Need Advice: Buy an New MX5400 That’s Been Crated Outside 8 Months or Go with a Fresh Kioti?

[2manyrocks]

I've called the MX a beast before because of its overall stout build, but the engine in it is a refined beast that runs smoothly and is fuel efficient.

 

[olenjohn]

Research carefully. Not saying this Kubota is one of them. A while ago there were crated tractors being sold at auction. They had been submerged in either a flood or while in the cargo hold of a ship. I can’t remember which.

 

[big bubba]

OP: wise to post your question here. as some mentioned, you may be overthinking this. as a member said, the tractor may have been better off in the crate for a year than sitting on the open lot. once you own it, all this will be forgotten, but given your attn to detail, i can tell this will be a keeper for you.

 

[IndyIan]

I don't see what the debate is. In one hand you have one of the best Kubota tractors and in the other is a South Korean brand.
Kubota has been selling tractors in the US since 1969 (56yrs) and Kioti since 1993 (32 yrs). Still Kubota sells twice as many tractors in the US as Kioti
The MX series boasts a heavier duty undercarriage than their L models. This is a no brainer for me, Kubota.

Assuming the OP has done his research and is happy with either tractor at whatever price they are at, I wouldn't worry about a tractor sitting in a dry crate for months. I would look at it carefully for water damage, and getting into somewhere its not supposed to be. If that's fine and he wants the Kubota, then he should get it.

The tractors are pretty much equal for specs, but usually Kioti includes a few grand of features that are options on a Kubota.
When I bought my tractor, the near equal weight and equipped Kubota was around 25-30% more, and I was a very small fish in a Kubota dealerships net, so they were just offering MSRP, plus plus plus for anything.
The Kioti dealer I bought from was the opposite, gave me his best/fair price up front and added a second remote for the cost of parts, filled the rear tires, setup a hyd top link, and a delivered with a full tank of fuel. 1 remote, hitch and bar, telescopic 3 pt arms, pin sway control, ssqa, rear 3pt control, rubber floor mat, loader control beside the seat, all included.
The difference in price back then, invested for all this time, is getting close to buying a new tractor, and is much more than the resale difference between the two brands.

 

[scootr]

Assuming the OP has done his research and is happy with either tractor at whatever price they are at, I wouldn't worry about a tractor sitting in a dry crate for months. I would look at it carefully for water damage, and getting into somewhere its not supposed to be. If that's fine and he wants the Kubota, then he should get it.

The tractors are pretty much equal for specs, but usually Kioti includes a few grand of features that are options on a Kubota.
When I bought my tractor, the near equal weight and equipped Kubota was around 25-30% more, and I was a very small fish in a Kubota dealerships net, so they were just offering MSRP, plus plus plus for anything.
The Kioti dealer I bought from was the opposite, gave me his best/fair price up front and added a second remote for the cost of parts, filled the rear tires, setup a hyd top link, and a delivered with a full tank of fuel. 1 remote, hitch and bar, telescopic 3 pt arms, pin sway control, ssqa, rear 3pt control, rubber floor mat, loader control beside the seat, all included.
The difference in price back then, invested for all this time, is getting close to buying a new tractor, and is much more than the resale difference between the two brands.

Glad you are happy with your tractor. I looked long and hard at new TYM and Kioti machines before I bought a used Kubota with 150 hrs on it.
I prefer to not buy new. Cars, trucks, and tractors all loose value heavily in the first 2 years. Let somebody else take the hit. Did you really take the savings and invest? That's good. Most people never do.
I agree he should do whatever he thinks is best. Unless he doesn't trust his own judgement in which case he should ask like he did and then...do whatever he thinks is best.

 

[Bentrim]

Years ago when I was working for a dealer there was always some equipment that sat on the lot a seemed as if it would never sell. But finally it would sell even if it sat for years. I really didnot appreciate the work to"make it new" but they did show some aging. Often the customer came in and would ask if they could get a new one just fresh from the factory. The answer was yes, but they would often take the on lot tractor for one reason. Thatn reason was due to price increases the "fresh" tractor was often a lot higher than the "old" one. Plus the dealer has more incentive to move the older tractor so he could quit paying interest on it. As for warranty the warranty should start date of sale not manufacture.
But still the choiceis yours.

 

[Portuguese Farmer]

Think outside the box go with the Kioti

 

[ning]

Think outside the box go with the Kioti

I see what you did there

 

[tradosaurus]

My MX5400 sat on the dealers lot outside for 4 months before I bought it.

