$4000 to spend on lawn/light duty garden tractor
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oakford4 said:
3100 "lemon" story...
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/cub-cadet/88631-new-gt3100-lemon-long-post.html?highlight=cub+problem+problems
good luck
No,probably not,,I got a lowes special with 20 hp kohler thats got over 500 hours in about 12 years,,still runs fine,have had to replace maybe 100 dollars worth of parts thats all. I got a 25 hp kohler sears special hydro trans,,,its about 8-9 years old,,it blew a head gasket at about 100 hours or less,got it fixed for a couple hundred dollars,,it runs fine with about 400 hours or so.
Seems to me on these things,,they all use about same motor and trans,belts and tires,batterys and probably many other parts,,main difference in most of these riding lawn tractors/mowers is name and color,,and that don't seem to be worth 2,000 to me.
Now,they do make some real good mowers I bet,,what are those things called dixie clippers or maybe two three brands those real good zero turn ones,,,bet those cost 6 or 8 thousand,,,now,,if I had the money to spend,,one of those would be what I'd get,,,,
but,argueing over a sears with a 25 h.p kohler and a cub cadet or john deere with same motor and all which cost 2,000 or so more,,seems like some just want a name brand on theirs,,,them old cub cadets and them old john deere riding lawn tractors was good uns and worth more,,,but not anymore.
Another reason besides name that alot of people buy the name brand is who's going to work on it when it breaks,,hard to get sears or home depo and such to do some things sometimes,thats correct,,,but their are authorized kohler repair places every where,,and about every thing else,,even a dummy like me can fix,,so that arguement is pointless to as near as I can tell. thingy
Seems to me on these things,,they all use about same motor and trans,belts and tires,batterys and probably many other parts,,main difference in most of these riding lawn tractors/mowers is name and color,,and that don't seem to be worth 2,000 to me.
Now,they do make some real good mowers I bet,,what are those things called dixie clippers or maybe two three brands those real good zero turn ones,,,bet those cost 6 or 8 thousand,,,now,,if I had the money to spend,,one of those would be what I'd get,,,,
but,argueing over a sears with a 25 h.p kohler and a cub cadet or john deere with same motor and all which cost 2,000 or so more,,seems like some just want a name brand on theirs,,,them old cub cadets and them old john deere riding lawn tractors was good uns and worth more,,,but not anymore.
Another reason besides name that alot of people buy the name brand is who's going to work on it when it breaks,,hard to get sears or home depo and such to do some things sometimes,thats correct,,,but their are authorized kohler repair places every where,,and about every thing else,,even a dummy like me can fix,,so that arguement is pointless to as near as I can tell. thingy
LBrown59
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Why didn't you tell us this in your first post about the tractor?oakford4 said:
Incomplete info. is not the way to get the best advice/ information.
All the big name brands have made economy LT models ever since day 1, and I can't think of any cases where these LT's remotely compared to the GT models from the same makers. Just as a John Deere model 60 was no comparison to a model 400 30 years ago, a JD 100 from the box store is no comparison to an X700. Same deal for the Cub lineup of LGT's. There are significant differences and reasons why a Cub Cadet LT1040 costs $1599 and a GT3200 costs $5799.
If I were in the new market at the $3000-4000 price range I think I would still choose one of the Cub Cadet 2500's over anything Deere offers in the same price range, likely something in the X300 lineup. This is due to the fact the 2500 Cubs have a burly transaxle, heavy frame and shaft drive system which are features that would grab my attention as a long time GT owner. But others have been content with the X300's basic lawn tractor attributes to have the 4 wheel steering feature. One only needs to look on the JD forum here at TBN for a few minutes to see that like Cub Cadet new JD's have owner issues too, so the ones here cheering that JD is so much better are only stating what has been their own experince, one that is obviously not shared by everyone out there.
-Fordlords-
If I were in the new market at the $3000-4000 price range I think I would still choose one of the Cub Cadet 2500's over anything Deere offers in the same price range, likely something in the X300 lineup. This is due to the fact the 2500 Cubs have a burly transaxle, heavy frame and shaft drive system which are features that would grab my attention as a long time GT owner. But others have been content with the X300's basic lawn tractor attributes to have the 4 wheel steering feature. One only needs to look on the JD forum here at TBN for a few minutes to see that like Cub Cadet new JD's have owner issues too, so the ones here cheering that JD is so much better are only stating what has been their own experince, one that is obviously not shared by everyone out there.
-Fordlords-
Here's something to complicate things, perhaps. Just today, I got what appears to be a deal....new '06 Simplicity Conquest garden tractor w/ 22 HP Briggs Vanguard and 50" deck and differential lock for $4250 out the door. This appears to be a fantastic deal. But, again, I'm not necessarily looking for the best deal, but what tractor fits me best. While my budget is around $4K, if I can spend less, I'd like that, too. To summarize my first posting, I'm really cutting about 2 2 1/2 acres of somewhat bumpy grass and tilled hydroseed, while I would occasionally expect the need to pull (cart) a small load of dirt, mulch, or firewood. So, is the Conquest overkill and am I spending more $$ than I really need to, or,...is, say, the Cub 2554 or Deere X324 ( or others on that listing) a better bet for my needs?
Yeah,maybe,,but not 2 or 3,000 difference,,,not saying that the material might not be a little heavier,,or the mowing spindles might have better bearings,,or other things,,just saying same motor,trans,,tires,battery,belts etc,,etc,,,,,not worth it,to me,,,maybe you,,but not me,,,,like I said if I had that kinda money to spend on a lawn mower,would get one of those fancy ones that I've seen on tv would spin,[burn rubber] on concrete,,,,,I mean if I got 5,000 to spend on a lawnmower,,I got 7-8,000,,,thingy
Simplicity/AGCO has always made very good equipment, also check your area for Massey Ferguson dealers who sell the same tractors under their name, definitely a brand worth considering.
Two good reasons people might initially spend much more for a good GT over an $800.00 Murray are for the performance and long life. A large number of the 30+ year old Cub, Deere, Simplicity, etc garden tractors built are still in active service today. My own Cub GT's original engine and deck lasted 25 years, and now with a new engine and deck it will likely go another 25 years.
I would rather invest in something good with high performance that will last 25-30 years rather than struggle with low performance LT's that go out to the curb every 8-10 years. It just depends on one's needs and what they have to spend, but few people who pony up the extra dough for a nice machine end up regretting their decision. -Fordlords-
Two good reasons people might initially spend much more for a good GT over an $800.00 Murray are for the performance and long life. A large number of the 30+ year old Cub, Deere, Simplicity, etc garden tractors built are still in active service today. My own Cub GT's original engine and deck lasted 25 years, and now with a new engine and deck it will likely go another 25 years.
I would rather invest in something good with high performance that will last 25-30 years rather than struggle with low performance LT's that go out to the curb every 8-10 years. It just depends on one's needs and what they have to spend, but few people who pony up the extra dough for a nice machine end up regretting their decision. -Fordlords-
Well,,we gotta get real here,my 15 year old lowes special still has same motor,NOTHING DONE TO IT!!! still same mower deck,,20 hp kohler,over 550 hours,,,,,on the clock,hard to really tell,,,,,and I could get if needed a new mower deck for same price you bought yours,,amazing!! motor too!! its still got orginal tires,,[they are full of slime and rotted but they still hold most of the air I put in!!],,and on top of that,,your 25 year old tractor was supposed to be so much better,,,,well,,it MIGHT be better,,but not by much,,and not 100 percent more in cost,,thats my point,,why would any body buy one for the name anymores,,they are all so close,,only thing that seperates them is money,,,thingy
