Buying Advice Appropriate Tractor?

[woolyAcres]

My dad finally found time to go play around with the CT445SST. He liked the layout and said it handled nicely and the dealer was helpful; actually taking the time to remove the FEL so he could see how the tractor handled without anything on the front and to see how easy/difficult removing it was.

He's interested enough to start talking pricing with the dealer and I wanted to run that by the group here to see if it's a decent deal. Here's what he was quoted:

CT445SST $21,600
loaded GP tires $400
9TL FEL Bobtach $0
Dealer PDI $200
Rear Hydraulic Valve (0 to 1) $250
9TL FEL factory installed $4960
3PT Rotary cutter, 72" slip clutch $1850
------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $29,060
Dealer PID $200
Freight $1,116
Dealer Discount -$2,326
Bobcat Discount -$3,400
-----------------------------------------------
Out the door price $24,650

He runs a farm so there's no sales tax.

The thing that confuses both of us is the "free" loader. The loader is listed at ~$5000. With the Bobcat discount and the dealer discount the loader is free with $700 to spare. That leaves the tractor at $700 below MSRP (~3%). Add the freight and PID charges back in and the loader remains "free" but now the total cost exceeds MSRP (leaving out the cost to load tires, add remotes, and the rotary cutter). It looks to me like the bobcat discount (not dealer discount) is about $1500 too little (or they are forcing the dealer to swallow some of that cost).

My dad's impression of the salesman was a good one (seemed contentious and knowledgeable) and there is value in that, but that doesn't make the overall deal a good one.

As it is for most folks on here, $25k is a lot of money and he (and I) want to be sure it's a fair deal.

Comments on this offer?
Thanks,
Peter

 

[tornadowatchranch]

they really like their implements. My local far store carries priefort (sp?) 72 inch cutter with a slip clutch for about 900. I can't coment on the price of the tractor--don't know enough.

 

[woolyAcres]

Yeah, I thought that was a bit high for a brush hog. I think there's a place nearby that sells bushhog for about $1400 (6'). I thought maybe getting everything together would get a better deal, but now I'm not sure.

When I looked at the Bobcat website today I found a link that said get free FEL and $1000 cash back on CT445SST. I think the MSRP on the 445 is $21,608. By my calculations that means for $21,608 one should be able to buy the CT445SST with FEL. Then take another $1000 off puts it at $20,608. Should I expect that to be the end of the negotiations, or the beginning? I know I've read here that one can expect to pay MSRP - 15%-20%. Is that appropriate here? Seems to me this is a starting point, but maybe I'm being overly optimistic?

I recall reading on these forums that people have gotten some exceptional deals on Bobcat- one reason I was suggesting this to my dad: Great deal on a good tractor.

Other comments on the quote would be greatly appreciated.

 

[lilranch2001]

Yeah, I thought that was a bit high for a brush hog. I think there's a place nearby that sells bushhog for about $1400 (6'). I thought maybe getting everything together would get a better deal, but now I'm not sure.

When I looked at the Bobcat website today I found a link that said get free FEL and $1000 cash back on CT445SST. I think the MSRP on the 445 is $21,608. By my calculations that means for $21,608 one should be able to buy the CT445SST with FEL. Then take another $1000 off puts it at $20,608. Should I expect that to be the end of the negotiations, or the beginning? I know I've read here that one can expect to pay MSRP - 15%-20%. Is that appropriate here? Seems to me this is a starting point, but maybe I'm being overly optimistic?

I recall reading on these forums that people have gotten some exceptional deals on Bobcat- one reason I was suggesting this to my dad: Great deal on a good tractor.

Other comments on the quote would be greatly appreciated.

you are now buying in the middle of the prime CUT season, I dont think you will find the best deals this time of year

 

[bdeboer]

Wallace ("site sponsor") has a used 2009 CT440 with 120 hours on his website.

Wallace Tractor and Equipment NEPA Compact Tractors Lake Ariel Poconos Honesdale PA

 

[woolyAcres]

bdeboer-

Thanks for pointing that out. That's a 40HP which might suffice, but it's the Hydro transmission. Although he does some loader work where that would be nice, he'll do far more pulling where the extra 5HP and power of a geared tranny would be nice.

I think I've actually spoken to the pervious owner of that tractor. Small world.

I've heard nothing but good things about Wallace; although he's a bit far for a drop in visit: 5-6 hours away. And I don't know about the etiquette of having one dealer quoting against another....?????

