$4000 to spend on lawn/light duty garden tractor

[LBrown59]

Get one of the JD tractors you have on your list. You won't regret it. I have been down the Cub Cadet road twice (almost a third time). I had a very good Cub dealer but the tractors were not reliable at all. My JD experience has been great so far. I did have to change dealers. JD pulled the franchise away from my smaller dealer so I had to find a new dealer, which I have done. I own a JD CUT and a JD lawn and garden tractor and I couldn't be happier with the tractors.

You will also get 30 days to try out your JD tractor. If you don't like it you can exchange it or get your money back.

2004 Cub Cadet 5234D:
2006 Cub Cadet 5234D:
Aren't thes models that you state weren't reliable COMPACTS.
This thread is about comparing lawn and garden tractors .

 

[Hard]

2004 Cub Cadet 5234D:
2006 Cub Cadet 5234D:
Aren't thes models that you state weren't reliable COMPACTS.
This thread is about comparing lawn and garden tractors .

No...they are SUB-CUTS. I understand that this thread is comparing garden tractors. As long as MTD is involved Cubs will always be at a disadvantage to other brands. MTD will always be looking for ways to shave costs and cheapen a product. Unfortunately a Cub Cadet is an MTD product. MTD has almost ruined the Cub Cadet brand. Cub was great when IH was building them. They were little tanks...no longer. Will Cub Cadet give you your money back or exchange your lawn or garden tractor within 30 days if you are not satisfied? No, they won't. Just try it and see what happens....

I only hope that Yanmar will not cave in to MTD and go cheap when they start to build Cub CUTs.

Just relax a little LBrown...

 

[oakford4]

Again, I'm no expert,...and still learning, but from what I've heard through these forums along with the CC dealer, it's only the 1500 Series that MTD puts its Murray-style mark on. While they build all CC lawn and garden tractors, I understand that the 2500 and 3000 series garden tractors have to follow all of the CC design requirements. I would think of this kind of like Chevrolet (they have cheaply built cars, and then they have the Corvette). Of course, I'm not in ANY way comparing the CC to a Corvette, only to show quality standards can be applied to different products by the same manufacturer.

Similarly, the low end Toro's are now built by MTD, while the Wheelhorse brand (400 Series of garden tractors on up) is still to Toro standards.

Has anyone heard differently?

 

[rdln]

well **** even the corvette is a POS, I hope every amereican relaizes that there there money is wasted when they buy an american product. why arent you dropping $4000 on a 'bota they are the best.

 

[oakford4]

Kubota's out of my price range,....wish it wasn't.

 

[CCinCT]

The CC 1000's and 1500's are similar to the many other brands of MTD tractors. The only real difference is bearings instead of bushings, and some feature choices.

The CC 2500's and 3000's have no other brand sibling. They are very reliable, very rugged, and provide a lot of bang for the buck.

For $4K, you really have two decent choices (for new tractors). If you just want something for lawn care, the JD X300's would be the best bet. JD's decks seem to be the best out there, and that Kawasaki engine is quiet. If you want something to do more than lawn care, the CC 2500's are the best bet. They are much more of a garden tractor than the JD X300's.

 

[ducati996]

Could we at least get the model number correct with the 3000 series ? its a model 3100 with a 50 " deck. No such thing as a 3150. And yes its by far the best choice in your list of garden tractors....

Sorry Hard I disagree with your blanket statement regarding Cub. Their garden tractors are second to none, and in the listed examples above, are the superior choice....case closed

 

[LBrown59]

Kubota's out of my price range,....wish it wasn't.

Oakford4:
The first thing you need to is decide if you want/need a lawn tractor or do you need/want a garden tractor?
Once you figure that out = then only compare tractors within that class with each other.
Your list consist of both lawn tractors and garden tractors which cannot be compared to each other to arrive at any meaningful conclusion.
Your next step in narrowing things down is to determine which of these tractors on your list are lawn tractors and what ones are garden tractors.
After having done that you next need to decide between going with a lawn tractor or going with a garden tractor. Then make your choice based on comparing tractors in the chosen class.

 

[oakford4]

OK,

Here's what I will (and will not be doing with it):

Every 10-14 days, cutting roughly 2 acres of sod, hydroseeded bumpy terrain, and weeds. OCCASIONALLY, I will hitch a cart and move dirt or a load of firewood around. That's about it. I would say that, based on how people describe their uses for a garden tractor, that I really need just a good, heavy duty lawn tractor. Is that correct? I would also like this tractor to last 15+ years (if taken care of). I was thinking that a heavier gauge of steel for the frame and deck would be beneficial due to the terrain, and an excellent engine, that runs relatively cool, would also be of use.

Is this the right direction to go?

 

[Mike5252]

The price quote you have on the carryover 3000 series cub is great. This is the way you should go.

As I see it, you have two choices.

1. buy the 3000 cub for a great price.
2. buy one of the other tractors and 12 months later wish you had bought the cub.

Good luck.