Claas/Renault Ares?

[Giorma]

Hello, I was searching tractors in the 150-200hp range and found Claas/Renault Ares Models pretty cheap, under 30k for a 200hp one and I am curious why those models are so cheap, do they have any issues? what is your experience with them?

 

[AT Aloss]

Ran a Claas Ares 656 a while back. Nice simple trouble free tractor, better than the MF 6160 it replaced - controls were very similar. It's very basic & was cheap to buy in the first place, so I can't see them appreciating a lot. John Deere engine, Massey back end. It's on my list of tractors I wish I'd kept (quite low down, but still on the list).

Had a disaster with a porous cylinder on an Axion engine (John Deere 6.8 litre) & cost a lot to fix. Just make sure it's not blowing white smoke out the exhaust as that's probably coolant leaking from corrosion in the wet liner.

 

[workin f nowt]

Ran a Claas Ares 656 a while back. Nice simple trouble free tractor, better than the MF 6160 it replaced - controls were very similar. It's very basic & was cheap to buy in the first place, so I can't see them appreciating a lot. John Deere engine, Massey back end. It's on my list of tractors I wish I'd kept (quite low down, but still on the list).

Had a disaster with a porous cylinder on an Axion engine (John Deere 6.8 litre) & cost a lot to fix. Just make sure it's not blowing white smoke out the exhaust as that's probably coolant leaking from corrosion in the wet liner.

Had a 657 my feelings are the same. God I miss that tractor

 

[Lowland1]

I have a Renault Ares 696 that's done 16000 hours and a Claas Ares 696 with similar hours. They are good tractors. Both have had the ECUs repaired but other than that not much else.

 

[Giorma]

I have a Renault Ares 696 that's done 16000 hours and a Claas Ares 696 with similar hours. They are good tractors. Both have had the ECUs repaired but other than that not much else.

how they are in comfort?

 

[Lowland1]

how they are in comfort?

Very good. If you get one with front suspension as well as the cab suspension there's nothing of that age better.

 

[thorpe]

Had a 657 my feelings are the same. God I miss that tractor

we had a 657 , wish we still had it the most balaned trator i hae drien, sorry about the spelling ie lost a few key's

 

[Giorma]

Very good. If you get one with front suspension as well as the cab suspension there's nothing of that age better.

I was thinking about TM 155-165 but it is almost impossible to find a good one under 30k.

 

[Lowland1]

I was thinking about TM 155-165 but it is almost impossible to find a good one under 30k.

No find a Claas/Renault. They are underrated by all but those who have owned them.

 

[Giorma]

No find a Claas/Renault. They are underrated by all but those who have owned them.

Thanks, I will search for the 800 series. is there any difference between Renault and Claas or just a color? As I see older ones are Renaults and those above 2002 are Claas's.

 

[Lowland1]

Thanks, I will search for the 800 series. is there any difference between Renault and Claas or just a color? As I see older ones are Renaults and those above 2002 are Claas's.

I think 2003/4 was the changeover up to 2005 the Claas were the same as Renault's.

 

[workin f nowt]

we had a 657 , wish we still had it the most balaned trator i hae drien, sorry about the spelling ie lost a few key's

Well balanced comfort to die for just a bit short of ponies with combination on. Lads keep finding tractor horn in a 697 with low hours. Tempted but £££££ for a best part of 20 years old machine

 

[Tractor Boy]

Very good. If you get one with front suspension as well as the cab suspension there's nothing of that age better.

I beg to differ. We used to hire in an Ares 836 (I think it was, around 190hp) for a retired chap to come ploughing with our 6f Dowdeswell. He loved it but I tried it and got travel sick due to the cab suspension and had to give up.

 

[Giorma]

I think 2003/4 was the changeover up to 2005 the Claas were the same as Renault's.

How is the fuel usage? As I know it has JD Engine.

 

[bravheart]

How is the fuel usage? As I know it has JD Engine.

Reliability really matters but at that age and in that condition does fuel consumtion really matter. 200hp's gonna drink a bit.

 

[Lowland1]

How is the fuel usage? As I know it has JD Engine.

Don't know about an 836 but our later Axion 820 does around 18 l/ hour with a 3.2 m Discordon .

 

[Lowland1]

I beg to differ. We used to hire in an Ares 836 (I think it was, around 190hp) for a retired chap to come ploughing with our 6f Dowdeswell. He loved it but I tried it and got travel sick due to the cab suspension and had to give up.

They are much better with front suspension as it balances out the cab only suspension.

 

[melted welly]

We had an 816 and the front axle suspension let it down severely, almost monthly visits to the dealer. But if one’s survived this long it maybe hasn’t suffered the same issues.

 

[Giorma]

We had an 816 and the front axle suspension let it down severely, almost monthly visits to the dealer. But if one’s survived this long it maybe hasn’t suffered the same issues.

What year was that 816?

 

[mtx.jag]

Had 2 x 816 and a 697
All 3 tractors were taken to 14000 hours with no mechanical issues
The 697 had a engine loom issue around 10000 hours and was throwing up error codes for no reason,after that was sorted it did another faultless 4000 hours
The 816 was probably one of the best they built imo,extremely comfortable and for those that get travel sick you can adjust the cab suspension on ploughed ground.
I Should of kept the last green 816