$3500 - $4000 to spend on mower

[LBrown59]

1* I don't really need a garden tractor as all I do is mow.
2*I've looked at a lot and have come to the cub 2550 or 2554 and the JD x320 or x340.
3*I have a quote for the cubs at 3699 and 3999 respectively.
4* I saw another fellow in a similar situation in this site and it seemed almost everyone was recommending the cub.
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..............1*Why go with a lesser built lawn tractor when you can get a better built stronger tougher garden tractor for the same 3 or 4 thousand bucks?
2*My choice of the 4 would be the CC2554.
3*The 3999 quote you got for it is a good buy, List on it is 4199. It's well worth 300 more than the 3699 you have on the CC2550.
The extra 4'' deck means shorter mowing time and less back breaking string trimming along ditches and banks.
Unlike the Box Store lawn tractor versions the CC 2500 and 3000 series garden tractors are real tanks.
4*That guy was wise in choosing the CC 2554.
Your situation sounds nearly identical to his so the CC 2554 sounds like the right choice for you too.
Nothing wrong with the 2 JDs but I've read many opinions on the boards stating that at less money the CC 2500 and 3000 series are heavier built than even the JD x 500 and x700 series which translates into more bang for the buck with the CC....................

 

[daTeacha]

Based on your pic, Scott, it appears you have a slight bias toward red. Is your car/truck red, too? Carpeting? Wallpaper?

Forgive me, but I married into a whole family of Ohio State Buckeye fans who think the only colors in the world are Scarlet and Gray, especially during the fall football insanity. I'm a little touchy about seeing so much red in one place.

 

[scott_vt]

Based on your pic, Scott, it appears you have a slight bias toward red. Is your car/truck red, too? Carpeting? Wallpaper?

Forgive me, but I married into a whole family of Ohio State Buckeye fans who think the only colors in the world are Scarlet and Gray, especially during the fall football insanity. I'm a little touchy about seeing so much red in one place.

Afternoon Rich,
Nahh the truck is green, forest green actually, but I have given thought to a new RED model !

 

[sandman2234]

Two cents from this end of the world.
I just spent the last two days mowing with a CC with a 54" deck. I think it is a 1500, but am guessing on that one. The owner bought it at one of the box stores, because of the cheap financing.
I have a Steiner that is 11 years old, used commercially it's first 10 years. My MIL has a Craftsman 42" 12hp rider, and believe me, the CC reminds me of the Craftsman much, much more than the Steiner ever thought of. I will give the CC credit in the fact that it isn't zero turn, but does a real good job of making corners, compared to the Craftsman. The CC was a real pain, until I figured out how to manually override the safety setup that disengages the deck whenever reverse is selected. I was ready to run it in the ditch up to that point. Hopefully my experience with the CC will get better, as I am trying to help a friend out by mowing his two places.
David from jax

 

[VABlue]

"...I married into a whole family of Ohio State Buckeye fans..."

Egads... I'd feel sorry for you, but I just can't. My favorite team just lost to a Div 1AA team. So you're on your own...

 

[LBrown59]

-----xxxxxx Two cents from this end of the world. XXXXXXX-----
1*I just spent the last two days mowing with a CC with a 54" deck. I think it is a 1500,
2* The owner bought it at one of the box stores, because of the cheap financing.
3*I have a Steiner that is 11 years old, used commercially it's first 10 years.
4*My MIL has a Craftsman 42" 12 HP rider, and believe me,
5* the CC reminds me of the Craftsman much, much more than the Steiner ever thought of.
6* I will give the CC credit in the fact that it isn't zero turn, but does a real good job of making corners, compared to the Craftsman.
7* The CC was a real pain, until I figured out how to manually override the safety setup that disengages the deck whenever reverse is selected.
8* I was ready to run it in the ditch up to that point.
9* Hopefully my experience with the CC will get better -----------
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1* The LT 1500 lawn tractor is not in the same league as the upper class GT 2554 GARDEN TRACTOR.
Big difference between them.
Ya Gets what YA PAYS for.
2*That's the tip off / Box Store.
Or is it the warning?
3* Bet the Steiner cost a couple a dollars more new than the 1500 did - U think?
4* and 5*The Craftsman and the 1500 are both BOX STORE tractors so why wouldn't you expect them to resemble each other?
Expecting the 1500 to be anything like the Steiner is like expecting a Pinto to be like a Lincoln. Compare the Steiner to a Ven Track for an apples to apples comparison and then see what you think.
Comparing the Steiner with the 1500 or Craftsman is an unfair inaccurate misleading apples to oranges comparison.
6*N/c
7*The CC GT2554 has a switch for mowing in reverse.
Just press the button and the reverse safety switch is by passed so you can mow in reverse.
Don't the 1500 you're using have this bypass switch or has it been removed or disabled?
I Think about all Modern riding mowers lawn tractors and garden tractors have a switch that disables the mower from operating in reverse.
That being the case why come down on the 1500?
8*Why punish the tractor for your ignorance?
9*Yep sure hope you smarten up learin how to operate it.
XXXXXXX Your 2 cents hain't worth a nicklel xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[LBrown59]

