Do people actually pay the substantially high prices for WHs?

[RED-Z06 2,336]

I like my WHs, my first tractor was a WH, but my first tractor experience was a Deere 318, so Both brands hold a spot for me, I watch marketplace and local listings for any older tractor, if its a good deal in decent shape ill buy it.  My hangup has always been that my WHs are far and away the least useful of the tractors I have, i still love them but they are limited by design...i cant see spending $2500+ on a tractor thats limited to a 48" deck, and clevis rear implements, but $1000, yeah i can see that, 1500, if its clean.  I wish they were more popular in the south.

[EB-80/8inPA 1,719]

9 hours ago, OutdoorEnvy said:

They will be priced around $1,000 for something covered in rust and looks like it's been in it's spot for decades slowly rotting away.

Well, it ran great when they parked it there.

[WHX?? 49,581]

I'm with Dan on buying 100 clam junkers and fixin them up. Although I just paid a bit more for one that's got the "ultra rare" HY-2 that I plan on selling for 1000. 

Seriously these clowns trying to sell over priced horses because some other FB moron told them it's a collector. They just live in a different world not reality. Most of them don't know squat about a horse or any other GT for that matter. Good thing for us  it always shows. 

[RED-Z06 2,336]

41 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

I'm with Dan on buying 100 clam junkers and fixin them up. Although I just paid a bit more for one that's got the "ultra rare" HY-2 that I plan on selling for 1000. 

Seriously these clowns trying to sell over priced horses because some other FB moron told them it's a collector. They just live in a different world not reality. Most of them don't know squat about a horse or any other GT for that matter. Good thing for us  it always shows. 

When i put something up for sale I look at the market, what would i reasonably be willing to pay for something, and then figure what my competition is, if something similar is selling for a good bit less, then i have to try and find justification for my pricing.  If im selling a clean 520-H for $2500 when there's Cubs, Deeres, and other GTs not selling at $1500, its safe to say the market won't hit on my price.

 

Ive got a 27hp 54" Deere Z for sale now, its out of season so im not expecting much interest but with 490hrs in priced at $3000, 45% of current new pricing, and its immaculate, i see them sell 2800-3500, and similar mowers selling around $3000, so im right there in the middle.  

[Retired Wrencher 5,546]

18 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Just saw an average mule drive listed for $150.   I sell those for $25.           It's tough for us old guys to stay in tune with inflation when our income is fixed.

I agree 100% on that Ed. I buy one for winter project every year and flip it. This gives me something todo for a few hours of the day when it is cold out. 

[peter lena 8,931]

 @RED-Z06  be hard pressed today to find a younger buyer  that has a clue  or  interest , in anything mechanical  , that era is all but gone, growing up on a cell phone and lap top , has made them very obviously , unaware  of anything that requires INVOLVEMENT  WITH OPERATION OF ANYTHING . scary to think that this time period will be the "  GOOD OLD DAYS FOR THEM  "  they just do not have the interest , or ability  to adapt  and think anything out , just my take , pete   

[case442 132]

20 hours ago, RED-Z06 said:

I think a running WH is 500-600 yeah; clean 1200-1500, very clean garage kept 1800-2200 with a rear lift hitch and low hours.  Showroom fresh...2500ish but thats a "survivor" level mower.

 

If for example a museum wanted a NOS mower, I can see them paying 3000 for one.

 

I passed on a showroom condition Cub 2072 last year for $2000, thats shaft driven, 60" deck, big twin kohler..it sat for at least 4 months before it disappeared at $1500.  Thats alot of tractor for $1500

I’ve had a lot of tractors. All brands and everyone of them have the same results for me. That is what’s hot. My wheel horses in the mid 2000’s you better jump when they came up. Pricedbb be in the low to mid hundreds, I would always clean and service them and use them for a year or more and then sell and buy again. Sold all my wheel horses and got into Cub cadets. Had a lot of them. Made money on some, broke even on some, and lost on some. Went to gravelys, same there. Power kings, I love my power kings as a lot do. But today all I see is high prices and nothing selling. If j in find a cheap tractor I can make more parting it out for just a few parts than selling it whole. I agree I don’t see the big prices some are asking for these garden tools. But look at what old crapped out junk cars and trucks are being listed at. Will are kids be able to buy an affordable home anymore? 100k is definitely a fixer upper today. 

[Handy Don 12,803]

24 minutes ago, peter lena said:

they just do not have the interest , or ability  to adapt  and think anything out

Pete, I have to disagree.

