Nusbaum Farms LLC Bellfountain, OR | Two years ago, I was facing the same decision as you. Fuel economy was one factor I was looking at but the factor that ultimately tipped me over into the Deere camp was that the Steigers (up until the STX) still had driveline brakes and the Deere has axle brakes. Our PTA325 is a great old tractor but a dozen years of spending $$$ to keep inadequate brakes on it vs. awesome brakes on our old 7020 and 8430 Deeres with no brake repairs ever made that an easy decision.
Not as big a deal for some folks I'm sure but we travel over lots of miles of steep narrow roads where when you need to stop, you need to stop NOW. If I farmed in flat wide open country it wouldn't even be on my radar.
The 7600 hour 9400 I ultimately picked has required some repairs but nothing that isn't par for the course in used equipment. 9300 is basically the same tractor, detuned by 65 HP and smaller axle shafts. I sure wouldn't be afraid of one. I don't have anything against the red one either if the brake thing is not a worry.
-Orin
Edited by Orin 2/26/2017 14:54
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JD 9300 reliablity?
