New vs. Used 3240

[davemack]

I'm new here and it took me a while to get registered, but I have been reading all the posts on the 3400 and 3240 tractors. I went to a local dealer this weekend and got quotes for both of these. I was quoted $17827 for the 3400 with HST, R4 tires and a LA463 FEL. The price included tax and filling of the tires with water/antifreeze. That seems about $1000 more than I have seen posted here a few times. He wouldn't negotiate on price and wouldn't throw in anything else.

The quote for the 3240 with the same options was $20,389.

I located a local guy who has a new 3240 he wants to sell. It has less than 1 hour on it. Seems he had a shed fire that destroyed the shed and two tractors and he got two new ones out of the insurance claim. He decided he wanted to sell the 3240. He is asking $16000. It comes with R4 tires, a Woods 1009 FEL and a manual transmission.

I would really like a HST transmission, but this seems too good a deal to pass up. Just wondering what the downsides might be with buying the used tractor as opposed to new. Obviously, I'd be missing the zero percent financing, but that's not a big concern to me. The local dealer said that he would service it and cover any warrantee issues. Am I missing anything here or is this a pretty good deal?

Thanks, Dave

 

[claridon]

Welcome to TBN!
You'll get a lot of good advice from the "experts" around here.

My reaction to what you post is that I see a huge red flag going up.
I don't understand how two new tractors rise out of the ashes of a "shed fire". I'm also surprised to see an L3240FST and then have it equipped with a Woods FEL. Strange combination on a brand new tractor.
The whole story would make me very suspicious. I'd be very careful about verifying the validity of ownership before you do anything.

 

[davemack]

You're right, I have already got a lot of good advice from my reading here.

Why is the manual transmission and loader combination seem odd? Because the transmission is a lower cost option and the Woods loader is a higher cost option?

As far as ownership, I am going to ask to see proof of purchase. I figure I need that for warrantee purposes anyway.

 

[TalonDancer]

...I don't understand how two new tractors rise out of the ashes of a "shed fire". I'm also surprised to see an L3240FST and then have it equipped with a Woods FEL. Strange combination on a brand new tractor.
The whole story would make me very suspicious. I'd be very careful about verifying the validity of ownership before you do anything.

I agree. A quick check of the Woods site didn't show a "Woods 1009 FEL" as a current model

AFAIK most insurance companies payoff in cash, not tractors. So why would this guy buy a brand new L3240, with an older model Woods FEL and then try to sell this odd package at a steep discount? It doesn't add up.

FWIW I'm not knocking Woods. They make good stuff.

Talon Dancer

 

[davemack]

OK, I went out to meet this guy this afternoon, and check out the tractor. The seller was an older gentleman and seemed to be a very nice and honest guy. The story is that he had a large shed/barn burn down. In it was two tractors, a couple of antique cars and a lot of other stuff of value to this man.

He had full replacement value on the contents, and he took the insurance payoff and bought two tractors about 4 months ago. He decided to sell one of these (he has three other older tractors), so he placed adds for both of the tractors, intending to sell which ever one that sold first. By the time I responded to the add, he had already sold the first one, and at this point, doesn't really care if he sells the Kubota or not. The guy is a collector of sorts; he had 6 antique cars in the barn with the Kubota, including a model T Ford.

Back to the tractor, it was in like new condition with 1.5 hours on the clock. The loader is a Woods 1009 with the quick release feature. It has the manual transmission and I don't know if it is the gst or dt, but I can describe it. It had a 4 speed selector and another selector for high or low range. On the column is a shifter for forward, reverse or neutral.

I actually found this transmission to be more familiar than the hst I drove last weekend. My old tractor is a Alice Chalmers WD, so I'm not used to much sophistication. I'm considering not even paying the extra for the hts.

The seller told me that he paid $17000 for the tractor, including tax. He won't budge on price, so I am still going to talk to some more dealers. If I can get one for that price with the free financing, I would be ahead.

 

[marinegrunt]

I just got 3240 with dt and a kubota fel and paid 16,900. It has ag tires, and the R4's were a $600 upgrade.

