$4000 to spend on lawn/light duty garden tractor

[bontai_Joe]

I don't think we "over analized" this with 10 pages.... in my house $4000 is a LOT of money, taking MANY hours to earn and save. I'd want a much info as I could get to make the best possible decision on a machine that I would hope to last 15 years. I spent 6 months collecting catalogs and pouring over specs back in 1978 when I bought my first tractor. I invested a lot of time researching what I could in the pre-internet days, and I must have picked wisely as I still have that tractor.

 

[LBrown59]

oakford4 could maybe give me $3600 for my CC2554 so I can add 600 to it and go get that CC3150 he's looking at.

 

[oakford4]

I hope to make some decision either tomorrow or next week at the latest. I have completely narrowed it down (from my original list) to:

Cub 2554 ($3700 out the door)
Cut 3100 with 50" deck ($4200 out the door)
Deere X340 with 54" deck ($4100 out the door)

By the way, my wife said **** no to a second job!

 

[DmansPadge]

I don't think we "over analized" this with 10 pages.... in my house $4000 is a LOT of money, taking MANY hours to earn and save. I'd want a much info as I could get to make the best possible decision on a machine that I would hope to last 15 years. I spent 6 months collecting catalogs and pouring over specs back in 1978 when I bought my first tractor. I invested a lot of time researching what I could in the pre-internet days, and I must have picked wisely as I still have that tractor.

My thoughts exactly. I've spent more time researching things far less expensive.

 

[LBrown59]

I hope to make some decision either tomorrow or next week at the latest. I have completely narrowed it down (from my original list) to:

Cub 2554 ($3700 out the door)
Cut 3100 with 50" deck ($4200 out the door)
Deere X340 with 54" deck ($4100 out the door)

!

Here Is one to add to the list.

 

[oakford4]

LBrown,

That link you referenced is not pulling up. What is it?

 

[Baucom]

I hope to make some decision either tomorrow or next week at the latest. I have completely narrowed it down (from my original list) to:

Cub 2554 ($3700 out the door)
Cut 3100 with 50" deck ($4200 out the door)
Deere X340 with 54" deck ($4100 out the door)

By the way, my wife said **** no to a second job!

3 exceptional mowers IMO. The JD is a very nice LT, and is capable of the towing duties you mentioned in the beginning. However, the GT's will (should) ride smoother over rough ground with their slightly larger tires. Plus, consider the fact that the X340 is only 100 cheaper than the 3100 which is a GT with PS, hydraulic deck lift (don't know that this has been mentioned yet), and has a higher ground speed than the X340(8 vs 5.8 mph). Believe it or not, I'm actually a JD person and initially had a tough time convincing myself to even look at CC, but in this instance, I believe that on this price machine, if you can justify the X340, then you can very easily justify the extra $100 for the 3100 due to it being a significantly stronger and better featured mower for virtually the same price.

I would say that the real decision lies between the 2554 and 3100. It is entirely up to you and your budget whether you want the 2554, which will meet all of your needs with no problem and offers everything you need and nothing that you don't, or the 3100 which has additional bells and whistles (and strength) that you don't NEED but could make ownership more pleasant down the road.

Of course, if you don't get the 3100, you really won't know what you're missing out on by passing on the 3100 and will be perfectly happy without it's extra luxuries. Also, playing devil's advocate here, while we've pretty much all been touting the luxuries afforded by the 3100 at a bargain price, the 3100 is a more complex machine with more to go wrong and a higher probability that if/when there is a problem, it will be something that you can't fix (assuming avg. mechanical abilities)--i.e. hydraulic pump. Not saying this is likely by any means, just pointing out that simpler machines do have their unique benefits as well.

 

[oakford4]

Points taken, thanks.

I have to admit, that simply sitting on each machine, the Deere X340 "feels" better. I can't tell you why, because I don't know. It just does. Further, all else equal in my equation of evaluating all three tractors, I would go with the Deere because (IMO) it has a better so-called 'fit and finish'. The latter is a pretty shallow reason to use, while I believe the former is something important to consider.

 

[oakford4]

Another question about Cub's 'mulch kit'. Anyone with experience in using it? Is it effective on a larger 50" or 54" deck? I am considering a mulch kit on whatever tractor I end up purchasing so that I can cut close to edges on both sides of the deck.

 

[oakford4]

What a difference a day makes.

If you recall, today was the day I was going to test ride the CC GT3100. As it turns out, it was just sold underneath me 2 days ago despite my asking the salesman put a 'hold' on the tractor for a few days. What's done is done, and I don't dwell on things. So, let's re-shuffle my top three picks (I like to have 3) for your comments now:

CC GT2554 (out the door @ $3700)
Deere X340, 54" deck (out the door @ $4100)
Simplicity Conquest 22 HP Briggs Vanguard, 50" deck (out the door for $4250).

Ground speeds are all roughly the same (Conquest is best at 6.1 MPH), but smaller deck. However, it has 10 gauge frame, and differential lock. Transmission is K-66.

Not sure on Cub's transmission nor Deere's (as a comparison) other than Cub's is cast iron.

I hate to continue this forum on the same topic, but that 3100 through a wrench in my whole decision-making process.