decision just got easier

sendero · Apr 27, 2003

As I mentioned (on another forum, this is probably the correct one), I had narrowed my choices to either a Kioti or a Century. On the Kioti, I was considering the LK3054 or DK35. On the Century, the 2535 or the 3035.

I had looked at all of these in dealers near my home in Dallas, but I want to buy from a dealer near my land 65 miles away.

This Sat I visited the dealers. This simplified my decision a lot. Even though I like the Century in many ways, the dealers up there are not people I would count on being in business for long. The first dealer had been a dealer for about a month he said. When my wife mentioned R4 tires, he got a deer-in-the-headlights look on his face. This was a lawnmower shop and while they might be able to provide service, I'm just not going to depend on a dealer that has been doing it a month and clearly knows less about tractors than I do, and I don't know much /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

There was another Century dealer just across the line in OKlahoma. I called and asked if they sold Centuty tractors, and the little old lady said no. 3 minutes later she called back and said yes, her husband did sell tractors and that she had been asleep. Apparantly, this guy is selling them out of his house which might be OK but again, not confidence inspiring.

On the other hand, the local Kioti dealer is a fixture in the nearby town. The have a farm store, rent and service implements and chainsaws and such, and have been there forever (decades). They have been selling Kiotis for 15 months (still pretty new, I know). The salesman was a grandson of the founder, and he talked straight and gave me a great quote.

So, more than likely, I'll be the proud owner of a DK35, "the other orange", soon!

DK35vince · Apr 27, 2003

( So,more than likely,I'll be the proud owner of a DK 35.)
Good choice.
I'm very happy with mine.
If you plan on a lot of rototilling I recommend the creeper gear option.

BillG_in_TX · Apr 27, 2003

Is this a great forum, or what? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Less than 2 weeks ago, sendero said in his first post: "I wish I could just go buy a new one, but funds are a bit tight so I'm considering the used route. "

Now we've just about got him in a new Kioti! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

sendero · Apr 27, 2003

Hehe - well, looking at ads I thought I could save 25% or so buying used. What I couldn't see until I visited a few 'used' dealers, was that their merchandise was well-used and sometimes pretty abused. And often less than 20% off the new price. I'm a stickler for maintenance, I will change the oil, filters, etc as instructed - some of the tractor I saw looked like they'd not been taken care of at all. Of course you can't tell by looking, but you can tell when something looks fishy, i.e. 100 hours showing on a tractor that looks like it fell off a cliff /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I haven't placed my order yet, but I'm 90% sure.

bmac · Apr 27, 2003

Of course you can't tell by looking, but you can tell when something looks fishy, i.e. 100 hours showing on a tractor that looks like it fell off a cliff


Maybe he only got 100 hrs on it before he fell off the cliff. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

FamilyFarm · Apr 27, 2003

( Of course you can't tell by looking, but you can tell when something looks fishy, i.e. 100 hours showing on a tractor that looks like it fell off a cliff


Maybe he only got 100 hrs on it before he fell off the cliff. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

I got a used lawn "tractor" years ago that HAD fallen down a steep hill, tumbled a few times on its way down! It had permanent tilt steering! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Terry

Anonymous Poster · Apr 28, 2003

What about Branson? There is supposed to be a dealer in Gainesville. Isn't that near you?

SnowRidge

dancce · Apr 28, 2003

Hey sendero,

You didn't go far enough across the border into Oklahoma /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seriously, though--can't blame you for going with your gut feelings--we count on that from our customers /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Good luck with your new tractor --whatever it may be.

dancce

Bird · Apr 28, 2003

I think you'll like that. I assume you are going to get a FEL with it.

sendero · Apr 28, 2003

LOL - well, I had to put *some* kind of distance limit, I went with 30-40 miles. It might be a while before I have a trailer that will haul the thing.

As for the Branson dealer in Gainesville, yes that would be within the distance limit. I will probably give them at least a call.

And yes Bird, will be getting a 1450 FEL. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif If it weren't for the FEL, I'd have just bought an 8N or something to bush hog with /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

dancce · Apr 28, 2003

Hey sendero,

I suspect with the price difference, a trailer could be added on the ticket ----and you would feel no pain at all /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

dancce

frank_f15 · Apr 28, 2003

not real familar with the kioti but from what i read on this forum and others they are a pretty nice machine. I KNOW northcreek, is very happy with his. i 'm sure u will keep us informed. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif ain't it fun?

sendero · Apr 28, 2003

Re: Branson....

