Pricing Kubota 2230 vs. JD 2210

stevenw · Feb 6, 2004

Folks, I have 2 acres of property with 1 acre of fine manicured lawn in MA. I'm looking for a machine that can be used for mowing, bagging, snow blowing and possibly a tiller and a small landscape rake down the road. I have been looking at the Kubota 2230 and the John Deere 2210. Both are nice machines and seem to meet my needs. The property is very hilly and therefore the decision to stay with the subcompacts and a low profile. I do not need a Loader and a Backhoe due to the fact my Father (lives next door) has a New Holland TC 35. (Nice Tractor).

I have the following prices and I am trying to get an idea if these are fair market value.

Kubota 2230 $14700.00 for the Tractor, Turf tires, 54" MMM, Powered bagger and a 50" Snow blower. In addition, they quoted me a Curtis Cab with 2 sets of work lights, Hot Water Heater and Defroster Fan for $2250.00 Soft cab and $3250.00 Hard. Tractor/Imp/Soft cab $16950.00, Tractor/Imp/Hard cab $17950.00 All implements installed. Still negotiating. About 11% off MSRP.

John Deere 2210 Package deal: Tractor, Turf tires 54" MMM, Powered bagger and a 47" Snow blower w/ Curtis cab options. Tractor/Imp/Soft cab $17200.
Tractor/Imp/Hard cab $18200. They say this is as low as they can go. About 14% off MSRP. Will not move any further.

Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks, Steve

BillG_in_TX · Feb 6, 2004

I can't comment on the specific prices, but other posts and this web page indicate that 15% off of MSRP on B-series Kubotas is a good price, and that 20% off is a great price. That being said, MA is more expensive than TX and other areas for a lot of things, including tractors.

My impression from reading JD Buying threads is that 20% off of MSRP is good, 25% off is great. Again, pricing is regional, so your 11% and 14% might well be considered "good" or even "great" in MA.

Henro · Feb 6, 2004

<font color="blue"> I have 2 acres of property with 1 acre of fine manicured lawn in MA </font>

"Fine manicured lawn" scares the grass seed out of me! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I could not help but think for a fine yard you need something other than a tractor to cut it. I have a bx2200, and it cuts my yard just fine, but I don't have a fine yard...just a yard... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Almost sounds like a good subject for a seperate posting. When I think of a really nice lawn, I think ZTR or some other machine designed specifically for grass cutting.

For all those other things, you are going to love whatever tractor you end up with.

Hambone · Feb 7, 2004

Just curious as why you would not go with the bigger Mid Mount Mower. 60" Kubota or 62" with the JD. It makes it easier to cut around objects as the deck sticks out farther.

stevenw · Feb 7, 2004

Hey Bill from PA, Thanks for the advise on the ZTR. Here is the situation.
I have been looking for the ultimate machine to do my lawn, bag grass,
leaves and snow blow. I have allot of driveway and as I said earlier a very
thick green lawn. Mulching leaves clumps even with a demo ZTR I tried so I'm
forced to bag. I looked at the Walker, Toro and the Scag with the rear
discharge and the integrated bagger. Great machines but price out around
8200 to 10200 in this area. Then you add the snow blower and a heated cab
and your up around 12500.00 - 14500.00 and you have no rear PTO and 3 point
hitch. I have asked around and read many threads hat folks are pleased with
the cut quality on the sub compacts and therefore my decision to shy away
from the ZTR's They have gas engines (Walker offers a diesel moocho $$$) and
I just believe the compact will have a greater life expectancy and
durability. If I were Bill Gates, I would buy both the ZTR with a nice open
cab for those warm New England summer day's and a compact with a heated cab
and snow blower for those snowy/chilly New England winters...but I'm not so
I need to compromise a little and stay within a budget. Down the road I can
see myself getting a ZTR but way down the road.

Steve from Indiana, You asked why the 54: deck over the 60" or 62". Both
dealers recommended the smaller MMM because of the description of my
property. I told them it was hilly (rolling like) and they thought the
smaller mowers would cause less scalping. I am definitely interested if
anyone has experiences with this type go mowing and terrain. The cost to
move up is minimal.

Bill from TX. I have read many threads on the different discounts around the
country. It seams as MA dealers don't want to budge much. When I first
started looking a year ago, I was told list price and that they would throw
in some extra's...didn't amount to much. I had to go to other States and
bargain locally from there. Good thing I'm not in a rush. This is worse than
buying a car. I don't mind paying for a quality product but I really hate
overpaying.

Thanks all for the advise and comments. Keep them coming.

Henro · Feb 7, 2004

<font color="blue"> I told them it was hilly (rolling like) and they thought the smaller mowers would cause less scalping. </font>

One thought that came to mind is that the 60" kubota deck has a "self adjusting" feature that the 54" does not have. I don't remember exactly what it does /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif but I think it is worth something.

You might try getting a dealer to demo whatever tractor you get serious in, before you buy one.

I feel like Hambone, having a wider deck is a positive as long as you don't have narrow spaces to mow/drive in between. A wider deck leaves a smaller uncut circle when you turn, and also makes it MUCH easier to cut close to things. I would not be happy with less than the 60" deck I have on my BX.

I don't think I have any major issues with scalping in my yard, and it is "rolling" to the extent that it is almost bumpy. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I have been keeping my cutting height about 3.5 inches [no lower than 3].

Keep in mind that to me "scalping" means when the green is gone and I see brown... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

bigpete · Feb 7, 2004

I usually err on the side of recommending something bigger, so this is a rarity where I think you would be very happy with one of the bigger garden tractors. The key is that you mentioned you don't need a loader or have much work off the back of the tractor.

The JD X series will cost you almost as much as the 2210, but it is a much smoother, premium mowing machine. 1 acre to mow, snow to blow, and a rake really doesn't justify the CUT. Just my $ 0.025 worth. Make sure you look at all you options. I used a JD 445 for a couple of years and found the mowing capabilities were better for finer lawn work.

thcri · Feb 8, 2004

Steve,

I don't ever want to bad mouth any product but I am going to caution you on the Kubota 54" mower deck. I agree with Henro that the 60" is a much better deck even if you have hills and are worried about scalping. In just about every post I can remember about the 54" mower deck from Kubota was not the best. It is my understanding the 60" is far superior.

just thinking here

murph

stevenw · Feb 8, 2004

Bigpete, I did look at the X595 and it's a great machine and probably would do everything I need BUT!...check out the best price I got. The discounted package price on the X595 w/54 mower,3bag powerflow,47"snowblower,rear pto,3pt hitch, Softcab $19500, Hardcab $20400. Big difference from the 2210 pricing. (2200.00 more and no 36 month 0% financing) I don't see how they sell these things.

stevenw · Feb 8, 2004

Folks, your comments on the larger MM deck make sense. I wonder if they would let me demo a 60" or 62" deck on my property? That means I have to wait until late April...isn't any grass growing here in February! Thanks for the suggestions...keep them coming.
Anybody have anything to say about the pricing discounts here in New England. These dealers just don't seem desperate to sell anything. Both Kubota and JD dealers have about 5+ of these things hanging around there lots. Keep the comments coming. This WEB site is addicting!. All, thanks for all the help.