Buying Advice Contemplating a 1870 vs a 2370

[meos1]

Looking for help on which and what. I have test driven the 2670...Nice machine, but more than I need. I have also tested the 1870. Again nice machine but I got the feeling it was going to be under powered. I am considering this purchase for mowing 2 acres of lawn, doing some landscaping/grading work, and overall use in the barn (clearing stalls, moving hay, etc.), and family sized gardening.

What are your thoughts on one versus the other?

 

[bp fick]

Just depends on your budget. All the BX's are so similar that it is kinda splitting hairs to discuss the different package Kubota markets to try and slot every possible buyer. I had the 18 hp BX and never ran out of power. I honestly think that's pretty much a no brainer unless you are talking running heavy duty PTO equipment out the back which requires more HP to operate efficiently. PTO hp is much less than engine or drawbar hp on these machines.

The sweet spot is probably the 23 hp model. That's what I have now. NO HUGE, earthshaking difference, but since I bought it with 24 hours on the meter, that's what was available. The ability to use wider mowing decks is the biggest advantage. The front end loader is also slightly larger on the 23 and 26 hp units than on the 18 hp model. Again, these are slight tweaks designed to justify marketing 3 BX models to consumers. Each one carries a different price. So, pick your poison. And enjoy. I love the Kubota BX.

If you have any specific questions, about specific tasks, I can probably relate and might be able to help.

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

If the physical size of tractor is the same then you can do a job with more h.p. even if its not needed but you can't do a job with less h.p. if it requires more if that makes sense this is a big purchase and not something you kick yourself when more h.p. is needed and the war dept. won't be saying you already have a tractor. so the question is do I spend more now and be happy or?

 

[knukey]

I think the 1870 will spit some black smoke pulling a 5' finish mower in TALL grass, but will pull it fine in regular grass. My 20hp (18hp PTO) does not belch smoke in tall grass.

 

[oldnslo]

I had a BX1850 and I found the FEL to be a little weak. It would lift a bucket of dirt but not a full bucket of wet heavy dirt. NOTE: I moved several dozen yards of dirt though at it got the job done. I have never operated the 23** or 26** models so I can't compare the loader capacity.

 

[Pepsiboy]

Looking for help on which and what. I have test driven the 2670...Nice machine, but more than I need. I have also tested the 1870. Again nice machine but I got the feeling it was going to be under powered. I am considering this purchase for mowing 2 acres of lawn, doing some landscaping/grading work, and overall use in the barn (clearing stalls, moving hay, etc.), and family sized gardening.

What are your thoughts on one versus the other?

I have a 2008 BX2350 with FEL, MMM, Rear tiller. Along with my 2 1/2 acres, I take care of another 2 3/4 acres of my 3 part time neighbors. I just mow for them, but it still is quite a bit to do. I only wish I would have gotten the BX2660 instead, just to have the higher lifting capacity on the FEL. Other than that, I have NO complaints with it at all. It takes EVERYTHING I throw at it and asks for more. Sorry, don't have any pics, but I don't think you would be unhappy with the BX2670. In fact, having a little extra hp would tend to make it work a little less and be just a bit easier on fuel.:2cents:

Dave

 

[bp fick]

The current Kubota website info is a bit hard to discover the data, but it used to be that the 18xx horse model had slightly smaller wheels and tires, a smaller mowing deck availability and a slightly lighter lift on the FEL. 203 kilograms versus 243 kilograms on the 23 and 26 horse models. Thus, the 26xx has more PTO hp, but no different FEL and no more lifting power on that loader than the 23xx hp model. All three models have the same hydraulic pump and the same 3 pt lift ratings.

That's still likely the current reality.

 

[jeff9366]

What are your thoughts on (BX1870) versus the (BX2670)?

There are three BX models. Go with the middle model, the BX2370.

You do not have to consider yourself an outlier with either too little nor too much.

 

[meos1]

Thanks everyone for the input. Im beginning to think the middle of the road is the right place based on HP and price. I went to the Kubota site and built my own 2370-1 with the following:

View Standard Features


1 FRONT - 18x8.50-10 R4 OTR Trac Master
REAR - 26x12.00-12 R1Maxxis Power Luginc.

1 BALLAST BOX$245.00

1 FOUR POSITION CONTROL VALVE$656.00

1 FRONT LOADER PACKAGE$2,376.00

1 54" SIDE DISCHARGE 3-BLADE FINISHING MOWER$1,824.00

1 BOOT KIT FOR 54" 3-BLADE MOWER$165.00

1 3-BAG GRASS CATCHER 9.5 BU. CAPACITY$1,968.00

Total without SC state tax is $18,996 MSRP. With the zero-zero-60 deal that is along the lines of $320 bucks a month with no money down. So, not horrendous but certainly more than my last sports car, which by the way sucks at mowing and cant do any front end loading.

I have had the upper and lower end units here on demo, so I think I know where I want to be. Are these typical prices at the dealer or is MSRP really suggested? I think I saw someone say 14% off MSRP was typical. Keep em coming. I think I am gonna hang around here a while.

 

[jeff9366]

14% off MSRP is not typical. However, it can happen when a machine has been in inventory a long while (low demand), implements are bought with the tractor, when it is a cash deal and when there is snow on the ground.

Real world discounts are more in the very general area of 8%, especially with Kubota financing, which the dealer partially funds. (Your on-site demo of two machines is another portion of your discount.)

Max discounts when there is snow on the ground. Minimal discounts in the Spring and during harvest.

Consider KTAC (Kubota Tractor Acceptance Corporation) insurance. If you finance through Kubota, I believe the KTAC insurance remains mandatory (~$400/year~).

In Florida, ag and forestry equipment are sales tax exempt. Check the sales tax exemption rules in S.C.