Grasshopper for $1000???

DmansPadge · Oct 14, 2004

-- Oopps -- I meant Dixie Chopper --- I have the chance to buy a 7 yr old Dixie Chopper ZTR with a 25 hp Kohler for $1000. A comparable new model costs $7299. It has been used by the city that I work for. It probably has a considerable amount of hours on it, but it has been well maintained. Anytime something breaks... they fix it. All scheduled maintenance has been done and documented. They are trading it in on a new one and their only getting $1000 for it. So I can buy it for that price instead of them trading it in. I think it is a heck of a deal... what do you think? Anybody know what it would be worth? I just bought 1 1/2 acres and I don't have anything to mow it with. I really want a garden tractor for mowing and doing some chores. But, the way I look at it... I could buy the Dixie Chopper and use it until I build my house, (probably 2 years) buy a GT and sell the Dixie Chopper for atleast what I have in it. Lets gets some responses going here! I will have to decide by next Monday!

Thanks

GerardC · Oct 14, 2004

If it were me, I would buy it. You could always sell it (maybe at a profit) and then buy what you want. If you keep it, it should serve you well. Gerard

bczoom · Oct 15, 2004

I'd probably get it as well.

No hour meter? I thought all the bigger ones had them.

If it's been well maintained, is there the capability to get any service records on it or talk to someone that operated it so you can find out how much it was used?

You may find after running a ZTR, you won't want to mow with a GT. A GT will take at least twice as long to mow.

DmansPadge · Oct 15, 2004

I'm sure is does have an hour meter... I just haven't seen it up close lately. I work with the guy that uses it and I know that it has been kept up with as it is owned by a city government. They document all maintenance and repairs. I'm sure I would like mowing with the ZTR better, but I would like a garden tractor to run some attachments.

Thanks for the input.

Dargo · Oct 15, 2004

I suppose it depends on your city. Where I live, when the city or county gets rid of any equipment, it is used up. The only reason they sell it is when the professional opinion of several mechanics is that it would be more expensive to keep it and keep on fixing it than buying a new one. In general, especially with a gas engine machine, when my city or county gets rid of something it isn't worth dragging home if it were free unless you needed some parts off of it for something you already have. Maybe your city is different. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

DmansPadge · Oct 15, 2004

Thanks for the response Dargo. I work for the city and I know how it's been cared for and what kind of condition its in. It's used... so it isn't perfect. However it has been maintained and when something broke it was promply fixed. The city has a plan to replace certain equipment within a certain amount of time regardless of the condition. They've been known to get rid of equipment that was in great shape just because it was a certain number of years old. It has been used almost daily for 6-7 yrs without any major problems. I figure I'll be using it a couple of hours a month to keep up my 1 1/2 acres until I build a house.Thanks

Dargo · Oct 15, 2004

You could definitely have a bargain. Not all cities are like mine. And, Dixie Choppers are made just up the road from where I live. My city is cheap and they only unload their stuff when it is ready for the scrap heap. I know two buddies who work for the city and they intentionally abuse the equipment. (a true reflection on their intellect). Our city must have a contract with Grasshopper, as that is all they currently use. I've looked closely at both the Chopper and the Grasshopper and someone would be a fool to say that either were not well built. I looked at a Chopper that had a 50hp Yanmar turbocharged diesel on it. That's one heck of a powerplant for a ZTR! If you know the history, that's half the battle! Good luck!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif