Just bought this new L2501 and wanted to share what kind of deal I got and how I came to my decision. I've read lots of useful information on internet forums and wanted to share back so someone else in my situation has some more info to chew on.
I will say that I strongly considered Kioti and Deere. At one point, I was 90 percent sure I was going to buy a tractor of each of these three brands. I was initially set on a Kioti CK3510SE. Then started looking at Deere. For whatever reason, the 3025e looked about as sensible as the two larger HP tractors on the same frame. I had to have a conversation with myself and ask if I really needed the 35 HP machine considering I am not mowing grass. I'm mostly clearing underbrush on a heavily treed tract and doing a lot of loader work. After re-calibrating myself to the 25 HP machines, the Kioti no longer appealed to me as much for whatever reason. The Deere, though there is a lot to like (including the plastic hood and fenders IMO), was just too lightweight compared to everything else on the market. The Deere also has the most anemic loader with only one movement (lift or curl) available at a time. Kioti has the strongest loader...but it was pretty jerky and Kioti only publishes the lift capacity at 1.5 meters off the ground (about 1800 lbs). Kubota publishes the full height at about 1100 lbs and is about 1400 lbs at 1.5 meters. So they are much closer than appears on the surface, with the edge still going to Kioti. Given the closer parity on the lift, I like the smoothness of the Kubota better. The Land Pride third function on this thing is nice too. With a grapple, it will open/close the grapple, curl and lift - all at the same time! I verified this hours ago on the demo machine on the lot. It's no speed demon when activating all three functions at once, but it IS the bee's knees.
I will further add that I considered LS, but was turned off when a model on the lot would not idle up correctly when I was trying to test it. Salesman couldn't figure it out either. Probably a one in a million fluke, and I do love that blue color, but I just couldn't look past that occurrence. I considered Branson as they are truly the most bang for the buck on paper - perhaps in the field too for all I know. However, I found that the price difference on the 15 series tractors (closest comp to the family of tractors I was shopping) was just not big enough to overcome my wariness about getting into the brand, despite its weight and lift capacity advantages. Finally, the Kubota dealer was best at quoting me, following up, and seemed to know his tractors the best of all the sales guys I had spoken to. At the end of the day, Kubota won me away from Kioti. Kioti has a very strong value proposition - especially tractor to tractor. However, although the price gap doesn't completely close, if you are looking at a tractor/implement package, the distance becomes a LOT closer with the implement rebates Kubota gives on Land Pride. Plus, Land Pride has a great grapple and it is very convenient to wrap that into the package rather than parse it out separately. I was not thrilled at the idea of needing to order the grapple separately from EA and not be able to use my tractor for 90 percent of its planned usage for yet another couple months - even considering how awesome their grapple is.
The price difference on my new Kubota L2501 package is within $1400 of the Kioti CK2610 from a comparably nearby dealer with all Kioti (Woods) and/or EA implements. I feel the comparison between Land Pride, Woods and EA are very close with a slight edge going to different brands depending on the implement.
Okay, so here is the price I paid: Decided to put $5,000 down and 84 months at 1.99 percent. Total payment with KTAC is $290.00. Sales price before taxes was $25,000.
Here is the package:
L2501 4x4 HST with Cruise and R4 tires
Loader with SSQA bucket
Land Pride RCF2060 5' Rotary Cutter (2 inch cutting capacity)
Land Pride BB1560 5' Heavy Box Blade (428 lbs)
Land Pride 3rd Function Valve installed
Land Pride SG0660 Light Duty Claw Grapple
Land Pride QH10 quick hitch
Right side grab handle
Kubota Bucket Level Indicator
Water and Antifreeze in tires
Entire package to be delivered in about a week or two. No problem there as I need to get my shipping container garage delivered to park it inside. No pics since the actual tractor with the correct tires is at the dealer's other location from where I test drove today. This thing is beautiful! Fit and finish is superb and I am just tickled to have ended up with the benchmark for other brands. I can't help it, there is some value to the brand for me.
While I was there, I tested an L3901 because the grapple was mounted on that machine. I have read numerous places that the tractors with DPF filters are quieter than the L2501. I did not find this to be the case. The L2501 had a throatier exhaust note compared to the L3901 at the same RPM (about 2000). BUT, the L3901 operates at a higher RPM and I found it to be louder and higher pitched (obviously it will be higher pitched at higher RPM) than the L2501 at its operating RPM. Not that the L3901 sounded bad or overly loud, but I do like the exhaust note of the L2501 better. I really can't tell if I am being biased toward my own purchase though. NEITHER tractor are particularly loud. HST wine is high when under stress such as when just taking off in high gear, but not otherwise. I did not have an opportunity to put it under load in low or medium gear, but I expect whine will pick up as I am diving into a pile of dirt or some other load situation.
