100 Series, are they worth it?

[mjncad]

John Deere does not make crap tractors, never have never will.

Never say never Revelation.

I thought the same thing about Hewlett-Packard products until Carly Fiorina wrecked that company, and got paid over $180-million to do so. When I was a CADD Manager, I used to specify HP products no questions asked. Not anymore.

The same thing goes for Sony. They've fallen into the cheap junk quality quagmire, yet charge the Sony price based on past goodwill they earned with high quality products.

 

[Keef]

I agree, I just don't want the possible headaches. I am sure I paid more for my used GT235 than any LA costs but I did not get cought up in the "brand new" market. I can shine up the old GT and you can't tell it from a new one. Kinda funny, as my expensive pickup rust away, I am spending more time washing an waxing my GT235 and 4300 JDs and neglecting everything else! That JD green is intoxicating. If you can get away with it, get an LA. I will give my GT235 to my son and I am sure he will mow with it when the time come (quite aways away). Just don't bad mouth JDs when they break, you took that risk. They are less expensive for a reason. My personal thought is that JD messed up by offering to sell these models at the big stores and wipe out the mom and pop dealerships but who am I? I want to buy my equipment from a dirty, redneck, good-'ol boy farmer type of guy- not one in a suit who probably never used a tractor of any kind before. Ok, i'll stop ranting now! (JD wiped out my dealer)

The first thing I will say (again) is I would encourage anyone who is interested in the 100 Series not to buy it from Home Depot or Lowes and buy it from a dealer. The dealer knows the product, will give you service, and will always be there for you. Home Depot employess are not trained to know the John Deere, or other tractors that they sell. The price will be the same, so why not give the money to a hard working dealer.

If you buy the 100 series, I was told (by two dealers) that the V-twin engines last longer because the cutting puts less strain on the engine and it is a smoother engine. So if you can, get the higher end 100 Series with the larger engine. If I had more than an acre to cut, I most likely would of purchased the 300 with mulching blades. Since my lawn is only about 1/2 an acre, I think the LA series is up for the challenge.

 

[therebarely]

I bought a LA125 last year, and so far it has been flawless. Before I bought, I looked at the other brands, and for the money, it seemed like a good value. The driver comfort is not available on any other lawn tractor in this price range. If you are over 6' tall, you will find it impossible to be comfortable on most other brands, and Deere's seat if far and away the best.

 

[dieselram]

I second Keef's opinion, buy from the dealer. The dealer will have to get it for service or warrany work anyways and if you buy it from them they will probably pick it up for free. If you can get away with it go for it in an LA, just remember you are in the Craftsman market.

 

[mjncad]

The first thing I will say (again) is I would encourage anyone who is interested in the 100 Series not to buy it from Home Depot or Lowes and buy it from a dealer. The dealer knows the product, will give you service, and will always be there for you. Home Depot employess are not trained to know the John Deere, or other tractors that they sell. The price will be the same, so why not give the money to a hard working dealer.

If you buy the 100 series, I was told (by two dealers) that the V-twin engines last longer because the cutting puts less strain on the engine and it is a smoother engine. So if you can, get the higher end 100 Series with the larger engine. If I had more than an acre to cut, I most likely would of purchased the 300 with mulching blades. Since my lawn is only about 1/2 an acre, I think the LA series is up for the challenge.

I agree with Keef on this one, especially since the dealer gets stuck fixing warranty claims for tractors sold by Despot and Doh's.

When was the last time you found an employee at either of these two big box stores that knew the difference between a ball valve and a gate valve, or any other item for that matter? The D & D dimwits sure as heck won't know squat about lawn tractors.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

John Deere does not make crap tractors, never have never will.

I see SOMEONE bought into the hype

Deere builds a good product MOST of the time.

Deere has built their share of real stinkers

Ask anyone who bought a 2010 diesel back in the early 1960's just how they feel about Deere "never building a crap tractor".

Ask any of us who owned early 5000 series tractors about the "quality" Deere products we had to live with.

Deere, in an effort to grab a share of the mass market big box store semi-throw-away lawn tractor business has produced some marginal quality low buck products in recent years. They'll "get by", but they sure aren't what made Mother Deere famous.

Deere has built some of the finest tractors to ever hit the field. They've built a few "crap tractors" too.

NEVER say never.

ps Still happy with my 1990 265. Over 1500 hours and still mowing!

 

[bryanth]

Just purchased an LA135. I tried to go through the local dealer but they were sold out and said they couldn't get anymore being that it is a special edition. I don't know if that was a line or not but I ended up getting it from a Lowe's who had three left.

If the dealer was telling the truth and anybody wants to buy an LA135 you might want to check your local inventory.

Bryant
Wilmington, NC

 

[Keef]

Well my lawn tractor got it's first challenge. I was on vacation for two weeks and it rained a lot when I was away. I decided to put the notch up a little on the cutting level for the first time since I have the mulching blades on. I have to tell you this LA135 cut the grass and mulched it like it was butter. No problems, no hesitation, I had plenty of control, and the grass looks great once again. I hope that I continue to have success with this tractor.

 

[Revelation]

If I bought the Craftsman lawn tractor, in the back of my mind I would of thought, "I could of bought the John Deere". I did not want to have to worry about that. If I did buy a Craftsman is could of been a great mower too. There is just something about quality and reliability with the name JD that made me go with it...yes even on the 100 Series.

By the way, my neighbor told me his 5 year old Cub Cadet died on him for the second time. He is going to replace it with a John Deere lawn tractor. He can't wait to get one!

 

[actionaj]

I had a L-130 used it to mow a little over an acre. Sold it last summer it had about 140 trouble free hours on it. I sarted mowing about 5+ acres had to get a bigger mower. But the L-130 was a good machine with a good cut.