I committed to writing an update once I completed another test mow with the CC Ultima ZTXS6 (60"); that test mow turned out to be the remainder of the yard not covered during the first drive. Total clock time on the mower now exactly 4 hours; 3.2 acres mowed. 70% (prox.) of the yard is flat or gentle slope, 25% of the yard is up to 10% slope, and 5% of the acreage featuring slope between 10-20% (pure guesses on the slope percentages, don't shoot me if I'm a couple degrees off.)
First, invest in oil stocks. The 25.5 hp Kawasaki FX801V engine is thirsty. Plenty strong, doesn't mind thick, mature, tall grass even when heading uphill; the throttle adjusts to meet the demand automatically. In the 4 hours of mowing, gasoline consumption is somewhere close to 7 gallons if I take the fuel gauge at face value.
Second, if you're mowing a 20° slope with the left side of the mower on the higher side of the slope, make sure you have more than 1/4 tank of fuel. The fuel pickup is apparently on the left side of the tank. When the engine coughed and died because the fuel pickup wasn't picking up, I just put the mower in free-wheel mode, pushed it back onto near level ground, and then restarted the engine.
Trying to minimize the use of superlatives because a) 4 hours mowing isn't really that long and, b) the only other zero turn experience I have is using rented lap-bar Exmarks (54" and 60"), maybe a total of 40 hours in the seat. I always likened using the lap-bar ZT machine as being a dude. "Look at me, I can drive using lap-bars." (Yes, I have driven a forklift many times. Yes, I've driven a Bobcat loader many times.) Forget all that, I'm a dude because I can drive a ZT mower using lap bars!
When I drove the Exmarks, it was not a relaxed drive. Every second of every stripe, of every turn, of every corner, of every slope was an exercise in concentration. Just a split second of inattention and the straight line becomes a curve, an overcorrection, a too-fast/too-sharp turn leaving a wheel mark in the grass. Lap-bars (for me) are wonderful things, but you darned well better keep your focus on driving and not worry about that text message that came in or hitting the skip icon on your Pandora app. Once you do, too bad, so sad, your straight line is no more. I never felt like I was fully in-control of the lap-bar machines, if I scored a few straight lines back-to-back, then heck yeah it's a miracle! I never drove the Exmarks anywhere close to 'fast' because of that 'lack of control' feeling.
DISCLAIMER: I'm 68 years old, I've been using riding mowers of some type since I was 11. 57 years using a steering wheel and pedals, I think you could say it's second nature by now. It's intuitive; it's natural; it's the way God intended us to steer and drive.
The XTXS6 steering wheel seems to solve the 'focus' issue and the lack of control issue. Straight lines are EPLS (easy peezy lemon squeezy). Total control, total comfort in the steering, total comfort in the speed, total comfort on the slopes, no wheel marks in the grass due to a screwed up turn. I don't need 40-80 hours practice to master the S6 and take advantage of its width, its power, its speed. No intent to put down, insult, or throw stones at any lap-bar machine nor any lap-bar owner, but for me and my house, the steering wheel is the right choice. For those of you that have mastered driving your 60" ZT mower at 10MPH making perfect straight lines every time, I bow to your superior expertise, but I am not you and never will be.
More to follow in the coming days.
