Need Help Deciding Between Kubota BX23S and LS MT125

[RomeK2]

Greetings Fellow Tractor Folks,

You are all awesome! I am a member of other forums i.e. Chevy, Ford, RV etc. but TractorByNet is hands down the best! It is the most informative, helpful and complete forum I've ever visited. It covers the whole gamut and then some!

It's been about three years since I've really gone onto this site. I sold my 2008 BX25 in 2013 (and regretted it). So, now I'm shopping for another tractor. It is down to the Kubota BX23S and the LS Mt125.

I've never had any problems with my BX25 other than mice ate through one of the hoses once. I did the 50 & 100 hour service on it and I never had to service it for any failure. So, I did love my old Kubota a lot based on experience. However, I've read a lot on here regarding the bang for the buck on the LS Tractors. They appear to be nice comparable machines on paper. I am considering tractors to be more like girlfriends rather than a wife. I would only part with my wife through death. Though I guess I would part with my tractor through death as well.

Anyway, The net result in dollars is about a 3K difference on price and a free auger on the MT125 (I'm guessing $900) plus the instate tax (for the Kubota) of around $700. That's a total of about $4600 more $$ for the Kubota. The LS MT125 is 300 or 400 miles away (depending on which dealer I choose to pickup from) and no sales tax. There is a local LS dealer about 150 miles available for service. They do not carry the subcompacts or smaller type tractors but they can order it. The salesman there never followed up on his potential sales despite several attempts to solicit his offer.

The Kubota comes with the quick attach for the loader (that I really don't need) and the MT125 does not.

I originally bought my first Kubota out of state hundreds of miles away because back then the local salesmen/dealers (green and orange) were so arrogant so to speak. They would not budge a single dollar on their pricing. Today, the same local Kubota dealer came down to 20K from whatever their list price is (around $22K). I can also buy from the same place I bout my fist one for the same price. Those guys at the dealer I bought from before are a little more arrogant now than what I remember (friendly, throw in freebies and willing to negotiate for the sale).

Both units are TLB and the dealer will add a canopy, chain hook welded to front loader and work lights. I kept my original box blade just in case!

Also, I've not seen in person or tried out the LS MT125. I believe the comfort thing is not an issue for me and that I can adapt to any tractor ergonomics. I've ready about some persons on here who also bought it sight unseen and one even drove 1200 miles to buy and are very happy with the LS MT125.

I will need to give the affirmative to one of the dealers on Monday I anticipate scraping some new paint off next Saturday!

I would appreciate your thoughts especially if you have owned one or both of these tractors? Thank you.

 

[Diggin It]

The true K Cheerleaders will swear there is no comparison between the two. I didn't try the K machine enough to be able to say for sure. But I like my blue one.

If you read some of those same threads deeper, you'll see people state a significant loss of loader capacity for the quick hitch units.

With no local dealers, you're at a bit of a loss to begin with though.

That tax issue ... you know you'll be obligated to pay it direct to your state if the dealer doesn't collect it, right? Unless you can claim Farm exempt, that is.

Mine came in at below $19K for the TLBM with a 48" tiller and subsoiler.

 

[RomeK2]

With no local dealers, you're at a bit of a loss to begin with though.

I'm not sure how long you have had your blue. Have you had to use your local dealer for any issues? I guess, one of my points with the K I had, is it never needed any dealer support in the whole time I had it. I was lucky. I am wondering if the blue would hold up as well?

 

[Diggin It]

^^ About two weeks, so I'm not the one to comment on longevity. There are a few other 125 owners on the board that should be along in a day or so.

 

[Rustyiron]

With the dealer 300-400 miles away, "you gotta ask your self one thing..... do I feel lucky"? (love that movie)
Not sure if this tractor (size) is subject to today's complicated emission systems, but that seems to be an issue on a lot of today's tractors that was probably not a concern with your previous tractor. You'll hate yourself if you get one of them that has this problem with (practically) no dealer.
10-15 years ago I'd say go for it, today you more than likely will need the dealer support.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I'm not sure how long you have had your blue. Have you had to use your local dealer for any issues? I guess, one of my points with the K I had, is it never needed any dealer support in the whole time I had it. I was lucky. I am wondering if the blue would hold up as well?