Regards,
Peter

 

[lilranch2001]

bdeboer-

Thanks for pointing that out. That's a 40HP which might suffice, but it's the Hydro transmission. Although he does some loader work where that would be nice, he'll do far more pulling where the extra 5HP and power of a geared tranny would be nice.

I think I've actually spoken to the pervious owner of that tractor. Small world.

I've heard nothing but good things about Wallace; although he's a bit far for a drop in visit: 5-6 hours away. And I don't know about the etiquette of having one dealer quoting against another....?????

Regards,
Peter

I see no issue with that.
I do it with car dealers regularly, as far as I am concerned it should be expected

 

[dtix]

Yeah, I thought that was a bit high for a brush hog. I think there's a place nearby that sells bushhog for about $1400 (6'). I thought maybe getting everything together would get a better deal, but now I'm not sure.

When I looked at the Bobcat website today I found a link that said get free FEL and $1000 cash back on CT445SST. I think the MSRP on the 445 is $21,608. By my calculations that means for $21,608 one should be able to buy the CT445SST with FEL. Then take another $1000 off puts it at $20,608. Should I expect that to be the end of the negotiations, or the beginning? I know I've read here that one can expect to pay MSRP - 15%-20%. Is that appropriate here? Seems to me this is a starting point, but maybe I'm being overly optimistic?

I recall reading on these forums that people have gotten some exceptional deals on Bobcat- one reason I was suggesting this to my dad: Great deal on a good tractor.

Other comments on the quote would be greatly appreciated.

I just put a down payment on a 450 sst w/ loader and one remote with industrial tires. $21,700

 

[winasu]

I have not been pricing the SST, but I can share what I am seeing on a hydrostat
2009 (mfg date Sept 2009)
CT445 w 9TL loader
Hydrostat transmission
One Rear Remote
R4 Industrial tires (Loaded with antifreeze)
Set of filters for first maintainence
$20,400
Based on what you all are seeing with the shuttle, does this seem about right for the hydrostat?

 

[tinman955]

Call Rick Wallace and have him quote you, it might take some of teh mystery out of the price you already have.

 

[woolyAcres]

dtix-

I responded to your thread, but I'll put it here as well. I think the price you've been quoted is a good deal given you're after a larger machine. Question is, does that price get the machine off the lot? Or are they hitting you with dealer PID (whatever the heck that is) and Freight? In my case that's ~$1200.

winasu-
compared to my quotation, your's also looks to be a good deal. The bobcat website lists the SST as ~$600 less than the hydro. Your quotation also comes in lower than mine. What area of the country are you in? Does your include getting the tractor off the lot (everything except taxes; if it includes everything (including taxes)) I'd say great deal.

I look forward to hearing back from both of you so I'll have a better idea of what kind of bargain to drive with this dealer.

Thanks,
Peter

 

[woolyAcres]

tinmann955-

Thanks for reminding me. I'll call Wallace first thing tomorrow.

Regards,
Peter

 

[woolyAcres]

Still no tractor, but closer (I think). One of my dad's concerns is how well the standard bucket on these machines will work for cleaning straw based manure out of the barn. Anyone else doing this? How? I see some folks with grapples, anyone with proper manure forks? I found some Woods but they are very expensive ($1500 for 5'). Are there other options?

Again thanks for all the input,
Peter

 

[thetreed1]

woolyAcres -
As you saw in my thread we did use the standard bucket to remove a mud, clay, manure, straw mix that the horses made. Other than being wet and greasy from the rain we've had we had no problems moving it around. It will make great fill for the low spots in the pasture.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Crike]

I used 72in bucket to clean manure from the barn with no problem, but it was dry.

 

[woolyAcres]

Crike and thetreed1-

Thanks for the comments about using the standard bucket for manure work. I suspected as much, but I'm glad to hear from others first hand. I've sent my dad some of the photos IslandTractor has posted. What he's able to do with his grapple and 40HP(?) Kioti are impressive. So much so that my dad now wants a grapple. Seems a grapple type bucket would also do a decent job on dry manure.

Unfortunately, the tractor shopping continues. He's now looking at the Green kind. I'm not sure he's going to find the same features and abilities for this kind of price. But if it gets him a tractor of any color that he really likes and can afford, that's fine by me. Although I'm still partial to the Bobcat

Anyone here audition a JD 5E (5045E or 5055E JD) series?