ASD,
Sorry to hear of the problems you had with your Gehl. I am not encouraging or advising anyone to buy this machine, but I bought this 3 year old machine used 6 months ago and it has been trouble free so far.
This link seems to counter what you say about Gehl, although I don't doubt that every company makes a lemon now and then.
http://www.************/archive/index.php/t-36997.html