Price Check Used BX-23 vs. new BX-24 (price check)

[mpowrd]

There is a used BX-23 for sale local to me here in the Santa Cruz mountains (Northern California). Details are:

2006 Kubota BX-23. 4x4. 22HP Great Condition. Everything works like new.
$13,900 OBO.
Only 300 hours ! (nothing for these little diesel engines)
Powerful Compact Tractor.
-Spare set of Brand NEW rear tires included!

From the pictures, it looks like just the basic TLB in pretty good shape except a lot of paint worn off the FEL bucket and the BH bucket has no orange on it at all.

300 hours in just a year sounds like it got a pretty good workout. What should I look for if I go look at it?

Compared to a new BX-24 for around $16,000 or so, how good of a deal is this?

Thanks!

 

[MOPAULY]

Personally I would pass for the $$$ differance, especially with 300 hours on it. I went through the same thing when I was looking last fall....couldn't find one where the price made it worth it. Bought new and glad that I did.

 

[shownuff]

umight wanna check the year i think they stopped making the 23 in 2005 and started the 24

 

[KeithInSpace]

With the fender and other fixes in place, I think the BX24 is one heck of a nice rig. The price differential doesn't seem enough for the BX23 to seem like a great deal, especially with 300 hours. That's three years of service to the common man.

Consider also that there was a very significant change to the backhoe between the BX23 and BX24...the addition of a curved boom. While curved booms on the FEL could help with your sightlines (hasn't been a big deal to me), a curved boom backhoe helps tremendously in making a "flat" trench without having to fiddle with the boom-arm elevation as much...you just make tweaks as you move the dipperstick back and forth while trenching.

If the BX23 had, like, 20 hours on it and the FEL had never been attached, I'd consider it. Heck, I bet there's a bunch of BX22 machines running around that haven't hit 300 hours. Hearing what you're saying, I'd definitely pony up for the BX24.

 

[Tom_H]

Considering the # of hours, longer time you'd have under warranty, fender issue solved, curved design on backhoe and FEL arms, tach, cruise control, higher 3ph, I'd go with the BX24.

 

[ultrarunner]

Hey Tom... hows your BX holding up? Isn't about time for another performance review?

So far, I don't have anything bad to say about my BX23... it has exceeded all of my expectations. Just wish I could get more seat time!

 

[HomeBrew2]

Hard call. $2K ain't much. If it was $3K+ differential, I'd go for the '23. The only curves I care about are on girls ... not impressed w/ tractors w/ curves. Just turned 958 hours today, since Dec '04. I like the '23. I'm sure the '24 is fine too. I might look to a new MF if price was right-enough

 

[archerynut]

Just my two cents, I would go for the new. I would not worry about 300 hours if the unit was older than stated. Something sounds a little bit wrong there. If it was worked 300 hours in one year, was the maintenance still done at the recommended intervals. If it was 300 hours in one year, how could they have the time to do the service?

 

[HomeBrew2]

... If it was 300 hours in one year, how could they have the time to do the service?

HUH!?, just checked my records, a touch over 400 hrs in the 1st year. Service done in my shop, by me, lots of extra time to run a household by myself.

 

[mscott]

That seems a little high for a 300 hour BX23. I have one i'd let go for lots less.