Seeking feedback on Agco and related brands.

[hayden]

I’m in the early stages of exploring a Fendt Tractor. Fendt is part of Agco along with Massey, Challenger, and a variety of smaller brands. Fendt has been part of Agco for over 20 years, so I expect a stable operation at this point.

What I’m looking for is experience in dealing with Agco companies. The closest Fend dealer for me is about 5 hrs away, so buying one will be a really big risk. Any problem would be a big problem, and having the dealer visit or getting the tractor to them would be a huge deal. So I need to build confidence that the tractors are top quality, that if I need parts I can get them without drama, and that I can do most work myself.

Right now I see several yellow/red flags.

- I can’t download an operators manual. That’s really the only way to really understand everything I want to know about the tractor, and I don’t understand why a manufacturer would withhold it. I can get a manual for any of the other major brands and have spent a huge amount of time going over Deere manuals to really understand what they are offering. In 90% of the cases I know more about the tractors than the sales guys i have talked to.

- Agco has a literature web site where you can buy manuals. But it doesn’t even list the tractor model I’m interested in even thought it’s been on the market for a number of years. To me that shows a company that just doesn’t have their act together and where attention to detail is just not a priority.

-Agco also has an online parts web site, but once again the entire family of tractors that I’m considering aren’t listed. But if I search for a specific model I find parts info. So it’s in there, but not in the top level index/contents. Again, it wreaks of a disorganized company that doesn’t have their act together.

- The literature web site has a contact link if you need additional info. I filled out a request asking about the missing operators manual. I have heard nothing back after more than a week. Again, signs of a company in disarray.

- our town has a Challenger tractor, and it had some sort of a problem. Parts and skills weren’t available at the dealer that sold us the tractor, and it had to be shipped off to another dealer 6 hrs away. They didn’t have anyone who could work on it either, and we have been without the tractor for over 9 months. This says “run away” to me.

So what have owners of Agco products experienced?

 

[Hay Dude]

Hah, I knew you’d be into a Fendt!

Nothing but positive for me on my 3 AGCO’s.

I’m gettin ready to buy a 4th!

Challenger line was discontinued in 2023.
Only Massey & Fendt now.

There’s a Fendt dealer in Burlington, VT and another in Syracuse, NY.
There’s a AGCO dealer in South Londonderry, VT and another in Swandton, VT

 

[hayden]

Hah, I knew you’d be into a Fendt!

Nothing but positive for me on my 3 AGCO’s.
View attachment 2410164


I’m gettin ready to buy a 4th!

Challenger line was discontinued in 2023.
Only Massey & Fendt now.

There’s a Fendt dealer in Burlington, VT and another in Syracuse, NY.
There’s a AGCO dealer in South Londonderry, VT and another in Swandton, VT

Yes, you were right. I really liked the IVT on the Deere 6 series, but the tractor is just too big for what I need. The Fendt 200 looks to be closer in size to a Deere 5 series. But there is only so much you can tell on paper, and then you just need to be in front of one. The Deere 6m looked good on paper, but when I got next to one all I could think was NFW, this is just crazy big. It would be like stirring coffee with an excavator.

What dealer do you use in PA? I don’t see one in Burlington VT? Maybe there used to be one? Closest is central NY which is about 5 hrs drive.

 

[Hay Dude]

Deere IVT is inferior to Fendt CVT.
Don’t forget Massey has Fendt CVT and rear axle if you want to save some $$, but Fendt has nicer electronics and comfort.
I use Agriteer in Leloa, PA.

 

[hayden]

Deere IVT is inferior to Fendt CVT.
Don’t forget Massey has Fendt CVT and rear axle if you want to save some $$, but Fendt has nicer electronics and comfort.
I use Agriteer in Leloa, PA.

Thanks. The challenge I have is finding a CVT (of any make) in a physically small enough tractor. As you have pointed out everyone has them, but they typically don't show up until tractors that are much, much bigger than I need and want. The smallest Deere makes is 6M series, and that's just too big. Same with the Case Maximums or whatever they call them. Massey too. They are all 10,000lb tractors and up. Fentd seems to offer the Vario in the smallest tractor with the 200 series. But I haven't seen one in person. I'm hoping it's like a Deere 5 series - that would work for me, but not anything larger. Cost has been, and remains the other hurdle. List on the Fendt is about 50% more than a Deere 5 series. And of course dealer proximity is another huge hurdle. So Fendt would have to cut me a pretty attractive deal to get me to take the risk associated with a long distance dealer. But I'm open to exploring it, and getting a foot in the New England market might be of interest to them. I think an IVT in that 8000-9000 lb range tractor would be of interest to a lot of people. Or maybe not, and only of interest to me. It just continues to amaze me that this gap exists from about 5000 lbs to to 10000 lbs where you can only get a manual (or mostly manual, partial power shift) transmission. Too big for an HST, and too small for an IVT.

 

[Hay Dude]

If you buy a Fendt, it would last 30+ years. The quality of these tractors is a notch above anything else. Your dealer distance concern is not unwarranted, but it is them that have to warranty the tractor. Their warranty included service at YOUR location.
The other thing is I’d guess more fendt dealers are coming. They are growing rapidly

 

[hayden]

If you buy a Fendt, it would last 30+ years. The quality of these tractors is a notch above anything else. Your dealer distance concern is not unwarranted, but it is them that have to warranty the tractor. Their warranty included service at YOUR location.
The other thing is I’d guess more fendt dealers are coming. They are growing rapidly

I tend to be a skeptic, I admit. But my experience is that warranty promises like on-site service, free transportation, and replacement tractors are easy to make, and seldom delivered on. Of course you can go fight them, but that's not the owning experience I'm looking for. But I'd welcome accounts of Fendt doing this for someone who's 200-300 miles away.

I have made contact with someone at the dealer in upstate NY - Java I think - and look forward to seeing how the discussion progresses.

 

[Hay Dude]

I tend to be a skeptic, I admit. But my experience is that warranty promises like on-site service, free transportation, and replacement tractors are easy to make, and seldom delivered on.

That’s not a dealer promise, thats a Fendt factory warranty promise.

Of course you can go fight them, but that's not the owning experience I'm looking for. But I'd welcome accounts of Fendt doing this for someone who's 200-300 miles away.

You’ll have to check with your closest dealer. You are right in that there may be limitations on how far they will travel. I have friends that farm with fendt tractors, and they come to their farm, do maintenance & repairs, but they are under 100 miles.

I have made contact with someone at the dealer in upstate NY - Java I think - and look forward to seeing how the discussion progresses.

Good luck. You are looking at the best tractor produced today. Should be an amazing ownership experience. They hold their value, too.

 

[Bavarian]

Are you sure that the 200 series is available in NA? As far as I know, they sell 300 and up.

I just bought a used Massey compact from a dealer. And they ARE committed to Fendt's warranty promises.
I think the sales person said, it's 48 hours that either the tractor is fixed or you have a replacement on hand.

When I grew up, there were only two green tractors considered in our area. Either Fendt or Deutz.
John Deere tried to get a foot in the market when they aquired Lantz in Mannheim.