Yeah sorry saw after I posted that you looked at the Yanmar (essentially a red Deere… kinda sorta) and didn’t like it. Sounds like you’re well on your way to picking the best dealer/tractor for your property. I will be along with everyone else until you make your choice.
Friend of mine has a compact Deere and a limb tore up his hydraulic lines recently. He was mad about where they are located. But I will say that he is rough on equipment.
So I'm considering a garden tractor basically for mowing a small yard and doing light chores. Has anyone here used a 4 wheel steering deere ? Doesn't seem to be offered in 4wd though and I can't make sense of it as the 4wd already steers in the front. And I want the diesel. My current yandeere is 14 years old and other than fluids and general maintenance all that I've replaced is the battery at 10 years. I would consider a Kubota diesel if it had any major advantage over the deere. They are quite a distance away though. Also been going to the same family deere dealer for over 40 years and they always seem honest. I have a few vintage garden tractors that I am not finding the time to play with and I'll probably sell them off for some funding and space.
I agree with the sentiments so far. It depends on your property size and usage. I have a heavily wooded 21 acres so I knew I wanted a decent sized machine. My Kioti NX4510 is 45 hp and lifts 2761 lbs 9 feet in the air. It’s comparable to a big L or a small M Kubota. For a 5 acre and under parcel you could likely get away with a Kioti CK or Kubota small L/big B class machine.
In my opinion i would look at a kubota l2501. For the work you want to do it is a great size, i would not get a compact. Or another brand tractor in that size class .Do not go to small.
Or. You never know, you might decide to go bigger…… Kubota Unveils the M8 Series Tractor, its Largest Ag Tractor Ever Built
