Buying Advice Looking at a cheap?? TC29 need advice!

[Doc_Bob]

I hope you are successful with the demo; however, if the salesman knows you are considering a new tractor, he may be slow to let you "borrow" the used tractor. It depends on which he will make the most money. If he can make more money on a new tractor, he may try to negotiate you toward that sale. You can't blame him for that.

A "good" dealer will let him do the demo. If he buys the used tractor he makes money and if does not like the used tractor, he has the "trust" of the buyer who I would guess would be much more likely to buy his new tractor from a dealer who went the extra mile. At least, that is what is supposed to happen.
Bob

 

[Dafixer]

Well, here's the update.
I had a chance to talk to the previous owner again. He said that he did all his own maintenance, never had it at a dealer. I really believe that his idea of maintenance and mine are two totally different (his being 0). After looking at the tractor again, I don't think there was ever a lot of maintenance put into this machine. There didn't appear to be any grease on any fitting, most looked bone dry just like the loader joints. The salesman had told me that this tractor hadn't even been washed yet so it should still be somewhat greasy.
I think based on this that I'm passing. I figure I've got a couple months to look around and I wouldn't mind paying a little more for something that is in better condition.
Thanks for every body's help! This is only the first one after all!

 

[erosol]

Can you take pictures of this tractor and let us all see what it looks like?

 

[Doc_Bob]

There didn't appear to be any grease on any fitting, most looked bone dry just like the loader joints. The salesman had told me that this tractor hadn't even been washed yet so it should still be somewhat greasy.
I think based on this that I'm passing.

You did the right thing. The right tractor will show up.
Bob

 

[schmism]

ask if the dealer maintained it?

if he did, as to see the service records for it.

I bought a used machine of roughtly the same vintage although mine shows WAY fewer hrs on the dash which is why i was willing to take the gamble dispite its obious lack of mantinace.

I figured with my dillance to maintaince and light "homeowner" use it would last me a good number of years regarless of its "rough" start.

Put another way, if the dealer is intrested in moving the machine, you should be able to work quite a deal with maintaince i would think. (i dought the dealer gave the guy much trade in on it)

so say you bought it for 8K.... it "lasts" for (a relitivly short) 5-7 years. then you buy another one for 10-15K thats still less than a brand new 25-30K machine

 

[dgl24087]

ask if the dealer maintained it?

3 posts prior, he said it was owner maintained, no dealer maintenance ever done.

 

[Dafixer]

I'm looking elsewhere for now.
This was the first NH I'd looked at and I was impressed. Up until now I had looked at Kubota, Branson, Massy, and some grey market. I'd like to find something used in the 8k - 10k range, but I've been quoted as low as 14k for a new NH TC30 with loader, 15K for Branson and 14-15k for Kubota. So, decisions decisions...

 

[mjcbluridg]

The lack of maintenance over the course of 1700 hours would worry me to death. The fact that the dealer would sell it (at a profit) for only $8000 is some indication of what they thought it was worth. It has been my experience that you end up with your best deal (the one that you can be happy about for a long time) only after you let a few "good" deals slip through your fingers. There are plenty of ****-retentive tractor owners out there who will make wonderful "first/prior owners" of the right tractor you end up buying. Good luck.

 

[daTeacha]

There are plenty of ****-retentive tractor owners out there .....

I wonder if I should be insulted or feel complimented?

 

[mjcbluridg]

dT - definately complimented. I'm just about as AR and obsessive compulsive as they come. That's one of the things I like about this site - it's full of people like me. If people like you didn't care so much about the subject matter, this site couldn't exist. -mjc