JD sabre 1538 Good buy???

[eightpilot]

Have a friend going through a divorce so he's selling his tractor. It's a 1998 JD Sabre 1538 in absolute immaculate shape. It was his grandpa's since new and has very little use. He is asking $650 for it and am wondering what you guys think of this machine and the sabre line in general. I have about 1.5 acres of lawn to mow and have been using a push mower for the last few years. I would like to have a tractor for other utility uses as well. All light duty stuff like plowing and pulling firewood around with a small trailer. Any info on what i'm getting into would be great... Thanks. 8

 

[bontai_Joe]

In my opinion his asking price is high for a 10 year old Sabre. I'd think $350-400 would be more realistic unless it comes with a bagger, and is in immaculate condition. The Sabres became the Deere "L" series (the ones you see at the box stores). If by plowing you mean snow plowing it's a little light duty for any serious snow, if you mean garden plowing, it won't do it at all. For pulling a trailer, the rough rule of thumb is not to tow any more weight than the tractor itself weighs, approx. 500 pounds in this case.

 

[mikim]

I ran a sabre on my lawn for 10 years -- paid almost $2k for it new -- but then I broke the deck on it and didn't want to spend that much to repair that old a machine. It's in the country now sans deck as a run-around tractor for my grandson. If it's that good a condition - even though $650 seems high to me ....(you can't buy Sabre anymore) .....I'm sure it would be a good machine.