Decision: 6500/2wd vs 6520/2wd

[bludev]

All,

I'm trying to decide between a 6500 and 6520 ... both with loaders. Bells and whistles are not important to me (as on the 6520), but the 6520 is a heavier tractor, rear end seems much stouter and it has a much higher max lift capacity. I will never lift anything heavy enough to break the 6500 though and it is some $4000 cheaper. I welcome opinions and advice on either of these or even whether or not the cost of 4wd is worth it. (We've never had 4wd, so I can't imagine if I've been missing something important).
We will be using the tractor for moving and possibly bailing hay and some cultivating in central North Carolina red dirt.
Thanks for any input.

 

[fireshawn]

I can't really say anything about the 6500 but I love my new 6520. I have already used (abused) it a little and it has done everything I have asked of it. I do need to build a grill guard though, I have already had to do a little metal work (read large cedar tree that rolled on the chain I had tied to it). It is nice w/ the shuttle shift and we got rear remotes factory installed so I can run a T&T. So far all I have really done is move round bales and push cedar trees. It will get a little more work as soon as I get off my butt and start collecting rocks again.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

bludev,

I love my 6500 4wd but if I had the choice I would have the 6520. It is just even more tractor. I use my 6500 to bale and transport hay. I have had some issues with lifting the large round bales but I think this might be due to relief valves. I had the one under the seat replaced but I think the one in the loader controls has to be replaced as well.

If the $4k is swingable for you I'd go with the 6520. That's not saying I love my 6500! .

One thing I noticed since I am on hills is that I am more comfortable with the 6500 since it seems on the 20 series you are up higher and the tractor seems to move side to side more when traveling. This wouldn't be a big deal on flat land but on hills I like the 6500 better.

Also, I just noticed that you are only looking at 2wd. When I am pulling a round baler there are times when I am on a hill that I need to kick it into 4wd to get the extra pull. Balers can be quite heavy when full. Also for loader work 4wd is the only way to go. It might be in your best interests to get the 6500 4WD and compromise so you can have the 4wd.

 

[Smithla]

I had a 4005DI 2WD with loader, and was unable to any real work done. I filled the rear tires, and even had to have some rear ballast to keep the rear tires from spinning, and even with that I was continually getting stuck. I now have a 6000 4WD with loader, and I wouldn't go back for anything. I can now dig in the dirt, and the more I put in the loader the better the front tires pull.

I'm afraid you'll be sorry after a few months with a 2WD, I know I was.

Best of Luck,

Les

 

[jwcinpk]

Loader = need 4wd ot maximize it's potential

Personally I do not see the extra money for the 6520. I would much rather have 4wd than the extra lift capacity and flat platform. I feel the 00 series is the best bang for the buck. Nothing wrong with the extra if you can afford it.
I have the 6000 4wd with almost 600 hours on it.

 

[bludev]

Thanks for all the input guys,

I did call my dealer back and asked him to price me a 6000 4wd and a 6500 4wd ... there was a huge price difference ... turns out the 4wd's don't have the same dealer incentives the 2wd's do, which is what made the 6500 2wd and 6250 2wd so attractive to begin with,

Thanks for the input so far

 

[RedRiver]

Thanks for all the input guys,

I did call my dealer back and asked him to price me a 6000 4wd and a 6500 4wd ... there was a huge price difference ... turns out the 4wd's don't have the same dealer incentives the 2wd's do, which is what made the 6500 2wd and 6250 2wd so attractive to begin with,

Thanks for the input so far

Actually the 6520 4WD does have a customer appreciation rebate of $1500.

I think the 2WD vs. 4WD greatly depends on the terrain of the land you own and will be working it on. Like stated above, if you have some hills and/or plan to add a FEL in the future the 4WD will be a smart investment and easily pay for itself in the long run.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

Thanks for all the input guys,

I did call my dealer back and asked him to price me a 6000 4wd and a 6500 4wd ... there was a huge price difference ... turns out the 4wd's don't have the same dealer incentives the 2wd's do, which is what made the 6500 2wd and 6250 2wd so attractive to begin with,

Thanks for the input so far

just curious what is the price difference for a 6500 each way? I really wouldn't get a 2wd for loader work. You could try getting the tires filled to compensate but it's just not the same. I was transporting a big bale to my livestock during the past snowstorms and the 4wd is all that kept me going in a straight line on a slight incline. Really helps out.

 

[bludev]

For a 6500 2wd w/FEL, I was quoted 18,800 (after all rebates and cash incentives). For the 4wd version of the same, I was quoted 25,000. For the 6000 4wd with a loader, I was quoted 23,999. The guy on the phone (who gave me the quotes for the 4wds) was not the owner, the owner is who gave me the quotes on the 2wds. I may call back when I can talk to the owner, I'm thinking that maybe the "assistant" didn't account for the rebates etc.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

For a 6500 2wd w/FEL, I was quoted 18,800 (after all rebates and cash incentives). For the 4wd version of the same, I was quoted 25,000. For the 6000 4wd with a loader, I was quoted 23,999. The guy on the phone (who gave me the quotes for the 4wds) was not the owner, the owner is who gave me the quotes on the 2wds. I may call back when I can talk to the owner, I'm thinking that maybe the "assistant" didn't account for the rebates etc.

yeah that is quite a difference. Honestly I didn't even price the 2wd machines as I knew that I needed the 4wd. If your land is flat maybe you could get by. Also, it may depend on what you plan to do with the loader? If you are not going to be moving dirt then it may be ok. Since you plan to make hay you probably also have livestock though, and the 4wd definitely helps when you are scooping up the nasty stuff .

