New Tractor Price Increase??
 

I was looking at buying a new tractor around the middle of last year, but never pulled the trigger and just kept my old tractor up enough to make it through the season. Now, I'm back in the market, but it appears that there has been a major increase in Cub Cadet MSRP prices.

Around July of 2013, the GTX2100 was listed at $4399 (with a sale price of $4099), but now it lists for $5399! I understand the sale price probably was available since it was over half way into the year at the time, but comparing MSRP prices, it's still a $1000 increase from 6 months ago.

Was there some improvements to the new model that warranted a 22% price hike? I looked at the specs and I don't see anything that was changed... and certainly if there was, Cub Cadet would have it all over the website.

Deck sold separately, seriously? So your looking at spending $6400 +- for that? Just a FYI on some other forums I've seen complaints about the electric steering and the lift. Just my 2 cents but I would go find a nice GT or SGT, put a few bucks in it and have something that will out live the new one and leave you with $3000- $4000 to spend on something else. :beerchug:

Welcome to OCC! Well said, Sam!

Save your money and do what Sam said!
Welcome to OCC also!

I think the deck is sold separately because you can choose from more than one size. I have a receipt from July 1974 for a 169. Tractor-1975, 50" mower deck-280, grand total 2255. I found under the hood of my 782 where the dealer used a marker to write the price-2895.

Yes, that may be true; however, I also believe it was a slight marketing ploy to make the tractor appear less expensive. I know last year they didn't even list the prices of the decks on the website. This year, although they still don't show the price of the deck, they do list new model numbers that include certain decks.

Wow, not the response I expected from a Cub Cadet forum. LOL

. . . but I certainly will listen to all advise from people that are in the know.


In the defense of the new tractor prices, I have already been checking on actual sale prices and got responses as low as $5200 out the door -- that's a GTX2100 with the fabricated 48" deck. That particular deck apparently lists for $900 by itself. That's still pretty expensive -- but not as bad as the $6400 that you figured up.

Some dealers may still have last year's models available at a much lower price to make room for the newer ones. Last year's models would have the decks already with them and still be a new mower with the same warranty, etc. Also, be on the lookout for a cub cadet sitting in the outside, back of the store. You may stumble across one that was slightly damaged in shipping and get it for a much lower price. I saved $2000 on my commercial zero turn that way and all I had to pay for was the plastic shroud and manifold for $100. It still had the same warranty on it as a new one.

Cub Cadet 123

Welcome to OCC.

I don't know ANYTHING about the new equipment. However, I would bet that the prices start out very high at the beginning of the season and taper down toward the end of the season.

You will probably never see the price you saw last fall on that model but I'll bet you can come a lot closer to it in mid-late August.

Thanks!

I started to think that also; however, MSRP price is a suggested (fixed) price based on the value of a particular model and does not take into account immediate supply/demand factors. The decrease in price later in the years would either be handled by a sale price and/or dealer mark-downs.

I hadn't checked the MSRP prices back in February 2013, but I'm guessing if I had, they would've been the same as they were in July 2013. (Of course, in July there was also the addition of a sale price.)

I'm not telling not to buy it. After all it's your $$$. Just saying that I wouldn't. Let me put it this way. I have about $3000.00 in each of these and they both have 60" decks.

I see that your a new member so let me say welcome to OCC. Take your time and look around at who has what and what they like. Think you will find that most of us own stuff that is pre 1996.

I really have to agree with Sam, I don't think the new machines hold a candle to the older ones.

I personally don't own anything newer that an early-mid 70's Wide Frame and I love them. I maintain about 6 acres year round, they do anything that I ask of them.

They aren't all the prettiest gals at the dance but I don't have $2000.00 in any of them and they'll be around longer than I will.

I would like to have a Super though.

What Sam said. :beerchug:

Sam, is that counting labor too? :biggrin2:

I know that's kind of a joke, but it does make a point.

I really don't have a lot of time to tinker around with anything extra at this time. I want something I can buy and use and, other than regular maintenance, require no additional attention for a while.

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy tinkering and doing mechanic work and would love to buy an old tractor and fix it up, but I just don't have the time right now. With two toddlers and a third due in a couple weeks, I'd rather spend my spare time with my family than fixing my tools.