Well - you are right and I knew about them but had left my cheat sheet at home so only looked at the Kioti and Century.

I called them today. They are a car dealer that sells tractors on the side. They've been selling for about 6 months.

The guy was nice and seemed to know the product. He gave me some quotes on the phone, so the decision just got harder again /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Very competitive prices against the Kioti. Dangit /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

And he didn't even ask about financing, on the Kioti if you don't use their 0% financing, you get several hundred $$ in rebates, which the Kioti dealer figured into the price since I won't be financing. I wonder if the same applies to the Branson /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

One more thing is bugging me. The Century 2535 is supposed to be the same tractor as the Branson 3510. But it weighs about 400 lbs more. How can this be??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

prosperity · Apr 28, 2003

Hey sendro - think you'll get any sleep tonight??????

BillG_in_TX · Apr 28, 2003

By the way, did you ever go sit on a Kubota L3130? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif You might be pleasantly surprised (unless of course, you don't want any more options butting into this decision process). /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

dancce · Apr 28, 2003

sendero,

I suspect Branson's 3510 weight is, for some reason, /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif listed as the tractor shipping weight without tires and wheels and possibly without tractor fluids.

Century 2535 tractor weight is 3340lbs. plus 300lbs. for the tires and wheels.

dancce

19th_VA · Apr 28, 2003

The 3510 and 2535 weigh the same, about 3500 pounds. The weight issue should be simple enough but for some strange reason/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif, I have seen a lot of different weights reported. If a loader is added, the Century with a C-50 loader would weight a bit more than a Branson with a Bl20 loader.

Anonymous Poster · Apr 28, 2003

( One more thing is bugging me. The Century 2535 is supposed to be the same tractor as the Branson 3510. But it weighs about 400 lbs more. How can this be??? )

Good question. I have noticed several discrepancies between Century and Branson offerings that are supposed to be identical. I suspect that someone with good intentions misstated a fact or two in one of the offices, they got in print, and now have been carved into the advertising lit.

I would use the Kukje web site as the arbiter. Except for the Century C50 loader, all the info should be there.

I would also consider that Century is imported by American Jawa who handles several makes. Branson, as far as I know, only handles Bransons. I suspect the Century shop is a little more frenetic.

SnowRidge

Anonymous Poster · Apr 29, 2003

Hi Sendero,

I think you are gonna love the DK35 - I just really am impressed with mine. I think there is a lot more tractor here than the 3054.

Don't know about the creep gear, after I drove one, I opted out of that. 1st gear low is v-e-r-r-y s--l--o--w...

I also looked at used, and for the prices and conditions, I would never buy a used tractor. Not unless an incredible deal fell in my lap. I must have looked at 25 used tractors, and the new Kioti DK35 was SUCH a better deal - even over used Kiotis!
(Ex: avg used 3054 w/300+ hours w/FEL only: $9500 - YOU do the math).

Look forward to seeing what you get /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Jimmy

Anonymous Poster · Apr 29, 2003

It's funny how you end up with something.

I initially thought I would end up with a DK35 too. I had never heard of Branson when I stumbled across them at the Kioti dealer.

To cover all my bases, I looked at all the Korean makes, while keeping MF and NH in mind. I didn't like the NHs, and they weren't cheap. The Mahindra dealer, who also sells Masseys, told me MF CUTs couldn't hold a candle to a Mahindra. The Long dealer couldn't tell me how long it would take to get a machine (not to mention high prices and plastic fenders--ugh), and the Kioti/Branson dealer had the same DK35 sitting on his lot for months--to the point that the sun had fried the legend of off the shift knob--for $1,000 more than the Branson.

After making the rounds and getting some quotes, it looked like Mahindra or Branson offered the best bang for the buck. I decided to go with Mahindra, mainly because of the glowing TBN reports. When I got back to the dealer, he had one used Mahindra CUT on the lot. It only had five hours on it, but the plastic fender extensions were cracked at all the bends.

I couldn't tell for sure, but it had all the earmarks of a design defect. That pretty much scared me off, so I headed over to the Branson/Kioti place and ordered my 3520.

I am real happy with my decision, especially since I've learned that the Branson/Kioti dealer hauls or visits free of charge on warranty work. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif The Mahindra dealer doesn't. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I should have asked that up front. This time I got lucky. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

SnowRidge