Do I need to spend the extra $2100?

[Elendil]

This is the week that I will be picking up my new Kubota.

Before anyone tries to convince me otherwise, I have definitely settled on a Kubota as my choice for my new ZTR mower. I have a great local dealer who also deals in Gravely, Hustler, Exmark, Toro, and Simplicity. I have drove and mowed with them all and am satisfied that the Kubota is the right choice for me.

This mower is strictly for my personal use at my home. I mow about 2.5 acres. Have a lot of trees and bushes to mow around. The ground is flat except for the ditches which are 7-8 degrees slope at worst and only for a very short stretch at that.

Originally I had zeroed in on the Kubota Kommander Z125S. With a suspension seat and LED lights I can get it for $5779 plus tax.(Maybe less if I negotiate harder). I can get 0% financing on the unit. It comes with a 4 year 300 hour warranty.

However, I have begun to seriously considering moving to the Kubota Z723KH. The MSRP on this unit is $8866 including the suspension seat, halogen lights, and hitch. Kubota is offering a $1000 rebate and 0% financing which immediately lowers the MSRP to $7866. (Maybe less if I negotiate harder) It comes with a 2 year unlimited hour warranty.

I tend to take care of my stuff. I have a 1993 JD F525 with 680 hours that still runs like a top and looks pretty decent too.

The deck on the Kommander is 54 inches and the deck on the Z723KH is 48 inches. If I go to the 54 inch deck on the Z723KH then the price difference is $2600. (I am fine with the 48 inch deck though).

Originally I was going to sell my F525 myself, but I am now leaning towards just trading it in to be done with it.

I have 2 questions that I am seeking input on:

1. Is it worth it for me to spend the extra $2100 to move up to a true commercial unit considering the type of property that I am mowing and my rigorous adherence to strictly following a maint. routine on my equipment?

2. If you were trading in the F525 what is the minimum you would accept from the dealer on trade? I have never traded a mower in, but I am assuming it works like a car when you only pay sales tax on the price difference between the purchased unit and the traded unit so I have to factor the tax savings into the trade value I would accept. I have included pics of the F525 to help with the evaluation.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[Shughes717]

This is the week that I will be picking up my new Kubota.

Before anyone tries to convince me otherwise, I have definitely settled on a Kubota as my choice for my new ZTR mower. I have a great local dealer who also deals in Gravely, Hustler, Exmark, Toro, and Simplicity. I have drove and mowed with them all and am satisfied that the Kubota is the right choice for me.

This mower is strictly for my personal use at my home. I mow about 2.5 acres. Have a lot of trees and bushes to mow around. The ground is flat except for the ditches which are 7-8 degrees slope at worst and only for a very short stretch at that.

Originally I had zeroed in on the Kubota Kommander Z125S. With a suspension seat and LED lights I can get it for $5779 plus tax.(Maybe less if I negotiate harder). I can get 0% financing on the unit. It comes with a 4 year 300 hour warranty.

However, I have begun to seriously considering moving to the Kubota Z723KH. The MSRP on this unit is $8866 including the suspension seat, halogen lights, and hitch. Kubota is offering a $1000 rebate and 0% financing which immediately lowers the MSRP to $7866. (Maybe less if I negotiate harder) It comes with a 2 year unlimited hour warranty.

I tend to take care of my stuff. I have a 1993 JD F525 with 680 hours that still runs like a top and looks pretty decent too.

The deck on the Kommander is 54 inches and the deck on the Z723KH is 48 inches. If I go to the 54 inch deck on the Z723KH then the price difference is $2600. (I am fine with the 48 inch deck though).

Originally I was going to sell my F525 myself, but I am now leaning towards just trading it in to be done with it.

I have 2 questions that I am seeking input on:

1. Is it worth it for me to spend the extra $2100 to move up to a true commercial unit considering the type of property that I am mowing and my rigorous adherence to strictly following a maint. routine on my equipment?

2. If you were trading in the F525 what is the minimum you would accept from the dealer on trade? I have never traded a mower in, but I am assuming it works like a car when you only pay sales tax on the price difference between the purchased unit and the traded unit so I have to factor the tax savings into the trade value I would accept. I have included pics of the F525 to help with the evaluation.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

If you are only mowing 2.5 acres of mostly flat lawn then the kommander is plenty of mower. However, I really like the z700 series mowers. That would be my choice, but I mow a little more than 2.5 acres. The dealer most likely won't give you anything near what your trade in is worth, you will probably be better off selling it yourself.

