Used 3720 or new 3520?

[Bunnyblaster]

Found a used 3720 at a dealer about an hour and a half a way. It has 860 hours on it, but from pictures it looks decent. The dealer replaced a seal up front, but says its now in good shape. It has rear hydraulics and the 300cx loader. And its price is firmly at $5k less than a new 3520 with 300cx loader.

What would you guys do? I'm going to head up there some time this week to look, but I'm pretty new to this, so I'm not really sure what I'm looking for.

Any ideas?

thanks

Aaron

 

[6dog]

Are you financing or paying cash? What are you planning to do with the tractor?

 

[nmu98]

With the information you have given us, I would buy new.

If I was worried about the power between the 3520 and 3720, I would upgrade to the 4320 since it is a ton more tractor!

 

[beenthere]

With the information you have given us, I would buy new.

If I was worried about the power between the 3520 and 3720, I would upgrade to the 4320 since it is a ton more tractor!

And it weighs more too
And the frame (overall size) is larger as well.

I agree, buy the new and know what you have.

But $5k will buy several attachments to use the extra hydraulics, as well as a hyd. top arm.

 

[Bunnyblaster]

My wife and I own 60 acres (35 wooded, 25 pasture), but after the farmers get into the 25 pasture, I won't have too much to mow. I'll mainly use it for small mowing tasks moving a junk with the loader, and planting food plots back in the woods. So, a smaller frame is pretty important given the rolling terrain.

Are there any regular problems known to happen with that many hours on it? This isn't something that will be used daily, but it will be used.

If I go used, I'll have to finance part of it through a local bank. Interest rate is 5.65 or so for 5 years. I'd pay it off in 2, but never the less. In my head I don't think that would add a whole lot to the purchase price compared to a new one with 0% financing.

Going to look at the used one tomorrow morning. Anything I should look for?

 

[6dog]

Based on that info, I would go with the 3520, take the 0% and full warranty and sleep well at night.

 

[Johndeere3720]

new is probably the best choice. My Dad has the 3720 with a 300x loader and it has always been a good tractor. On the 3x20 series though, occasionally the fuel sensor for the fuel guage will go out leaving you with a broken fuel guage and they can be a bit tippy on hills. Other that that, the 3720 has been a good tractor for us and we run it atleast 5 times a week or more.

 

[Tritonman]

Five grand less means nothing unless we know what the actual prices are. Is this a cabbed tractor or open station? Air conditioning takes plenty of HP.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

As long as the 3720 is on a JD dealers lot, they should be able to get you better financing than your bank can (JD credit has programs available to the dealers that you cannot get details on anywhere but the dealer). Also, depending on what year the tractor is it should still have a warranty on it, I think most of the 3x20's came with the 3 year 2000 hour offer. I would ask the dealer about these two things before making a decision. I would not hesitate on the used machine with that low of hours as long as it still has a warranty, I know several on here like buying new and would get nothing but, however, if the machine doesn't seem to be beat up (and your dealer is a reputable one) you would probably be fine buying used not to mention all the extra implements you will be able to get with the $5K in savings from the new machine.

 

[deputy11]

I went with a new 3520 this spring. I suggest the new because the warranty is worth much more than 5K. Not buying someone else's problems is worth more than 5K. There is a reason it is for sale, someone else did not want it. Maybe for a good reason, maybe not. Do you feel lucky??

 

[nmu98]

As long as the 3720 is on a JD dealers lot, they should be able to get you better financing than your bank can (JD credit has programs available to the dealers that you cannot get details on anywhere but the dealer). Also, depending on what year the tractor is it should still have a warranty on it, I think most of the 3x20's came with the 3 year 2000 hour offer. I would ask the dealer about these two things before making a decision. I would not hesitate on the used machine with that low of hours as long as it still has a warranty, I know several on here like buying new and would get nothing but, however, if the machine doesn't seem to be beat up (and your dealer is a reputable one) you would probably be fine buying used not to mention all the extra implements you will be able to get with the $5K in savings from the new machine.

I have an 08 3720 and it only has a 2 year warranty. I would only buy used if I had some sort of warranty on the machine for some time. 5K is not much considering you will keep this tractor for a long time and the amount would easily be made up with financing and possible resale down the road. 860 hours is a fair amount. Not for a large field tractor but for this little one, it takes a lot of the normal small property owners out of the running since they view that as a lot of hours.

 

[Bunnyblaster]

Its an 06 model for $17500, so it may be more than $5k less. That was kind of a guess. It really depends on how the dealer close would want to work with me on a new one.

The "new" idea just gets me in a bad way. I hate the idea of buying vehicles new. My theory has been (right or wrong) to let someone else take the financial hit of depreciation. I've never been much to buy an extended warranty either. It seems logical to think that any company offering to provide service for money up front has done the math and figures that statistically they won't have to do work equivalent to the "pre-pay", there by making a profit.

Just some thoughts of a tight @ss.

Which leads my head in another direction. If a product of any type is so great, be it a JD 3520, Leopold rifle scope, or a Pioneer CD player, why is the warranty so important? Are the chances of it breaking under normal use that high? If something does go wrong, how many issues can a guy fix for several grand? Granted, this is coming from a guy who has never had to pay for a tractor repair.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

If it helps, I was quoted $22,150.00 for a 3520, 300CX loader & rear remotes earlier this year (right before I bought the 3320 that I have now).

 

[Bunnyblaster]

Called the dealer here and the lowest they would go on a 3520 with the CX loader was $24k and some change. I went and looked at the used unit this morning, and drove it around. Given the $7k difference in price, my wife and I decided to go with it. Deere has a 0% financing plan for used compact tractors (it involves an upfront fee, but its still cheaper than even their 2.9% plan). Seemed solid. We'll see. Could come back to bite me, but I hope not.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

You should be fine, thats really no hours for a tractor, if deere warrants them for 3000 hours, you can bet they know when little things will start happening. Most of our local dealers will still stand behind their machines anyway even if they're sold used, they want to keep your business.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Bunny....Congrats. Welcome to Green.

I bought a '92 JD770 with 2500 hours on it and I have found the tractor to be outstanding in every situation I have put it in. The original owner took real good care of the tractor and he told me "it's just broke in." I think he is just about right. Mind you, I don't have chores for the tractor every day or even every week but, I figure I'll have that tractor for many years to come.

You won't believe how much that tractor will help you out.!!

 

[AKfish]

Congratulations on your 3720! The intercooler on the turbo is designed to make the turbocharger more efficient and longer lasting. Lot's of tractor in a small package!

Think of 800 hours this way - you're likely on oil change number #6. That's not very many...

Best of luck.

AKfish

 

[Bunnyblaster]

Thanks again. We're looking forward to getting stuff cleaned up around here. The previous owners kinda junked the place up. You should have seen all the crap. After a year its better, but as I'm sure everyone here knows, it takes a while to clean up 10 years of junk. This should help it out. Driving it was a big difference from the ol' Long 445. The wife should have no problem here.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I hear ya on the clean up.

I bought a place that was a junk hole. But, I saw right through the mess and now that I have it mostly cleaned up it is turning into the place that I had visioned.

Hate cleaning up others messes.!!

 

[deere4320]

With the information you have given us, I would buy new.

If I was worried about the power between the 3520 and 3720, I would upgrade to the 4320 since it is a ton more tractor!

If you are looking for more power i would definitely go with the 4320. I looked at both the 3720 and the 4320, and it was like night and day