New Tractor Price Increase??

[Bloodninja]

Originally Posted by DoubleO7

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.

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.

[Bloodninja]

Originally Posted by gsomersjr

. . . 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.

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

[Cubby guy]

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.

[sawdustdad]

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.

[Sam Mac]

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.

[Bloodninja]

Originally Posted by sawdustdad

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.

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.

[Bloodninja]

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

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.

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.

[Sam Mac]

Originally Posted by Bloodninja

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.

[IH Cub Cadet]

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....

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

[Sam Mac]

Originally Posted by leeave96

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....

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.