Demoed a new Ferris 5100 today and......

DaddyRabbit · May 29, 2009

I was shocked to see the 5100 series pull up today as opposed to the 4100 that I had originally wanted and after it was all said and done I honestly wish I would have ran the dealer off w/my shotgun for bringing it. I peered upon the engine compartment which was full of 33.5 h/p Cat yellow and immediately fell in love

. When he pit fire in the hole and backed it off the trailer I couldn't hardly contain myself wishing he would just leave so myself and the Ferris could get better acquainted. I climbed aboard and after the introductions were over away I went. I have ridden some ZTR's and all felt really bumpy regardless of the suspension seat but the Ferris has a ride all unto itself. It simply floats. I cut my entire yard in 2.5 hrs which was a 6 hr job for my Kubota tractor and its 84'' finish mower. I threw it in some of the deepest grass I could find and it didn't ever falter. Simply put, its a Beast! He offered it to me for $14500.00 OTD inc my farm tax. That is a wad for a lawn mower indeed

I guess I'll have to sleep on it.

thartweger · May 30, 2009

think the only thing that its missing is turbo =p

srs · May 31, 2009

DaddyRabbit, that is a sweet machine, so is the price. Did you try other manufacturers to see how they performed? Of course Ferris is the only one with the suspension system to smooth out the bumps, everybody else only has the suspension seats. How much grass do you actually cut? Have you made a decision to get this machine or could you get one of the smaller Ferris mowers?

heehaw · May 31, 2009

wow, nice machine: i looked at the ferris mowers earlier this year: all the ferris models i looked at have a suspension system that is really suppose to smooth out the ride: an the prices started a little over $5k: they had a couple last years models that were still not put together that they had marked down slightly...still want a ztr but just can't swing that kind of dough for something that just cuts grass....yet anyway...
heehaw

DaddyRabbit · May 31, 2009

I have over engineered and over analyzed every ZTR made today to the point that sometimes I feel none of them are good enough due to price, options, etc, etc. I cut roughly 10 acres and have some rental properties that would add another 4ac on that. I am always open to other suggestions when it comes to savings but as I am getting older quality or the lack thereof isn't up for discussion. I can't help it, I am a Diesel ***** from way back. I have ridden some others but none compared to the Ferris ride. Sad thing is about purchasing is you generally won't find out about the quality until much later....hopefully.

srs said:
DaddyRabbit, that is a sweet machine, so is the price. Did you try other manufacturers to see how they performed? Of course Ferris is the only one with the suspension system to smooth out the bumps, everybody else only has the suspension seats. How much grass do you actually cut? Have you made a decision to get this machine or could you get one of the smaller Ferris mowers?

heehaw · May 31, 2009

i think the ferris is one of the best ones out there: mainly because of the ride: but then a friend that has one swears by the way it discharges the grass clippings: he says it does a lot better job throwing the clipping out than a couple others he tried..as for diesel, its nice, gives less trouble, but you could probably put 2 or 3 gas engines on one for the cost of the diesel unit: an you might need to from what i have seen with diesel engines, they seem to outlast several gas engines.
heehaw

coobie · May 31, 2009

DaddyRabbit said:
I have over engineered and over analyzed every ZTR made today to the point that sometimes I feel none of them are good enough due to price, options, etc, etc. I cut roughly 10 acres and have some rental properties that would add another 4ac on that. I am always open to other suggestions when it comes to savings but as I am getting older quality or the lack thereof isn't up for discussion. I can't help it, I am a Diesel ***** from way back. I have ridden some others but none compared to the Ferris ride. Sad thing is about purchasing is you generally won't find out about the quality until much later....hopefully.

I owned a ferris/simplicty ZTR (25 hp gas engine)that was a very good mower and the front suspension is the real deal as far as smooth riding.I looked at the ferris with the Cat. motor but could justify the $15,000 price tag.I ended up buying a Kubota 326 pro model with a 26hp diesel for $10,700 back in 2007.I can tell you I miss the ride of the Ferris verses the Kubota.coobie

nomad289 · May 31, 2009

That is a wad for a mower indeed

I bought the Ferris 4500IS which coincided with the stock market meltdown; perhaps a sign of over optimism?

Should have just taken BonjiJoe's advice and bought a suspension seat for my garden tractor

Other than it being the cost of a small car, it is a Fantastic machine. As long as you think of it for what it is, a superbly engineered task-specific diesel farm machine, the cost is comparable to a quality tractor with cutting implements, etc.; but it cuts much better in much less time.
The ride over rough terrain is smooth and fast, manuverability like a go-cart, cut is good, power and fuel consumption is superb.

It is a massive machine, but if you can afford it and mow 10+ rough acres you will not regret it from a performance or reliability perspective. As a professional engineer I am impressed with and satisfied with the engineering design and have not found any drawbacks other than the weight, which does not effect maneuverability.

The diesel is great, lower rpm noise/vibration, fill the tank <1/2 as often, sounds cool, durable, etc. (I have a Mercedes diesel in my Jeep GC also).
A water cooled 3100IS probably would have been adequate if money is a concern. For my terrain, the Ferris suspension was a "must have" and it rode much better than a high-end diesel front-deck grasshopper I demo'd.

Other comments in this thread...

