New tractor versus used

D14

Member
Buy new and keep a long time is cheapest as you have removed about 3 dealer margins.

Had a price last week from the bank for a straight loan for £150,000 which over 5 years was going to cost £160,350 in total repayments or £2672.50/month. This was just a fact finding mission to see where rates were etc but asked them would they want to know what it was to be used for and the answer was no. I said so a machine or infrastructure etc and they said thats fine as no item would be listed against the loan. So a tractor at that price including a 8 year warranty from Fendt you would hope the tractor would last 10 years so for some very basic maths if you paid for it within 5 years as per the above quote but then had another 5 years of no repayments but you averaged it then its actually £16,035 per year for a tractor that was fully covered for 8 years and you take a punt on the last 2 years outside of the warranty. I have no idea on the annual hours allowed on a warranty but I would think it must be 1000 so thats £16/hour before factoring in its resale value with 10,000 hours on it.
 

EddieB

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Staffs
There is always leasing. One of our neighbours leases his two main >200hp tractors. He told me they’re £18/hour including servicing. I don’t know what the min/max hours per year are though.
 

ARW

Member
Location
Yorkshire
We were looking for a fresh tractor last year, something with 4000 hours on half worn tyres was near on £60k, no warranty
We bought an ex demo, 700 hours, 90% tyres, warranty etc seemed a better deal in the long run with the hours we do.
The second hand tractor would most likely have 10,000 hours on by the time we have paid for it then you are risking big repair bills as well as finance!
 

Lincsman

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
Had a price last week from the bank for a straight loan for £150,000 which over 5 years was going to cost £160,350 in total repayments or £2672.50/month. This was just a fact finding mission to see where rates were etc but asked them would they want to know what it was to be used for and the answer was no. I said so a machine or infrastructure etc and they said thats fine as no item would be listed against the loan. So a tractor at that price including a 8 year warranty from Fendt you would hope the tractor would last 10 years so for some very basic maths if you paid for it within 5 years as per the above quote but then had another 5 years of no repayments but you averaged it then its actually £16,035 per year for a tractor that was fully covered for 8 years and you take a punt on the last 2 years outside of the warranty. I have no idea on the annual hours allowed on a warranty but I would think it must be 1000 so thats £16/hour before factoring in its resale value with 10,000 hours on it.

This warranty, if its a £30 window latch do you pay anything? some are you pay the first £200.
 
You have to think with the sub being cut and this elms coming in its place who will be buying anything in 6 years time as that cheque will pay for alot of machinery monthly payments, tractors in 6 years time will be 150 grand no bother. I already think the tractors lv got will be my last.
 

MrNoo

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Cirencester
You have to think with the sub being cut and this elms coming in its place who will be buying anything in 6 years time as that cheque will pay for alot of machinery monthly payments, tractors in 6 years time will be 150 grand no bother. I already think the tractors lv got will be my last.
Exactly my thoughts, opted for new, trade in of old one (5,000hrs) was nowt to get excited about so kept it. 25k a year over 4, the new one will see me out and splitting the hours between the two should make them last even longer.
Life's short so I have aimed to get all my kit right up together which it is now so next stop is buildings, get plenty of sheds to go up
 

EddieB

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Staffs
Annual hours is a consideration. My 13 yo NH has only done 5,300 hours (400 p/a) so I it’s hard to justify a new one. If I was doing >1,000 hours a year then I probably would look at new.
 
Last edited:
New.
Pro. new smell, warranty, known history, shiney, should last longer
Con. Price
S/H
Pro. Not such a capital outlay. Someone else has taken the first and biggest hit in depreciation
Con. Bit of a lottery. Unknown history

If you can afford it and it works for your business situation go for it. Everyone has different thoughts and justifications. Personally I buy S/H with as low hours as possible and if possible still under warranty as you know its be serviced and you can research history. Therefore I'm very glad there are businesses that have the ability to buy new and sell young. Gives me options
 

mf7480

Member
Mixed Farmer
I’ve just been unlucky but every single piece of used equipment we have bought has been disappointing or troublesome. With new you know what you’ve got.
 
The problem is with second hand,there is no obvious ones to go for or to avoid. My case 5120 was bought for £12000 with 2000hrs in 2002. 10000 hrs now and still worth £12000 on a good day now. Fitted it's first ever part,a turbo for £285, at 8500 hours and it's second ever part a lift pump for £24 last week. Should you all rush out to buy a twenty five year old maxxum? No, because there's plenty of posts on here where people have more serious problems with one
 
Location
Cheshire
I've been through this exercise recently. Looked at a new MF 5711 which was around £44k. Wasn't overly impressed with cab etc, felt built down to a price.

Came across a tidy MF 5610 on a 14 plate. Felt much better built, very comfortable quiet cab and no ad blue. Done 3000 hours and did a deal at just under £30k.

It feels right, and I've saved £14k. What happens over the next 10+ years will tell me if I'm right😄
Good move, MF5711 has lots of lower spec levels, equivalent to MF5610 would be £60k+
 

Dog Bowl

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cotswolds
Just ordered another new tractor. Ive had too many disasters with second hand stuff. After searching for a really tidy, young second hand tractor, then asking the dealer what the price for a new one is it then became a no brainer.
 

BBC

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
Even if can afford to buy new, for that cost or less going used gives the option to go for something more powerful or higher spec which gives more options for what you use behind it in the future to help increase productivity/reduce cost.
 

Martyn

Member
Location
South west
We have gone through this around Christmas and purchased new even though I thought second hand would be cheaper, but purchased a demo tractor. You factor in manufacture warranty, the fact it's had no abuse, very low cost to borrowing money, no new tyres for 3000 hours+ it makes second hand tractors look expensive. We have done 8 year warranty, paid over 6 years with aiming to keep 10 years at least.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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