Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

[Larks]

I’ve always been a Kubota fan but at the moment here in Oz there’s at least a six month lead for a new one so I’ve turned to looking at John Deere which seem to be much more readily available.

I’m looking at compact rather than sub compact and specifically at the JD2025R with a mid mount mower which seems to most closely match the Kubota B2601 that I’d ideally like.

Price-wise I can get the JD with mower deck now for $28k (aud) and the Kubota on order would be $33k with a likely increase by the time it is delivered.

There are plenty of reviews and comparisons on line that I’ve watched but I’d also be interested to know opinions here. I’m seriously looking at buying the JD but is there anything that I need to be aware of that the reviews aren’t telling me?

[Mrleft88]

Re: Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

Avoid the green paint!
If I was looking new, or new/used I'd look at Mahindra.
Kubota used to be the smart persons alternative to the green monster, but they've devolved. Still a better tractor than a JD, but the price is just absurd.

[Mrleft88]

Re: Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

One thing about JD that they keep under their vest is that they won't sell you parts. Gotta bring it in for service if you want your waranty. Another thing is that after a few years you can't even do that. they stop carrying the parts, so you need to go to 3rd party vendors (Same JD parts, just not sold by JD.)
If I didn't have one, I'd never, ever get one.

[Larks]

Re: Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

Thanks Lefty, that’s really good to know and I’ll ask some clear and direct questions of the dealer in that regard.

I briefly looked at the Mahindra but the only one with the mid mount mower is the sub compact emax series and I got rid of the equivalent Kubota BX2308 (which I now regret) because it was wrecking my back. The smaller wheels and no seat suspension are the same as what I see with the Mahindra for a similar price (here) as the larger JD2025r.

I found out too late that previous advice about the Kubota seat was incorrect and that there is in fact a suspension seat available that I could have purchased

[Garret]

Re: Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

Tradition here in the States is that "Green paint is expensive". Owning a Kubota has shown me that orange paint ain't cheap either.

My real tractor is a Kioti & I've been very pleased with it. Not sure on today's prices, but when I got it it was significantly less expensive than any of the competition & offered more features. Dunno if you're anywhere near a dealer.

Scroll to the bottom for a dealer locator: https://www.pfgaustralia.com.au/kioti/

[Larks]

Re: Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

Thanks Garret, though again they only have the mid mount mower on their sub compact: small wheels and no seat suspension.....

[L.W. Baxter]

Re: Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

i own and maintain one of each, but they are old, '04 kubota and '85 john deere, so i have no advice at all regarding new ones.

but, if forced to look at new tractors, i would shop features and price over brand. kubota and john deere are rich for my blood, like walking into a bmw car dealer. here in the u.s., i would look at kioti, mahindra, new holland, tym-branson...

[Jimmy W]

Re: Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

I don't have any personal experience, but in the cotton, soybean and corn fields of the Mississippi Delta I see a lot of green and Kubotas larger than a zero turn mower are almost as rare as hen's teeth. There is a Kubota dealer just down the road from the Deere dealer but it also sells Case IH.

[David G]

Re: Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

Don't own either, and know little firsthand. But my impression in recent years is that those who've gone JD have been disappointed and Kubota... not so much.

[Ian McColgin]

Re: Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

Do you have "Right to Repair" laws? In the US it's a patchwork state by state. Right to Repair laws require that products be designed for repairability and that customers have fair access to parts and manuals.

[The Gentleman Sawyer]

One thing about JD that they keep under their vest is that they won't sell you parts. Gotta bring it in for service if you want your waranty. Another thing is that after a few years you can't even do that. they stop carrying the parts, so you need to go to 3rd party vendors (Same JD parts, just not sold by JD.)
If I didn't have one, I'd never, ever get one.

JD has gladly sold me plenty of parts over the years. If you want an orange tractor, check out Kioti.

Ken


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[Garret]

Re: Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

I don't have any personal experience, but in the cotton, soybean and corn fields of the Mississippi Delta I see a lot of green and Kubotas larger than a zero turn mower are almost as rare as hen's teeth. There is a Kubota dealer just down the road from the Deere dealer but it also sells Case IH.

Kubota focuses on small farm, landscaping, forestry, & "gentleman" farmers in the US. I don't think they even sell much in the way of big ag stuff. My local Kubota dealer is also New Holland & they told me that over about 60-80HP their sales are almost exclusively NH.

Speaking of NH - are they sold in Oz? They make some good tractors. Note that any brand other than Mahindra (India) & Kioti (South Korea) has all their less than 60HP or so tractors made in Japan. JD used to sell rebadged Yanmars in the smaller sizes, but no longer. The Yanmars were pretty good - but nowadays here in the US dealers are few & far between it seems.

Another brand that's decent in Massey Fergusen - though they are now owned (really resurrected) by Agco & all their tractors are made in Japan.

[L.W. Baxter]

Re: Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

yes, my 2003 massey was made entirely by iseki. it's a great machine, i freakin love it.

when i blew a front bearing and seal, (driving overloaded buckets excessive distances), i got the agco branded parts quick, easy, and reasonably priced through local mf dealer.

[John B]

Re: Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

As my experience noted elsewhere , John Deere regards themselves as industry leaders in this country and as such don't need to make any effort to sell their stuff.
I think what they had would have done my job just as well as the kubota I bought but , weelll , they're snots.
Maybe they're different in AU.

[Mrleft88]

Re: Kubota v John Deere - opinions?

I was looking at Yanmar.

Yanmar makes the diesel engines for JD.
If you get a Yanmar, you get a JD w/o the paint, and PITA.