Johnny Mac
Member
My old MTD 42" needs put out to pasture...
I am less worried about price and more concerned with buying a good quality piece of equipment. I have read Consumer reports, tractorsbynet and all the usual Manufacture & retailer websites along with their customer reviews too.
What a mess of information to wade through.. best as I can tell it's a roll of the dice on not getting a lemon or lousy dealer, nothing is made like it's used to be, and nobody is fessing up to cutting you a deal.
Here is a breakdown of what I have gathered so far and I am asking for opinions, corrections and advise. Here ya go... a chance to spend someone elses money
Cub Cadet
I like the ZTR for $3000 rzt? It has a Kawasaki engine but is all stamped deck and frame. The Z force is $4000 but I hear the new Kohler courage engine (750hrs duty life) replaced the command version (2000 duty life) and killed the quality of the investment for the average homeowner. I can upgrade to a fully welded deck for another $400 but the engine problem remains the same.
John Deere
The 100 series at big box and JD dealers seems awfully over priced and cheaply made. Single cylinder engines and stamped deck/frames too. The X series 300? is $3000 but only a what 17hp motor? Nice chassis but a X500 is $5500 to step up to a 25hp motor. Ouch!
Sears..
I think made by Husky with a Craftsman name. Consumer reports rated a 24hp w/46" deck but Sears is always out of stock, no delivery to any zipcode available, nothing in stores... a pretty useless CR rating to me. The local store had a 54" 25hp ys4500?? "used" for $1874 but "used" kinda bothered me.. salesman said it was started and driven around the parking lot but it had dust and dirt all over the unit and tires. The outlet/repair facility also had 3 mowers that looked "used" too.
sooooo...
I can pay cash but nobody is offering any "fire sale prices". I would prefer to buy from a dealer over a big box anyday but have stopped at two so far and both were real matter-of-fact about this is the MSRP but that includes delivery, warranty, yadda yadda yadda.. at least a big box you can catch a 10% off sale or "apply for their credit card" incentive.. something... I was clear about offering cash (no MC/visa/check processing surcharge) and I don't need delivery either... but nothing, nadda, zip... they watched me walk out the door rather than making any lower price offer.
so tell me... I can buy a disposable mower at walmart for a grand and really the novelty of attachments has already worn off on me... a trailer would be nice but it's only an acre I can still wheel barrel junk and seeding/fertilizer attachments can be replaced by a lawn service...
do I go ZTR? a sturdy tractor? a cheapo?
thanks in advance
I am less worried about price and more concerned with buying a good quality piece of equipment. I have read Consumer reports, tractorsbynet and all the usual Manufacture & retailer websites along with their customer reviews too.
What a mess of information to wade through.. best as I can tell it's a roll of the dice on not getting a lemon or lousy dealer, nothing is made like it's used to be, and nobody is fessing up to cutting you a deal.
Here is a breakdown of what I have gathered so far and I am asking for opinions, corrections and advise. Here ya go... a chance to spend someone elses money
Cub Cadet
I like the ZTR for $3000 rzt? It has a Kawasaki engine but is all stamped deck and frame. The Z force is $4000 but I hear the new Kohler courage engine (750hrs duty life) replaced the command version (2000 duty life) and killed the quality of the investment for the average homeowner. I can upgrade to a fully welded deck for another $400 but the engine problem remains the same.
John Deere
The 100 series at big box and JD dealers seems awfully over priced and cheaply made. Single cylinder engines and stamped deck/frames too. The X series 300? is $3000 but only a what 17hp motor? Nice chassis but a X500 is $5500 to step up to a 25hp motor. Ouch!
Sears..
I think made by Husky with a Craftsman name. Consumer reports rated a 24hp w/46" deck but Sears is always out of stock, no delivery to any zipcode available, nothing in stores... a pretty useless CR rating to me. The local store had a 54" 25hp ys4500?? "used" for $1874 but "used" kinda bothered me.. salesman said it was started and driven around the parking lot but it had dust and dirt all over the unit and tires. The outlet/repair facility also had 3 mowers that looked "used" too.
sooooo...
I can pay cash but nobody is offering any "fire sale prices". I would prefer to buy from a dealer over a big box anyday but have stopped at two so far and both were real matter-of-fact about this is the MSRP but that includes delivery, warranty, yadda yadda yadda.. at least a big box you can catch a 10% off sale or "apply for their credit card" incentive.. something... I was clear about offering cash (no MC/visa/check processing surcharge) and I don't need delivery either... but nothing, nadda, zip... they watched me walk out the door rather than making any lower price offer.
so tell me... I can buy a disposable mower at walmart for a grand and really the novelty of attachments has already worn off on me... a trailer would be nice but it's only an acre I can still wheel barrel junk and seeding/fertilizer attachments can be replaced by a lawn service...
do I go ZTR? a sturdy tractor? a cheapo?
thanks in advance
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