New Holland T5. 120

defo the ex hire. 6220 has good rep but at stage where it could need turbo or any number of repairs. you could sink 7/10k in 2 r3 yrs into it.

Trust me I know. put turbo in 30 series recently. cost north of 2k

There’s no easy answer to a question like this. The new tractor will lose a fair percentage of it’s cost over a few years while the older one probably won’t lose a lot. The new one should be more reliable and cost less in repairs, but it’s also more complicated with electronics and emissions controls. What are the tyres like on the JD? A new set could probably add 3 to 4 thousand to the cost, if needed.

Completely different tractors and turbos in fairness. The 30 series (if its a premium) likely had the variable geometry turbo which isn't as robust as the standard type.

The John Deere is less than half the price but its not half the tractor, if its a well specced 20 premium I'd argue it could be just as nice a machine to operate as the New Holland. However if its a poorly specced SE I'd be looking at the New Holland

Anyhow depending on spec both are likely on the money whichever OP chooses

A JD of that vintage might be OK but stay clear of newer JD machines as JD have you held hostage with the software in them. Their dealers have sole monopoly on the software used to service them. So you would be unable to get an independent mechanic to service the machines and are behold to the dealers. JD are also trying to prevent any sort of mechanical repair or service being done outside of the dealer network. They are going to the model of Tesla which is: buy it, use it, if it breaks you can't fix it so we will sell you a new one with yours as a trade in.

There is big trouble in the USA over this. Google Right to Repair Movement USA.

It's the same with all manufacturers for a long time now.

Software is encrypted for security reasons to stop people amending emission control features.

If a farmer wants to diagnose what's wrong with a John Deere can familiarise himself with the onboard command centre (which will tell him what's wrong) or he can buy service advisor to give him the information.

Those t5s are one of the most uncomfortable tractors you could drive,be grand for a yard tractor

That's only a by product. The real reason is manufacturers want to be still making money out 15 and 20 year old tractors because they'll have a monopoly on service.

A 6220se will be a good farmers tractor. They are relatively straightforward compared to the premiums, but you'd probably want something better if it's a tractor you going to spend long hours in regularly. Air con was an option on se models, but not too many had it. It mightn't have an air seat either, but they are pre wired for one. 4600 hours seems very low for a tractor that age, although not impossible of course. Does it's condition reflect those kind of hours? Those Deere's could easily go around the clock and still look fresh enough. There's a small dot that flashes beside the hour reading on the dash after they've gone around. Be sure to check for it...Is it a JD dealer that's selling it? If it is, it's likely to be well checked over and prepared for sale. I don't know how much the new loader is worth, but if you subtract that, the tractor is probably close to what it's worth, if the hours are genuine.

Modern software driver tractors can expect to have a lifespan of about 10-12 years. After that it will be creeping failure most of which will require a dealer visit to re-set the machine. As with any electronically driven item, it is only a matter of time before manufacturers withdraw software support and then you are left with an oversized paperweight.

If you buy the NH and wite off the cost over 10 years (after which it'll be close to end of life) then it is costing you around 8k a year.