It's also the reason why I'm thinking of opting to spend more on a 2000 series and not the 1000.... I certainly don't need that big of a machine; it just seems like it will have a better longevity and have less issues in the long run. And, according to everyone here, the new Cubs are so crappy that they need all the help they can get. LOL

I have three q uietlines and all three together I have probably 1000 wrapped up. The most I have had to do was clean the carb change the oil and spark plug as well as rearwnd fluid. And they maintain about 3 Acer as well as a few friends and family's property just fine.... my smallest being the 1000 with a 38 inch deck the 1200 with a 44 and my 1450 with a 50 . I dont think ill ever buy a new machine

I don't doubt that many people on here have very reliable tractors that didn't cost much; however, you have to admit that it's not that simple to shop around, find a deal on an old tractor, get it home, and have it up and running and cutting correctly.

How many of you right now will sell me one of yours for the "$1000" that you have in them? Heck, I'll offer $3000 for one that is turn-key and ready to go.... of course, that would include a warranty and free delivery to Alabama. I'm guessing not one of you would seriously take me up on that offer.

My point is that there is a lot more to it than just magically finding a fully functional old tractor that requires no adjustments or repairs whatsoever. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I just don't have the time to spend right now. They say time is money, and this is no exception. Because I'd rather spend my time on other things, I'll have to spend a bit more money on this purchase.

I appreciate the feedback and I respect the recommendations, but this thread was really just an attempt to find out whether or not there was a justified reason for a 22% price increase in the 2014 tractors.

Do not count on that philosophy.
The newer the machine, the more complicated with more doodads that will go wrong.
Just like the newest motor vehicles.
The manufacturers do not follow the K.I.S.S. mantra.

MSRP is merely a price point on paper. Bump the MSRP by 22% but sell for 5% less than last years MSRP and the buyer is all giddy with the "bargain".
There are some that pay MSRP, but what, maybe 1 out of 20 customers?

Welcome to this forum but keep in mind the vast majority of us are owners of what are now considered "vintage" machines.

When a muffler for one of our 1980 something CC sells for $500 on ebay, maybe the MSRP's of new ones ain't so bad after all.
:beerchug:

Thanks for the welcome.

I actually have looked around quite a bit since I joined last year, and I do see that most active members seem to own the older Cubs. However, I didn't think there would be such a hatred towards the new stuff. LOL

No hatred here.
I think most of us just can't fathom paying current MSRP for anything.
The older we get the more we shake our heads at what they want for new equipment.

I might be opening a can of worms here but my workhorse is a 2010 X540 'green' garden tractor. It was expensive, high 4 figures, but it has been bulletproof and is a dream to operate. I love my old Cub Cadets but they just aren't in the same league. There are still a lot of old Cub Cadets doing a beautiful job to this day but there's no guarantee the older Cub Cadet you buy is going to be "the one". It could end up being a huge boat anchor. If it's in the budget, buy a new, or slightly used, tractor and enjoy the kiddos while you can.

I know this and am aware; however, the new tractor will also come with a warranty that will cover a lot of stuff for the first 4-5 years.

Thank you. This is exactly the point I was trying to get at.

O
 

I have a 1976 vintage model 800. This winter, I have taken the deck off the tractor to check the spindles and sharpen blades.

Other than this work, about all I have had to do is add gas, check oil, turn the key and mow.

With the way our "Don't fix it, throw it away" Society works nowadays, I just feel that the new machines will not run 35+years. There are stil A LOT of the early 1961 or so vintage "Original Model" cub cadets mowing, snow clearing, plowing and hauling stuff.

No hate of the new MTD made machines here, IH made the best lawn/garden tractors ever.

As much as I'm a fan of Cub Cadets, I would not buy a new one either. I settled on an orange subcompact when I needed one a few years ago.

I fully understand you wanting to buy something that you do not need to be working on all the time. Looking at the Cub site if it was me I would buy the GT 2050 before the GTX2100. pretty much the same tractor but without the electronic steering and lift. "If it's not there it can't break". Good luck and hope you keep us posted. :beerchug:

Yeah, as much as I would love to go the 'orange' route, a similar GT would be almost twice as much as the Cub. Sure, it's a better tractor, but the Cub is already at the very top of my budget right now.... and pretty much overkill for my yard anyway.