 

[davemack]

So, is the transmission I described ad DT or GST?

 

[Rebel]

I think it would be a good idea to upgrade to the LA724 FEL, IMHO it is better suited to the size tractor you are considering. Do it right the first time
I don't know the lifting capacity of the Woods 1009 FEL.
The Kubota LA724 is rated right around 1500 lbs.

 

[TalonDancer]

So, is the transmission I described ad DT or GST?

DT

A GST has a single lever on the right side of the driver. It has 12 forward (8 reverse gears) that you select by just pushing/pulling the lever forward/backward. You "walk through the gears" one at a time without using the clutch. There is a slight pause between gear changes.

Talon Dancer

 

[davemack]

Thanks, Talon Dancer. Is there really any advantage of the gst or hst over the dt, or is this just personal preference? I've just done a short test drive with the hst and dt, and seems I have more control with the dt.

 

[TalonDancer]

Thanks, Talon Dancer. Is there really any advantage of the gst or hst over the dt, or is this just personal preference? I've just done a short test drive with the hst and dt, and seems I have more control with the dt.

Here's a hint. The L3240 is the only Grand L 40 sold with a DT tranny. IOW The smallest Grand L + the lowest price tranny = lowest price Grand L Kabota can sell.

You will need to tell us more about your plans for your tractor to get anything more than generic advice.

As you can see in my signiture, I have a GL3240 with HST Plus. After nearly 200 hours I am still glad I got the HST Plus. IMO the main reason to get a Grand L (vs say an L3400) is to be able to get the HST Plus. You can read more about my experiences with the HST Plus in this thread.

Talon Dancer

 

[davemack]

My main use is keeping up a 1/4 mile of gravel road and various uses for the FEL. Mostly light work, moving mulch, gravel, large rocks and general lifting.

 

[marinegrunt]

The dt has a little more power, and imo more control. We also have a m5400 I like the regular trans better. The 3240 is set up different than the 5400 so I still move the wrong lever. Once I train my brain I think the layout is good.
If your not spending 40 hrs a week on the thing, than why spend more money for a auto.

 

[watchdawg]

My main use is keeping up a 1/4 mile of gravel road and various uses for the FEL. Mostly light work, moving mulch, gravel, large rocks and general lifting.

I do a lot of loader work so I went with a HST just for ease of use. I've used a GST quite a bit and I'd prefer that to a DT. A DT will work fine but it may take more experience to be smooth. I've used tractors for years but until about 5 years ago they were all DT. Now that I've had considerable experience with GST and HST I'll personally never go back to a DT.

 

[rpraymond]

Hey Davemack,
I too went from an Allis-Chalmers to a Kubota but mine was a D17. It was a real nice unit but snowblowing is much, much nicer with heat! I still have a little A-C D10 but it never get used much. Good luck on your purchase.

 

[davemack]

Well, I made the plunge today. I got the 3240 with GST, 72" LA742 FEL, and R4 tires. Total came to $18,300. I bought it in SC (I live in NC) and there is no sales tax on tractors used for agricultural uses, so that was a nice savings. They deliver it tomorrow. Guess I'll have to sneak out of work a little early tomorrow to come home and play.

 

[TalonDancer]

Congratulations! You're going to love your L3240. The GST is a very nice tranny. You'll be glad you got the LA724 the first time you lift a very full 72" bucket of wet material

Talon Dancer

ps if you don't post pics by Monday, no one will answer your questions anymore

 

[Double Orange]

ps if you don't post pics by Monday, no one will answer your questions anymore

You have till monday only if you have dial up!!
If you hi-speed/cable pictures are due Sat/AM

Congrats!

 

[davemack]

No prob with the pics. I got to get a ribbon for this thing. Did I mention I got this for my wife for a Christmas present?

 

[TalonDancer]

...Did I mention I got this for my wife for a Christmas present?

What ever you do, DO NOT give her the receipt.

Wife's have habit of EXCHANGING things their husbands bought them for Christmas. You could end up with "a tractor of the wrong color"

Talon Dancer