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Who really makes them?
Robert, just so that the other opinion gets full exposure here - I'd like to point out some things from a different point of view.
One is that although our compacts are built overseas in Europe and Japan, the dealerships here are franchises owned by local independent businessmen. A lot of these businesses have around for generations. I see a big difference between that sort of setup and a Chinese tractor sold by mail order firm.
Also I have to differ with your characterization of the tractor service departments as being like 99% of the auto/truck dealerships. I know what you mean, and tractor dealers have their dogs too. But if you check around I think you'll find most people are pretty satisfied with their tractor dealer's service department.
Tractors are remarkably durable when compared to cars. Anything mechanical will have things to be sorted out under warranty, but after that it isn't unusual for a diesel tractor to go 20 years with minimal routine maintenance - and no repairs at all. We don't know how much farther they will go. Major repairs are just not a problem with compact tractors. For instance, look back through the archives of this list for engine/transmission problems....you won't find much. That kind of reliability in a small production item drives up the price of manufacture - which is a lot of why name brand compacts cost so much. Obviously my own bias is toward reliability first and price second.
BTW, I'm not a tractor dealer or representative and never have been one. In fact I don't have any connection with the industry other than as a hobbyist. And Robert, please don't take any of this as a personal attack. It is not. I'm just using this conversation as a way to get both sides of the argument to a lot of people who are trying to make the same decision that you are.
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Who really makes them?
Hmmm...it sounds like car dealers are having the same problems all over. Out here in the West we have had a recent influx of new residents who have plenty of money but don't enjoy doing much of their own maintenance and mechanical work. The result is that car dealerships are overloaded with lots of work of the type that people used to do for themselves. So the dealerships haven't kept up with the changing times and are frustated. Several that I know of just gave it up, sold out to some of the newcomers, and retired. So far that hasn't been the case so much with the Ag and tractor dealers....but I'll bet that it will be in the future. I think it is just what you usually get a small town gets larger and personal accountability declines. Luckily, the perfect solution is available to anyone: Just do the work yourself.
I agree on Massey Ferguson. The ones I've tried out are every bit as good as JD/Kubota/New Holland....and for less money. Last I noticed, the Massey was being built in Europe instead of Japan. That might have changed.
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