Buy now or wait??

Anonymous Poster · Mar 25, 2002

I would really like to buy a 'new' tractor. A TC33D or an L3010 HST. After much reflection with myself and my wife I have decided that I just can't afford the $18,500 cost for the machine with loader. What I can afford is about $12,000. Should I buy something used that will do the jobs I want to do, or should I wait a year or two more untill I can afford what I really want? I am worried that if I but less than what I want I will regret it and end up taking a loss when I trade up to the new one. Any thoughts???

frank_f15 · Mar 25, 2002

YOU have not filled out your profile so i don't know if u already have a trator to use? i will assume u do not.u already stated that at this point in time u cannot justify the cost of what u want, so why don't u look for a good used machine, if u find one that suits your requirments then buy it, and trade up when u feel better equiped to take on the extra cost.if u get a good used machine at a fair price u will not take a beating if and when u trade up! i MHO <font color=red> A USED TRACTOR IS BETTER THAN NO TRACTOR</font color=red> good luck

Boondox · Mar 25, 2002

Usually I agree with Frank, but in this case... Way back in the dark ages of my personal tractorless state, I faced the same choice as you now face. In fact, I could afford the same $12,000 you can. I wound up settling for a used B1750 hydro. While it was a phenomenal mowing machine, it wasn't equal to any of the other tasks I needed in a tractor. This seems to be a pattern with me; at least half the tools in my shop were sold at a loss when they proved less than what I needed. I'm a classic sucker for the buy small and trade up syndrome. I now drive an L3010 and love it!

The one bright spot in all this was the little B-series Kubota I originally bought held its value very well. After two years and 500 hours, I sold it for the same price I paid for it. If you're a savvy shopper and can negotiate a good deal on a used tractor, stepping up might be a future option for you too.

Pete

pennwalk · Mar 25, 2002

I vote for seat time. I got an affordable used Yanmar and it has been doing a ton of work ever since. I would have liked a new JD but by the time the dealer would have been through with me it would have been more than my truck. If you shop carefully for a good used machine you may very well be able to use it for a while and sell it for what you paid for it. I have even heard of a few wheeler-dealers who make money on tractors. I think tractors are different than cars. They hold their valve better. It is partly that they last so long. I can imagine a good tractor lasting your lifetime. There may be more demand than supply too. Don't forget the implements. A tractor without implements isn't much more than a gocart.

Chris

ByuBill · Mar 25, 2002

Here's what I did. Last year I bought a house and one very steep driveway that needs constant upkeep. I hired someone to come and whip it into shape. I watched him /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gifat work for a couple of hours, he did a good job and it cost me $75. Not fun watching. I figured that I could this anytime that it needed it or when I wanted to if I had a tractor. So,/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I found an individual who had a 2360 Long for $6500. I bought it for $5000. There is only so much fun running up and down a driveway pulling a scrape blade. A couple of weeks later I ran across a MF 220 with a fel. The guy wanted $4,500 for it. I gave him $2,500./w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif. Now pulling the gravel back up my driveway is quite a chore due to the steepness. I figured that I need a 4x4 tractor./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. Today I had a 2000 Kioti LK 3054 4x4 with fel delivered. It was advertised for $11,400. I gave them $10,000 for it. Now I have three tractors, one steep driveway and a lot of fun.. Good luck. Go out and get a good used tractor or you will be missing a year or tow of fun.
Bill

Youare · Mar 25, 2002

Start searching for what you want in used condition now, you have a couple of years to find either a good deal on a used tractor in the size range you need or by then you will have the extra to buy what you need new.

There are some very good experienced tractors out there. Unless you want HST take a look at the L-series Kubota's they are not as fancy and you have to shift yourself but you can save a couple of thousand.

Randy

CSAW · Mar 25, 2002

One of the great things about tractors is that the hold their value very well. I think if you are very careful and informed about buying a used tractor you could use it for a while and then get your money back on trade in or sale. This way you could have the best of both worlds. Good luck /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

PaulinSD · Mar 25, 2002

My wife and I run a part time commercial mowing business. We bought a 1986 JD 1050, and ran it 6 days a week last summer. Paid $5500 for it. Runs great, excellent machine. Last fall, we bought a 1995 JD 955/fel for $12,000. While I have not used it that much since purchasing it, it seems to be a great machine, also. Both tractors will run 5 days a week this summer. My point is there is a lot of really good used iron out there. While I can afford to buy new,I don't because of the high cost. I can spend less, and still get the job done, which leaves more profit for us!! Look at your needs for the tractor, then look at your wants in a tractor. When you and your wife determine where those two lines cross, then start looking at what the dealers have available that match or come close. I know you can find a suitable tractor out there.

