way up. Higher rates, with less risk. Ultimately, the bank will need some super-prime customers who don't really need a loan to keep things balanced. That is one reason a bank will offer zero percent. My Outback is at 0%. Could have bought a slightly used one for less, but the interest would have made it cost more. @Hay Dude is spot-on. Get a zero or low rate loan and use that money to earn 10%+ in the market.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Hate to break it to you, but February's number was 7.9%. We will be over 8% when the March numbers come out. This will see 12-15% before it is done. My guess is 10% before October, maybe sooner.

He was answering my question about interest rates. That's where he thinks the interest rates will top out. I would like to hear your opinion on this as well.

 

[Torvy]

He was answering my question about interest rates. That's where he thinks the interest rates will top out. I would like to hear your opinion on this as well.

Thanks, deleted. I thought it was about the inflation rate.

Some people could see 14%, I suppose, but the Fed is supposedly smarter now and will slowly ratchet up to fix inflation. That will keep the Fed Funds rate and Discount rate lower than in the 70s. Typical loan rates may get up to 8-10% at the peak. Lots of variables that dip too much into politics for this thread.

 

[Hay Dude]

I assume the F3680 is a rear discharge?

It can be either side or rear. I chose side because I don't enjoy wearing grass clippings.