Should I Buy a New Kubota Tractor or a Used Kubota Tractor?

Checkout Our Inventory of Used Tractors

It’s the age old debate; “Should I buy a new tractor or find a good used tractor to save a little money?” Obviously, the answer to this question varies based on your personal needs and preferences. We’ve already touched on  The 10 Common Misconceptions About Used Tractors in the past. While that article is a little dated, the vast majority of the misconceptions that were true in 2014 are true today, but they’re only one part of this conversation. In this post, we’re going to dive into the benefits and drawbacks of buying a used Kubota tractor vs buying new in an attempt to help thwart misconceptions and help our customers make a better decision. 

Benefits of Buying a Used Tractor:

Lower Cost: This is the obvious one and is true to a point. The price of used machines has skyrocketed within the past few years as demand has increased and the supply has slumped. In fact, if you’re financing, you could end up having a higher monthly payment on a used tractor than you would with a new Kubota. That said, you can still routinely save thousands if you can find the right deal. Those perfect deals are getting harder and harder to find, but if you’re willing to do the leg work you can still find them. It has been our experience here at Humphreys’ that good used Kubota tractors stay on our lot somewhere between a day and a week on average. 

You Can Get Older Features: New features are great, but occasionally there was something on a particular model that wasn’t cost effective or popular enough to keep manufacturing. One example of this is the glide shift transmission. While you can still get that transmission, most dealerships stock the more popular hydrostatic transmission. Hydraulic Shuttle shifts on smaller tractors are less common on new machines. Both of these features have their particular markets and some people are still looking for them. The used sector is a common place they can be found. 

It’s a Collectors Item: Kubota tractors have been around for quite some time and have a cult following. If you’re a fan who is looking for a particular model, the used market might be the only place you can find it! 

They Can be a Project: This is can be either a pro or a con depending on what your need is. If you’re looking to hone your mechanical skills or simply want to work on a machine with your son or daughter, a used tractor that you can get cheap can be the exact project. If you’re looking for a functional tractor right out of the gate, obviously this isn’t the case. 

Drawbacks of Buying a Used Tractor:

More Time: As I stated in the first benefit, there are deals out there to be had, but they can be few and far between. It can take a while to find that exact model you’re looking for (or one close) that is at the price you want. If you’ve got the time to peruse the internet and potentially travel across state lines, you’re set. If you need a tractor immediately, it can get a lot harder and you might end up settling for a tractor that is available vs one that meets your needs. Most Kubota dealerships keep an ample supply of new models in stock all the time. Which means finding the right model for your needs should be quick and easy. 

Limited Warranty: If you’re a person who uses and abuses your tractor Kubota’s 6 year powertrain warranty can be a life saver. However, used tractors typically don’t a warranty. Here at Humphreys, you get a 30 day guarantee on any used tractor we sell but that pales in comparison to a factory 6 year warranty. 

You Could be Buying More Problems: This goes hand in hand with the last drawback.Whether you’re buying new or used, if you’re purchasing for an authorized Kubota Dealership, you’re probably going to be ok. Most dealerships value their relationships with their customers enough to not purposefully sell something that has a major problem. That said, if you’re buying a used Kubota from John Doe off the street, there is no guarantee that there isn’t some lingering deeper issue with the unit that he’s trying to sell his way out of. Your initial cost savings could dwindle if you have to put a lot of money into a significant repair. As I stated in 10 Misconceptions About Used Tractors, this isn’t common, but is a concern. 

Limited Payment Options: If you can find that perfect deal, most of the time, you’re going to have to write a check or pay cash for it. There are few finance options for used tractors and typically if you can find one,  you’re going to pay 5% interest or more. When you compare this to a promotional rate like 0% interest for 60 months for a new one, you’ve got to do some real math to make sure you’re not paying more for a used rather than a new Kubota tractor

Should you buy New or USED?

I wish there was a more definitive answer, but at the end of the day this decision is up to you. If you’re in need of a tractor and you don’t have a months to hunt down that perfect deal, or if you value a warranty and want to take advantage of promotional rate financing, a new tractor is probably going to be your best bet. However, if you do have time to hunt down that perfect deal, it can save you some money to go with a used tractor. Either way, you’re best bet is to work with an authorized Kubota dealership, like us,  to help you figure out which model is the best fit for you. If you’re thinking about a new or used Kubota tractor contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you on your journey!