Paul

DDT · Mar 25, 2002

I had the same problem when I first started. I bought a used JD 755 for 10K (585hrs) and 600hrs later traded up to a 855. a year later got my new 4300. I now have a 4400 with BH and all the toys. after all the trading I did I never lost much money once you deduct the hrs they ran. So don't beafraid of used and slowly build up in time, buy the time you can get into a new tractor you will have most of your attachments.
DDT

RanchMan · Mar 25, 2002

If you just gotta have HST, then a used "big 3" makes sense. They definitely make nice machines.

However, if you would rather have "new", there are several brands out there in the shuttle-shift category where you can get a brand-new 30 HP 4x4 tractor with attachments for under your $12K price. (the loader will add some $ though)

I wound up buying a Mahindra myself, but I looked seriously at Kioti, Century, and Branson. (Of course, there are other brands out there too.) I was pretty impressed with all of them. Each had their own +'s & -'s, but I think I would have been happy with any of them.

rozett · Mar 25, 2002

I agree... go used. I looked for 5 months for a Cub Cadet 7360 w/FEL, using both Ebay and Deere's MachineFinder.com. I ended up buying a one year old machine with 90 hours on it. The local dealer wanted $20k new and I paid $13K, plus $1K to ship it to NH. Don't compromise on what you want, as long as you are willing to wait for the right package to come around.

By the way, MachineFinder has a 1999 TC33D for $14K.

Anonymous Poster · Mar 26, 2002

Tractors hold thier value well. A fact that drove me to by a brand new one, I was looking for a used tractor (everything I have is used) and I almost could'nt belive the prices that they were going for, I settled buying new for only a small amount more.

Golfgar4 · Mar 26, 2002

It seems that most everyone agrees with looking now and buying used. I'm not one to swim upstream, so I'll agree too /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. However, here's another slightly different aspect you might want to think about. Begin searching for that used tractor now. Half the fun of buying a tractor is the search. As you go along, you may stumble across a really terrific deal, even though it may not fit your needs exactly. At least you'll be gaining seat time, which equals experience. If you don't find anything used, you'll be getting valuable knowledge to help you make that ultimate purchase. You also won't be sitting around twiddling your fingers "waiting" until you can buy what you want. Remember, while you wait for what you can afford, the prices of tractors will probably go up also. You may never reach the point where you feel you can afford the new one.

Boondox · Mar 26, 2002

Okay, okay! I'm seriously outnumbered on this topic! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Pete

pennwalk · Mar 26, 2002

We have all heard about a new car loosing several thousand dollars value the minute you drive it off the lot. I wonder if a tractor does the same. I have a feeling that it doesn't. Anyone got anything on value of new vs. new? Anyway I still say get a tractor you can afford and let the fun begin.

Chris

Mrwurm · Mar 26, 2002

Pete, you can include me in your ranks. Where do I sign up? I have lost more money than I care to think about with the trade-up syndrome. I have bought tractors, mowers, welders, stereos, cars, rolling toolchests, aquariums, go-carts, guitars, you name it, only to sell them later at a loss to get what I really wanted in the first place. I'm 38 years old and I'm just starting to catch on.
Jerry

BKColeman · Mar 26, 2002

No, Pete. I'm with you. I've always bought less than I wanted, sell it for a loss, and then get what I wanted in the first place. Sometimes I get sick when I look back at all of the money I've spent on things I don't own anymore for that very reason.

So went it came to buying a tractor, I decided I was going to break that cycle and I waited until I could get what I really wanted and bought more than I actually needed. I don't plan to be trading up this time.

If you can get a good price out of what you're selling, it might be a different story. But once I decide I'm getting rid of something, I want it gone, and usually sell it for less than it is worth so I can go buy what I really want. Just my .02 worth.

--Brad

Anonymous Poster · Mar 26, 2002

Ditto, I ended up with a new korean tractor w/loader for $13500. It was about $1500 over my budget but I needed at least 40hp for what I am doing. FYI its a branson.

looch · Mar 26, 2002

I'm with you guys on this too. Unless you're very good at negotiating, I subscribe to the 1:1, trade-to-getting-screwed ratio. The fewer transactions the better and a Kubota tractor lends itself very well to this philosophy. I traded a 1981 B5100E (11 hp, gear model) not becasue it was tired, but because it was too small for what I wanted to do. I plan on keeping my current tractor until it is at least as old as when I traded the 5100 (20 years).

billfires · Mar 26, 2002

Goin-crazy, I was in the opposite situation as you. I was going to order a Kubota L3010 w/FEL & BH for approx 25000. I ended up with a year old 2000 NH 1920 w/FEL & BH for 17000(had 72 hrs on it). This machine just fell in my lap. The disadvantage to buying used was I had to pay cash vs. financing a new one. If using financing it allows you to get more tractor and implements. Just my thoughts.

Bill C