For 1.5 acres - premium vs. economy models

[bontai_Joe]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Fordlords - thanks for setting me straight on this one. I thought Cub was a recent acquisition. I know several people who have been happy with old Cubs.

When I do the math for my growing season here - at the high end - I can expect to put no more than 450 hours in 15 years on any machine that I buy.... that's making me wonder if I can't just as easily get buy with the LT model of most machines.

No question you get what you pay for.. I went into debt - something I said I wouldn't do other than my mortgage - for my L3400 Kubota. I'm glad I did because it is one nice machine and I'm going to use it in the summer and in the winter for many years. The lawn tractor unfortunately does not have the same amount of use lined up for it. )</font>

Since you figured on 450 - 500 hours in 15 years, and your lawn is flat, with few things to trim around, and your present mower is taking too long. I'd strongly recommend the Cub Cadet SLT1554. Gives you a 54" wide mower, hydrostatic drive, and is decent built machine, and although it has the Kohler Courage engine, with your calculation of 450 hours in 15 years, and the above mentioned 750 hour design life, it seems to be ok. These are available in the US for under $2500.

 

[DmansPadge]

I agree with Fordlords info. I think that a Cub 2500 series would be a good mower for a quality/inexpensive combo.

That being said... I think you could get by with an "economy" brand. Once again... I'll agree with Fordlords.... if you go that route... Craftsman would be my choice. I know of several Craftsman mowers that have been through more than they should and have held up quite well. Sears also has good support and will stand behind their products.

 

[Fordlords]

One thing my mom just mentioned to me was that when she bought the Craftsman, it had an, "At home,"warranty- Sears comes right to your house to fix the tractor during the warranty period, avoiding having to get it hauled back to a dealer or ? with other brands. I didn't realize that right after she got the tractor there was a prob with the deck height pin but Sears came right out the next day and fixed it in 20 minutes- it has not had a problem since, yet we do maintain it by the book. With CC or JD buy ONLY from a dealer!! I have found that the box stores (Home Depot, Lowes, TSC) selling them appropriate any service to local dealers, who are not necessarily concerned with fixing a tractor they did not sell.

-Fordlords-