I picked up my machine when the wife and I bought our first home, two years ago.
A used 2006 Cub Cadet 5264D with a loader & 60" deck for 7000.00
In a nutshell, I LOVE the machine & HATE a few of its little quirks. The deck is a pain in the but to put on & the loader lines are difficult to attach times. Small stuff. I have heard that the front axles on this model have a history of failure. One hub did start to leak & was replaced, the other one is being replaced this week.
I just had a local service center pick it up for the spring service.
The list of items that need to be addressed was small.
-oil change
-leaky 4X4 hub seal (replaced one side before winter, should have done both)
-I bent the guide that keeps the deck/3point in float position & the 4X4/4X2 where it belongs. So that is being replaced.
-I also heard of a recall on my machine that fixes it's nasty habit of popping out of high range while under load or traveling uphill.
All in all, it's been a fantastic unit for what I need it to do & its purchase price (Divorce sale)
I have used the front end loader extensively for earthwork and snow removal with no issues, other than a scary moment that prompted me to pick up a used weight box!
I have a 3point spreader for salt & lawncare products that has already paid for itself & then some after the snows we got this year.
The tractor never seems to be at a loss for power with the 3 cylinder diesel. I run a pto tiller through the garden we share with the neighbors twice a year (we go half & half for rental on that one)
I know that the NEW Yanmar Cubs are a better machine, but I plan on running mine until it gets to the point where a repair is almost as bad as buying a new rig.