I'd like your thoughts and opinions

[drglinski]

I like IH built Cub Cadets. A non-IH built Cub Cadet is an automatic ding in the negative category for me. Instead of spending my $$ on an oversized small garden tractor I'd rather buy a farm tractor. They look goofy to me- too wide, long at the tunnel, steering wheel shaft is too vertical and long.....

Not out to start wars or offend anyone. Someone asked my opinion on them and why I'm not a fan of them so I figured it deserved an answer. I'm sure people look at what I like and wonder what's wrong with me.

[drcjv]

Originally Posted by drglinski

I like IH built Cub Cadets. A non-IH built Cub Cadet is an automatic ding in the negative category for me. Instead of spending my $$ on an oversized small garden tractor I'd rather buy a farm tractor. They look goofy to me- too wide, long at the tunnel, steering wheel shaft is too vertical and long.....

Not out to start wars or offend anyone. Someone asked my opinion on them and why I'm not a fan of them so I figured it deserved an answer. I'm sure people look at what I like and wonder what's wrong with me.

Danial we all have our preferences. For me at 6'3" 340 anything smaller is like sitting on a roller skate. The supers are about as small as I will go. As far as IH the CCC built cubs were built in the same place by the same people with the same parts as far as I know until the mid 90's. So really the same tractor. only difference I know of is the aluminum rear which has never been an issue for me.

[drcjv]

Here is the next question. Are these Cubs appreciating or are they flat. I have bought and sold around 28 supers over the past 8 or 9 years the prices seem to be the same from then till now. The one thing I have noticed is for supers anyway there are a lot less of them to buy at least in my area. I used to buy 3 or 4 a year but now I find it hard to find 1. It does seem more common that people are asking top dollar for average or below average tractors. Not sure if they are getting it seems they do not sell.

[Rescue11]

Originally Posted by DieselDoctor

You also need to be aware that most of the youth today, who will be the homeowners of tomorrow, have little or no interest in things mechanical for the most part. This may limit your potential sales in the future. Only you know what you have in each tractor money-wise and what you true interests are. I sympathize your dilemma, good luck to you!

Could not have said it better myself. What i might add is that the pool of Cub Cadets available and prospective buyers are probably still the same percentage wise. But as time goes on the number of Cub Cadets available versus the number of people interested will also shrink due to Parts availability and features of the new machines such as the John Deere 700 series and sub compact tractors with the abilities they have and not having to go turn a wrench every time you want to use them.

The other thing that takes value out of these Cub Cadets are reproduction parts or people's ability to build their own stuff and make the Cubs a better machine. 15 years ago if you found a Cub Cadet with a category 0 3pt And dual hydraulics you really had something. that was a very expensive machine because, in general, people werent making or doing things like that. It just seems like the cub world has peaked or flattened out maybe even on the decline from what I see in my neck of the woods.

Just a side note the economy still sucks and it has for the last eight years and it's going to continue to suck for a while. I don't care what kind of phony baloney numbers they give you on TV or on the news or in the paper or the bathroom stall walls. Our US economy is in the toilet and that just flat out of effects extra cash people have for this Hobby

[drcjv]

Rescue I agree with most of what you say. As far as new tractors go you can't come close to a Cub Super with a new tractor without spending 4 to 5 times the money. The new machines are great but expensive. And some are not that great. Best bet for work is probably a used compact but they are still 2 to 3 times a super.

As far as repro parts I agree to a point. True collectors know the difference. I have an original rally pack for my 65 Mustang which is worth 3 times a repro and true collector will pay it. I have a bunch of items for a 53 Farmall Cub that the IH museum wanted. Same goes for Cub parts I have paid crazy prices for NOS parts. I do not use my tractors for work. I just collect. I would not spend crazy money if I was going to use the tractor and ruin the parts. So repros are great for people who want to use their tractors. As I ask originally should I keep or sell my tractors if I parted them out I would make 3 times more than selling intact tractors due to a lot of extras and condition and lack of availability.

As far as economy I agree and I hope our new leaders will turn this around but it is confusing I live 8 miles from the largest mall in the country I do not go to the mall unless I am forced. Recently I had to go 3 times in a week due to cell phone issues and the parking lots are full to capacity. I had to use valet parking and the stores were packed and the are building more.

[mjsoldcub]

I don't know, to me here in the Midwestern ag lands and the northern woods, it sure seems to me that the cub cadet,( or frankly any old garden tractor )collecting is taking off.....


Nice collection.....

[zippy1]

Originally Posted by mjsoldcub

I don't know, to me here in the Midwestern ag lands and the northern woods, it sure seems to me that the cub cadet,( or frankly any old garden tractor )collecting is taking off.....


Nice collection.....

Yep, agreed.
As for people not having the money, well someone does, cause as mentioned, malls are packed, the Fleet Farm my wife works at they can't keep up with eCommerce orders, and the store is always crazy busy...
New "garden tractors" are selling while in season to the point that they can't keep them in stock. Look around a school parking lot, ain't the junk sitting there like when I was back in school, where most of us rad to ride the bus cause we or our folks didn't have the money for a car to take to school.
Every kid has a smart phone, that ain't cheap either. So there's money out there, it's just not in the used GT market place, they would rather spend the money on a throw away, and do it again in a few years.
Better for me, cause I'll take the old one any day.