As an example, go back and read @8ntruck's posts about the high schooler’s robotic team he’s mentoring (and their competition!) or come over to my place and I’ll introduce you to several HS students working part time at an independent auto repair shop or check out the fully utilized offerings of our nearby BOCES

I’ll also note that my Dad, an extremely successful hands-on Industrial/Manufacturing Engineer taught me tons about construction and things mechanical (thanks, Dad!). Yet it took probably 25 years for him to get what it took for me to be a successful systems analyst/architect. Why? Because he had only the barest ability to use the technology himself. He could more easily understand and relate to his other sons, and my daughter, with their engineering degrees. 

 

[RED-Z06 2,336]

20 minutes ago, case442 said:

I’ve had a lot of tractors. All brands and everyone of them have the same results for me. That is what’s hot. My wheel horses in the mid 2000’s you better jump when they came up. Pricedbb be in the low to mid hundreds, I would always clean and service them and use them for a year or more and then sell and buy again. Sold all my wheel horses and got into Cub cadets. Had a lot of them. Made money on some, broke even on some, and lost on some. Went to gravelys, same there. Power kings, I love my power kings as a lot do. But today all I see is high prices and nothing selling. If j in find a cheap tractor I can make more parting it out for just a few parts than selling it whole. I agree I don’t see the big prices some are asking for these garden tools. But look at what old crapped out junk cars and trucks are being listed at. Will are kids be able to buy an affordable home anymore? 100k is definitely a fixer upper today. 

Shoot, 100k is just a 25% down-payment on a livable home here.  People are paying $3000/mo rent for cookie cutter little homes on 0.1 acres.  

[WHX?? 49,581]

12 minutes ago, case442 said:

I love my power kings

Nothin like a nice Power King right Squonky? 

[RED-Z06 2,336]

11 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Nothin like a nice Power King right Squonky? 

I bought my first PK project last year, owned it all of 3 days, definitely not my cup of tea or maybe mine was just exceptionally bad🤣.  This was as far as I got with it before I lost interest.  The Kohler had a kicked rod, clutch was shot, needed 4 tires, steering was rusted tight, brakes rusted tight, deck rusted tight..

[squonk 41,733]

That's all easy stuff on a Power King. Then you would have had a tractor that could drag around a pallet of 0 turns.

 

 

[squonk 41,733]

25 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Nothin like a nice Power King right Squonky? 

 

 

   

 

 

[dmoore 905]

3 hours ago, peter lena said:

 @RED-Z06  be hard pressed today to find a younger buyer  that has a clue  or  interest , in anything mechanical  , that era is all but gone, growing up on a cell phone and lap top , has made them very obviously , unaware  of anything that requires INVOLVEMENT  WITH OPERATION OF ANYTHING . scary to think that this time period will be the "  GOOD OLD DAYS FOR THEM  "  they just do not have the interest , or ability  to adapt  and think anything out , just my take , pete   

Ain't that the truth!

[Lane Ranger 11,051]

Some of these later model Toro/Wheel Horses were not cheap when they were sold new.  Thirty to forty years appreciation in price for a tractor and attachments that were shown love, routine maintenance and overall care should be worth something to the seller/collector etc!

 

1996  314-8 speed ,weights, chains and 42 inch mower deck  -$ 4077.82  !

 

4077.82

 

After-all, Mecum, Barrett-Jackson's , Bonham's, etc  sell some vehicles at some pretty steep appreciated prices!  Admittedly, Mecum and Barrett- Jackson's haven't had a garden tractor auction yet that I know of but I am sure one day they will!

 

Edited Saturday at 09:49 PM by Lane Ranger

[Horsin'round 135]

I've always been told that a good deal is when both the buyer and seller walk away happy.  If that happens,  the price must have been correct. 

55 minutes ago, Lane Ranger said:

.  Thirty to forty years appreciation in price for a tractor and attachments that were shown love, routine maintenance and overall care should be worth something to the seller/collector etc!

 

 

[case442 132]

8 hours ago, RED-Z06 said:

Shoot, 100k is just a 25% down-payment on a livable home here.  People are paying $3000/mo rent for cookie cutter little homes on 0.1 acres.  

Unbelievable isn’t it. 

[SylvanLakeWH 26,272]

27 minutes ago, Horsin'round said:

I've always been told that a good deal is when both the buyer and seller walk away happy.  If that happens,  the price must have been correct. 

 

 

Willing buyer + willing seller = fair market value.

