BX23 vs BX25D vs BX23S

[Doughboyea]

Still a rookie trying to figure these Kubotas out. Honestly, their model numbers and pricing are confusing. There are two local and one further away that are for sale and are of interest to me. I'm reading that each successive BX model builds on the prior, so I have to assume that the later models are "better" than the older ones. Which model is better? Here are the ads:

2004 Kubota BX23 - $17,500, Roughly 10 minutes away
Loader, Backhoe, Agri Tires, 268 hrs

low mileage, single owner and always garaged. Used for personal residential use only. Always maintained and almost ready for the 300 hr. maintenance.

So I read the above as meaning its a 20 year old tractor with a big maintenance due (all fluid change). Hours are low for period, but many seasons. Could possibly drive it home.

2013-2014 Kubota BX25D - $17,850, Roughly 10 minutes away
Loader, Backhoe, Turf Tires, 305 hrs

Looking to sell my Kubota BX25D with 308 hours. All maintenance up to date with all fluids changed at 300 hours. Comes with front loader, backhoe, post hole digger 9” and a cover. Tractor is in great shape. I can deliver it locally. Looking for $17850.. I could add a 16’ 3 year old trailer for additional $3500.

I read this one as newer model, maintenance completed (pending verification), highest priced, has extras (auger and cover), optional trailer is a bonus and tempting, but not for $3500. Photos show trailer with no ramp, but wooden rails, Big-Tex model with double axle. Photos show tractor looking clean, no major blemishes, except where you'd expect (buckets). Could possibly drive it home.

2018 Kubota BX23S - $15,900, Roughly 45 minutes away
Loader, Backhoe, Agri Tires, 493 hrs

Kubota BX 23S , 4WD, 493 hours Tractor , loader, backhoe & 60" mid mount mower. This is the combination machine everyone is looking for . No leaks. No smoke . Very nice machine. Located in Branford, CT. No Trades.

Ad has a video of loader and backhoe being used. Rear of seat is missing door panel for manual, no manual visible. This is the newest of the bunch, but oddly also the most affordable. Comes with mower deck. Getting it to my house will be difficult. Looks like it was parked outside a bit with fading of the steering wheel.

 

[jyoutz]

Still a rookie trying to figure these Kubotas out. Honestly, their model numbers and pricing are confusing. There are two local and one further away that are for sale and are of interest to me. I'm reading that each successive BX model builds on the prior, so I have to assume that the later models are "better" than the older ones. Which model is better? Here are the ads:
View attachment 136830
2004 Kubota BX23 - $17,500, Roughly 10 minutes away
Loader, Backhoe, Agri Tires, 268 hrs

So I read the above as meaning its a 20 year old tractor with a big maintenance due (all fluid change). Hours are low for period, but many seasons. Could possibly drive it home.


View attachment 136832
2013-2014 Kubota BX25D - $17,850, Roughly 10 minutes away
Loader, Backhoe, Turf Tires, 305 hrs

I read this one as newer model, maintenance completed (pending verification), highest priced, has extras (auger and cover), optional trailer is a bonus and tempting, but not for $3500. Photos show trailer with no ramp, but wooden rails, Big-Tex model with double axle. Photos show tractor looking clean, no major blemishes, except where you'd expect (buckets). Could possibly drive it home.


View attachment 136833
2018 Kubota BX23S - $15,900, Roughly 45 minutes away
Loader, Backhoe, Agri Tires, 493 hrs

Ad has a video of loader and backhoe being used. Rear of seat is missing door panel for manual, no manual visible. This is the newest of the bunch, but oddly also the most affordable. Comes with mower deck. Getting it to my house will be difficult. Looks like it was parked outside a bit with fading of the steering wheel.

Go for the newest model (if condition is good).

 

[PaulL]

The BX25D looks best to me. Slightly lower hours, and well maintained.

I think the BX23 is too old, and I think that model is the one based off the BX2350 platform, and that had plastic panels that break easily. I had a BX2350 that had every bit of plastic on it broken, I wouldn't advise it. Mechanically they're mostly the same, so it's not a bad machine, but for similar money and similar hours, the BX25D is 10 years newer.

The BX23S looks to me like it's been used a bit harder. It's still low hours, but it's not as pretty as the others. I think the BX25D is based off the BX2370 platform, the BX23S is based off the BX2380. There wasn't a lot of change between them, so not that big a deal.

Having said that, the pictures don't do the newest one justice, so potentially in the flesh it's been very well maintained. In which case, it's the one to buy.

Consider the tires. The newest (BX23S) has industrials, the middle one (BX25D) has turfs. That's material if you care which tires. Also consider attachments. To me a mid mount mower is way more useful than a post hole digger. If you want one or other attachment, that'd also swing me.

