The Pretender - 9/18/2024 12:49

Owning a high high/mileage anything is a different proposition to buying one. Regardless of how good or bad it was when it was new, whether the individual machine is any good or not will very much depend on what it was doing and how it was treated. You're looking at old tractors with a lot of hours on them. I know someone will be along in a few minutes and say that 14 years old and 9000 hours is hardly run in/we have one with 30,000 hours and it's only ever had oil and filters and a headlight bulb. Frankly, these people are either a) idiots, b) very forgetful or c) lying.

Are you able to speak to the previous owner? What about anyone that used to look after it, be it the dealer service manager or the local independant mechanic? Has it been kept inside or been out in the elements?

It's 14 years of hot and cold cycles, 14 years for the weather and UV light to degrade plastics, seals and rubber. Look at it with your eyes wide open, drive it, get it hot and bothered under load and don't be afraid of saying no thanks. It might run for years for you with just bits and pieces needing doing. Or it might puke it's guts out in and expensive manner the first time you put it to work. Do you feel lucky, punk?