 

[tradosaurus]

Glad you are happy with your tractor. I looked long and hard at new TYM and Kioti machines before I bought a used Kubota with 150 hrs on it.
I prefer to not buy new. Cars, trucks, and tractors all loose value heavily in the first 2 years. Let somebody else take the hit. Did you really take the savings and invest? That's good. Most people never do.
I agree he should do whatever he thinks is best. Unless he doesn't trust his own judgement in which case he should ask like he did and then...do whatever he thinks is best.

Tractors don't lose near the value cars and trucks lose driving off the lot. The reason I went new with a tractor is used tractor prices back in 2021 with low hours were not that far off a new tractor.

 

[arrow]

Tractors do lose near the value cars and trucks lose driving off the lot. The reason I went new with a tractor is used tractor prices back in 2021 with low hours were not that far off a new tractor.

Did you leave out the word “ not”?

 

[tradosaurus]

Did you leave out the word “ not”?

Corrected.

 

[jyoutz]

Assuming the OP has done his research and is happy with either tractor at whatever price they are at, I wouldn't worry about a tractor sitting in a dry crate for months. I would look at it carefully for water damage, and getting into somewhere its not supposed to be. If that's fine and he wants the Kubota, then he should get it.

The tractors are pretty much equal for specs, but usually Kioti includes a few grand of features that are options on a Kubota.
When I bought my tractor, the near equal weight and equipped Kubota was around 25-30% more, and I was a very small fish in a Kubota dealerships net, so they were just offering MSRP, plus plus plus for anything.
The Kioti dealer I bought from was the opposite, gave me his best/fair price up front and added a second remote for the cost of parts, filled the rear tires, setup a hyd top link, and a delivered with a full tank of fuel. 1 remote, hitch and bar, telescopic 3 pt arms, pin sway control, ssqa, rear 3pt control, rubber floor mat, loader control beside the seat, all included.
The difference in price back then, invested for all this time, is getting close to buying a new tractor, and is much more than the resale difference between the two brands.

There’s no need to inspect a new crated tractor. The dealer has to assemble it, and deliver it in new condition with a full warranty if it’s being sold as new.

 

[jyoutz]

Tractors don't lose near the value cars and trucks lose driving off the lot. The reason I went new with a tractor is used tractor prices back in 2021 with low hours were not that far off a new tractor.

Especially in 2021 when new units were in limited supply. Used units were nearly the same price as new. I reached the same conclusion as you when I bought in December 2021.

 

[Kubota Red]

This is pretty normal. Even brands that come "assembled" (like the Kioti you are talking about) might have sat around a long time outside. Many of the assembly plants do not practice "first-in, first-out" in their assemble plants. No telling where any tractor sat before it was shipped from the factory, arrived at a port, arrived at a shipping or assembly facility, and eventually arrived at a dealership. If you are worried that it will be faded or damaged, ask to inspect the unit or ask the dealer to set it up for you before you sign.

 

[scootr]

My MX sat in some guys garage for 4 years before I bought it

 

[RayIN]

I wonder how many weeks crated stuff is exposed to salt air while imported here? If the machinery is packed to withstand the salt air, inland is nothing.

 

[IndyIan]

There’s no need to inspect a new crated tractor. The dealer has to assemble it, and deliver it in new condition with a full warranty if it’s being sold as new.

I was wondering how they shipped with the cab, but it looks like they are all assembled and weather proof, so no big deal.

Probably a bigger deal with an open station where it just has some plastic over it, basically trapping moisture, which is never a good thing...

Ideally I wouldn't want a tractor that sat outside like this one for a long time, but its not a total deal breaker either. Hopefully you can get a bit of a deal if the dealer has lots of inventory.

 

[arrow]

I was wondering how they shipped with the cab, but it looks like they are all assembled and weather proof, so no big deal.

Probably a bigger deal with an open station where it just has some plastic over it, basically trapping moisture, which is never a good thing...

Ideally I wouldn't want a tractor that sat outside like this one for a long time, but its not a total deal breaker either. Hopefully you can get a bit of a deal if the dealer has lots of inventory.

I suppose it’s a bigger deal. Like saying a tick is bigger than a flea.
Neither is comparing the flea to an elephant however.

 

[Kubota Red]

Cabs are also crated (taller crates) when the come from overseas. They can get more in container that way. Again, they (often) sit outside before being crated, they get unloaded where ever they get assembled/tires and probably sit outside there, then the sit outside waiting on a truck. I am sure there are exceptions to this (always are), but this is pretty standard for all the industry. Long and short - it has been this way for years, if it caused any real problems, the manufactures would find another way. Tractors with come out of the crate with issues do not sell, tractors that do not sell cost the manufacture money on so many levels (increased inventory cost, repair cost, floorplan cost, lost sales, etc.).