LS or Kubota

[LS Tractor Owner]

Yes, but the used market seems to be even more higher priced than the new market. Now, IF you can find a suitable unit, is it pristine condition or has it been used / abused and has hidden problems?

Warranties beyond the first 2 years cover only the drivetrain and emissions. Look at the 'fine print' (if you can find it), there are many exclusions to both of those components.

 

[jyoutz]

I have to ask, Johannesburg MI is a rather small and incredibly random place in Michigan to choose for an example unless you live there. Are you a local also?


So as to not totally derail this thread, I'll add my 2 cents. Unless you're dead set on buying new, look at lightly used 2-4 year old units which most will still have warranty left. I picked up a 2019 massey 1740m Hydro cab for just under $24k out the door a few weeks back. All the quotes I'd gotten from local dealers were $38-42k for a new 35-40hp cab Hydro with loader and front blower. So even with ordering the mid pto kit and front blower, I'm still $8-12k under buying new.

That’s rather rare today. Most of the used units I looked at before buying new last year were not much less than new.

 

[Torvy]

Didn't Dolly Parton sing a song about that or something similar a few decades ago?

I prefer the advice from the Stones...Paint it Black.

 

[rScotty]

SNIP...... Unless you're dead set on buying new, look at lightly used 2-4 year old units which most will still have warranty left. I picked up a 2019 massey 1740m Hydro cab for just under $24k out the door a few weeks back. All the quotes I'd gotten from local dealers were $38-42k for a new 35-40hp cab Hydro with loader and front blower. So even with ordering the mid pto kit and front blower, I'm still $8-12k under buying new.

It took me a lot of years of being involved with mechanical things to to figure out that buying near new with some warranty left was the "sweet spot" for our own mechanical & vehicle purchases. We've bought our last 3 cars, 2 trucks, and two tractors that way.

That gets me the largest dollar piece of depreciation, benefit from the work the original owner has done dealing with accessories & any manufacturing issues, and there is still a bit of warranty for comfort.
"Near new" also typically comes with complete service records and the manuals are all there.

Plus there is still discussion online about new and recent models as people discover things they like or don't.
rScotty

 

[5030]

I operate the same way, let the first owner/buyer/leasee take the depreciation hit and then buy when the factory warranty is still in force. I don't care if some stranger sat in the seat one bit.

 

[rScotty]

I operate the same way, let the first owner/buyer/leasee take the depreciation hit and then buy when the factory warranty is still in force. I don't care if some stranger sat in the seat one bit.

Amen to that.
What's embarrasing is how long it took me to figure out buying that way was best for us.

It's not just the money savings, all the rest of it is just as important - more so, if it is something we plan to keep.

Like anything, it helps to understand what it is you are buying. If it's an area I'm not knowledgeable about, I do the same as is common practice for fuying houses, boats, land, and airplanes - I hire a professional surveyor to give me another perspective. In fact, I'm doing that more and more these days.
rScotty

 

[TimberFarm]

Yes, but the used market seems to be even more higher priced than the new market. Now, IF you can find a suitable unit, is it pristine condition or has it been used / abused and has hidden problems?

Warranties beyond the first 2 years cover only the drivetrain and emissions. Look at the 'fine print' (if you can find it), there are many exclusions to both of those components.

Biggest thing I noticed when looking at used machines that really took me by surprise:
Almost without exception, dealers post up photos of the used tractors and they are absolutely filthy! I was shocked that here is a dealer asking top dollar and the tractor looks like somebody just dug it of the mud. They take a photo to show hours and you can't even see the numbers clearly because there is so much dirt on the dash itself. Then they have the nerve to say, " Really clean one here. Get it now before it's too late!"
I know tractors are getting dirty because they are used in dirt. But a one or two year old machine as rough as the majority looked, tells me who ever had this first beat the crap out of it. Makes wonder if they ever even checked a fluid level, let alone changed it. I would never in a million years try to sell something without cleaning it up.
Couple that with the high price wanted, and it just pushed me to go new.

 

[ptsg]

Biggest thing I noticed when looking at used machines that really took me by surprise:
Almost without exception, dealers post up photos of the used tractors and they are absolutely filthy! I was shocked that here is a dealer asking top dollar and the tractor looks like somebody just dug it of the mud. They take a photo to show hours and you can't even see the numbers clearly because there is so much dirt on the dash itself. Then they have the nerve to say, " Really clean one here. Get it now before it's too late!"
I know tractors are getting dirty because they are used in dirt. But a one or two year old machine as rough as the majority looked, tells me who ever had this first beat the crap out of it. Makes wonder if they ever even checked a fluid level, let alone changed it. I would never in a million years try to sell something without cleaning it up.
Couple that with the high price wanted, and it just pushed me to go new.

We can also look at it the other way. A washed and cleaned tractor can hide a lot of stuff too. Specially leaks and even cracked housings since it's hard to spot the leakage.

 

[IndyJay]

4 wheel drive is overrated you are not living until only 1 is on the ground lol

Remember to leave the brake pedal link off so that you can brake to get traction to the one still on the ground. Very important in these situations. You still want to at least feel like you still have some control.

 

[IndyJay]

My foot sure don't like the Kubota pedal push
with the toes and to back up down with the heel
The two pedals side by side made my foot very
happy. No time to condition my foot to something
it don't like!

willky

The reason some kids today can't drive a stick... they looked down and saw three pedals and realized they only had two feet... they thought they were being pranked.