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We have been down this road too, I think it depends on the usage as well. We needed something reliable for chores at the horse farm, with a loader. We've got a 1980 Ford 3600 diesel as a second tractor. I think when weighing out the choices, the main factor was reliability, especially not being at the place, I was not there to work on anything, had a full time job several hundred miles in another direction, now I am involved and also have started making organic compost. With the work that we have something new or late model was justified, and it's outclassed with the amount of compost I'm currently making. We have a Challenger MT 265, with a quick tach loader 33 hp hydrostatic, and for what it cost, I really looked over the other options in older favorites in the utility/industrial class. The other aspect was the front axle drive, I could not get away with what I am doing without it I think. In this case it boiled down to being affordable and the justified amount of work to do, it's nice to own something late model, but at home 3o miles away I have an older 850 Ford as a back up, it's got a lot of hours on it and I've had some work to do on it, new tires brakes, loader frame repair etc, but I've kept it going and probably have under $1500 in repairs to date, it's done everything I need it to do, I just take my time. I'd have preferred something a little heavier in the front end, and newer, as a loader finds a lot of use here. If you can buy an older utility right, either in good condition or something to good build from, you will eventually get it done and know what you have, and still have a decent tractor to handle a fair amount of work, without a payment, but if it's affordable and you find it would just be nice to have a late model, like some of my friends have, nice enclosed cab for the winter etc. really a matter of preference, both can work and be feasible, best to qualify ones self for what you need, can afford, and if looking at older ones, evaluating accurately what you are looking at, I agree, after dropping over $5000 on an older one and then needing to sink another $5000 into it, it could be annoying, but even then I also agree some them are worth fixing, especially if you really like the model, no matter what, you have to be satisfied with it at the end of the day. Loader work does have it's associated wear and tear, if there is constant loader use, you want to make sure you've got enough tractor to do the work, currently, I need somehting like a Caterpillar 920-930 size loader for what I am doing, I'v sheared some bolts, or the help has, not sure who did it and how. I grease the heck out of the loader, just spent $1000 on a complete dealer service, and do change oils on time, the new ones ain't cheap to run either it seems, and I take my time, until I can make the move to what I really need. Those Kubotas sure are priced competively, not sure how they compare, but we paid that for this 33HP Challenger, and it's held up well under moderate to heavy use, 700 hours now, it's a '03 but it's a still a lightweight as far as tractors go, forgot, fuel efficiency, thats a big plus. It also has a few design defects, darn air element loads up with soot from the exhaust, newer ones have a stack now ! Go figure, one humble opinion on it here I suppose.
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