Considering L175 with loader

Sounds like she's onto a winner.

People used 2WD tractors with FELs and manual steering for decades. They work, it depends whether you mainly need it for occasional jobs, or whether you're worried about productivity and ease of use. An L2501 would obviously be much better, but also much more expensive.

On the FEL and steering - older FELs lift less, even so you need strong arms to turn the wheels when there's load on the loader. But like any vehicle, you learn to turn the wheels once you're already moving, and you get used to it.

On the age, it won't be a new tractor so things will break. But if you don't have things you do that have to be done today, so if it breaks you fix it then do the job, then that's fine. Probably more importantly, you need to like fixing and tinkering, otherwise it will probably frustrate you.

I will say that I suspect an L2501 would make you happy every day you drive it. Depending on your personality and what gives you enjoyment, an L175 may or may not.

What Paul said is right on, on every account!

I'll add, my father has an old TEA Fergie (1950s tractor), as well as a much newer M7950 (20 years old). He loves driving the Fergie, it makes him happy. He's got it all painted up nicely, did an engine recondition. It's finicky to drive, the brakes hardly work. I drove it one time and I was stopped at a gate pulling a trailer, put it in gear to go through the gate, turns out it wasn't in gear and we started running backward down the hill. I was right out of the seat stomping on the brakes and pulling up on the steering wheel to get leverage, and starting to think about jumping off and abandoning it. It's not a new machine and doesn't work like one. But he enjoys it.

My brother in law uses his tractor to earn a living. When he gets on it to do a paid job, it needs to work. If it breaks, that's a day he's not earning money. He also has a TEA that he drives on the weekend.

They're very different situations.

The L175 is a good little tractor. If it is a L175DT (4WD) with a Kubota FEL and is in overall good shape it is worth the money. They are fairly simple machines so if you are somewhat handy you can handle 95% of the potential issues.

I just sold mine after 25 years of faithful, pretty much trouble free service. I can't say enough good about that little machine. You would never know it was not 4WD.
I miss her already!