Kubota?

[Tom59]

Tom59,
I will attempt to take your info and what I find online for the Kubota Kommander and compare a single model, the standard 48" ZG124E model's MSRP to the 48" Gravely ZT HD line-for line and price. I "assume" your $4499 quote is what I'm looking for but the website, after selecting "Build My Kubota", then ZG124, Gas, 48", Standard features and Turf Tires, gave me a Summary stating "Introductory Pricing Starting At $4499" but also a "Total Configuration Price" of $4985. I must assume that based upon my "option selections" that the $4985 is the MSRP price plus taxes...we cannot assume that any dealer(Kubota or Gravely) is going to extend a "discount/cash price deal" to me....OK?
Indeed the 48" Gravely Pro-Turn 100XDZ has a MSRP of $7,299, which for a "Commercial ZTR" is going to be a lot more "beans" than a Kubota Kommander ZG124E Residential ZTR". And the 48" Gravely "regular Pro-Turn" is the $5,999 but is still not the appropriate Gravely model to compare a Kommander ZG124E to.

The 48" Gravely ZT HD is the $4,999 MSRP plus taxes you quoted and now.......we have an apples-to-apples comparison to a base Kommander ZG124E(same ZT-3100 trannies, same gauge deck, no suspension seat and the same Ogura GT1A clutch. And, let's say for the sake of comparison that the MSRP that the Kubota website gave me("Total Configuration Price" of $4,985) for the ZG124E is to be compared to the Gravely ZT HD 48 at $4,999. Sooooooo....we are talking a difference of 14 beans($) the Kommander is less than the Gravely here.....right??? Since as far as "most" features that I just described these two ZTR's are basically neck-to-neck, let's drill down a bit further to differences such as:
Warranties:
Gravely:3year Consumer/1Year Commercial or 1,000 Hours, 5Year Frame & Deck and 3Year Spindles(Cast Iron).
Kommander:4Year or 300 Hours/No Commercial Warranty, No specific Frame/Deck Warranty, No specific Spindle Warranty(and no mention, but I assume aluminum spindles).

Weight:
Gravely:823 lbs.(almost a 100 lbs more than the Kubota....could this indicate a "heavier" build???)
Kommander:726 lbs.

Please feel free to pull up these two model's features and or specifications and mention anything that I may have missed or correct anything I mentioned......that would be worth saving(or spending) 14 beans.

Ooooppppps, missed a spec that was in favor of the Kommander:
Blade Tip Speed:
Gravely:18,000 fpm(Gravely doesn't state "max" but don't know if that is implied).
Kommandermax)18,100 fpm

Found another.....may be a biggie....
Deck Hanging System:
Gravely:Commercial chain-hung free floating.
Kommanderarallel linkage. Not familiar with this, but after looking at the pictures, definitely not chain-hung.

I think we agree :wink:

I am leaning Gravely - I will talk turkey - after two more dealer visits. Scag- Hustler.....both closer by than Gravely. I like the Gravely dealer really nice folks.

Website pricing is MSRP - Kubota - they are running a promotion nationwide. 124e is 4449.00. The prices I posted are for the promotion as far as I know there are no options lists. I have been wrong before though. (ask the wife)

BTS means little to me. I have a push mower -no engine- rotary - cuts really well , blade tip speed is REALLY, REALLY slow especially on hot days. If I oil the blades it's better. :biggrin: I use it for my pool area , its just easier and keeps grass out of the pool. Cut is excellent. Seriously.

Some people like to make it a simple BTS Vs BTS. No deck design , no blade design , no engine hp/tq curves or spindle design. Engineers at major manufacturers know what they are doing. (I hope so) So imho , and for me , it means less than how sharp I keep my blades. :wink: Especially when you are talking 100rpms here and there.

