Old habits hard to break

Every time someone posts a question about what tractor to buy I always answer that all newer tractors are good so get one that has a dealer close by no matter what the brand. Well now I am in the market for a newer(90's) 120 hp tractor and I find myself considering only CaseIH or JD. That is the only brands I have ever had and my father before me. As tractors get more high tech dealers shops become more important so why don't I consider a Massey or White as I have a dealer just 6 miles away. But I just can't get myself to consider anything but Case IH or JD. The older I get the harder it is to figure me out.

Who has money to buy a new Deere these days?

If Ferrari currently made tractors, they'd be in direct competition with Deere.

I love my Massey other than the draft control it has it's issues but wasn't really taken care of before me.

Have you looked at CIH 7110's? I Love them Magnums.

you will be sorry for not checking out the new Massey's sure they had there bad days but them are in past. the Massey CVT is kick as- 100 times better then JD

Hehehe....Lamborghini builds tractors as well s $300,000 sports cars....but I am sure, not in the same facility!

Actually, I'd argue that there are several good reasons to stick with as few as possible brands when you're dealing with tractors.
There's something to be said for familiar controls by staying with one or two colors... along with having a lot of common parts across several models within the same brand (I'm thinking filters, starters, pumps and that kind of thing). There's also something to be said for having a good relationship with one or two dealers instead of having your business scattered out with a bunch of people you seldom deal with. That for me is a BIG reason as I've found that people I know are much more willing to help me out in a pinch than the ones I don't know so well...
One other factor, if you work on your own gear is that the system theory and layout is generally much the same on many models throughout their range for a given brand. Since you probably never get enough experience to get good on a wide variety of stuff, it is nice to at least get good at fixing one line of stuff without having to learn the ins and outs of something completly new all the time.
Not that learning is a bad thing, but time is money when you're broke down...

I've always been partial to Ford, and generally plan to stay with them for some time to come, mostly for the reasons I listed above. I can see where Case or Deere would work for others...

Rod

Weve had 2 Massey's and a JD in the last 14 years and I would put the masseys up against anything else around. The 1995 was a 75 Hp 2 whheel drive and the 2007 is a 100 hp 4 wheel drive. Love them both. The newer tractor is used in the hills of NC just south of Boone and can really get up and down them in fine fashion. The JD was a 1999 model 50 hp and it sucked hind *** most of the time when it wasn't in the shop.♦ I am a Farmall man but the new Masseys are great. Henry

Product support is a major issue anymore. Tractors are getting just like cars and trucks as far as cheapness and complexity. That's one reason I abandoned GM trucks in the late 90s. Ford was never on my most favorites list, but I have been getting good service from them lately. If you don't have decent dealer/service support for your tractors you can well be sitting dead in the water waiting on parts or a service person. Simpler is better no matter what brand. How many times have you finished a job with a piece of baling wire or vise-grips holding things together? On the other hand I've been stranded because of a fried circuit in a computer.