BruceNorthEast
Bronze Member
Hi guys.
I’m weighing in here to get your opinions before I finally make my decision.
To recap why I need a tractor (those that have read my earlier posts, please skip on down to the machines/prices section):
I’ve got 20 acres of mostly open area, with maybe two or three in woods. There’s about 13 or so in hay and corn, and I’m letting an area dairy farm take everything – they give me four dozen square bales for our 1.5 horses.
I need to keep my 600’ gravel driveway open in the winter (plow truck just died), and in decent shape during the warmer months.
I have several small to moderate landscaping projects that are waiting.
I need to move some manure/dirt & other material from time to time.
I’d like to pull an occasional log out of the woods or a bucket load of split.
I want to keep all the growth around the borders of the fields in check.
I’d another option besides my push mower when my little riding mower doesn’t want to cut my 1.5 acre lawn.
I’d like the option of playing with a little real farm work down the road…
To date everything I’ve done has this either been by hand, wheel barrow, ATV & little wagon or my pickup.
Now, I’ve spent most of the last few months looking and researching.
I was shocked at the resale prices of used machines, especially what I consider to be a must have: MFWD/4WD. I also figured I needed around 35 PTO HP, meaning a 40 to 45 hp machine.
Most of what I’ve looked at has either been priced so close to new that the new machines financing makes the older machines look like bad choices, or tired old units in need of servicing.
This steadily drove my planned-on-price up further and further. Finally I decided to start looking a little smaller and came across what I’m currently considering – but then I stumbled onto a really great deal on what I really want.
What I really want will completely blow my savings, but the monthly payments will be only a little more than the used machine (maybe 20% more). Used will blow about 75% of my savings.
Worst of all, this really great deal is on a large established dealership that is only fifteen minutes down the road.
All of the anxiety for having what I really want just within the edge of m reach has cause me a lot of lost sleep these past few weeks. I’m hoping you guys can help me make this decision – or at least help prevent me from missing something that could cause a significant mistake.
I’m considering a used New Holland 1920. It is nine years old and has 900 hours. It was meticulously cared for and looks clean. This dealer, also a very reasonable distance from me, wants $14k and will not budge. I believe that this is a fair deal, because it is a tough little workhorse, but not a great deal.
Now for the temptation: I’ve always liked the boomers, and the local dealer has zero hours TC45 that he wants to move. It is not the deluxe model, so it has been passed by for it’s sexier siblings. But it is all I want. It has a 16LA FEL & 72” bucket & chain hooks, and loaded R4s. Because it’s been sitting and it is nearing the end of the year, they’ll take $21k, Yes you read correct. Sick isn’t it.
Both of these machines are 12x12 synch’d shuttle shift.
The used machine will have about 80% the same payments as new (though not for quite so long), and cost nearly as much down – but it wont completely empty my savings account (just most of it).
My wife wants me to save the money and take the used machine, but she won't be mad if I go new. I am split, the used machine makes a lot of sense because this is my first tractor and will leave a small savings (unless things go wrong). But I fear I’ll never come close to a deal like this again on the machine I think I really want – especially not from a local dealer (the local dealerships average about 1K-1.5K more than the ones four plus hours away). And because of dealer financing, used versions of the TC45 would have to be rediculously good deals to compete.
Either way, the macine I buy will spend the winter under a tarp, and move into a run-in shed come spring.
Now you understand my dilemma. Please help me spend or save my money! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Bruce.
I’m weighing in here to get your opinions before I finally make my decision.
To recap why I need a tractor (those that have read my earlier posts, please skip on down to the machines/prices section):
I’ve got 20 acres of mostly open area, with maybe two or three in woods. There’s about 13 or so in hay and corn, and I’m letting an area dairy farm take everything – they give me four dozen square bales for our 1.5 horses.
I need to keep my 600’ gravel driveway open in the winter (plow truck just died), and in decent shape during the warmer months.
I have several small to moderate landscaping projects that are waiting.
I need to move some manure/dirt & other material from time to time.
I’d like to pull an occasional log out of the woods or a bucket load of split.
I want to keep all the growth around the borders of the fields in check.
I’d another option besides my push mower when my little riding mower doesn’t want to cut my 1.5 acre lawn.
I’d like the option of playing with a little real farm work down the road…
To date everything I’ve done has this either been by hand, wheel barrow, ATV & little wagon or my pickup.
Now, I’ve spent most of the last few months looking and researching.
I was shocked at the resale prices of used machines, especially what I consider to be a must have: MFWD/4WD. I also figured I needed around 35 PTO HP, meaning a 40 to 45 hp machine.
Most of what I’ve looked at has either been priced so close to new that the new machines financing makes the older machines look like bad choices, or tired old units in need of servicing.
This steadily drove my planned-on-price up further and further. Finally I decided to start looking a little smaller and came across what I’m currently considering – but then I stumbled onto a really great deal on what I really want.
What I really want will completely blow my savings, but the monthly payments will be only a little more than the used machine (maybe 20% more). Used will blow about 75% of my savings.
Worst of all, this really great deal is on a large established dealership that is only fifteen minutes down the road.
All of the anxiety for having what I really want just within the edge of m reach has cause me a lot of lost sleep these past few weeks. I’m hoping you guys can help me make this decision – or at least help prevent me from missing something that could cause a significant mistake.
I’m considering a used New Holland 1920. It is nine years old and has 900 hours. It was meticulously cared for and looks clean. This dealer, also a very reasonable distance from me, wants $14k and will not budge. I believe that this is a fair deal, because it is a tough little workhorse, but not a great deal.
Now for the temptation: I’ve always liked the boomers, and the local dealer has zero hours TC45 that he wants to move. It is not the deluxe model, so it has been passed by for it’s sexier siblings. But it is all I want. It has a 16LA FEL & 72” bucket & chain hooks, and loaded R4s. Because it’s been sitting and it is nearing the end of the year, they’ll take $21k, Yes you read correct. Sick isn’t it.
Both of these machines are 12x12 synch’d shuttle shift.
The used machine will have about 80% the same payments as new (though not for quite so long), and cost nearly as much down – but it wont completely empty my savings account (just most of it).
My wife wants me to save the money and take the used machine, but she won't be mad if I go new. I am split, the used machine makes a lot of sense because this is my first tractor and will leave a small savings (unless things go wrong). But I fear I’ll never come close to a deal like this again on the machine I think I really want – especially not from a local dealer (the local dealerships average about 1K-1.5K more than the ones four plus hours away). And because of dealer financing, used versions of the TC45 would have to be rediculously good deals to compete.
Either way, the macine I buy will spend the winter under a tarp, and move into a run-in shed come spring.
Now you understand my dilemma. Please help me spend or save my money! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Bruce.