So deck height 5" vs 4.5 and tire profiles , the knob to change deck heights is nice. Warranty isn't a deal breaker . The Kawasaki engine is though. That alone is worth a few hundred beans. 200.00 min.... YES, Gravely is also a proven model. No recalls like Kubota. Also the weight of the machines one is obviously beefier. On me it would be a 100lbs of not needed weight. But on a machine its usually a good thing.

 

[djdicetn]

I think we agree :wink:

I am leaning Gravely - I will talk turkey - after two more dealer visits. Scag- Hustler.....both closer by than Gravely. I like the Gravely dealer really nice folks.

Website pricing is MSRP - Kubota - they are running a promotion nationwide. 124e is 4449.00. The prices I posted are for the promotion as far as I know there are no options lists. I have been wrong before though. (ask the wife)

BTS means little to me. I have a push mower -no engine- rotary - cuts really well , blade tip speed is REALLY, REALLY slow especially on hot days. If I oil the blades it's better. :biggrin: I use it for my pool area , its just easier and keeps grass out of the pool. Cut is excellent. Seriously.

Some people like to make it a simple BTS Vs BTS. No deck design , no blade design , no engine hp/tq curves or spindle design. Engineers at major manufacturers know what they are doing. (I hope so) So imho , and for me , it means less than how sharp I keep my blades. :wink: Especially when you are talking 100rpms here and there.

So deck height 5" vs 4.5 and tire profiles , the knob to change deck heights is nice. Warranty isn't a deal breaker . The Kawasaki engine is though. That alone is worth a few hundred beans. 200.00 min.... YES, Gravely is also a proven model. No recalls like Kubota. Also the weight of the machines one is obviously beefier. On me it would be a 100lbs of not needed weight. But on a machine its usually a good thing.

Tom59,
Well I can see you are practicing due diligence in getting all the facts before making a purchase. A lot of users think I am "bashing" the Kubota Kommander and really I'm not. For the first-everKubota "Residential ZTR" model introduction the Kommander is a respectable machine, I just think there are many other choices from manufacturers that have been building high-end residential ZTR's for years(Gravely, Toro, Cub Cadet, Hustler, Big Dog, etc.) that offer slightly better bang for your buck. In 5-10 years from now, who knows Kubota may have 4-5 different Residential ZTR series that will match up with any competitor. I'm just a little leary of the first model they introduced(until a season or two of owner experiences/reviews confirm their quality). Again, as I have said before...historically, Kubota don't make no junk!!!

 

[Tom59]

Tom59,
Well I can see you are practicing due diligence in getting all the facts before making a purchase. A lot of users think I am "bashing" the Kubota Kommander and really I'm not. For the first-everKubota "Residential ZTR" model introduction the Kommander is a respectable machine, I just think there are many other choices from manufacturers that have been building high-end residential ZTR's for years(Gravely, Toro, Cub Cadet, Hustler, Big Dog, etc.) that offer slightly better bang for your buck. In 5-10 years from now, who knows Kubota may have 4-5 different Residential ZTR series that will match up with any competitor. I'm just a little leary of the first model they introduced(until a season or two of owner experiences/reviews confirm their quality). Again, as I have said before...historically, Kubota don't make no junk!!!

I'm certainly not bashing them, I REALLY wanted one. I certainly didn't read into you bashing them either. I'm new here and info is the reason I fully understand people's brand loyalty. Most people know there are variables to each persons decision. Variety makes the world go round.

..........name equals resale value. You WILL get better money on resale if the name is KUBOTA. Especially around here. There is no debating it. That is exactly why I like their machines and looked at them first. Also in this arena as you mentioned they are new. So the recalls mean little but what else might fail in a yr or so even though they fix it. That is a consideration. I have to drag it back there for warranty work. Its the furthest away dealer.

I just looked at a Scag Freedom Z Kawi engine , 3100 series tranny 48" deck has a nice deck adjustment system and the dealer offered me that for 5400.00. Very nicely built too. The 26hp briggs is 5300. The one thing that bugged me is the deck wasn't reinforced with flat stock on the bottom they went with L channel.