Two cents from this end of the world.
I just spent the last two days mowing with a CC with a 54" deck. I think it is a 1500, but am guessing on that one. The owner bought it at one of the box stores, because of the cheap financing.
I have a Steiner that is 11 years old, used commercially it's first 10 years. My MIL has a Craftsman 42" 12hp rider, and believe me, the CC reminds me of the Craftsman much, much more than the Steiner ever thought of. I will give the CC credit in the fact that it isn't zero turn, but does a real good job of making corners, compared to the Craftsman. The CC was a real pain, until I figured out how to manually override the safety setup that disengages the deck whenever reverse is selected. I was ready to run it in the ditch up to that point. Hopefully my experience with the CC will get better, as I am trying to help a friend out by mowing his two places.
David from jax

Your post about the CC 1500 is way off base as it don't line up with the overall theme of this thread.
The OP is asking about the Cub Cadet 2550 and the CC 2554 and the JD x320 & x340.
All 4 of these tractors are garden tractors.
But your post ignores that fact and throws in the lower class Box Store CC1500 Lawn tractor in an attempt to down grade the CC 2554 Garden Tractor.
Had you checked out a JD Box Store lawn tractor you would have found the same disappointing results on the JD.
Especially the reverse disabling switch because all tractors from lawn tractors to compact tractors have this feature,
Nobody recommend the OP buy a CC 1500 so there was no purpose in posting about it except maybe to warn the op not to purchase a lawn tractor or buy from a Box Store,
But the way you wrote the post up indicates you real intent was to slam/discredit the CC GT2554.

 

[sandman2234]

I did mention that I figured out the reverse switch, so lighten up, or learn to read. I merely mentioned the CC with a 54" deck and probably a 1500 model that was bought at a box store was closer to the Craftsman he had already operated so he would know that that one isn't for him.
The Steiner I own cost me exactly 4 times LESS than the CC that I drove over the last couple of days, and it was 10 years old when I bought it. Why should a 10 year old mower mow better than a new one? Simply because the CC was a piece of light weight garbage.
I never mentioned anything about any other Cub Cadets, did not elude to any other model being good or bad. Reading anything like that into my post was just a wrong assumption by anyone making it.
It is also amazing that you didn't blast daTeacha with his statement about the same tractors I was refering to in the second post of this thread.
David from jax

 

[VABlue]

"Especially the reverse disabling switch because all tractors from lawn tractors to compact tractors have this feature."

LB - so very untrue. Perhaps you should have done a little research? My Craftsman hydro lawn tractor can mow in reverse without any switch or other safety 'feature', as can my 2305. In your haste to bash people, you look like a fool who doesn't bother to reseach what he's going off (incorrectly) about.

 

[LBrown59]

"Especially the reverse disabling switch because all tractors from lawn tractors to compact tractors have this feature."

1*LB - so very untrue. Perhaps you should have done a little research?
2*My Craftsman hydro lawn tractor can mow in reverse without any switch or other safety 'feature',
3*as can my 2305.
4*In your haste to bash people, you look like a fool who doesn't bother to reseach what he's going off (incorrectly) about.

1*I was thinking of the operator presence switch or seat safety switch at the time and had the 2 types of switches confused at the time.
I did not realize this until reading your post just now.
2*And how many other brands besides CC do have the reverse safety switch that stops the mower blades upon reversing the tractor?
Sandman2234s rant about the reverse safety switch on the CC 1500 could lead a reader to conclude that this was a quirk exclusive only to Cub Cadet.
The CC 1500 should not be blamed for his lack of understanding of how to operate the machine.
He would have had the same frustration with any other brand or model having this feature.
I'm Glad I have the same feature on MY CC GT2554 because without it I couldn't mow in reverse at all.
If he thinks the 1500 was a pain to operate he should try mowing with My PowrKraft. There is no provision to bypass the reverse safety switch on it so you can only mow going forward
3*So can I with the BX23 But it still has a safety switch on the seat that stops the mower doesn't your 2305 have that also?
4*I don't consider pointing out other angles as bashing any body.