Almost bought a Mahindra 2015 but....

RickO · Feb 3, 2005

I found a used (2003 w/ 59hrs.) Kubota B7800 w/ 72" RFM, 5' Blade and weights for $12,000. Looks like brand new and saved me about 3k when you include taxes. I'm picking it up Saturday.

I was all prepared to order a Mahindra 2015 when I saw the Kubota in the paper. To tell you the truth I think the Mahindra is made a little better though.

I did a lot of research and read a lot of your posts and sat on a lot of CUTS and it all came down to price for me.

I went with the used to save a little money! I don't think you can go wrong with a Kubota though. Thanks for all your advice!

CajunRider · Feb 4, 2005

Congratulations!

Of course around here no one would believe that you've bought one unless you post pictures of your new toy.

BTW I like Mahindra too but my local dealers price them out of contention. I was interested in the 3015 HST.

TexasEd · Feb 4, 2005

I'm looking at the Mahindra 2015. I have a quoted price of $10,600. which includes the FEL. These prices include a rebate that is offered during Feb.

Bob_Skurka · Feb 4, 2005

RickO, congradulations on the new tractor. I've got the B2910 and it is an excellent machine. Hard to go wrong with Kubota. The 7800 and 2910 are near twins mechanically. There is a lot of horsepower in a fairly small size machine and the light weight can be a big asset for lawn mowing if you have clay or wet soils. The 7800 is small enough to fit into many places that larger 30 hp tractors simply can't get into and while not much bigger than a mid-20's hp machine, it will easily handle the 72" mowing deck you got. I presume you have the LA402 loader on there. It is a nice loader, I've got the 60" bucket, which I think was a mistake for me. I find I can overload the bucket and digging with that size bucket is harder than with a 54" bucket. But I suppose that is my problem based on my conditions. Make sure you keep some weight on the rear of the tractor (box blade, weight box, etc) when using the FEL. I almost rolled mine on flat asphalt when a 1/2 load of granite cobble stones shifted in the bucket . . . taught me that proper ballast is incredibly important with using a FEL /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Probably the best thing about the Kubotas is the engine. Smoothest thing available, in 4 years mine has needed nothing other than oil and fuel and still sounds smooth as ever.

As for the Kubota versus Mahindra comparion, I think your observation is a bit off. The particular Kubota you bought is a LIGHTWEIGHT tractor by all standards. The Mahindra you looked at is a HEAVYWEIGHT tractor by those same standards. Both machines have their places. Both are good at what they do. It is just hard to compare the two side by side unless you specify what types of jobs you need done. Kubota does make heavy & light tractors, I think it is fair to put a heavy tractor up against a heavy tractor and a light against a light. Based on the jobs, one tractor will be better than the other.

RickO · Feb 5, 2005

(

As for the Kubota versus Mahindra comparion, I think your observation is a bit off. The particular Kubota you bought is a LIGHTWEIGHT tractor by all standards. The Mahindra you looked at is a HEAVYWEIGHT tractor by those same standards. Both machines have their places.
)

OK lets assume we were comparing apples to apples and use comparable models... Light, Heavy, Middle, semi middle heavy /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I still think Mahindra is a better made tractor. Why won't many people agree with me... because most people follow crowds and everybody knows "Kubotas are great tractors" which they are. I don't follow crowds. I do my own homework I look at all the models. I compare objectively.

I sat on several models at the Power show and the fenders on a lot of them flexed a lot when I pulled my nearly 300lb. on them. Except the Mahindra. The decks the front axles everything on the Mahindra were well made. The customer satisfaction rating for the Mahindra (98%) equals or exceeds that of the JD or the Kubota- just not in the USA. They haven't sold as many in the US for them to gain popularity, YET.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I don't think anyone on this tractor forum knows positively which tractor is made better! So far the only objective criteria that I have seen on this tractor forum about the quality of any tractor is posted below. If there is objective data I would like to see it. All I hear are opinions and biases.

I know that there are lots of good makes of tractors and I'm not arguing that Kubota isn't good. But, I don't think they are as good as Mahindra. If my observation is off... Prove me wrong!

...The Farm Equipment Sector of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. received the coveted Deming Application Prize for 2003 - considered the Nobel Prize for manufacturing, for establishing Total Quality Management in all business operations. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. is the only tractor company in the world to achieve this honor.

JDGREEN4ME · Feb 5, 2005

( Why won't people agree with me... )
Why do you care? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

CajunRider · Feb 5, 2005

( Why do you care? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif)
More people agree, more people buy-->easier to get support. Hmm on the other hand, more people buy --> prices go up. You get what you ask for.

For me I am looking hard at Kioti, Kubota, Mahindra, and Century for my first CUT.

RickO · Feb 5, 2005

Well said Cajun Rider! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

RickO · Feb 5, 2005

(
Why do you care? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif )

I don't!

Bob_Skurka · Feb 5, 2005

RickO . . . I was not trying to indicate that there was any quality difference or that one brand is better than the other, I was simply saying that it is difficult to give a fair comparison between any light and any heavy tractor. Especially if both are quality brands. I think a heavy quality tractor will always appear to be better made than a light quality tractor largely because of visual perception. Heavy building typically means things are thicker and visually that evokes quality. Light requires different techniques to create strength and durability.