<font color=red>if you were to do it all over and purchase now with the knowledge you've gathered over the last year plus, what would you buy?? Maybe the 425??</font color=red>
Richard:
I examined your question carefully, and note that you asked what I "would buy", not what I "should buy" nor what I "would like to" buy.
The answer isn't 100% predictable, because even after more than a year of thinking about Power Tracs and two trips to Tazewell, the PT1845 was a bit of an impulse buy, and I've not been sorry. I wanted a machine that first had the capability to cut 15 or so acres of fairly lush pasture on a regular basis, and another 60 or so acres if necessary. Some of the cutting is on steep slopes, and I've finally gotten old enough to dislike riding a sliding tractor sideways until the hill levels out.
I wanted it so I could just get on and go, with little or no hookup or setup effort, and the mowing speed needed to be high. I also wanted to be able to cut my lawn, which was currently done with a 6' Jacobsen front mower.
Despite the overheating problem that PT is working on, the PT1845 has done a good job at its primary function. It mows fast, and now that John Coxon developed an improved blade set, it mows smoothly. I went to Tazewell to buy a 1430, but got the 1845. I'm happy with that choice, because even the 45 hp tractor bogs a bit in heavy cutting, so I don't think the 1430 would have made good speed cutting with a 72" deck in heavy stuff.
The PT1845 will do the lawn, but bridges, scalps and scuffs it a bit with the tires when backing and filling because it is simply too big and clumsy for lawn work, at least on my yard.
I didn't consider the 425, because it really could be counted on to mow only with a 48" deck in heavy going, although it would have been good for the lawn with the 60" finish deck. What I didn't look at was Hans's Kunz wing mowers. He tows two self powered Kunz mowers with the 425, giving him up to 8 feet additional cut. So:
If I had a 425 instead of the 1845, I would have less lifting capability, both in weight and height. I would have a good lawn machine, however, better suited to landscape chores. If I towed a Kunz wing mower, the setup time would be more for each field, but I might get mowing speed nearly equivalent to the PT1845 in the pastures. Every attachment I have for the 1845 is available for the 425, each for less money, and I haven't seen a job yet that the 1845 will do that the 425 can't except dump its bucket over the side of a pickup. The speed of the 1845 might be faster on some jobs because of power and reach, but the 425 is more maneuverable and will be faster in other tasks.
The difference? The 425 and implements would be $10,000 less, even after the cost of the wing mower, and with the 1845 I still need a lawn machine.
But would I definitely get a 425 if starting from now? I don't know. I really like the 1845. And some day I might buy a fence post pounder, which isn't available for the 425.
What I would like is a PT 422 or 425 and a PT 1850. but, of course, with a 35 hp engine on the 400 frame and an auger mulch bucket, and a Luginbuhl multipurpose articulated arm...and...and...
