Yup, the small Deere's, Caterpillar, New Holland ,and IH Case are cheap junk. Nobody makes their own stuff anymore. Kubota is a decent little tractor. The Kubota engine is use in all kinds of equipment because it's good.Kubota is the only manufacturer making their own tractors. None of the big names build their own machines under 60 horse. Not even good ole American John Deere. A JD under 60hp is a Yanmar painted green. All tractor parts are high because sales are low. Dealers around me have "new" 2008s on the lot. Gotta make that money somehow.
Yup, the small Deere's, Caterpillar, New Holland ,and IH Case are cheap junk. Nobody makes their own stuff anymore. Kubota is a decent little tractor. The Kubota engine is use in all kinds of equipment because it's good.
Parts for the Kubota, dealers are what makes them too damn high.
I sell Kubota parts 30 to 40% less than the dealers around here do. I found a better way to deal with the crooks that screw you eveytime you walk through the parts department door! I just dont go through their door's anymore!
I have *heard* that Kubota is a bitch about parts for older models.
If I was buying a smaller tractor, it'd likely be a Jinma254/284 or an Indian Jinma - the ones that are copies of IHCs mechanically.
Eli