Purchase of 2014 with some rust issues

[randee]

First off thanks for having me on the forum. I have been reading this forum, but never signed up.

I posted this on the other tractor forum as well. Just thought I would get your input.

I went to the dealer and looked at the bx25d they had in. I was fine on the price, but I am now concerned about the rust on the tractor. It had only 1.6hrs, but looked like it was 5yrs old. Sure some of it was just dirt, but under the hood the exhaust manifold and muffler were very rusty. I know those will rust up anyway, but just a little shocking that this is supposed to be a new tractor. Pretty much ever where i looked there was a tiny bit of rust. ROPS, pins, controls all had rust. He transferred it from another dealership, so I imagine he didn't know the condition either. He didn't bring it in for me and I don't have any commitment on paper. Just emails back and forth and today's visit.

The dealer, was a super nice guy, and I really would like to work with him. He said the 2015s are coming in, but he was unsure of a date and price difference. I am thinking about just living with the rust and maybe asking for a discount to ease my mind. Just unsure of what would be a fair discount. I really wish I had my phone with me, so I could have snapped some pics for the group, but I left it in the car.

So questions for you experts, when do the 2015 bx25d tractors come in? will they be a higher price?
What's a fair discount to ask for the rusty condition of the machine? He said they would clean it the best they can. Not sure to what extent...I doubt they would be sanding/repainting. I understand without pictures it'd be hard to visualize. Looks like they used it as a sample tractor to show potential buyers the machine.

I don't mind doing a little cleanup and doing what I can to prevent any further rust... I know it's a tractor and it's going to get some scratches/rust/dents/ not afraid of that. Just a little disappointed it isn't really new, so I can try to keep it in good shape.

This is most expensive purchase I have made, besides my house so I am a little nervous. I honestly don't know if I should be looking for anything else. He started it and it started right up. Little puff of black smoke, but seemed like it ran fine. Is there anything I should be checking to see if it hasn't been abused during it's short 1.6hr life...

thanks for your thoughts!
randy

 

[mickeyd]

Welcome to OYY Randy. Of course they will cost more. How much more, only time will tell.

 

[DocGP]

I would definitely use it as a bargaining chip. Go to one of the other new tractors and lift the hood. If no rust is there, I would point that out to the salesman and insist on a pretty good discount. Yes it will happen, no I am not paying a new price for a rusted tractor (especially as extensive as you are seeing.)

Doc

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Get a discount if you can, get it home and spray the rust spots with extend,
http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/s_...ons/Loctite-Extend-Rust-Neutralizer-Spray.htm
and you'll be all set.

 

[Daren Todd]

Get a discount if you can, get it home and spray the rust spots with extend,
http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/s_...ons/Loctite-Extend-Rust-Neutralizer-Spray.htm
and you'll be all set.

Links showing up as a version of there super glue

 

[randee]

I would definitely use it as a bargaining chip. Go to one of the other new tractors and lift the hood. If no rust is there, I would point that out to the salesman and insist on a pretty good discount. Yes it will happen, no I am not paying a new price for a rusted tractor (especially as extensive as you are seeing.)

Doc

Wow!

Thanks for the fast response.

He got back to me and said he couldn't come down any. I asked him if he could come down $500, because I think the rust and condition of the tractor surprised us both.

So I guess I am looking for a different machine.

 

[randee]

Welcome to OYY Randy. Of course they will cost more. How much more, only time will tell.

He said it would cost me $500 more for one invoiced in 2015.

Seems a bit much for essentially the same tractor, especially since I had worked out a price already. Guess I am going to revisit some other dealers.

Was a good guy to work with, put up with several of my emails... asking to add some accessories and so on.

Thanks for the input!

 

[randee]

Get a discount if you can, get it home and spray the rust spots with extend,
http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/s_...ons/Loctite-Extend-Rust-Neutralizer-Spray.htm
and you'll be all set.

Good to know, thanks for the product advise. I have always like loctite brand products.

 

[TripleR]

A significant price increase is almost inevitable on new shipments. When I bought my BX2660, it was the next to last one on the lot and the last sold a few minutes later. I know the sales manager and owner quite well having bought five tractors from them plus a lot of equipment and I've discussed this with them before.

 

[randee]

A significant price increase is almost inevitable on new shipments. When I bought my BX2660, it was the next to last one on the lot and the last sold a few minutes later. I know the sales manager and owner quite well having bought five tractors from them plus a lot of equipment and I've discussed this with them before.

So you think $500 is fair?
I guess since this dealer was already more expensive then some other dealers in the area.

 

[tcrote5516]

Remember this is a tractor, not a new Corvette so the "last years model" discount isn't going to be very much. At the same time you don't see 25% devaluation after 10 hours like you do after 10k miles on a new car. Utility equipment holds its value and the year isn't important, the hours are.

Surface rust is going to happen. My BX is 2 years old, sits in a garage every day and still has light surface rust on the headers and some 3pt linkage. If it's made of metal it will rust. I would take the $500 bucks because the 2015 is going to look just like that 2014 in 6 months anyway.

 

[randee]

Remember this is a tractor, not a new Corvette so the "last years model" discount isn't going to be very much. At the same time you don't see 25% devaluation after 10 hours like you do after 10k miles on a new car. Utility equipment holds its value and the year isn't important, the hours are.

Surface rust is going to happen. My BX is 2 years old, sits in a garage every day and still has light surface rust on the headers and some 3pt linkage. If it's made of metal it will rust. I would take the $500 bucks because the 2015 is going to look just like that 2014 in 6 months anyway.

Good point, I am certainly willing to accept some rust, but this machine looked like it was 5 yrs old. I have seen a lot of machines several years old looking better than that.

