Craftsman LS3000

[GaryS]

If you ever use a good quality mower, you will never want to buy anything cheaply made again -- IMHO.

While I don't disagree, you have to draw a line somewhere. I mean based on this logic, everyone would be foolish not to run out and buy Subzero fridges & Wolf ovens - we should replace roofing with slate or metal. And we all had better have 60" plasma HDTVs and ... well you get the point.

If I had unlimited bucks, I'd run out an buy a 10k lawn mower. I wouldn't need advice from folks here - I'd simply ask the dealer for the most expensive thing he has because as you say "you only get what you pay for".

 

[Gatorboy]

While I don't disagree, you have to draw a line somewhere. I mean based on this logic, everyone would be foolish not to run out and buy Subzero fridges & Wolf ovens - we should replace roofing with slate or metal. And we all had better have 60" plasma HDTVs and ... well you get the point.

Craftsman, MTD, Yard Machine, etc. are the YUGO's of the auto world. They are the absolute bottom of the barrel. If you want a decent lawn tractor, you should expect to spend at least $3000.

My 48-inch Scag walkbehind which I paid $2800 for will cut as good as a $10-12K ZTR, and last just as long, so I'm not saying buy the most expensive, I'm just saying to stay away from cheap junk.

 

[Bird]

Craftsman, MTD, Yard Machine, etc. are the YUGO's of the auto world

Nope, more like the Ford Escort (which I have had a couple of and was happy with). I might have been even happier with a Rolls Royce if I'd had the money. And I've flown back and forth across this country in the coach section. First Class is even nicer, but some of us can't afford to always go first class.

 

[MT372HERE]

From Worst to Best

Murray
AYP/Craftsman
MTD/Cub Cadet/White/Yard Man/Yard Machine/TroyBilt
Toro
Honda Push Mowers
John Deere @ Home Depot
WheelHorse
Kubota
JohnDeere @ Jd Dealer

I know I left many many out, but these are the mainstreamers.

Murray is the worst..absolute junk. Bad designs, bad quality...just......yuck!

Ayp is slightly better, still low quality, a little better desgin, quality i still low.

MTD is decent quality, but the Transmissions, and Vari-drive is junk.

Toro is okay, they have gone down recently, but certainly a nice residential/semi commercial mower. Not including ZTR mowers.

Honda Push mowers are nice mowers and all, but you have to spend so much for so little, especially the models with plastic decks..

The JD's sold @ home Depot are okay quality, decent designs, but poorly executed details.

The WheelHorse 315-8 Which is the only "wheelhorse" built currently, is a fine peice of equipment. Timless design, well executed, good attention to detail, good amount of overbuild.

Kubota is excellent. Well built, Heavy Duty, but way overpriced for the product. If you have to have a diesel, get a Kubota.

John Deere's sold @ a dealer, not includign the Lawn Mower 100 series, and X300 series, are some of the best built machines available. A little pricey, but worth every penny, especially the EFI models.

 

[Fordlords]

I have to agree with your assessment here MT for the most part, with a few exceptions those being the Cub Cadet 2500 and 3000 GT's. Sold at CC dealers, these tractors are very solid performers at a price that will not be found at JD dealers for anywhere near comparable machines. I think they have mechanical credentials that are with JD's X700 tractors costing many thousands more. Yes they are MTD built, but are MTD's flagships. Many low and midrange cost Toro products are now made by MTD.

IMHO AYP products such as Craftsman and Poulan Pro are right on par with the CC's and JD100's sold at HD and TSC. Some are better here and worse there, but for the entry market, it's par for the course with these jobs. Most of these type of tractors have components that are supplied to the makers by the identical suppliers- most are in China. They are all fine machines for the 1 acre or so homeowner.

Honda no longer makes lawn or garden tractors. They will be a premier engine supplier to USA L/G tractor and small equipment makers much in the way Kawasaki is now.

Kubota makes superb products, including the three cylinder diesel engines used in many of the Cub Cadet GT diesel models all the way back to the 1980 782D. It and the high end JD dealer stuff might be the best money can buy, and to those who can afford it all the more power to them.




-Fordlords-

 

[GaryS]

John Deere's sold @ a dealer, not includign the Lawn Mower 100 series, and X300 series, are some of the best built machines available. A little pricey, but worth every penny, especially the EFI models.

So, if you eliminate the x300's, you're saying that you have to spend $6k at a minimum?!?!

BTW, what's wrong with the x300's? I've been looking at ways for finagle the extra bucks to move up from a craftsman.

 

[MT372HERE]

So, if you eliminate the x300's, you're saying that you have to spend $6k at a minimum?!?!

BTW, what's wrong with the x300's? I've been looking at ways for finagle the extra bucks to move up from a craftsman.

X300's Tires are too small, all Air Cooler engines, small decks...

X500 has larger Tires, heaver frame, bigger decks, optional Water cooled engines, much better, longer life.

X700 is toppa da line. Water cooled Twins, Optional Diesels, really great mowers, Super strong frames.

An X300 is a very nice residential mower, perfect for most people, much better than what you get @ home Depot.

 

[Fordlords]

This is why I recommend the Cub Cadet GT2500's. Heavy frames, shaft drive to a heavy cast iron maintainable transaxle, (go to John Deere's site, and find that you'll need to spend at least $10,000.00 for an X700 to get shaft drive on any JD LGT, sorry but I am not spending $6000-8000 on an X500 with belt driven hydro) and decent Kohler Command horizontal shaft engines. All at a price between $2999-3999 depending on the width of deck you want between 42-54". They are for those who want something better than an entry level box-department store rider/lawn tractor, but don't have the cash to cough up on a new JD X500 or 700, which will run you a heck of a lot more bucks. The CC 2500's just look to be a good deal for those who don't want or need the very best pretentious name out there, but are shooting for something in the middle, where IMHO the best price=quality=value things are most often found.

Gotorboy's $3000 minimum to be spent does have a ring of truth to it in the way if one is looking to steer clear of the lower end equipment, it looks to be where the line is drawn.

I am not bashing those who have the lesser machines that are fine for their needs, just showing the middle price range perspective, one that seems to be small among makers now where it was much bigger in the past. If JD is considering their X500 to be the their middle range LGT at a starting price of $6000, I'm just not so sure what about it makes it worth twice as much as a new CC 2542- IMHO, credential wise, it's worth half as much as the Cub 2542, it's essentially a Cub 1500 series as far as mechanicals go. Then JD does not even tell you who actually makes the engines for the X300's and 500's, calling them a, "John Deere," engine. Come ON! OK, maybe the JD name and quality is worth a bit more than MTD- but twice as much.. nonsense! And especially when we all know all of this equipment breaks down and needs repairs eventually, I'd much rather be at the CC parts counter with my wallet than at JD's in the future.


-Fordlords-

 

[ByronBob]

I beat my Craftsman to death and it's ugly but still going after 9 years. It's on it's second motor and lord knows how many blades.

It may be low on quality but the tractor will have an extended warranty. It can't be that bad.

 

[DmansPadge]

Fordlords... the 300 and up series JD's have Kawasaki engines. You have to look at the full spec page of the individual tractors and there it lists "engine manufactorer."

I agree with your thoughts about the Cubs.