Combines 2377

If it ain't broke don't fix it. The one item I saw in your post that peaked my interest was would you rather buy a new 2388 or a new 2377 if the price was the same come on we all know that whenever there is a model change the price is increased and it doesn't matter what the color is. The thing is yes all new combines are over priced in 1980 a brand new 1480 was $100,000.00 and in a good day you should have been able to combine a 100 acres. Fast forward to 2004 a brand new 2388 cost aprox. $285,000.00 and in a good day you should combine 200 acres the machine is almost three times as much but maybe only twice the capicity. Yes new combines are way to much and if we are buying them we should be able to buy what we want and if Case thinks it can change the model raise the price discontinue making a smaller combine and still have their share of the market they are dreaming. It is way eaiser to get a customer who is coming from a different color then to keep the ones you have upset by dumping product lines. I am sorry if I have offend anyone but this just irks me we as customers are paying the salaries of Case employees so I just feel they should take more interest in what we say.

Don't be mad if you can't afford a new combine. We have never bought a brand new combine, and we still are able to keep our line of equipment up to date. As to the comment about the cost being 3 times more than they were 20 years ago, it's called inflation...it't nothing new. It's the same thing when we talk about land prices. Should have bought ground in the 80's at $600-$900_ ac.; now it's worth over 3,500. I know WE aren't complaining about that kind of thing when we look at our net worth. 20 years ago you could also bought a pickup truck or car for about 1_3 the price they are now. I don't see what the mystery is...things get more expensive over time.

Someday companies and farmers will learn that bigger is not always better. Bigger machines undoubtedly has to cause compaction. Bigger is just a coffee shop novelty. I see the next generation of airliners are smaller than the 747 jumbos of the past. A trend maybeIJIJIJ

My point actually was the choice between a new 2366 and a new 2377 with the same hp and price. But I agree with your point that all new models go up in price so say an extra 10% in price on the 2377. I still think the answer would be the same. Plus even if they were to continue the 2366, to say the 2466, don't you think it's price would have gone up on it as well. Particulary by the time they put the electric seives, the one point header conection, electric bum wiper, etc on it to keep up with big brother. On the point of machinery being over priced, I'll use on very simple example of how things have been squeezed in term of costs vs returns. lets say a good heavy two year old steers are worth $800 - $1000 per head (aus). Prices have flucuated but generally have been in that area over the past 20 or so years. 1980 - good pickup ute - 10 steers 2004 - good pickup ute - 60 steers Carrying capacity of the country - perhap a 5 to ten hd_ improvement due to better grazing management. Obviously something ain't adding up here and hence the smaller guys are getting squeezed out as they try and maintain some level of modern or current technology. But as returns per acre are not rising with the so called "inflation rates" or cost of production these guys are going out the back door. Sure second hand is a good way to go to keep up to date and save some money on that inital depreciation of new gear, but we are to a point now where only the big custom cutters can buy new machinery and they ain't going to be buying some class 5 machine with a 24ft front. On top of that, the servicing programs on some of the bigger crews are somewhat less than desirable, so would you really want a 500 or 1000 hr machine from a crew that has only seen a grease gun 4 or 5 times while the boss was aroundIJIJIJ

The way my Case man explained it, the 2377 is a stripped-down 2388. The 66 and 88 share many features that cost the same to build like the entire cab, the engine compartent, tranny, rear axle, grain tank, sensors, etc. The main difference is the chasis, rotor and separation system. The 2377 will be a model without a lot of fancy systems like gps and such, much like the old K cars-- a factory assembly line of dozens of identical machines, fast and economical to build and ship out, without specialties. What the heck, take my combine and $100k and maybe they'll let me demo one.

as the cars and even tractors get more expensive, they aren't making them as good as the used to. like the hood and even more things are turning from metal to plasic. I would rather have a hood on a tractor be metal than plastic. and parts on them are gettin alot higher. Went to buy an electric switch that goes on the outside of the tractor on the fender and it costs 77 dollars just for the little switch. Thats just the switch and the hookup to connect the electric. things are gettin to expensive for littler farmers to stay around in this world i hope it changes but i don't think it will anytime soon. justin

I haven't operated one, but in my understanding it is simply a 2388 with less power.

For 2005 production, they are mechanical. Beyond that, probably electronic.

Don't know where your at and everybodys situation is different. Personally I can't get ANY new machine to pencil out and am sticking with the old stuff even if it has to be replaced part by part. Between the price of new and fuel a machine will be worn out long before it is paid for. My opinion only

I also should mention that I work a full time job,so I am only doing this nights and weekends.