Getting it home I'd worry less about. Surely you can borrow a trailer, know someone who'd give you a hand, or can rent a trailer for a day? I wouldn't compromise on something else just for that.

 

[85Hokie]

I agree 100% with Paul- the XX50 series sucks with the plastic - ( I have one)

the first two are WAY over priced.

the mmm is huge plus too!

The 23s is the way to go - pay someone to haul it!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

My 'vote' is for the BX23S.
Has the heavy duty scraper bar on the front bucket and the MMM. Has less than 1/2 the hours my machine does(same year but SSQA).
Looks like 'pin on' style bucket ?

getting it home is easy. borrow or rent a '16' car hauler ' trailer, maybe $100 ?

 

[Speed25]

Be careful with the BX23S units. I found a lot of them that were previous rental units (Home Depot, etc.) and like rental cars, you DON'T want one that's been used and abused by someone that didn't give a crap, especially when servicing is questionable at best. Since these units are outside with a bit of faded paint, look for where the rental decals were as the paint should be fresher and darker in those areas. Find out the history if possible. Also note that the BX25D had two generations with the latter getting some of the upgrades that came with the BX23S (armrests, etc). I'd have preferred a BX23S when looking, mostly for the SSQA, but I found a deal on my BX25D that I couldn't pass up.
As far as tires go, you can pick up an extra set of mounted wheels and tires from the dealership for about $500. I'm running turfs during mowing season and plan on picking up some R4s for woods-work in the next month or so.

 

[hagrid]

BX23S is lawn mowing champion. Woefully underpowered for earthmoving/real work.

@lugbolt

 

[Henro]

BX23S is lawn mowing champion. Woefully underpowered for earthmoving/real work.

@lugbolt

Depending on perspective, this is certainly true.

But I can say unequivocally, the BX23S when compared to me is a super human! I can say this because my son-in-law has one.

Compared to the BX23S, my B2910 with backhoe is a super tractor!

All a matter of perspective…

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Well I do KNOW that my BX23s HAS moved 1,000s of tons of dirt, stable sweeping, compost,rocks, gravel and other 'stuff'. Far more I dare say than the two MOTORCYCLES listed in the posters sidebar.....
Rumour has it he does have a BX23S in the same garage as the two wheelers.......

MY BX23S does NOT have a MMM. I cut grass with a mower that cost 10% of what a MMM would have.

 

[hagrid]

Rumour has it he does have a BX23S in the same garage as the two wheelers.......

You cant prove that!

 

[PaulL]

You cant prove that!

This is the internet. Proof is something we used to do in the last century.

Looking again at that BX23s, it's just the bucket that looks well used. The machine itself looks very clean - and doesn't show ill effects from being stored outside. I certainly wouldn't expect an ex rental to look that tidy.

I'd work out if you want turfs or industrials, and a posthole digger or a mower. Personally I could live with industrials, and a mower is way more useful than a posthole digger. Then it's newer as well.

The BX25D may be open to negotiation though, it does look a bit overpriced by comparison.

 

[DustyRusty]

If the BX23 were reasonably priced I would take that over the BX23S any day. I regret selling my BX22, which was a super machine. It isn't that the BX23S can't do the jobs that I ask of it, it is just that I don't like the fact that it idles at 1200 RPM and the BX22/BX23 will idle at 600. BX23S uses more fuel than my BX22 did to do the same job. Also, I wouldn't be afraid of any rental machine, because I had see the way that Home Depot did service of them. They used an independent contractor that was very through and had a check sheet to check off. He also took pictures of the work as he progressed through it to prove that it was done.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

gee that bucket doesn't look 'well used' to me. Mine's missing the lower 6" of paint off the sides from moving 10-12 tandem loads of gravel over the past 2-3 years, Rest of the tractor looks GREAT to me, no scratches on the hood, seat not split, still has seatbelt, seems to have 'filler blocks' on the stab feet.
I have same tires, 3rd set up front, 2nd set on back, after 1300 hrs. They're a good compromise for driving on grass,in mud, bush, gravel and dirt.

 

[Doughboyea]

Go for the newest model (if condition is good).

The newest model, as reported by reviewers of the seller, is being sold by a guy that promises to meet after negotiating a price, then ghosts the buyers, often selling while a buyer is commuting to exchange funds and pickup. Even if this is an awesome "deal", just that alone makes me feel like he's a shady character.

 

[Doughboyea]

The BX25D looks best to me. Slightly lower hours, and well maintained.

I think the BX23 is too old, and I think that model is the one based off the BX2350 platform, and that had plastic panels that break easily. I had a BX2350 that had every bit of plastic on it broken, I wouldn't advise it. Mechanically they're mostly the same, so it's not a bad machine, but for similar money and similar hours, the BX25D is 10 years newer.

