Buying Advice Best zero-turn in the $4K-$6,500 range?

[dbear]

Buy orange and never regret it

Kubota?
Husqvarna?
Scag?

Bad Boy?
Simplicity?

Did we miss any?

 

[gabeancounter]

Slightly outside your price range but this is my next mower. I currentl own lazer z 60". The cheapest I have seen this mower is $7500

NEW 60'' HUSQVARNA ZERO TURN LAWN MOWER 30HP KOHLER | eBay

 

[Carl_NH]

Buckweet,

I have the Ferris IS2000 52" 25HP Kawasaki with the high back seat (they call it deluxe).

Got it last year as an 09 leftover delivered for $7K from a dealer in Maine (120 mi away).

I am 6'4 and wanted something comfortable to sit in and also accomodate long legs, and ride and cut nice on our originally forest floor / rocky bumpy lawn..

I also wanted a good cut so stayed away from the 60" plus some areas I have are narrow so 52" was max.

So, get the high back seat option, then turn over the pedal lift rubber, and I moved the seat back 2.5" also and I am very comfortable..

Now to your question, the IS500 is the entry machine, with suspension, and is considered a rugged homeowner / entry level commercial.

The next step up is the 1500 series which has the same suspension as the 500 but a larger frame and tires, then the 2000 and 3000 series have a more HD suspension setup.

Price wise, its about $1000 jump from the 500 to the 1500, then $500 more to the 2000 series dependiing on the width and motor setup. I would stay with Kawasaki..

Now, there is another option too. Simpilicity - they are made by Ferris - same design, just a different name if you look at the higher end Simplicity units (Cobalt and Citation) they have the same suspension, Kawasaki engines and are about $1-1.5K lower on the list price..

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Carl

 

[probolpher]

Buckweet,

I have been researching this exact thing in the exact same price range for a month. As far as I can tell, the best bang for the buck is in the Hustler fast track or in the Scag Tiger Cat unless you want to step up the the Scag Wildcat which is an extra 1000 but will get you coolers for the hydraulics. I almost purchased the Wildcat because it has the best deck.

I have now reverted back to looking at garden tractors. My hilside in Vermont is constantly wet as the soil holds water and it rains constantly. I have a Kubota B2920 to mow my fields but I have realized that it will dig up my constantly wet lawn too much to mow with.

If you are going to be mowing a lot of hills and your land is wet, I would make sure to drive one at your house before purchasing.

The zero turn idea seemed great a month ago until I talked with my father in law who told me about his Toro zero turn "This thing would get stuck in a cow patty. I don't even break it out until July when the ground is completely dry."

Good luck.

 

[LD1]

Buckweet,

I have been researching this exact thing in the exact same price range for a month. As far as I can tell, the best bang for the buck is in the Hustler fast track or in the Scag Tiger Cat unless you want to step up the the Scag Wildcat which is an extra 1000 but will get you coolers for the hydraulics. I almost purchased the Wildcat because it has the best deck.

I have now reverted back to looking at garden tractors. My hilside in Vermont is constantly wet as the soil holds water and it rains constantly. I have a Kubota B2920 to mow my fields but I have realized that it will dig up my constantly wet lawn too much to mow with.

If you are going to be mowing a lot of hills and your land is wet, I would make sure to drive one at your house before purchasing.

The zero turn idea seemed great a month ago until I talked with my father in law who told me about his Toro zero turn "This thing would get stuck in a cow patty. I don't even break it out until July when the ground is completely dry."

Good luck.

I have an older model of the wildcat. It has the A deck instead of the newer "v" deck. But other than that, I am very pleased.

A friend that owns a lawncare business sold it to me. It is a 2900 hour machine, But all the hydraulics were replaced about 800 hours ago and the kohler 27HP only has ~300 hours on it. I can verify this because I helped him do both:thumbsup: A brand new seat and brand new rear tires as well.

So far, I am very pleased. Especially with the $3500 pricetag. The only thing I would like better would be the kawasaki motor. I am not a huge fan of the kohlers as I have already mentioned.

But all that said, I would probabally not spend the $8k or so for a new one. Especially after sitting it next to the bobcat of my fathers. They are near identical, and the bobcat is usually cheaper if buying new.

So all that said, If you can afford new, compair them all closley and you will probabally find very little difference. If that is the case, I'd focus more on price/warrenty rather than brand.

If buying used, its about whats avaliable at the time to suit your needs. But so far, about everything that has been mentioned are all excellent brands and mowers.

Scag, Hustler, bobcat, bunton, dixie chopper, upper end toros, kubotas, JD's, ferris, etc. All make great commercial quality machines. Its all about personal preference but you really cant say one is any better than the other.

 

[Buckweet]

Buckweet,

I have been researching this exact thing in the exact same price range for a month. As far as I can tell, the best bang for the buck is in the Hustler fast track or in the Scag Tiger Cat unless you want to step up the the Scag Wildcat which is an extra 1000 but will get you coolers for the hydraulics. I almost purchased the Wildcat because it has the best deck.

I have now reverted back to looking at garden tractors. My hilside in Vermont is constantly wet as the soil holds water and it rains constantly. I have a Kubota B2920 to mow my fields but I have realized that it will dig up my constantly wet lawn too much to mow with.

If you are going to be mowing a lot of hills and your land is wet, I would make sure to drive one at your house before purchasing.

The zero turn idea seemed great a month ago until I talked with my father in law who told me about his Toro zero turn "This thing would get stuck in a cow patty. I don't even break it out until July when the ground is completely dry."

Good luck.

Funny you should mention going back to a GT. Just test drove a JD x500 when I went to pick up my dead old Scotts 2554. Hills are definitely part of my geography. That said, the Ferris seemed to handle the slopes pretty well.

I've officially entered analysis paralysis mode!

 

[probolpher]

As far as I can tell, it seems that as long as the hills are dry that the Zero turn will be ok. However, if they are wet it's anyone's guess.

I personally would be willing to take the risk and hope. Unfortunately, after I just purchased an expensive tractor, my wife isn't willing to take that same risk. ****.

 

[Buckweet]

I just bought a Hustler Fastrak yesterday. I paid $5,500 no tax. I drove a Gravely ZTHD 52", Scag freedom z 52", JD 445, and the Hustler. I felt like it had the best features sub $5,500 - 24hp Kawasaki, 54" deck fabricated deck, ROPS, comfy seat, Full rear bumper/engine protector/hitch. I also liked that I had an option to get Flex Forks (their version of a front suspension) if the ride got to be too bumpy with just a suspension seat. I really wanted to have the seatbelt so I decided I needed a mower with ROPS. While I was demoed the Gravely, I hit a bump going full speed and it nearly threw me out of the chair.

I would like to have driven a Ferris, but I don't have any dealers in my area. Take a look at the Hustler Fastrak or Fastrak Super Duty. Of the models you listed though, I'd stick with a Gravely or Badboy if the Scag really didn't work for you. That price on the Gravely 52" was a couple of hundred bucks better than what I got quoted. They gave me the same price for the 60" though .

Just saw this post - not sure why I missed it above. Will check out the Hustler.

 

[Tdcw4]

Buy a kubota

 

[crbr]

.....Kawasaki.....

That is where I would start.