Welcome RomeK2. I also live in NM and have an MT125 TLB. Now for about a year and a half, about 150 hours on the clock. Great little machine, has done everything I wanted it to do.

I'm not sure where you're located....the state is pretty big. Your profile just shows "NM". Your experience with the green and orange dealers sound exactly like mine last year. Very arrogant and not willing to deal at all. I drove 550 miles each way up to Ft. Collins to get my LS. Excellent dealer, best price out there without having to 'haggle'. Would I do it again? Absolutely. I have had no problems or issues except for a few 'factory updates' which the dealer has sent me without issue.

If your close by, I would be willing to show you the tractor in person. I have also considered selling my MT to get a much larger tractor for another property.

Overall, I am exceptionally pleased with my LS tractor, would I buy another? YES!

 

[RomeK2]

@ Rustyiron, I just looked and both tractors are Tier 4 even though I believe the requirement is for 25HP and above. These tractors are just slightly under 25HP.

@ LS mt125 owner, I am in Placitas and 497 mile from Fort Collins where I too am looking to buy (if LS). I am guessing, based on what I read about LS, is that your upgrades were for the oil plug and the 3-point hitch/rear wheel removal issues? I am 45 min. from Edgewood, I would love to see your tractor tomorrow morning or early afternoon if possible. Please let me know your availability. I'll buy breakfast or lunch! Like I stated in my post, I will be calling one of the dealers on Monday with my final decision and scraping new paint off a tractor next Saturday.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

@ Rustyiron, I just looked and both tractors are Tier 4 even though I believe the requirement is for 25HP and above. These tractors are just slightly under 25HP.

@ LS mt125 owner, I am in Placitas and 497 mile from Fort Collins where I too am looking to buy (if LS). I am guessing, based on what I read about LS, is that your upgrades were for the oil plug and the 3-point hitch/rear wheel removal issues? I am 45 min. from Edgewood, I would love to see your tractor tomorrow morning or early afternoon if possible. Please let me know your availability. I'll buy breakfast or lunch! Like I stated in my post, I will be calling one of the dealers on Monday with my final decision and scraping new paint off a tractor next Saturday.

Those were the 2 issues that were corrected, also a relay for the hydrostatic was changed. I never had a problem with the tranny, nor read of any issues with them. Was a factory service bulletin for the relay, but don't know why they replaced them. I will send you a pm with my phone number.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

PM sent.

 

[cruzenmike]

I too have been looking at these two tractors and I am also in the market for my first SCUT. The closest LS dealer (1.5 hrs away) can get me a MT125TLB for $17,300 out the door. I have a Kubota dealer 1 mile from my house. I was give a price of $19,585 for the TLB (pinned bucket), 3pt kit and 54" box blade(LB1254). So at this point the difference is only $2,285 more for the Kubota but I am also getting the 54" box blade with it. I have priced all of the subcompact tractors in the TLB configuration and all of them are priced either just below the Kubota and even above. I mean I checked RK, New Holland, Mahindra and Kioti. I have dealers for New Holland and Mahindra relatively close as well. I have been surprised by many of the positive reviews of the tractors competing against the BX23S but I have a hard time ignoring the personal experiences that my family have had with their Kubota machines and the fact that I have a 6 year warranty and a dealer a mile away that is offering free delivery and pickup for any service work. In no way am I attempting to talk you out of the MT125 because it offers an EXCEPTIONAL value for what you pay and it does have some advantages over the BX. A YouTuber has some videos of him using his MT125 and it seems very capable. I really do not think that there are any "bad" subcompacts out there, rather that the decision to purchase one over the other will likely come down to price, dealer relationship, one specific feature or capability that makes it stand out or simply the attraction to one's complete package.

Regardless of what you do, let us know how it goes with your new tractor.