Trust me, I'm thinking of that right now.

My thought on the power steering was that it may be nice to have (especially if I ever want to enlist my wife into tractor duty) and it wasn't too much more compared to the overall price of the GT2000 series. Also, being electronic, it seems that it would be pretty easy to bypass/remove if it does end up crapping out years later.

As far as the GT2000 vs GT2100, it looked like the 48" fabricated deck was not available for the GT2000, which is why I was going to opt for the GT2100. I'm checking on that now and, if it is available, I can maybe save a bit on the smaller motor.

Take some time and look at the parts site for Cub and compare the guts of the GT2050 vs the GTX2100 I think the steering and lift are pretty complicated.

Even our old IH and CCC tractors were new at one time and probably a crazy price. Not everyone has the time and skills to tackle an older garden tractor. I've got a great fleet of tractors, IHCC, Wheelhorse and Simplicity - but everytime I turn around, there is something to fix, a tire to pump-up or a tweak. There's no way my better half could deal with this or my 79 year old Mom. Sometimes you just need to buy a new tractor. About 3 years ago, I bought an MTD Cub Cadet LTX 1042 riding mower. Bought it for my Wife and kids to use. It starts everytime, tires are good, zero tinkering or tuning and it cuts better than any tractor I've got, including the Simplicities! So if you're looking at a new tractor - go for it! Sometimes I think if I had a brain, I'd trade my old tractors and just get something new and be done with it - but I can't bring myself to it....:Whistle:

IMHO the best bang for the buck is the GT2000/2100 series tractors. The next one I would consider is the GT1054 for mowing with 54 inch deck and serviceable tranny. I think they come in at around $3Kish.

BTW - regardless of what the dealer says, I am pretty sure you can put any new 2000 series deck on any of the tractors. My understanding is they mash you to put the heavier decks on the 2100 series tractor because they are hard to lift with the manual lift.

Good luck!
Bill

Bill

All good points. I doubt that I would try the 54" fabed deck on the manual lift but I think the 48" fabed deck would play.

I think I've said about all I can think of on this one so good luck.

I bought the GT2000 last year, and it is amazing. It has a 48" fabricated deck, and it is a load. I traded in an 1863 that had more problems than you can shake a stick at. The 1863 looked good, but it needed repairs well above my abilities. I think that is an important point. Some people on this site are genius with old Cubs and can do wonders with them; while others cannot. I hear people on here downing anything new, and everything old is better. How many 1960's cars have held up to rust like modern cars do or for that matter can run as long. Years ago getting an old car to 100,000 miles was an accomplishment now cars easily make that and then some. I love the looks and the toughness of the old Cubs, but the newer ones are pretty good as well. Last year when I bought mine, the Cub dealer told me next year--2014--the price would include the deck. Maybe, this is the reason for the increase. All I can say is I love my GT2000, and I love this site.

Nothing like that new tractor smell.

Minimum wage 1975 = $2.00/hr
Minimum wage 2013 = $7.25/hr

So that 1975 Model 169 took 1127.5 hours to buy it.
The 2013 GTX2100 could be bought for 565.5 hours.

Well, I guess this confirms that you can, in fact, get the 48" fabricated deck on a GT2000 and not just the GT2100 like the website seems to imply.

The dealer is correct in that they now have standard models that include certain decks, but sadly, I was comparing the units without the deck.

On a positive note, all of the dealers I have contacted quoted me prices that are well below the current MSRP and a couple even quoted me prices below last years MSRP. Each said they didn't have them in stock and would have to special order them, so that tells me that these aren't discounted left over models.

I' beginning to think this is more of an advertising ploy to make it seem like you're getting a tremendous deal when you hear the retail price.

If you can hold off maybe wait for a big spring sale. The price might not get any lower but maybe they will throw in a cart or blade at no extra cost.

Good point. I'll certainly keep that in mind.

I'm in no particular rush at the moment since it's still winter... but spring usually comes a bit early here, so it won't be long. Of course, I still have my old lawn tractor, but after the hassles I had at the end of last season, I'm really not looking forward to what I'll need to do to keep it going this year. LOL