Which made me go looking online for a new tractor today, just to see what one costs. WOW!!! I was able to "build my tractor" on the John Deere and Bobcat sites, and for a 50 horsepower tractor with a front end loader, PTO, and rear lift system I came in between $25,000 and $30,000. And this isn't counting my concerns with the newer equipment being "difficult" for the average person to work on any more, unlike my old D17. Yes, if I rebuild the engine I will have about $5,000 or so I put into the tractor in the last year. But that $5,000 includes live hydraulics and a fully working loader to replace my trip bucket system, rewiring, repairing a bunch of small leaks, better tires and wheels on both ends, and a few smaller upgrades too. Personally I feel it's worth it, especially considering how prices on things have shot up this year. Plus for the most part if something goes bad on this tractor I can fix it. 

Now's the time to show her , on paper, the actual costs of 'new' vs 'fix'. I'm betting she won't pony up the difference between them so you get the NEW tractor.

good news is MY doghouse is heated..hope your is !

We went through that before and still am on some of the old stuff we have here.

I state my case and these are our options........

I also know about clamping down on expenses.

Can be a tough call sometimes and hope all goes as planned.

Sometimes it doesn't but have made more positive ones than negative.

Learn from the negative is what I do and I listen to my gut feelings.

Need and want are two different things.

Also, like you say, you can work on it.  ANYTHING you buy now a days has a chip in it of some kind.  And as we all know, if there are electronics involved, it's gonna fail and the chips and parts aren't available.

Older car sales have gone through the roof lately also.  See the parallel?

There's many facets to a decision of economics.  The key factors are:

1) can you 'write off' a large capital purchase, thus, convert it into a substantial tax shelter?  I'd hafta go study current MACRS rules, but unless you're using it for a significant business enterprise, it's likely you can't...

2)  NO machine goes without maintenance, and modern machines downright suck the life out of you for maintenance costs, but purchasing a 'new' one COULD get you on a 'shallow side' of the maintenance curve for a few years...  Will the cost of purchasing a 'new' tractor every 5 years, keep you in that 'sweet spot' where maintenance is minimal, at a cost lower than what you could do with a well-rebuilt classic?

3)  Does the new machine have some advantage of capacity or features that have a considerably higher value, or does the older suffice, and suit your immediate future needs?

In the case of a classic tractor, it is rare that the opportunity cost is high... even a seemingly EXPENSIVE outlay (transmission, engine, or tires) is tiny in comparison to something new...  but the new tractor will have fully-independant PTO and live hydraulics of the high-volume/low pressure flavor, the versatility of 3-point front and back... a cab with heat/air...

When a guy is unable to work on his own equipment, the circumstances change.  When a guy has a difficult time climbing onto one type, or isn't safe in extreme cold or heat, or cannot change implements, the formula changes.

Given this question, I'll ALWAYS tend to stick with a classic, and the D17 would be my first go-to on account of it's size, power, maneuverability, and versatility, but if I was 20 years older, couldn't climb, or change implements, couldn't turn wrenches, or didn't have a comfortable facility to split a tractor safely, it'd be a different story.

But sticker shock puts everything in perspective.