Originally Posted by UncleDave
My needs might be beyond a lawn tractor. Looking at the low end something like kubotas bx 2380 or 23s.
Anyone with any experience in these little units or maybe
Deere
Mahindra
Kioti..subcompacts?
Thanks!
UD
In 2018, I test drove and got underneath every subcompact within 50 miles and went with the Kubota BX23S.
Top reasons for going with Kubota:
1. Financing honesty, most advertise 0% for 84 months but then tack on 3-5K to the price for the privilege. My dealer came in at $17.8K for my BX23S and it was the exact same pricing when we opted for the financing.
2. Dealer network. There are 8 Kubota dealers within 35 miles of me. I visited 5 and they were all professional, knew their product line, and respected my wife when she would ask questions.
3. Refinement and quality. Kubota and Deere were on top and all the rest lagged behind in some fashion.
4. Wanted to Support US jobs.
5. Dealerships were all busy but their service bays were largely unoccupied. I visited 5 total dealers and there were a total of 4 tractors in for repairs. The rest of tractors were just there for annual service.
Reasons why I didn't go for John Deere 1025R:
1. The remodeled 1025R with the second seat for the backhoe is difficult to get off of trailers. When I was at the dealer and they were unloading on from another store for my test drive, the bottom of the backhoe hung up on the ground and they ended up having to pull the tractor back on to the trailer and then they backed the truck up against a hill so they could drop the ramp at a less steep of an angle.
2. Price difference, close to $4.5K more and 0% financing was only for 60 months vs. 84 months.
3. Two different Deere dealers didn't know their subcompact line very well. They knew they had them, but they had to look up everything as I asked questions. One of the dealers even left us in an office when he saw someone outside looking a a 3-series tractor. Eventually someone else came to help us but we didn't feel like starting the whole conversation over again so we left.
Reason why I didn't go for New Holland Workmaster 25S:
1. It's just a rebadge LS MT125S (see below):
2. The NH stickers carried a $3K premium over the identical LS.
Reasons why I did go for the LS MT125S:
1. Questionable dealer network. 1 dealer within 35 miles of me and it has changed handed 4 times over the past 10 years.
2. Questionable service. When asked how many years of experience does his mechanic have with LS, the dealer responded with "Well we don't have a mechanic right now but we are hoping to have one within 6 months."
3. Questionable reliability. The MT125S that the dealer had was broken and the backhoe could not function (may have been assembly issues at the dealer). A second tractor had fluids spilling out from underneath.
4. Questionable engineering. Having to remove a rear tire to put on the 3-point arms would be a PITA. I just removed my backhoe, put on my 3-point arms, and hooked up a box blade within 5 minutes on my BX. Also look up how LS owners couldn't get their oil drain plugs out for quite some time; it was too long and would impact with the axel when trying to remove it.
Reasons why I didn't go for Mahindra:
1. Limited dealer network only 1 within 50 miles.
2. Models change too rapidly and it's difficult to find DIY guides for a specific model.
3. Padded specs that could lead to damage. Sure your loader can lift 2K lbs compared to my BX's 600 lbs, but your from axel is 2/3 the size of mine and guess where all the front load weight goes.
4. Reliability issues. Several farmers and equestrian facilities in the area had Mahindras for a year or two after the dealer came to town but we would see them constantly parked in the middle of fields for weeks at a time before seeing them hauled away by the dealer's flatbed. Over the years, all but one of the farms has traded in their Mahindras and have bought Deeres or Kubotas.
5. 0% Financing added $4K to the price making it more expensive than Kubota.
6. Dealer was an A-hole, he wouldn't address my wife when she had concerns.
Massey Ferguson GC1710:
1. Operator station was too small when operating the backhoe. I kept hitting my elbows on the ROPS and I'm not a big guy. Otherwise, this was a phenomenal tractor, quiet, smooth, great (cash) price.
2. 0% financing added several thousand to the price.
3. Limited dealer network, only one dealer within 35 miles.
Kioti:
1. No dealer within 50 miles so I couldn't test drive one.