"The tractor will do the job but I totally abused it by useing it to clear my acreage. I still use it but had to dissable the seat switch and gear shift switch so it would start easily. The generator quit working many years ago and I use it by chargeing the battery often. About all of the plastic parts have gone to hell in a basket but it still does the job. The plug for hydraulics filling won't seal so I had to change the fluid because it doesn't like water. The roll bar is still there. My next tractor will be a Kubota."

"This is my first tractor, I talked to lot of people and everyone said to get a John Deere. So far it's done a great job around my property. - 420 Loader - Box blade - Landscape rake - Boom"

"I normally take my tractor to the dealer in mid winter for a tune-up so it will be ready in the spring. I always ask the dealer to go over it and see if there is anything that I have missed. I usually get it back in a week or so and after I get it back it does not act or feel any different. I would have thought that there would have been some sort of a different feel while driving or using other attachments. Do all tractors always feel the same after getting back from the shop."

"I love this tractor, we use it on job sites often and it has performed. The only issues I have had with the tractor are the starter solenoid and a seal on the right front wheel. We have lots of attachments, backhoe, box, landscape rake, pasture cutter, rototiller and they all work great."

"If I had this to do over again, I would not have bought this tractor. Cost differential was important and at the time influenced the decision but the John Deere name was a good reason as well. I should have stayed with the Kubota and paid the extra money as I ended up paying it over the years. This tractor has some of the worst engineering I've seen. Even compared to cheap Chinese products it's bad. Drain plug on bottom front transmission case where a rock or log can hit and punch through draining all hydraulic fluid (happened). All hydraulic lines run underneath the tractor where they can be snagged and pulled. I built a three piece skid pan to protect. It has worked well, but it cost. Lower lift arm connections were clipped as opposed to being bolted resulting in clips getting snagged and pulled off resulting in damage to the lower housing, which broke. Even the dealer admitted it wasn't right and warrantied it. All rams on from end loader are made from cast material as opposed to case hardened steel. Over the life (1000 hours so far) each has broken. I have a hydraulic shop that has done all the repair work as the JD replacement is the same material (no design improvement). When I first called to ask if he could rebuild it correctly he said I was crazy, no-one used that kind of material. He took back his comment and laughed when he saw it. I could go on, continual real wheel seal leaks, hydraulics on front end loader now in need of major rebuild, etc. I still have it only because there is no dollar value in selling or trading. Worst decision of my life."

"Sure it's a compact tractor. I have 3.5 acres and half of it is treed. I use the Deere for bucket work, maintaining the gravel road, pushing over or moving fallen trees, digging out rocks etc. Occasionally it has been used to plow snow. I have a rototiller, finish mower deck, box rake, blanket harrow and a trench blade. This tractor has been totally reliable with only normal maintenance. I keep it on a battery tender. Ours is hydrostatic and for my money that is the way to go."

"I have owned the tractor since it was new. Lots of issues with this tractor. It has performed well for the most part but has had issues such as bolts broken off often on the mower deck mounting. Fuel gauge does not work, and gauges fogged over. The transmission shift lever has broken and the tractor was in second gear. I have not repaired it. John Deere wanted $5,000 to repair this and I don't feel it is worth that. Of course all fiberglass is all cracked and I normally repair it myself. It has always started well except this year, which is why I joined this site. It seams I need to replace a thermistor to help with a starting issue. I paid a lot for the tractor, mower, loader hoping I would never replace it but I don't think it will make it another 20 years."

"I purchased this tractor to help make it easier to take care of my property and maintain my 1800' driveway. I have been very happy with it so far. The 72" belly mower works great and mows very well. I have purchased many implements for it and everything has worked well."

"Gears grind since new."

"As most of you who own the John Deere utility models know the skins on the tractor are very poor. I can no longer place my hands on any of the cowlings or hood, because they now break like egg shells. I have replaced the hood at an extreme price of $390 and while the hood survived this mowing season the rest of the skins continue to crack. Cost of ownership is high. I did not have a trailer when the tractor went down and the dealership ended up charging me $400 to take the tractor in (2 round trips of about 20 miles). Any bolt or nut that needs to be replaced cost 5X the price at the dealership as it does at a hardware store. Most parts are manufactured so appropriate replacements are hard to find. I am disappointed in my tractor. Battery used to go out once a year when they replaced the unit with a cheaper model. I guess they figured replacing all the batteries cost more than just building the battery correctly, so the last one I got has made it through two seasons. Fuel gauge no longer works, instrument panel has fogged up and cannot be read. When you pay the price equivalent to a small car, you expect quality with your purchase. There is no lemon law with tractors, though perhaps congress should consider this. I went with John Deere thinking I would get that quality. Instead I get poor customer service and over priced maintenance."