Buying Advice 2320 enough horses?

[CHRISGERACE]

hi, brand new here,looking for advice on brand new tractor. i am ready to pull the trigger on a 2320 with fel, 62" mid mower and ballast box,all for 17,000$ even. thats with 0% over 60 months and that includes 1,000$ back for 2 implement purchase. i think its a real nice deal from what i been seeing. my question is this. is 24 horses gonna do it for me,i know the 2305,much smaller machine uses same motor so,,either the 2305 has power to spare and is just right for 2320,,,or 2320 is underpowered. i have 5 acres,a small pond and generally like to screw around on the land,mostly fel work. i think i know the answer,i just want someone to convince me to put my mind at ease over a very large purchase. i know i love this tractor,just dont want to be short changed!!!

 

[bp fick]

There's a lot more to a tractor's ability than merely the engine.

What you are looking at is a whole lot more tractor than the 2305. Some folks point to the 2520 as the sweeter spot in the lineup, but the price tag rises as well.

 

[Rogator]

Hi and welcome. I had a 2305 and now an on my second 2520. The only time the 2305 ran low on power was mowing up a very steep slope. The 2305 handled a 48" tiller and 50 inch tiller with ease. I see no reason why the 2320 should be short on power. Good luck with your new Deere.

 

[JDdude]

I have had more issue with the transaxle in my 2210 getting hot than the engine being underpowered..

I take delivery on my new 2520 this week..I would spend the extra and get the 2520..JMHO

 

[pdp11]

If you intend to use the FEL, then the 2520 offers several advantages. The most significant is the increased capacity of the hydraulics over the 2320. The 2520 is also larger and heavier than the 2320, which helps when using the FEL.

I started looking at the 2320 when I was tractor shopping, but I ended up with the 2520. I have a 62D MMM, 200CX FEL, and a 60" RB. I think you should also see the same incentives and financing options offered for the 2520 that you have with the 2320.

 

[Reg]

It looks like a LOT of money for a very light tractor.
If you think you will be playing around with the FEL - without knowing WHAT it is you will be doing - you need WEIGHT more than you need "horses".

Rear tires size can HELP with weight when they are filled - hint/clue (rear) R4s can hold substantially more liquid than equivalent R1s and are generally higher load rated, which MATTERS on the front when doing loader work.

For ~$17K I would be looking for a good used Cat 2 tractor;
a) MORE mass, more power, etc.
b) LESS "homeowner price sensitive"
c) Able to use all those used but still very usable farm implements.

BTW, the 0% thing is a crock - or "nothing is for nothing".
You PAY for the time value of money, somehow you PAY for not paying up front.
See what price you can get if you offer to pay cash - then go to a credit union or other low interest lending institution and see if it is worth financing it other than through the dealership.

Discounts, coupons, credit vouchers towards, discounts on future purchases, etc are just more "lock-ins" that are best avoided.
I like to buy what I like to buy, not what I have to buy because a dealer holds me captive to a discount coupon of some sort.
That $1,000 towards 2 implements is just a fish hook in your mouth - don't fall for it, get a better price on what you really want instead.


...and I would be OUT of the JD price premium marketplace (-:

 

[jenkinsph]

If you intend to use the FEL, then the 2520 offers several advantages. The most significant is the increased capacity of the hydraulics over the 2320. The 2520 is also larger and heavier than the 2320, which helps when using the FEL.

I started looking at the 2320 when I was tractor shopping, but I ended up with the 2520. I have a 62D MMM, 200CX FEL, and a 60" RB. I think you should also see the same incentives and financing options offered for the 2520 that you have with the 2320.

I agree go for the 2520 with 200CX fel and filled rear tires.

 

[RalphVa]

My 4010 with 18.5 hp has worked fine for me. I moved about 22 tons of gravel with its FEL early in its life and have done lots of work with it since. Just rev it up.

You definitely want the 2x20 models over the 2210, etc. if you have any unevent terrain or go driving into brushy stuff. That underneath cooling fan on the 2210 models and the like is very vulnerable.

Ralph

 

[jenkinsph]

My 4010 with 18.5 hp has worked fine for me. I moved about 22 tons of gravel with its FEL early in its life and have done lots of work with it since. Just rev it up.

You definitely want the 2x20 models over the 2210, etc. if you have any unevent terrain or go driving into brushy stuff. That underneath cooling fan on the 2210 models and the like is very vulnerable.

Ralph

Ralph,
22 tons of gravel is one small truck load about 8 yds, if you were doing this alot wouldn't you reconmmend a little more power such as the 2520? I would think the time to upgrade is when you make the initial purchase.

On my last landscape project I moved 108 yds of top soil from the front to the back of a house with the 110 in about 5 hours.

 

[KennyG]

I have 4 acres, a pond, and enough projects to take up my limited spare time for a few years. I'm very happy with the 2320 although I agree that on paper, the 2520 looks like more for the money. For most homeowner jobs, you won't see a difference in the HP. Moving 20 tons of gravel or dirt will go very quickly with either machine.

A viewpoint on the above comment on 0% financing. Sometimes it really is free money. You have to determine if it is a factory or dealer participation deal. When I bought mine, it was 100% factory for the 3 year but dealer participation on the 4 and 5 year financing. I saved money by financing for 3 years instead of 4 or 5, but I couldn't get a lower price by paying cash, because the dealer didn't have any skin in that deal.

