To Mahindra or Not to Mahindra

[EucB30]

I am trying to decide whether or not to buy a Mahindra or maybe a John Deere. I saw where someone compalined that the Mahindra had no resale value....................but when I went to the calssified section of this website saw very few for sale! Does that mean that no one wants to part with theirs or the tractors died before ready to sell.

Have my eye on the 3505 or E350 - but a 4wd might be nice. The 3505 just "looks" like a real tractor!

-KenB
RR, TX

10 acres in Florence, TX to take care of, maybe a little haying someday. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red"> when I went to the calssified section of this website saw very few for sale! Does that mean that no one wants to part with theirs or the tractors died before ready to sell.
</font>

<font color="black"> Maybe it means something completely different than either of the 2 parts of your question. Maybe it means nobody bought them so nobody is selling them?

Well maybe not NOBODY, but the Mahindra brand has a very low market share here in the US so it is going to stand to reason that very few are going to be available on the used market. Mahindra has been around for a long time on the international scene, but here in the states it is a relative newcomer and is virtually unknown in many areas. With low market penetration you have essentially a rare brand in both the new and the used markets. It also means there are few dealers to go to for support, making the choice harder for many people simply because some of us will not buy a tractor if we can't get it from an established high quality dealership that we can count on to be around. The dealer issue does not bother everyone, especially those with a higher degree of mechincal skills and who don't mind (or who even enjoy) wrenching their own machine.

The Mahindra's are probably well made units, the prices reported seem to be very competitve. </font>

 

[DiskDoctr]

KenB,

I read that post, but don't remember all the details...

I think the person bought a tractor, then wanted to upgrade very quickly to something larger.

Most CUTs get a premium price when sold as new, and with financing as low as 0%, why would someone buy used? That's the question anyway.

Like new cars, driving them off the lot makes them worth less, just not as drastic with tractors.

It seems that most CUTs should be held for 5-10 yrs to get your money back.

Mahindras don't seem worse than others, but some are better than average, too.

Usually a recognized, name brand can sell for more used because even non-tractor knowledgeable people recognize the brand and many times will over pay (see some of the posts on auction prices being higher than new /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

With quite a few years experience with a variety of tractors and heavy equipment, I am still happy with my new Mahindra 3510. The build and quality still seems good, even after "driving it off the lot" /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

No way to know what will happen 10yrs from now, but I hope I didn't make a mistake- I don't think so...yet /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Another point is that if you are buying a tractor to sell it right away, you may be better off renting. As a rule, tractor purchases are long term, with some exceptions...

I don't own any stock in Mahindra, this is Just food for thought /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

-JC

 

[heavy_red]

Ken,
From what I've seen here in Texas, Mahindra has a very strong dealer network. Maybe the others are referring to sales/dealers in their area. Sales of Mahindras must be doing pretty well if they've just added a distribution point in Georgia and are in consideration of one in California. I also heard that Mahindra builds more tractors than John Deere and Kubota so I don't think they're going anywhere any time soon. As far as your resale curiosity, I've never seen one listed in the paper for more than two weeks.
I'm in partnership on a 4500 2WD w/FEL and have worked it hard commercially doing shredding. leveling. post hole digging and have never had a burp out of it. I guess if you buy a tractor that needs alot of parts or service then you might want to live close to him....we don't.
We studied all the specs on the different lines before buying and for the money, the Mahindra was a no-brainer.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[duramax1]

This is the post in which you where refuring to. I have been trying to purchase a new 4 wheel drive tractor. I have gone to many dealers throughout the state NC, and its the same response when I mention Mahindra. What was most surprising even the Mahindra dealer who sold it to me didn't even want to talk trade with my tractor along with other Mahindra dealer. I have come very close to writing Mahindra asking about their poor resale value and another Mahindra dealer said not to waste the time. All I know is that their customer rating as far as resale value has to be very low. While pricing other major brands I have found that the major brands are not far off the price in which Mahindra Dealers are asking for comparable makes. Has anyone gone through this frustration?

There is no question depending on the area you are in make a big difference when you are dealing with a not so popular brand. My mahindra is a 2002 3505 DI with 127 hours on the machine in excellent condition. Its for sell if anyone is interested. The Mahindra dealers say it should sell for around $8,000.00 but no dealer has even come close to that. It is a very stong tractor and if it was 4 wheel drive I wouldn't be trying to upgrade. Again I state the reasons I'm looking at the top major brands is due to the fact that the Mahindra Dealers don't want anything to do with this tractor and I have found that I can purchase these others very close to price these dealers are asking for comparble makes.

 

[EucB30]

I do want tractor that lasts me for years to come. Just want to get a feel for how the Mahindras are thought of by those that own them and those that don't. Really don't care about resale value..................just value to me.


Thanks for the reply!

-KenB

 

[heavy_red]

The only problem with your tractor is that it is too new. The new 3505 is selling for about $10,000 the last time I checked and they told you yours was worth $8000 and it is....just not to someone who can qualify for 0% interest and less than 10% down on the new ones. Financing for a used one seems it's always been at least 20% down and at fewer months and higher rate than a new one, same as an automobile. So unless the price of the new tractors jump up drastically (which hurts you if your looking to upgrade) a late model will be harder to get rid of, trade or otherwise, than one with alot more hours. It's no different than a late model, real low mileage car. There are those folks however who would gladly be looking for a deal like that, that deal in cash, you just have to advertise.

 

[LarryRB]

I have one. end of next month will be two years, Are there things I would like to see different? Of course. Anyone who ownes any branded tractor I am sure can come up with changes they would like to see. For what I have, it has performed flawlessly and admirably..

 

[duramax1]

Advertising is something that I have been doing along with the first $7,000.00 takes it to its new home. In the NC area it seems the Mahindra just hasn't caught on. Like I stated I would keep the tractor if it was 4 wheel drive, only had a couple of problems with the tractor, an electrictric short which was do to a pinched wire and an alternator that went out. I don't know if that short had anything to do with that.

 

[jwcinpk]

Mahindra makes a good tractor and they aren't going anywhere. There aren't a lot of used ones out there because most people buy them to keep. If you line the spec sheets up on the different brands most categories Mahindra will win. I have the 6000 4wd FEL. Used it for everything on the farm even clearing land and the only trouble I have had is a bad ground on the starter and a bad link in the linkage on the FEL. When I shopped tractors Mahindra was considerably cheaper than the well known brands. If you think you might want to sell soon then you'll be better off buying a good used one and reselling later. Let somebody else take the big hit in depreciation over the first few years.