What would you do with 10K?

[Kingfisher]

What model would you buy if you had 10,000 to purchase a tractor? Would you buy an older Massey Ferguson or John Deere or Ford?
They sell a lot of the imports around here and I just don't know what to think of them. I know that's not a lot of money toward a tractor
but for light dirt work and general farm duties I'm trying to be prudent in my search. I just don't want to buy one that's a proven headache to repair or source parts. What's ya'll experience been ? Thanks in advance.

 

[TexasBred]

I had really good experience with a Mahindra 4500 with loader. Good/strong and reliable. Best I remember tho it cost about $13,000 with the loader about 7 years ago. Would lift round bales easily and never had a mechanical problem. You might look at a little smaller tractor for light work.

 

[Angus Cowman]

Probably a 5000 or 6600 ford

 

[F350]

Older Mahindra w/ Loader. You should be able to buy for 10k or a little less. I have a 485DI.

 

[EAT BEEF]

Boy it's hard to find clean used tractors in texas or oklahoma,about the only time they see a shed is when they hit one.I would buy a 4020 if I could find a nice one,but a 5000 ford like AC said would be a good tractor.My wifes grandpa has a 383 massey he loves it and has 6 or 7000 hour on it.

 

[cfpinz]

7600 Ford

On the other hand, I bought a 1990 model 7610 II with 1300 hrs on it 5 years ago for $12.5k, looked like new when I got it. Was looking for a 7600 at the time, but for the price I couldn't say no. It's a Tobacco Special, pretty nice in the hayfield.

 

[Stocker Steve]

You pay more for green so I tend to avoid it, but you can get some older open station models starting at $8,000. I have a dealer 5 miles away but part cost is unreasonable. They drive OK but it seems like they usually only go about 5000 hours before you start overhauling.
I run a Ford 7600 cab tractor that cost $8,900 after I had it fixed up. Good power but slow hyd and the short wheel base rides rough. They seem to hold up better than the 70s vintage green ones.
I have been buying 8 speed JI Case recently. They were built heavy in the day. "Late model" (1965) ran $4,300 after I had it fixed up -- about 4 cents per pound. ;-) I am able to get parts so far.

I think the issue with many older 60 to 90 hp tractors in my area is that they were "big" in the day and were used hard doing dirt work.

 

[tytower]

Queensland is a big sugar producer
The land gets worked over about 3 times before planting yearly
Massey Ferguson 175 178 188 all hold their value here
About $6500 for a good one USD$5000
30 inch wheels ,Perkins 4 cyl starts every time ,$25 for a diesel pump recondition kit, set of rings less than $100 and head recondition gasket set $85.

All in all good strong machine -recommended