Having used all of the majors over the past few years, and a few of the imports - my vote is as follows:
Put all of them together - compare apples to apples. Green / red / blue - if they are 4wd and have the equipment YOU need attached - then I am a price man.
If you compare dealer location and the majors - if all are reasonably close - then I am a price man.
When you go to imports - there are lots, but this place has only seen and used two - both around the 80 horse mark - Kubota and (dang it's a blue import) cannot remember the name - I am a price man.
In the end there can be lots of discussion on quality and breed - but they all tend to do the same thing.
Anyone says there is really one that is over all and always better than another breed / colour is plain talking through his hat.
Look for the following BEFORE you buy - in no particular order:
1. Complete service - front to back - all oils / filters / air con and so on. Oil colour and levels?
2. Tire wear and trear - upgrade asap if in tough shape.
3. Paint condition? Often a good indicator of the treatment by the previous owner.
4. Wear marks on certain areas? Doors close square? Windows open and close with no trouble? All door latches and hood latches work?
5. Put the hose to it - I found out about bad cab seals the hard way once.
6. Get her running and use it in all gears. Put some weight behind it and "run 'er up" - in fact I always put it to heavy load for 1/2 a day before they get my cheque.
7. Do not tell them you are coming for a second look - show up unnanounced and see if it starts in crappy weather and temps.
8. Air seat - fill it up and let it out and fill it up - jump around on it - you will sit on this seat for a long time - make sure it works.
9. Air con AND heat - run them - for more than 30 seconds.
10. Exhaust - condition?
11. Elecrical - Wires brittle or can you grab some - bend them a bit and not have the insulation crack?
12. Complete service records of previous owner if available.
13. Complete service records of what the dealer has done since it arrived.
14. PTO work? UNDER LOAD!
15. 3 Point hitch - UNDER LOAD!
16. Loader - bushings and bearings - any grease? Work it. UNDER LOAD.
17. Radiator and oil cooler - condition? Coolant level? Rad cap?
18. Fuel tank. Fill it - does it leak?
19. Dash and guages - working?
20. WARRANTY - if they will not back a used machine - DO NOT buy it!
Lots more but I am tired of typing.
All of the above have caused me probs when I bought used in the past.
Breed and colour do not matter one pinch of coon schitzen - just be sure to compare apples to apples and then look for dealer support. If the dealer is not around - forget that breed.
Good luck,
Bez'