 

[Elendil]

Since I am considering trading in my F525 I decide to make a run to 2 different Kubota dealers in the area to run the numbers on both the Z125S and the Z723KH.

Here are the best numbers for each of the models I am considering.

Kommander Z125S

$5779.00----------Sale Price
-$1250.00----------Trade In
__________
$4529.00----------Balance
$ 283.06-----------Tax
__________
$4812.06----------Out the door price


Kubota Z723KH

$8299.00----------Sale Price
-$1000.00----------Rebate
-$1250.00----------Trade In
__________
$6049.00----------Balance
$ 378.06-----------Tax
_________
$6427.06----------Out the door price**


**The dealer is also including a hitch and a halogen work light kit installed on the K723 at no additional charge ($168 + labor retail value)


Both units are eligible for 0% financing for 48 months. The Z723KH also offers no payment for 6 months.

The bottom line is that it will cost an additional $1615.00 to move from the Z125S to the Z723KH.


At both dealers I was able to put both units side by side and run and mow with both of them one after another. The Z125S is a quality residential mower, and it certainly seems as good or better than any other residential mower that I have owned. But....................then I get on the Z723KH and it makes the Z125S seem like it came out of the Fingerhut catalog.

The differences are readily apparent when the units sit next to one another. The Z723 is beefier, the deck is deeper, the frame thicker, the tires bigger, and just looks indestructible versus the Z125. The Z125 was equipped with the seat suspension kit and the Z723 was equipped with the standard seat. Even with the improved seat the ride and feel of the Z723 was head and shoulders above the Z125. Couple that with the true commercial hydros, larger tires, larger gas tank, better air filter, more proven engine, and accessories at no additional cost and am convinced that the Z723KH is the easy choice at this point. Considering the no charge lights and hitch it works out to less than a $1400 price difference.

The dealer only had a Z725 on hand so I will have to wait until Saturday to have my Z723 sitting in my driveway.

 

[Shughes717]

Since I am considering trading in my F525 I decide to make a run to 2 different Kubota dealers in the area to run the numbers on both the Z125S and the Z723KH.

Here are the best numbers for each of the models I am considering.

Kommander Z125S

$5779.00----------Sale Price
-$1250.00----------Trade In
__________
$4529.00----------Balance
$ 283.06-----------Tax
__________
$4812.06----------Out the door price


Kubota Z723KH

$8299.00----------Sale Price
-$1000.00----------Rebate
-$1250.00----------Trade In
__________
$6049.00----------Balance
$ 378.06-----------Tax
_________
$6427.06----------Out the door price**


**The dealer is also including a hitch and a halogen work light kit installed on the K723 at no additional charge ($168 + labor retail value)


Both units are eligible for 0% financing for 48 months. The Z723KH also offers no payment for 6 months.

The bottom line is that it will cost an additional $1615.00 to move from the Z125S to the Z723KH.


At both dealers I was able to put both units side by side and run and mow with both of them one after another. The Z125S is a quality residential mower, and it certainly seems as good or better than any other residential mower that I have owned. But....................then I get on the Z723KH and it makes the Z125S seem like it came out of the Fingerhut catalog.

The differences are readily apparent when the units sit next to one another. The Z723 is beefier, the deck is deeper, the frame thicker, the tires bigger, and just looks indestructible versus the Z125. The Z125 was equipped with the seat suspension kit and the Z723 was equipped with the standard seat. Even with the improved seat the ride and feel of the Z723 was head and shoulders above the Z125. Couple that with the true commercial hydros, larger tires, larger gas tank, better air filter, more proven engine, and accessories at no additional cost and am convinced that the Z723KH is the easy choice at this point. Considering the no charge lights and hitch it works out to less than a $1400 price difference.

The dealer only had a Z725 on hand so I will have to wait until Saturday to have my Z723 sitting in my driveway.

The z700 series would be my top choice if I were going with kubota. Great mower. You should be set for at least a couple of decades.

 

[Elendil]

My new Z723 was delivered today. C'mon grass! Grow! Grow! Grow!

 

[Shughes717]

My new Z723 was delivered today. C'mon grass! Grow! Grow! Grow!

Lol, I know what you mean. I thoroughly enjoy mowing with my zero turn. Great looking mower.