Lift capacity is one of the main reasons I went with the LS. To get the same performance with the Kubota or JD I had to invest a lot more. And even if I wanted to spend the extra money, only the LS would fit into my storage building (limited to door clearance of 94" IIRC). I wanted to be able to lift a half cord of wood. Lift height was not important in my application. I never need to lift the maximum load more than a foot or two. Also, I wanted a cab, and cabs on the Kubota and JD are much more expensive.
The LS is not perfect. It is a bit annoying to wait two minutes at idle to shut off the engine. (I think that is due to the turbo). Getting at the oil filter is a PITA. The AC is marginal on very hot days. But overall, the LS has proven a good value that meets my needs. But I do not know what I do not know. I am not experienced. A low hour operator (210 in three years)
For new owners reading this...bear that in mind. Guys with over 3000 hours of seat time have a different perspective. What may be minor inconveniences for a hobby user like I are significant for them...ie stuff like the responsiveness of the FEL controls or HST+. What takes me 70 hours to do with the LS, they might accomplish in 50 hours with a Kubota. Even if I had the better machine, due to my lack of skill, I might still take 65 hours so the advantages of better are less. If they had to use an LS, they might need 60 hours to do 50 hours of work. 20% more time matters if you spend 250 or more hours a year on a tractor.
When I went through the buying process, I weighed those factors. I estimated about 100-120 hours a year of use (based on my limited experience with the JD855 I had). It made the investment in a Kubota difficult to justify.
After three years of ownership, I have no regrets. I saved over $8000 on the machine and another $3000 to modify the storage building door for additional clearance.
