2002 JD LX279 or new riding mower?

[BruceWard]

I am considering a 2002 LX279 which needs a new hood and would cost around $1300 including the new hood and stickers. The seller says he has mowed 1 acre of yard with it since 2002, that he serviced it regularly but never waxed it. The LX279 has a 17HP water cooled Kawasaki FD501V engine and a two pedal "Tuff Torq" hydrostatic transmission. It weighs 490 pounds without the mower deck. This one has a 48" 3 blade mower deck weighing in at 117 pounds that is covertible for mulching, side discharge or bagging.

I will be mowing about an acre with it.

Would you buy the LX279 or spend similar money on a new one?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[James Loehr]

I had a LX277 thats a model below the 279. It had a 17hp air cooled and a 42 inch deck. I traded mine for a 300 series becouse I needed something with more weight. I think the LX series were much nicer than the current X300 series and 1300. won't get anything new even close. LX tractors bring good money used becouse they were a solid machine.

 

[bbigcnote]

i have had my 279 since 1998 or 2000 somewhere in ther anyway. i have never had a problem with it. even mounted my front blad to it and pushed snow in winter with it. it is a very solid machine except for the hood but if you are getting a new hood with it then i would say go for it. wife even tried to make it run on kerosene once and it still run strong( after i drained the kerosene out)