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edit: Your profile indicates you are a wealthy genius! If you are wealthy (seem to be by the photo of your land) and love quality machinery and mowing, then buy the 5100IS! If you are a genius then hiring out the job may make sense if you value your time and mowing feels like "work".

automech · May 31, 2009

Maybe you should spend 5000 on a leftover Exmark and hire a worker to pilot it for you. 10 grand should pay for years of salary for a once a week employee

two_bit_score · May 31, 2009

Thanks for the 'on the ground' photos and review of the Ferris.

DaddyRabbit · Jun 1, 2009

I have spent some time looking at the Bad Boy as well but am curious as to why the BB offering has a 35 h/p 4 cyl Cat diesel and the Ferris employs the use of a 33.5 h/p 3 cylinder diesel. I wonder if there are any drawbacks to the 3 cylinder as opposed to the 4 cylinder? Regardless, I am pretty much sold on the Ferris.

coobie · Jun 1, 2009

DaddyRabbit said:
I have spent some time looking at the Bad Boy as well but am curious as to why the BB offering has a 35 h/p 4 cyl Cat diesel and the Ferris employs the use of a 33.5 h/p 3 cylinder diesel. I wonder if there are any drawbacks to the 3 cylinder as opposed to the 4 cylinder? Regardless, I am pretty much sold on the Ferris.

Good choice,stay with the ferris.coobie

Scooby074 · Jun 1, 2009

That Ferris is a BEAST. Very impressive. I havent driven a ZTR with suspension, but i imagine it would help the ride immensely.

nomad289 · Jun 1, 2009

My Ferris 4500IS has the 28hp CAT and plenty of excess power for a 60" deck cutting 8" tall fescue down to 4.5". I think the ~33 hp CAT on the 5100IS would be more than adequate even if you went with the 72" deck; I can't see the need for a 4 cylinder. I believe the Ferris "CAT" is actually a Perkins diesel manufactured and serviced by CAT; I'm sure it will outlast me.

The machine is awesome. The only drawback I've found is the heavy weight results in compressed grass wheel tracks --- looking in your posted picture in the background I can see where you drove the machine. Given the country setting this is a non-issue, but if you were a commercial landscape mower some businesses might find the tracks objectionable. Maybe I"m cutting the grass to long.

Ferris has been making mowers for 20 years and has been bought by Simplicity then Briggs and Stratton, so they "probably" will have staying power and not file chapter 11. History Bad Boy has been around for <10 years, and didn't have any inventory for me to test. Who We Are | Bad Boy Mowers

Simplicity has the patent rights to the Ferris IS so if you wanted a cheaper "homeowner" version you might check them out. But, from the looks of your land the Ferris diesel is the way to go.

nomad289 · Jun 2, 2009

nomad289 said:
My Ferris 4500IS has the 28hp CAT and plenty of excess power for a 60" deck cutting 8" tall fescue down to 4.5". I think the ~33 hp CAT on the 5100IS would be more than adequate even if you went with the 72" deck; I can't see the need for a 4 cylinder. I believe the Ferris "CAT" is actually a Perkins diesel manufactured and serviced by CAT; I'm sure it will outlast me.

The machine is awesome. The only drawback I've found is the heavy weight results in compressed grass wheel tracks --- looking in your posted picture in the background I can see where you drove the machine. Given the country setting this is a non-issue, but if you were a commercial landscape mower some businesses might find the tracks objectionable. Maybe I"m cutting the grass to long.

Ferris has been making mowers for 20 years and has been bought by Simplicity then Briggs and Stratton, so they "probably" will have staying power and not file chapter 11. History Bad Boy has been around for <10 years, and didn't have any inventory for me to test. Who We Are | Bad Boy Mowers

Simplicity has the patent rights to the Ferris IS so if you wanted a cheaper "homeowner" version you might check them out. But, from the looks of your land the Ferris diesel is the way to go.

PS: Check out the suspension of the Ferris (spring/shock design with ~3-4" travel?), ie a real suspension system; vs the Bad Boy which appears from the photo's to just be compressible rubber bushings. The Ferris will have much greater suspension travel based on the design.

DaddyRabbit · Jun 2, 2009

The Ferris dealer is a very nice person that is going the extra mile to get my Biz by calling and offering me incentives and advising me of this months specials, I.e Extended warranty. He has indicated to me that he'd deliver it upon my request. He gave me a demo price but he's moved a couple, (including the one I demoed) since so he said mine would be a NIB for the same $$. He has thrown in the optional hitch. I of course wouldn't ever tow anything w/this as long as my Kubota tractor is alive but its sure nice knowing there will be something to hook on to for when myself or my son run this beast in the drink.

RWEST · Jun 2, 2009

My brother has the diesel Ferris, and a gas powered one, as well, and that diesel IS a beast. Not cheap, but a real BEAST!!

DaddyRabbit · Jun 6, 2009

Well guys, I pulled the trigger on a new Ferris 5100Z. The dealer was awesome and sold it to me at an exceptional price that made it hard to say no to. It should be in next week. I'll post some action pics later.

srs · Jun 6, 2009

DaddyRabbit said:
Well guys, I pulled the trigger on a new Ferris 5100Z. The dealer was awesome and sold it to me at an exceptional price that made it hard to say no to. It should be in next week. I'll post some action pics later.

Good for you, can't wait for some action photos. Did you get any kind of special financing or was this a cash deal?

DaddyRabbit · Jun 6, 2009

They have a special in place now for same as ca$h/0 % until Sept 2010. I hate to wish my life away but I simply can't wait until it comes in next week.