[RED-Z06 2,336]

2 hours ago, Lane Ranger said:

Some of these later model Toro/Wheel Horses were not cheap when they were sold new.  Thirty to forty years appreciation in price for a tractor and attachments that were shown love, routine maintenance and overall care should be worth something to the seller/collector etc!

 

1996  314-8 speed ,weights, chains and 42 inch mower deck  -$ 4077.82  !

 

4077.82

 

After-all, Mecum, Barrett-Jackson's , Bonham's, etc  sell some vehicles at some pretty steep appreciated prices!  Admittedly, Mecum and Barrett- Jackson's haven't had a garden tractor auction yet that I know of but I am sure one day they will!

 

Goes back to collectiblity, Mecum will show you a couple hundred featured classics on TV but they won't generally show you the 1200 other vehicles during the morning and noon auctions throughout the week, the 120k mile f250 that goes for $2200, or the bone stock 6cyl 1995 mustang that sells for $1500...its just normal people buying cheap cars for below used car lot pricing...there's no real demand for them, but someone will buy a cheap car that runs, if its cheap enough.  

 

 

 

[kpinnc 12,888]

1 hour ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Willing buyer + willing seller = fair market value.

 

Agreed.

 

There are NO tractors out there worth over a few hundred bucks in my world- short of some NOS surprise find. Of course that is why I don't have any collectible models, but I'm fine with that. I love my little tractors, but they mean more after I've been through them than when I got them. 

 

But that is just me. 

[RED-Z06 2,336]

Just now, kpinnc said:

 

Agreed.

 

There are NO tractors out there worth over a few hundred bucks in my world- short of some NOS surprise find. Of course that is why I don't have any collectible models, but I'm fine with that. I love my little tractors, but they mean more after I've been through them than when I got them. 

 

But that is just me. 

Theres a few id pay for, Simplicity Pow'rMax, Cub Lo-Boy 154/184/185, Deere 430, WH D180/D200, but even then...id draw the line at $3000 for a clean example with some implements.

[Blasterdad 2,750]

On 1/24/2025 at 1:17 PM, Achto said:

I usually by junk, throw a lot of cash at it to make it pretty & right again. Then I try to figure out where I'm going to store it. Never really tried or wanted to sell any of them.

Same here, MINE MINE MINE 

This applies to all my toys, I've bought them because I wanted them & use them, not to flip them.

The only problem with 's is they HAVE to be in a herd !!! This I blame on the dreaded  bug that comes with them, I hover around 12 or so, only letting some go to family members & friends. 

Luckily I've never been able to come up with an excuse to have 12 Jeeps, Jet Boats, Sports Cars, & Snowmobiles. (still thinking though)  

[Blasterdad 2,750]

On 1/24/2025 at 11:41 AM, Bar Nuthin said:

Undaunted, I proceeded to correct issues as I find them - but that all comes with a cost and a learning curve.

That in itself is worth the $400.00 price of admission...

[Lee1977 6,891]

Some have spent a lot for nice 420's I can see that if you are a collector' I'm not. I've payed more for one that I wanted to, but it did have two new tires on the rear. 

Money isn't worth much these days as you could easily spend $400 at the grocery store for next weeks grocery's. I have enough WH's that I'm not looking for any more.

[c-series don 9,166]

I’m one of those guys that paid up for a nice 420-LSE, didn’t overpay but I believe I paid what it was worth. As a matter of fact it really wasn’t for sale, but the original owners widow wanted it to go to someone who would take care of it the way her husband did. She knew what it was worth and we both agreed on a fair price. Personally I never thought I’d own an LSE, but when one becomes available to me with 17 original hours and it’s signed by the man himself Cecil Pond I knew I had to do whatever I had to to make it happen. I sold some things that I wasn’t using anymore, and worked a little harder to come up with the balance. Would I lay out that kind of money again? Probably not, but I am a Wheel Horse collector so to me this is the pinnacle of my collection. I too see some of the prices people ask for these things and just shake my head! Since I purchased my first Wheel Horse brand new in 1984, I’ve bought a few, had some given to me and even had three left to me by two separate gentleman in their will! I’m not in this hobby to buy and flip them to try and make money. As a matter of fact I probably should sell a few as having twenty is a little ridiculous! However, this is my hobby, it’s what I do and having nice tractors makes me happy 😃. When it does come time to downsize I would love to give some of them to a kid who could properly take care of them for the next generation to enjoy. And the rest? Well I’ll worry about that when the time comes. God Bless everyone…….