A 1999 Deere 425 with 1500 hrs, and 54C deck, standard blades does a better job mowing than a 2011 Deere 1026R with 50 hrs, and 54D deck, standard blades on my rough 1/2 acre of grass. The longer wheelbase and lack of center rollers of the new Deere are its hindrance in this application. The new Deere will do everything else twice as well, it should, it costs four times as much.