WHAT?! I was impressed by Century!

MessickFarmEqu · Aug 30, 2004

I had a chance to really spend some time around a few Zetor / Century tractors a few days ago. I gotta say, I would probably rank them top of the non big 3 brands. I was really impressed by the fit and finish of the operators area. The controls made sense, the construction looked like it was well thought out, and there was no visible obvious design flaws. The backhoe build did look pretty light, thats a typical costs savings. I didn't take the time to compare specs against other models, so I am not sure how things stack up. These might be worth a look for some people looking for budget machines. In the past I have been really not impressed by Kioti, Agco, or Mahindra, but these seemed to peak my interest.

MessickFarmEqu · Aug 30, 2004

replying to my own thread. I don't know if there enough of these out to judge long term reliability and how well they actually run. I should have noted that I did not dig with one or really beat on it. The biggest draw back that I could see is no HST, Louder and rougher engine than the Kubota's I am used to, and most of the dealers are your small car dealer or backwoods type dealers. It just peaked my interest because the flaws where not immediately obvious.

shoppintractors · Aug 30, 2004

I'd be curious to know what possessed you to give Century a back handed compliment. Then, in one fell swoop trash three other brands "In the past I have been really not impressed by Kioti, Agco, or Mahindra," Then trash most of the Century dealers "most of the dealers are your small car dealer or backwoods type dealers." More implication, "It just peaked my interest because the flaws where not immediately obvious."

Then manage to plug yourself, "Louder and rougher engine than the Kubota's I am used to" 

hmmmmm.....

Don

Tractors4u · Aug 30, 2004

( In the past I have been really not impressed by Kioti, Agco, or Mahindra )

You might want to go ahead and add Massey and Caterpillar to that list. Iseki builds the Massey, AGCO, and Caterpillar compacts.

I don't recall is I have ever laid hands on a Mahindra compact before or not. If there had been a Century/Branson, Mahindra or Kioti dealer near me I would have looked at them seriously. Last February we went to the National Farm Machinary Show in Louisville. You can see everything up. Now that I think about it, I believe they did have a Mahindra there. Even though I had a 4 month old Deere, my wife caught me drooling over a Kioti. If you are shopping for a new tractor, it would be worth it to go to that show and see everything at once.

hsjrev · Aug 30, 2004

My father has had a Zetor or a little over 10 years now and he loves it. I think it's around 50-60hp and he uses it to mow trails and around his ponds, discs feed patches for deer and also prepares a garden every year. My knucklehead brother uses it for feed patches on his hunting club too and if he hasn't broken it yet, it's probably unbreakable.

ray4713 · Aug 30, 2004

I just recently purchased a NEW Century 3045 4WD with a heavy duty FEL. I got a 48 hp (45 net hp) 40 hp PTO for under $18k out the door. I shopped all major brands (JD, NH, Massey, Case, Kubota) and they all have nice features. However for the same price I would be in the 33 - 40 hp range on the major brands. Yes time will tell all about the reliability of the century but if you want to see something neat go to www.kukje21.co.kr/english/2products/product-index.htm and see the green JD's being built in the same korean facility.

cowboydoc · Aug 30, 2004

The JD tractors are not made there! The 5400 series is in Georgia. The 6400 series is made in Germany.

Bob_Skurka · Aug 30, 2004

cowboydoc, is it possible that JD contracts their Asian product production to them and has them built to JD standards for shipment to the Pacific rim nations? That would still allow for the units sold in North America to be made in Georgia and/or Germany? I know with cars it is common to have multiple factories, each serving different regions of the globe.

Even if my question is true, it does not mean that the Century brand is built to any specs other than the specs that Century demands, and just because 2 brands are made in the same factory does not mean that both brands are held to the same standards. JD had Yanmar tractors build many models over a decade or two, but buying a Yanmar was not the same as buying a JD. Just my .02

KiotiJohn · Aug 30, 2004

And if you go here, Partners , You'll see that Yanmar in Japan is one of their partners.
I clicked on the JD links, but no pictures came up. I'm sure they are making them for Asian and possibly European distribution. John