Big Kubotas M7-151... Ag tractors... are they worth looking at?

[Hay Dude]

One thing I have noticed is the M-7’s are built in France. So were the Challenger and AGCO brands which are now discontinued.
It almost seems like Kubota took over the old AGCO factory to build their M tractors.

If you are down to Deere or Kubota on a medium framed tractor, I’d still probably go with Deere. If it were a smaller tractor, I’d probably go with Kubota. No doubt in either scenario, Kubota will be cheaper though. Kubota doesn’t hold value as well as Deere.

 

[EddieWalker]

Is Deere still not allowing people to work on their tractors? or was that just an isolated issue? Does Kubota do anything that stops you from being able to work on your own tractor?

I have a Massey dealer that's half an hour away from me that I've never heard anything good about. When I went there, they ignored me and told me to go look at it on my own. The tractor was dirty, and it looked abandoned. I left without talking to them again. The next closest dealer is a mom and pop place that didn't have anything in their lot. The one after that is a new dealer, and hour away, that's very aggressive in building up his business. I bought my Massey 4707 from him. Since then, he's opened up another location that's 45 minutes away. He also puts out a bunch of YouTube videos, and he's very active on FB with advice for people with questions about their Massey Ferguson's.

 

[5030]

Kubota doesn’t hold value as well as Deere.

I'd disagree with that statement. Today, they all hold their value well. Especially the larger ones.

 

[Paystar]

I'm friends with many farmers here. I see their Deere's and CNH products broke down with electronic and emissions issues far more than the Kubota's.

 

[Hay Dude]

I'm friends with many farmers here. I see their Deere's and CNH products broke down with electronic and emissions issues far more than the Kubota's.

With all due respect, I would say thats because Deere, CIH & AGCO are doing a lot more serious, heavy & demanding work.
I had 2 Kubota M’s and when pushed, they fell apart quickly. In under 3,000 hours, they were both in need of substantial repairs.
I would own an M-7 for mowing fields, plowing snow, lifting bales, but not much beyond that.

 

[jonsstihl]

problems kind of go with the number of tractors that are out there working all day every day. I think kubota has the market for compact utility (lets call them gentlemen farmers tractors) that don't necessarily get used all day every day and then once you start getting into the larger tractors kubota just doesn't have the numbers yet.

Looking at hay dudes list of tractors, he seems to pick out the best tractor for his use of it regardless of brand and if he says the large kubotas fall apart when pushed I would tend to trust his opinion.

 

[Hay Dude]

problems kind of go with the number of tractors that are out there working all day every day. I think kubota has the market for compact utility (lets call them gentlemen farmers tractors) that don't necessarily get used all day every day and then once you start getting into the larger tractors kubota just doesn't have the numbers yet.

Looking at hay dudes list of tractors, he seems to pick out the best tractor for his use of it regardless of brand and if he says the large kubotas fall apart when pushed I would tend to trust his opinion.

I respect most other people’s opinions, but I have 3 “real” farm tractors

1. Massey 7495 190HP 7,500 hours original drivetrain.
2. Challenger MT535B 135HP 6,700 hours original drivetrain
3. Challenger MT655E 300HP @ 10,000 hours got rebuilt engine and new CVT transmission.

The AGCO’s are true 10,000+ hour tractors.

My 2 Kubotas had only ~2500 hours and although original drivetrains, they had numerous problems with PTO’s, seering issues and PCM failure. I am quite sure the drivetrains would not go to 4,000 hours without repairs. They were smaller than my MT535B in weight by 5,000lbs yet almost the same HP.

I’d say the M Kubotas I had, which were newer than the 535B and Massey 7495, might go 4,000-5,000 hours before complete failure in a farming use life.

jonsstihl is completely correct. The M-5/6 Kubotas are designed for light farming work. The M7/M8 might be better suited for moderate farm work, but I haven’t seen many with high hours.
I DO see a lot of M-7/151/171’s come in off lease low-houred and be resold. This could be because they lessees are not happy with them? Don’t see that with AGCO.

I came pretty close to buying one and using it for mowing/loader work and still might buy one.

 

[Hay Dude]

I'd disagree with that statement. Today, they all hold their value well. Especially the larger ones.

I was looking at 2-3 year old off lease, PNC Bank ~2,000 hour, M- 151/171’s with loaders and they were dirt cheap. Messicks had 3 of them with loaders in the 70’s-80’s which was way cheaper than comparable AGCO or Deere. Even their salesman commented that they had severe depreciation.

 

[Hay Dude]

This is what I mean
Only 1100 hours with a loader and it’s $75,000? Thats not exactly holding value when you see much older, higher hour Ag tractors sell for same or more.

Pardon Our Interruption

Thats a pretty good deal!

 

[Dadnatron]

Drove the Kubota M7-151 today… didn’t like it. The bucket is almost completely hidden by the arms and hood. You know it’s out there somewhere… only because you are the guy who attached it…

Didn’t like the controls for loader work either. It’s definitely not set up as a loader tractor. It really a medium/large frame towing tractor that has a FEL attached, not designed in any way, IMO, for one though.

Also drove 2 JD 6120Ms. Difference was suspended cab and PowerQuad Auto/No.

Loved this tractor. Very easy to see everything. Easy to use loader. Reverser button on loader handle, suspended cab was a little bit like being in a boat, whereas the solid mount ‘felt like a tractor’. Sloped hood really made visual of the bucket great. Like the PowerQuad… didn’t really get to try the Auto as it’s primarily for ‘road travel’ I guess. Only thing I really wish though, was that it was in the 140hp range with the same hood design. I know it has the 140hp ‘boost’, which in reality might be better, as most of the time I wouldn’t need or be using it.

I’m thinking hard about the 6120M, but MAN it’s expensive. Even used…