We have two older Kubota diesel tractors in the family VERY tough little hombre's. thanks for helping!

 

[djdicetn]

I'm certainly not bashing them, I REALLY wanted one. I certainly didn't read into you bashing them either. I'm new here and info is the reason I fully understand people's brand loyalty. Most people know there are variables to each persons decision. Variety makes the world go round.

..........name equals resale value. You WILL get better money on resale if the name is KUBOTA. Especially around here. There is no debating it. That is exactly why I like their machines and looked at them first. Also in this arena as you mentioned they are new. So the recalls mean little but what else might fail in a yr or so even though they fix it. That is a consideration. I have to drag it back there for warranty work. Its the furthest away dealer.

I just looked at a Scag Freedom Z Kawi engine , 3100 series tranny 48" deck has a nice deck adjustment system and the dealer offered me that for 5400.00. Very nicely built too. The 26hp briggs is 5300. The one thing that bugged me is the deck wasn't reinforced with flat stock on the bottom they went with L channel.

We have two older Kubota diesel tractors in the family VERY tough little hombre's. thanks for helping!

That Scag Freedom has very good specs and quality build and $5,400 sounds like a fair price. My dealer carried Scag & Gravely and I think it was the 52" in the Tiger Cat series that I looked at(unfortunately after I looked at the price tag I realized a Scag was a little out of my reach). They are extremely well built machines....but ouch they are expensive!!!

 

[pepvol]

I just returned from the Kubota dealer , and I was very impressed ! I have a John Deere and Kubota dealer right beside each other just a few miles from my house , and I'm out in the boonies and I have no clue where or how far away a Gravely , Scag or Cub Cadet dealer is . After looking it over very closely , the ZG127S , I went and talked to the guy and he was very helpful , when he started showing me figures and payments if I put 2,000, or 3,000 down I asked him , well that is from that $5799 figure how much would it be with the taxes ? Oh that is including the taxes ... so that was $400 some odd dollars cheaper than I thought without haggling one bit ... plus he said bring that credit application back in the morning , and I'LL get it cleaned up and out to you tomorrow evening and then teach you all about it when I bring it there ... I may just have to take him up on that .

 

[djdicetn]

I just returned from the Kubota dealer , and I was very impressed ! I have a John Deere and Kubota dealer right beside each other just a few miles from my house , and I'm out in the boonies and I have no clue where or how far away a Gravely , Scag or Cub Cadet dealer is . After looking it over very closely , the ZG127S , I went and talked to the guy and he was very helpful , when he started showing me figures and payments if I put 2,000, or 3,000 down I asked him , well that is from that $5799 figure how much would it be with the taxes ? Oh that is including the taxes ... so that was $400 some odd dollars cheaper than I thought without haggling one bit ... plus he said bring that credit application back in the morning , and I'LL get it cleaned up and out to you tomorrow evening and then teach you all about it when I bring it there ... I may just have to take him up on that .

Yep, don't know what part of TN you are in but Chiltons Turf Center in Nashville sells Scag, Gravely and Cub Cadet. I posted in your other thread about the guy in Missouri that just picked up a 48" Dixie Chopper Zee 2 for $3,800. That's an excellent buy for a residential unit with a Kawasaki engine and ZT-2800 trannies!!! Don't know what their going for in the boonies where you live(if there is a Dixie dealer nearby). You might wanna check 'em out!!!

 

[Duckman]

pepvol...First welcome.

It looks like you are getting a good deal, maybe not a great deal but I have not heard to many people really talking these things down....Mine has the 54" deck and the 27hp Kohler. I have nothing bad to say about the mower...I love it.

A few things you will REALLY enjoy...The power-more than enough. The cut-it's just great. The quality-the more I use it the more I see, it's simple and easy to work on.

The only thing that surprised me was how loud the deck is...the blades run at 1800rpm, for how good this thing cuts I'll take a little extra noise.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

Stay safe.

Mike