Indiana Andy - 1/1/2016 17:17

I have paid "tuition" on that lesson before. It's good to be frugal and conservative, but it seems like that every time I try to go cheap, I end up spending as much if not more on the fixer upper as what I really wanted in the first place. I had to repeat the class a time or two, but I agree with J. Sheehan that the lowest cost scenario is to buy as reasonably low houred machine as you can afford from a good home and run it until you can't stand it any more (keep good records though.) This allows you to get a feel for the machine as the nickel and dime costs rise and when to bail out (not to say that excrement doesn't happen.) You lessen your chances of bailing off into somebody else's problems, and you don't pay a salesman so often. As far as the tractor goes, I have an 8400 with 6300 hours that has been stellar, probably the best tractor I've ever owned. Bought it in 04 with 2800 hours and won't be leaving the farm anytime soon. I wish you best of luck in whatever you decide.