Will post some pics after I take delivery.
I will say that I strongly considered Kioti and Deere. At one point, I was 90 percent sure I was going to buy a tractor of each of these three brands. I was initially set on a Kioti CK3510SE. Then started looking at Deere. For whatever reason, the 3025e looked about as sensible as the two larger HP tractors on the same frame. I had to have a conversation with myself and ask if I really needed the 35 HP machine considering I am not mowing grass. I'm mostly clearing underbrush on a heavily treed tract and doing a lot of loader work. After re-calibrating myself to the 25 HP machines, the Kioti no longer appealed to me as much for whatever reason. The Deere, though there is a lot to like (including the plastic hood and fenders IMO), was just too lightweight compared to everything else on the market. The Deere also has the most anemic loader with only one movement (lift or curl) available at a time. Kioti has the strongest loader...but it was pretty jerky and Kioti only publishes the lift capacity at 1.5 meters off the ground (about 1800 lbs). Kubota publishes the full height at about 1100 lbs and is about 1400 lbs at 1.5 meters. So they are much closer than appears on the surface, with the edge still going to Kioti. Given the closer parity on the lift, I like the smoothness of the Kubota better. The Land Pride third function on this thing is nice too. With a grapple, it will open/close the grapple, curl and lift - all at the same time! I verified this hours ago on the demo machine on the lot. It's no speed demon when activating all three functions at once, but it IS the bee's knees.
I will further add that I considered LS, but was turned off when a model on the lot would not idle up correctly when I was trying to test it. Salesman couldn't figure it out either. Probably a one in a million fluke, and I do love that blue color, but I just couldn't look past that occurrence. I considered Branson as they are truly the most bang for the buck on paper - perhaps in the field too for all I know. However, I found that the price difference on the 15 series tractors (closest comp to the family of tractors I was shopping) was just not big enough to overcome my wariness about getting into the brand, despite its weight and lift capacity advantages. Finally, the Kubota dealer was best at quoting me, following up, and seemed to know his tractors the best of all the sales guys I had spoken to. At the end of the day, Kubota won me away from Kioti. Kioti has a very strong value proposition - especially tractor to tractor. However, although the price gap doesn't completely close, if you are looking at a tractor/implement package, the distance becomes a LOT closer with the implement rebates Kubota gives on Land Pride. Plus, Land Pride has a great grapple and it is very convenient to wrap that into the package rather than parse it out separately. I was not thrilled at the idea of needing to order the grapple separately from EA and not be able to use my tractor for 90 percent of its planned usage for yet another couple months - even considering how awesome their grapple is.
The price difference on my new Kubota L2501 package is within $1400 of the Kioti CK2610 from a comparably nearby dealer with all Kioti (Woods) and/or EA implements. I feel the comparison between Land Pride, Woods and EA are very close with a slight edge going to different brands depending on the implement.
Okay, so here is the price I paid: Decided to put $5,000 down and 84 months at 1.99 percent. Total payment with KTAC is $290.00. Sales price before taxes was $25,000.
Here is the package:
L2501 4x4 HST with Cruise and R4 tires
Loader with SSQA bucket
Land Pride RCF2060 5' Rotary Cutter (2 inch cutting capacity)
Land Pride BB1560 5' Heavy Box Blade (428 lbs)
Land Pride 3rd Function Valve installed
Land Pride SG0660 Light Duty Claw Grapple
Land Pride QH10 quick hitch
Right side grab handle
Kubota Bucket Level Indicator
Water and Antifreeze in tires
Entire package to be delivered in about a week or two. No problem there as I need to get my shipping container garage delivered to park it inside. No pics since the actual tractor with the correct tires is at the dealer's other location from where I test drove today. This thing is beautiful! Fit and finish is superb and I am just tickled to have ended up with the benchmark for other brands. I can't help it, there is some value to the brand for me.
While I was there, I tested an L3901 because the grapple was mounted on that machine. I have read numerous places that the tractors with DPF filters are quieter than the L2501. I did not find this to be the case. The L2501 had a throatier exhaust note compared to the L3901 at the same RPM (about 2000). BUT, the L3901 operates at a higher RPM and I found it to be louder and higher pitched (obviously it will be higher pitched at higher RPM) than the L2501 at its operating RPM. Not that the L3901 sounded bad or overly loud, but I do like the exhaust note of the L2501 better. I really can't tell if I am being biased toward my own purchase though. NEITHER tractor are particularly loud. HST wine is high when under stress such as when just taking off in high gear, but not otherwise. I did not have an opportunity to put it under load in low or medium gear, but I expect whine will pick up as I am diving into a pile of dirt or some other load situation.
Will post some pics after I take delivery.
