Cub Cadet...2100 or 2500 series

Taiser · Feb 7, 2005

Greetings gents...long time lurker first post.

Just recently came back from my local cub dealer looking for a solid tractor and I'm impressed with the features, shaft drive, hydro etc. The particular models I'm looking at, now mind you these are last years models, are the 2186 or the 2521. I got a brochure with the specs (last years) and they both appear the same. The only dif is that the 21 has the aluminum tranny BUT it will be cast iron this year which is what I want to buy.

Basically what I would like to know is with the trannys, motors and frame/tire size the same the only dif is one HP on the motor /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif and a two inch bigger deck 48 vs 50 standard.

Am I missing something?

Just wondering why the 25 is more (like 600 bucks is the estimate I got)? I'm hopping someone has more info. The salesdude was not sure what the exact differences were because he has not had much info so far, tractors are due in the next month or so.

He is sure that all the motors on the new 2005 2000 series are Kohler and they WILL have cast iron trannies. With this info does anybody know why a 2500 would be better? Different attachments maybe. Any info welcome.

Thanks

Taiser

DmansPadge · Feb 7, 2005

I think you are right. There is very little difference between those two machines. The transmission is the only big difference. I did look at both of those models this past summer and I was quoted only about $300 difference between to two. I think the 2521 was $3400 and the 2186 $3100.

I haven't seen anything on the 2005 models but I do understand any models sold at independent dealers will be all Kohler engines and that the 1500 and up series will have the heavy tranny.

If your dealer is making good deals on the '04 models I wouldn't hesitate to get one. The '05s have a few new options but not enough to justify paying full price.

Taiser · Feb 7, 2005

Well a cast iron tranny is a must for me. I'm looking out the window at the 4 feet of snow in my yard and I need the weight /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif for the blower attachment I plan to have. Also have 8 acres of property with about 1/2 acre garden (tiller needed) and 3 acres of grass. I imagine these things are hard on the tractor so a decent solid tranny is required. Believe it or not I was mowing all this with a push mower!

Prices are a lot cheaper in the states obviously. I was quoted at $5700 for the 2521 or $6000 for the 2523. Dealer was not sure what the 2100's were going to be. Seems a tad steep to me considering the canadian dollar is doing good (80 cents on the $1US greenback). Taking that into account the machines should only be 600-800 more here, not 2 grand /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Maybe I'm getting a gypped deal. The US border is only 20 minutes away. Anybody know a good dealer in Duluth MN and prices there /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks for the input!

Taiser

DmansPadge · Feb 7, 2005

Taiser... I'm not sure about the dollar vs. canadian but if it is .80 on the dollar that doesn't sound like a great deal to me. The quotes I got were over the phone and I would expect to get that good or better in person. The MSRP on the 2521 is $3899 USD. You should pay less than that or I wouldn't buy it! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I'm not sure about the 2186. Take a look (if you haven't already) at the Cub Cadet website and there is a dealer locator and you can get the MSRP on the '04 models. They have started to update for the '05s but they are not visible yet on their site. Ducati996 put a link on a thread in the CC forum a few days ago that have a link to a site that had prices for the new models.

Taiser · Feb 8, 2005

$3899...

So I'm looking at $3899 x 1.21 for canadian = $4717 Canadian. Then crossing the border I gotta pay 15% for the Provincial Sales Tax and Goods and Services Tax = $5425 Canadian. No duty on it (Gotta love free trade /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif)

$5425 including taxes Canadian in the US or buy it here in the land of taxes for $5700 + tax = $6555. Pretty much a no brainer.

Three hour trip to Duluth to save over a thousand bucks. Hopefully there is a dealer in Duluth who can give me a solid quote and I can force the dealer here into a more "reasonable" price.

Looks like I may be making a trip south!

tiny1 · Feb 8, 2005

Taiser,

I was at my local dealer Saturday and I was quoted $3100 US for a '04 2186 leftover, and $3499 for a '05 GT2550. In both cases it would run an additional $1500 for the snowblower package, which has the blower, chains and weights.

Taiser · Feb 9, 2005

I was quoted 1600 for the blower package here. How can the blower be only 100 bucks more here (reasonable) and the tractor almost 2000???

And with the new line-up it seams they DO have all cast iron trannies and there is only one "2100" series now the 18 horse. All the rest are considered 2500's.

Have to look into this more /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Taiser · Feb 9, 2005

Alrighty...

I've downloaded and perused the new brochures and compared the 2500 series. Available are the 2544 with 20 horse, the 2550 with 21 horse and the 2554 with 23 horse. After looking at the specs all I can say is that these machines are EXACTLY the same size wise, feature wise and nearly identical for attachment availability.

In fact the only difference is that the deck size goes up and the motor goes from 20 to 23 horses. Cub does not say the size of the motor (cc) and just says "as rated by Kohler" for horsepower. I suspect all these motors are identical with probably a different carb or perhaps jetting which would make a larger horse rating!

SO taking into account all this info basically it looks like the your paying 1100 bucks more for a 2554 over a 2544 for just a 10 inch bigger deck? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Maybe someone who knows more can chime in? I was looking at the 2550 but all I see is a bigger deck and only 6 inches at that!!! Not worth 600 bucks. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Inputs and views welcome!

Taiser

cowboy2005 · Feb 15, 2005

With 3 acres to cut you may want to get the bigger deck. I am ordering a GT-2544 for about $2900 along with a few accessories. The heavier duty frame and trany were deciding factors over the 1000 series. I'm not sure the extra 8" deck size is worth but $1000, but the GT tractors are supposedly rated an extra 500 hours of life (1500) over the LT series. The larger deck size will reduce your "run" time and extend the life of your tractor... assuming you maintain it of course.

TRWATTS · Apr 6, 2005

OK,
Went to the Cub Dealer today and was ready to order the GT 2544 and the dealer said that unless you bagged, it was the wrong choice for this area- where the grass is wet and sappy often. He said that the 2550 was a much better mower and would not clog as much as the 2544 if one did not bag. He said the chute opening was smaller in the 2544 vs the 2550 and thus the etiology of the problem. He agreed to order the 2544 for me, but said I would be sorry. Is there anything to this? I thought he was just trying to sell me the more expensive machine but when he said he would order the 2544, I started to wonder.