I think we both were expecting a better looking machine. I think that's why he wanted me to look at it.

I really am surprised he didn't take me up on my offer of selling for $500 less, just to be done with it. He was already more expensive that other dealers. Just would rather go with someone local so I was willing to pay more.

I wouldn't mind cleaning up the rust if I could say to myself, well I saved $500 on this so I can buy some product and take some time to clean it up. Also the muffler looked pretty rough, I would certainly expect that to have a shorter life because of it's treatment.

When I was comparing, I didn't even know his was a '14. I was comparing it to a '15 so I am not even asking for a '14 discount. It doesn't bother me that it's a '14 except for the fact it has gotten a years worth of rust.

I would like to shop local, and I am impatient, so I will pay extra for that.
Just not sure how much it's worth it.

Thanks for the input, it's appreciated.

 

[TripleR]

So you think $500 is fair?
I guess since this dealer was already more expensive then some other dealers in the area.

What might seem fair to me may not to you, so I can't really say I wouldn't buy it if you're not going to be happy with it.

I grew up farming, don't wax my tractors, may rinse them off once a year or so and leave them out in the rain from time to time, so what's important to me may not be to you.

I'm not putting anyone down who waxes their machines or worries how the look, it's just not me.

I paid more to buy locally as I got free delivery as well as pick up and delivery on any warranty issues and the mechanic has even come to my house to add a hydraulic link or chain guards on my cutter. I've got a great dealer, he even took my son out to his farming operation to look at equipment he didn't have in stock and steered me to cheaper attachments he doesn't even carry.

Always hard to judge what someone else should do based on your own experience, too many variables.

Good luck.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Not sure how much rust you are seeing, but if there is any chance it was sitting out in salt air near the ocean or some similar exposure that might corrode some of the electronics, it might not be worth it even if cheaper.

 

[koja]

I would go with the '15 five hundred dollars is money well spent for a newly delivered machine . Not to mention a dealer close by to boot . For what they cost another five hundred is nothing .

 

[tcrote5516]

Not sure how much rust you are seeing, but if there is any chance it was sitting out in salt air near the ocean or some similar exposure that might corrode some of the electronics, it might not be worth it even if cheaper.

This one's crate must have been at the front of the boat on the way over

 

[randee]

What might seem fair to me may not to you, so I can't really say I wouldn't buy it if you're not going to be happy with it.

I grew up farming, don't wax my tractors, may rinse them off once a year or so and leave them out in the rain from time to time, so what's important to me may not be to you.

I'm not putting anyone down who waxes their machines or worries how the look, it's just not me.

I paid more to buy locally as I got free delivery as well as pick up and delivery on any warranty issues and the mechanic has even come to my house to add a hydraulic link or chain guards on my cutter. I've got a great dealer, he even took my son out to his farming operation to look at equipment he didn't have in stock and steered me to cheaper attachments he doesn't even carry.

Always hard to judge what someone else should do based on your own experience, too many variables.

Good luck.

Sounds like you have an awesome relationship with your dealer. I was hoping to have one as well. I appreciate the input despite not having all the variables.

I am trying to locate a different '14 and '15 tractors in the area to have a look. I don't care much about the looks, just wondering how the rust will impact the performance of the machine. The tractor I looked at had a lot of rust under the seat. The seat seemed hard to move and rotate. Not having a comparison I wondered if the rust had an impact on that.

 

[Bluegill]

Hard to tell how bad it is without pics. But it probably wouldn't bother me much. That said, the exhaust on my 2011 L3800 has no rust on it yet...

 

[hodge]

The rust would bother me, because for the money being paid, I would want to start out with a rust-free tractor. It will get rust over time, but I would be willing to bet that MY tractor wouldn't have that much (making assumptions based on your description). I keep my tractor stored inside, and my 25 year old B7100 doesn't have as bunch of rust on it (as I am imagining, and what I have seen on some tractors that have set on the lot for a year or two).
I have seen tractors as you are describing- they had sat out in the elements for a good bit of time. THAT would bother me more than the rust itself, and your dealer really can't tell you how long it has been out since he doesn't know himself. A tractor with rust, possible moisture in the fuel, oil, electronics, drivetrain- who knows what you may run in to in the future with a tractor that has been exposed to the elements like that. It may never pose an issue- you need to decide if you can be happy with it- but I, myself, would keep looking before I would pay full price for a less than 100% tractor.
Everyone looks at it differently, which has been reflected in this thread. This is my opinion, and I'm not trying to say that someone who feels differently is wrong. I'm simply stating my thought process if I were looking at the tractor. It would have to have an enticing discount to consider buying it.

 

[TripleR]

Sounds like you have an awesome relationship with your dealer. I was hoping to have one as well. I appreciate the input despite not having all the variables.

I am trying to locate a different '14 and '15 tractors in the area to have a look. I don't care much about the looks, just wondering how the rust will impact the performance of the machine. The tractor I looked at had a lot of rust under the seat. The seat seemed hard to move and rotate. Not having a comparison I wondered if the rust had an impact on that.

I sure do and he is actually twice as far away as my nearest dealer, I have one 18 miles from me, but go 40 to mine as they've been in business since the 50's and are family owned.

I wouldn't worry about year of manufacture, just condition as some "store" their crated machines on the back lot and some in a warehouse. Look for a high volume dealer where machines don't set too long. My dealer took over a second location a few years ago and is in the process of doubling the size of his display room and shop. For the past year he has had a steady stream of trucks filling in low spots and drop offs to make more room.

The other dealer may have the same tractor on the lot for two years due to low volume.

We own tractors made in the 50s, 60s and up, rust not on critical components is not a reliability issue on any of them though some look pretty rough. For years we could only afford used tractors and my brother still uses them regularly.