Is John Deere the Harley Davidson of tractors and the Kubota the Honda Goldwing, as some suggest?

Question

A friend is considering a smallish to medium size tractor to work a modest 20-60 acre area. He wants to rotate crops soybean, hay, corn and such, in the southeast coastal area where the land is soft, water table high, and the growing season is long. Any suggestions ... models, gear, and attachments? Which company is going to make the most dependable tractor ... the most features ... the lowest cost of repairs and maintainence?

Answer 1

Only the person that uses the tractor can really say what he/she prefers. I would buy a Kubota over nearly any other brand because of what great equipment they build and they are also normally considerably less expensive than a comparable JD. If somebody tells you that a Kubota is any less dependable then some other brand... they are lying to you.... and probably want to sell you another brand tractor. I think JD and several other brands make top notch equipment... I just don't see the need to spend more for green paint and "Deere" written on the side.

Answer 2

Maybe but if I was going to spend money on a tractor I would buy the John Deere simply because it is more reliable and build heavier than the kubota is. Also the John Deere is more user friendly. But it is really up to your friend whether or not he needs a heavy duty tractor for the work he is doing. As for repair cost kubota maybe cheaper but will need repairs more often than the Deere.
hope this help.

Answer 3

I live in an area of many large farms. Don't see any orange tractors in any of them. Lots of John Deere and Fords plus tons of the old model tractors. Finding a place for parts and service would be my first concern. I have had dealings with Kubota dealers and it was not a good experience. I also have not seen too many attachments for Kubotas.