I would still prefer an IH-built 982 for garden work, but the power steering on the 2082 would be nice for mowing around lots of trees (if you have them) and for use with a loader. I'm not sure what people with aluminum rearend tractors are doing when they put loaders on them...I was going to put my loader on a 782 with aluminum rear, but change the rear to an iron one and put the stronger axles and carrier from the aluminum rear into the iron one, but that hasn't happened yet.
Structurally, the only thing I'd worry about, but not too much, would be the aluminum rearend, as the front mounting bolts/tabs tend to work loose and crack the housing. That's definitely something to check if you decide to buy it, and would be a way to talk him way down in price if it's cracked. A loader will exacerbate this problem, so you'll have to keep a close eye on the mounting bolts to make sure they stay tight.
I had an 1862 (same series as the 2082) for about a week before I parted it, and I didn't like the plastic hydraulic lift handle. It's kinda chintzy for such a big tractor. I can't think of much else.
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