 

[dmay]

The 2305 and 2320 share the same engine and loader but if you see them side-by-side you see a noticable size difference. For 3pt the 2305 has limited CAT1. 2320 has full CAT1 with position control. Moving to the 2520 you get a few more HP and stronger hydraulics. It doesnt equate to all that much more lift capacity but does give faster hydraulic performance. If you need this then the 2520 (~$2000) upcost might be for you. If you dont, then the savings can pay for your 2320 imatch, ballast box and maybe your first attachment. :thumbsup:

 

[jcmseven]

The 2320 is a great and powerful little tractor.

John M

 

[CHRISGERACE]

thanks for the feedback. i wasn't "biting" because of the 2 implement deal,i just thought after looking on the web for about 4 hours,17,000 for 62"mower and front loader aint bad. even if i found a loan at 4 or 5 % over 4 or 5 years,the interest would be more than a cash deal savings. just curious what do u like out there,kabota is about the same price,bobcat was more than deere,,,even a mahindra was only 1700 less than deere! thanks

 

[hizoot]

I love my 2520....but in all reality, probably could have got along just fine with the 2320.My reasoning was...I knew it was probably going to be with us for a long time, so I didnt want any regrets. But, doubt I would have had any. Didnt want buyers remorse so I upgraded. One day, Lord willing and the creek dont rise, I'll own more land and bigger tractor, but will keep this one too.

There are quite a few pluses in going up to the 2520, not just h.p.. I'm glad I upgraded.

 

[chevy]

I have had a 2320 for almost 4 years. I have a loader, 62" deck, grader blade & snow blower.
My property is sloping. The only time I wish I had more power is when I have the loader on with pallet forks & 900 lbs of ballest on the back. Then the only problem is on my sloping ground I have to keep the tractor in low gear. Other than that issue it has plenty of power for me.

 

[AKfish]

You might be well served with the 2320... However, to best avoid "buyer's regret" make the effort to put both tractors to the test.

If your plans for the tractor really involve alot of "playing with the FEL" you should settle the loader performance question with using each machine with the 200CX. You will KNOW from experience and not have to spend the next several years 2nd guessing yourself.

Lastly, if mowing is gonna be another important job - in conjunction with loader work - you might want to consider a rear mounted finish mower. Your (2320 or 2520) tractor has enough PTO horses to run a 6' finish mower under normal mowing conditions and you won't have the hassle of either leaving the MMM on while using the FEL or always dismounting and remounting the MMM.

There are many posts here on TBN from users that have open lawn areas (not alot of trees, shrubs, obstacles) and ditched their MMM in favor of RFM's.

My $0.02.

AKfish

 

[EdC]

I have been able to do everything I wanted with my 2320. That includes digging about 200 feet of my driveway down a foot to put a good base in and then using that removed material plus a lot more building birms for a firing range at the back of my property. The 2320 will do everything the 2520 can do (at least with a mower and FEL) it just takes a little bit longer to do it.

If the dealer has both set up with FELs then spend some time using both machines to see how each one fits you. You can find out quite a bit doing that. It was probably just me but the operator station on the 2520 felt a bit cramped.

Whatever you do end up buying, if you plan on using the loader a lot, consider getting the tires (mine are R4s) loaded along with a ballast box, and get a toothbar for the bucket. That toothbar makes a world of difference when digging or moving rocks.

Whichever one you end up with you will have a winner. These are both great little tractors.

 

[70stang]

I agree weight is more important and of course the size of the machine.

What State are you in???

I just got a price of $18,281 plus tax for 2320 54" snow blower and FEL.
Looks like the snow blower is about 1K more then te MM but I am in CT with 6% sales tax which adds another $1100 to the price.

The 17K figure sounds good.

I trying to decide between a 2520 and the 2320 the 2520 is $2,000 more

Food for thought is a BOBCAT CT235 whcih weight 3,000lbs has better hydraulics then JD. Price $20,000 with FEL and snow blower. Howeevr the machine in longer then the 2520 and has a much larger turning circle.
Which could be factor in small places.

Also is BOBCAT just started making these in 2007 are they going to be around in 20 years to get parts????

 

[Reg]

It doesn't interest me WHO has charged me up front for allowing me 5 years to pay.
SOMEWHERE and SOMEHOW the time value of money is being charged for.
Dealer, manufacturer, distributer - it is of little/no concern to me who is piling it on, I just know that it is getting PASSED on.

I pay cash, if I don't have cash I can't afford it, or don't want it badly enough to give up something else - no "loan signer's remorse" that way.

 

[KennyG]

It doesn't interest me WHO has charged me up front for allowing me 5 years to pay.
SOMEWHERE and SOMEHOW the time value of money is being charged for.
Dealer, manufacturer, distributer - it is of little/no concern to me who is piling it on, I just know that it is getting PASSED on.

I pay cash, if I don't have cash I can't afford it, or don't want it badly enough to give up something else - no "loan signer's remorse" that way.

Maybe it's just semantics, but the difference is whether or not you personally can save money. When a manufacturer establishes a 0 interest promotion, there is still only one pricing structure and you can't go back to the manufacturer and get a lower price by paying cash.

When I bought my 2320 I had the money in the money market account to pay cash. However, by financing it at 0%, I keep that money invested (admittedly at a low interest rate today) while I'm paying it off. At the end of three years, when the tractor is paid off, I will have as much as $1000 more in the money market account than I would have had if I had paid cash. John Deere has a little less money than they would otherwise, but that's not my concern. Effectively, they reduced the price for me below what they would have charged a cash buyer.