Resale value

RSKY · May 29, 2010

I am looking to buy a tractor sometime this summer. I started looking used but what I can find in my original price range is not in very good shape. A less than ten year old Kubota, Deere, etc. in good shape seems to bring more than it cost new. My question is, if any of you have sold a Kubota recently, what model was it and what did you get for it?

bp fick · May 29, 2010

So much depends on local micro market conditions, not all areas are the same. Patience is a virtue. The people who lose a job, or must take a transfer, etc, are most likely to take a larger hit, making it a better deal for you. Keep looking, CraigsLook is a good tool. Just wade through all the scam garbage. No phone number, and "shipped from ____" is the give away, along with the too low price.

When a tractor sells new for $15000 it just looks expensive at $10000 a few years later. Sometimes it is just the perspective of the buyer who expected to see 50% off. Those kind of deals are indeed rare. Many first time buyers think $4-5 K ought to get them a sharp machine. In reality, that's quite difficult. So, what's your "original price range"?

poldies4 · May 29, 2010

BP is spot on. I searched literally for years, not believing that a ten year old tractor was only a few thousand off new. I thought exactly $5000 would buy a nice scut. In the first two years I found one, Yanmar with loader 200 miles away for 5 grand. Didn't have the cash at the time, so the next few years I found out that lightning generally doesn't strike twice. Never found another at that price point that wasn't home made. My wife, in her infinite wisdom said, and I quote "if you are going to spend ten on a used one, I'd rather have you spend twelve new and get the warranty". I am indeed a lucky man. I hope to see a thread soon that you found the deal of a lifetime. Good luck!!

bp fick · May 29, 2010

Yup, when first going used tractor shopping we have to re-train our thinking with the mentality often shaped by years of used car buying. Think of it this way.

Since a tractor lasts twice as long as a car, thus it depreciates only half as fast. Makes sense, right? (in actuality, it is closer to factor 3)

Thus, our mentality needs to be that the used tractor is twice as expensive to thought process conditioned to think in terms of auto depreciation. It's that simple. Once your mind gets wrapped around tractors, not cars, one kind of adjusts one's expectations to the reality and comes into better focus. It can be rather deflating at first.

Arky217 · May 29, 2010

I also agree with BP; to get a good buy used, it takes patience and staying on top of whatever sources you're using, Craigs list, local papers, etc.

I looked for 6 months for a used tractor, and then spent another six months pricing new while still looking for used.

I came within a cats whisker of buying new when I caught a Craigs list ad the day it came out.
The tractor was 100 miles away, but I had researched enough by then to know it was what I was looking for and seemed to be a good buy as well.

What I got was a Kubota L4200, 45hp, shuttle shift, 4WD, LA680 loader, R4 tires, 2 remotes, with 700 hrs, for the price of $8000.

Certainly not new, but about 1/3 the price of an equivalent new one.

Here's a link to some pics I posted of the 4200.

TripleR · May 29, 2010

I agree with all of the above, or you can do what I did and go shopping for an entirely new different model and trip over one just traded in:thumbsup:

Seriously, good used tractors are at a premium in our area and you will find no "bargains". I paid a fair price for mine, but it sure was no steal as the dealer knew if I didn't buy it, it would be in someone elses barn/shed in a day or two.

crazyal · May 29, 2010

My advice, if you're like me, is buy new now. Don't wait, just buy. I started off looking for a good used B7800 with lowish hours for $10k. Three years later the waffling got the best of me and now I have a 4240 with a front mount blower on order for $32k. Maybe I'm not a good example, unless it's of what not to do.

Every good used tractor I found was either sold or too far away. All the time looking gave me more time to read up and seat time on friends tractors and a couple of dealer demo days. Of course that lead to "for a few dollars more I could also do this". It's a disease I tell you. That of course lead to looking a new class of used tractors.

Honestly I'm not sure why used prices are as high as they are. With 0% financing on a new tractors vs. 7% or more for used it quickly makes a couple of thousand in price difference not really worth it when you figure in the finance charge and the hour difference.

TripleR · May 29, 2010

crazyal said:
My advice, if you're like me, is buy new now. Don't wait, just buy. I started off looking for a good used B7800 with lowish hours for $10k. Three years later the waffling got the best of me and now I have a 4240 with a front mount blower on order for $32k. Maybe I'm not a good example, unless it's of what not to do.

Every good used tractor I found was either sold or too far away. All the time looking gave me more time to read up and seat time on friends tractors and a couple of dealer demo days. Of course that lead to "for a few dollars more I could also do this". It's a disease I tell you. That of course lead to looking a new class of used tractors.

Honestly I'm not sure why used prices are as high as they are. With 0% financing on a new tractors vs. 7% or more for used it quickly makes a couple of thousand in price difference not really worth it when you figure in the finance charge and the hour difference.

No, oftentimes, it doesn't make a lot of sense. It "can" make sense if you pay cash and find the right tractor quickly. If I hadn't found this one, I was going to order a new one and go with the 0% financing. I sure couldn't stand to wait years.

Of course there will be a difference if a person "needs" a tractor or merely "wants" one. I "wanted" my first Kubota and took years deciding what to buy, but I "needed" my last one and did not have the luxury of taking the time to find the right model for the best price, I just "lucked" into it.

FlyingDutchman · May 30, 2010

I jumped on a BX 24 a couple of years ago. It had 57 hours on it, had wheel weights, buckets forks and a block heater for $14,5. The best quote I had prior to that for a new one was $16,5 plus tax.

thetooth · May 30, 2010

the used tractor market is tough . i am looking at a 10 year old B7500 ( 500 hours ) with a FEL/mower right now for $9000.00 . that's only $4000.00 or $5000.00 less then when it was new . but to find a comparable new tractor i am in the $14000.00 to $17000.00 range . i am also checking out a used 2009 BX for 12500.00 ( 100 hours ) .

so is it better to buy new ?

it all comes done to what you are comfortable with budget wise . when i first started looking at tractors i was looking at new ones . so i started with the BX series then for only $1000.00 more i could get into the B series , but the best value in the B series the sales man said is the B2620 which is only $1000.00 more than the B2320 , but hold on i was looking at that cheaper one !

it's defintely a tough choice to find a good balance of budget and value . you could always wait to next year to buy this years models a little bit cheaper

. but then with price increase are you really saving :confused2: .

hopefully i will be able to figure out what it is i expect from the tractor and my budget .

I will give a big thank you to Brady Barlow for all his help . He is being a huge help in my search for a tractor that will fit my needs which are ever changing