That was interesting that the 6520 4wd had a customer appreciation discount. That might swing you to the 6520 4wd. Not sure though.

I used a 7520 4wd as a loaner while they worked on my 6500 4wd hydraulic relief and it was indeed a nice machine. Even considered upgrading but after learning the price decided I was quite happy with the 6500 .

Between the 6500 and the 6520 you are basically talking the same hp so it really probably ends up being bells and whistles that make the difference. If price is an issue the 00 series is more than capable. I was out clearing 3 foot drifts last night and I can tell you nothing will stop a 6500 4wd. Very dependable so far.

 

[bludev]

Thanks for the input Tim and all,

I may be leaning toward the 6520 2wd at this point, it is heavier in the rear-end and that may help offset the fact that its not 4wd when using the loader. We currently have about 100 acres (maybe adding more in the not too distant future), and its not extremely hilly (at least very few really sharp hills), its mostly established pasture so there's no real mud around, and of course, in North Carolina we don't get that much snow. So 4wd may not be as important to me as some ... especially considering price.

Again thanks everyone for your past and future comments.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Thanks for the input Tim and all,

I may be leaning toward the 6520 2wd at this point, it is heavier in the rear-end and that may help offset the fact that its not 4wd when using the loader. We currently have about 100 acres (maybe adding more in the not too distant future), and its not extremely hilly (at least very few really sharp hills), its mostly established pasture so there's no real mud around, and of course, in North Carolina we don't get that much snow. So 4wd may not be as important to me as some ... especially considering price.

Again thanks everyone for your past and future comments.

bludev, congrats on your eventual purchase. The large discount of the 2wd tractors is indeed attractive. This probably means they arent selling tho, and I would suspect there is a good reason for that. My feeling is that a compact utility tractor wheelbase is too short to allow real utility capability when it is only 2wd. I have a small ag tractor and a couple of CUTs - one being the 7520 4WD. CUT wheelbases are shorter to improve maneuverability. The 50HP AG tractor is a good 18" longer wheelbase than the 7520. The long wheelbase reduces front/back weight transfer when working on inclines and anytime when using implements. The 2wd AG tractor will surefootedly back up a hill that the 7520 only spins on in 2wd - both have loaded rears. So much more % of the short wheelbase weight is shifted to the downhill wheels. 4WD much more than makes up for this handicap.
Also, when balancing one against another take a hard look at all the specs. There are sometimes other upgrades included as you go to another model or to 4wd.

I think you will be restricting yourself more than you think with a 2WD CUT purchase.
Larry

 

[Smithla]

Maybe you can shop around for a used 4WD, as I did. My dealer had two 6000's with 4WD, and the one I bought only had 285 hours on it, and 1/2 of the warranty left. The amount I saved on buying used was the difference between 2WD and 4WD. So shop around and you may find that special unit.

Good Luck,

Les

 

[jwcinpk]

I agree I'd rather have used or even smaller 4wd than larger new 2wd. You just don't understand the gain until you use it.

 

[7520]

when i went looking I started looking at 6500/2wd with loader. salesman talked me in to 4wd with a loader. knowing what i know now that could have been the biggest mistake of my life so far! go 4wd with a loader next time you are looking,get on and off the 6500 15 times. go over get on 6520 15 times. imagine that every time you use it. and you are only getting older. i could see myself doing it for a few years.but not in 15 or 20 years. thats why i went with the platform. i could see my feet getting tangled up when i got older. if you can afford it, don't settle for less than what you need. you wont regret it. did i say i love my tractor? happy tractor hunting.

 

[bludev]

Guys,

Thanks again for all of your input. Much to many of your dismay, I'm probably going to take a chance on the 2wd 6500 ... at the price I was quoted, I just can't turn it down. Plus, it will allow me to keep my Massey Ferguson 240, for me, that offsets the 4wd (as I said before, I'm not sure if I can even justify a real need for 4wd).
Mention of the MF 240 brings me to another question ... if any of you have experience with other makes (CASE-IH, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, John Deere), I'd like your opinions on how the Mahindra compares to those. Just for your info, the Mahindra (with its incentives) is 4000 to 5000 bucks less expensive than any of the comparable makes I just mentioned.

Thanks again,
Roger

 

[NTex6500]

I bought a 6500 2WD last July for the same reason you are. I saved big bucks and I have used it to plow, mow, drag my drive, fill ruts and clear brush and trees with absolutely no problems. If you know how to use a 2WD tractor properly you don't need 4WD to do these tasks on relatively flat dry land. I bought it to use as a small ag tractor and it works great as one. Good luck on your choise.