When compared to the other two, yes, the BX23 looks "well used", even though the hours don't reflect that. I'm not a fan of rounded hoods and such like the newer ones, but that's just cosmetics to me, I'd prefer the better bucket load functionality over looks. Though its good to know about the plastic bits. As much as I say it's a cosmetic thing, they do protect the engine from debris and such. Don't want to look ghetto on my old ass tractor now...

The BX23S looks to me like it's been used a bit harder. It's still low hours, but it's not as pretty as the others. I think the BX25D is based off the BX2370 platform, the BX23S is based off the BX2380. There wasn't a lot of change between them, so not that big a deal.

Having said that, the pictures don't do the newest one justice, so potentially in the flesh it's been very well maintained. In which case, it's the one to buy.

The seller of the BX23S has quite a few negative reviews, mainly ghosting buyers after negotiating a price and while enroute to pickup, has been selling the item to another. Such shady practices make me want to avoid this dude.

Consider the tires. The newest (BX23S) has industrials, the middle one (BX25D) has turfs. That's material if you care which tires. Also consider attachments. To me a mid mount mower is way more useful than a post hole digger. If you want one or other attachment, that'd also swing me.

Getting it home I'd worry less about. Surely you can borrow a trailer, know someone who'd give you a hand, or can rent a trailer for a day? I wouldn't compromise on something else just for that.

I do like the BX25D the best simply based on the reviews of the seller and indication of maintenance in the ad, but the asking price has me unsure. Does the BX25D really have that much residual value when there are B2XXX's being offered for $13k to $15k?

 

[Doughboyea]

I agree 100% with Paul- the XX50 series sucks with the plastic - ( I have one)

the first two are WAY over priced.

the mmm is huge plus too!

The 23s is the way to go - pay someone to haul it!

Where are you located, state wise? Seeing pricing for BXs in CT, they tend to go for the $17k to $25k range. But, then I see them advertised outside of New England and they are thousands less. So it may be regional pricing that is being missed here. They may be overpriced in your neck of the woods, but here, normal?

 

[Doughboyea]

My 'vote' is for the BX23S.
Has the heavy duty scraper bar on the front bucket and the MMM. Has less than 1/2 the hours my machine does(same year but SSQA).
Looks like 'pin on' style bucket ?

getting it home is easy. borrow or rent a '16' car hauler ' trailer, maybe $100 ?

Seller of the BX23S is shady. Reviews indicate he willingly negotiates and agrees upon a meet day/time, then ghosts buyers or sells the item to another while the buyer is traveling to meet. Doesn't make me feel all warm inside...

 

[Doughboyea]

Be careful with the BX23S units. I found a lot of them that were previous rental units (Home Depot, etc.) and like rental cars, you DON'T want one that's been used and abused by someone that didn't give a crap, especially when servicing is questionable at best. Since these units are outside with a bit of faded paint, look for where the rental decals were as the paint should be fresher and darker in those areas. Find out the history if possible. Also note that the BX25D had two generations with the latter getting some of the upgrades that came with the BX23S (armrests, etc). I'd have preferred a BX23S when looking, mostly for the SSQA, but I found a deal on my BX25D that I couldn't pass up.
As far as tires go, you can pick up an extra set of mounted wheels and tires from the dealership for about $500. I'm running turfs during mowing season and plan on picking up some R4s for woods-work in the next month or so.

Question, what's an SSQA?
Kubota only made the BX25D for two years. Maybe it was a transition model between the BX23 and BX23S?
What's a good price for a BX25D? I am in CT so there may be a regional markup in my area.

 

[Doughboyea]

BX23S is lawn mowing champion. Woefully underpowered for earthmoving/real work.

Depending on perspective, this is certainly true.

But I can say unequivocally, the BX23S when compared to me is a super human! I can say this because my son-in-law has one.

Compared to the BX23S, my B2910 with backhoe is a super tractor!

All a matter of perspective…

If I were to be moving 1000s of yards of compacted clay earth, I may be a rednec... no, wait, wrong line. I wouldn't be looking at subcompacts, now would I?

Perhaps some background: I have half an acre. That's it. Though I would like B2xxx TLB, THAT may be overkill and a PITA to move around and store compared to the BX line which look like riding lawn mowers on steroids. I'm digging a few trenches, moving MAYBE a triaxle load plus odds and ends. The BX may be the best bet for my needs. I'm more sticker shocked at their pricing where the larger B2xxx's are slightly more affordable, depending.

 

[85Hokie]

Question, what's an SSQA?
Kubota only made the BX25D for two years.

Skid steer Quick Attach - which makes changing stuff on the loader end very easy!

The 25D did add a few little things to the 24 did not have

Here is some info on those changes