Last month a group of enthusiasts from Suffolk held an informal recreation of profi’s 1995 test of high-horsepower tractors. The original test, which was conducted at the DLG test centre near Frankfurt and released as a popular VHS video, compared four tractors of around 210hp – the Case IH Magnum 7230, Fendt Favorit 822, Fiat G210 and John Deere 8200.
In the Suffolk test, carried out by Jonathan Tunmore, Angus Hamilton, Jon Haynes, Taig Norman and Chris Lockwood, due to availability the John Deere 8200 was substituted for an 8400 of a similar vintage and a Case IH Magnum 7250 Pro was used instead of the 7230, but power ratings were not part of the comparison, so these deviations weren’t detrimental. A blue New Holland 8870 also replaced the terracotta Fiat G210, but these two tractors were otherwise identical in specification.
In the video the four tractors weave their way through a half-timbered German village on their way to the test centre, so in homage, the four tractors were driven through a sleepy Suffolk village on a Sunday morning.
Turning circles were measured, and the results were not quite in-line with the 1995 test, with the John Deere and New Holland taking joint first place, although the Fendt had the largest turning circle as per the original findings. The tractors were also weighed, thanks to local farmer James Forrest, to determine their weight distribution over the front and rear axles. As expected, the John Deere was front biased, but the Fendt Favorit 822 having a virtually identical weight balance was an unexpected outcome.
The rest of the comparison was yard-based, thanks to Suffolk farmer Claus Voetmann, and compared features of the four. Similar conclusions were reached than in the original, that the John Deere had the most advance hydraulics, the New Holland’s transmission and SuperSteer axle were strong points, the Case IH Magnum was beginning to show its age but was proven and reliable, and the Fendt had excellent comfort and versatility. With the benefit of hindsight, it can now now be said that whilst they lack a few of the refinements of a new tractor, almost 30 years later they were all still of a high enough standard to
The conclusion sees the four tractors driven side-by-side at speed on a smooth tarmac runway. A distinct lack of something similar saw a grass airstrip used instead to bring the conclude this British tribute to the iconic test.
The video of the original test can be viewed on the profi Youtube channel.
For more up-to-date farming news click here and subscribe now to profi and save 47%.
