Hello all you Green fans! and Orange buddies... Somebody please defend the price of a new X749 with a 62" deck with a 13,800 plus price tag compared to a ZD331 with a 72" cut for a couple hundred dollars plus or minus. All I want to do is mow with either tractor. Why is the John Deere so high outside of the fact this comparison is oranges to green apples? ( just a small joke) I'm open and honest in asking this strange question. Wife says, I can have either unit but must live with the decision over a five year straight line deappreciation. It will mow a mostly flat 5.5 acre estate. Convince me to go green ( I own six orange things from a T1670 up to a M9540) This may cause a fight in the barn with the current herd. Help me make the right decision both financially and logically ( as Spock would say). Oops wrong show. Both my local Dealers are shaking their heads. Come on guys help me out. Ob1...
In the mood for a new trim tractor
- Thread starter Ob1kubota
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RollTideRam
Veteran Member
If your just mowing flat ground, you probably don't need the fulltime 4wd on the 749. I would get 4wheel steer though. I mow lots of ditches with my x495 and only occasionally use the diff lock. JC
VABlue
Platinum Member
Any thought towards getting a spiffy new rear finish mower for one of the other machines, and a decent ZTR for up around the house? If you're only cutting grass, that seems a bit cheaper and probably quicker, too.
jeffinsgf
Veteran Member
Man, you're not just comparing apples to oranges, you're comparing beans to cornbread, too! 
A 4wd 4ws garden tractor compared to a tricked out zero-turn mower. They're not to the same animal at all. If, as you say, all you want it for is to mow, then some would say get the ZTR. However, I personally do not like driving a ZTR. I much prefer wheel steering to lever control.
Even with a barn full of tractors, I would personally go with another tractor, be it green or orange, over a ZTR. Even though you say that all you want it for is to mow, once you have a garden tractor, and you see how maneuverable it is up close to the house, I bet you'll find other jobs for it.
Be thoroughly convinced that you love lever driving before you make that decision SWMBO says has to last 5 years.
A 4wd 4ws garden tractor compared to a tricked out zero-turn mower. They're not to the same animal at all. If, as you say, all you want it for is to mow, then some would say get the ZTR. However, I personally do not like driving a ZTR. I much prefer wheel steering to lever control.
Even with a barn full of tractors, I would personally go with another tractor, be it green or orange, over a ZTR. Even though you say that all you want it for is to mow, once you have a garden tractor, and you see how maneuverable it is up close to the house, I bet you'll find other jobs for it.
Be thoroughly convinced that you love lever driving before you make that decision SWMBO says has to last 5 years.
Wow my local JD Dealer must have read my post last night because I got a call today with some hurt feelings. He said he would sell me the X749 with a 48 inch deck for 11,500 just to get some orange out of the Stable. Then he offered a 2305 for the same price and said I'd be better off. Now, I'm really lost I've got to get familar with the Green line and sizes to see what kind of a deal this really is. What do you guys know and is this a real deal? Be gentle ole Steve might read your comments. It's seems like Trigreen will deal here in the South.
RollTideRam
Veteran Member
Most people like ztr's, but their are still a few of us that don't. Most dealers don't sell for list price, even Trigreen. Not sure where you are, I know how many dealers Trigreen has, but my local dealer will beat your best Trigreen price. Also, don't get the 48" deck. JC
Amen on the 48" deck. It will get the price were you want maybey, but you'll have to drive the tractor into what your cutting. If you like tractors go with a 4WS one. They are experts at trimming. The 749 does both but I'm not sure you need 4WD also. For the first price he quoted you I would have sold you a 997 ZTR. Just my .02
If you like tractors go with a 4WS one. They are experts at trimming. The 749 does both but I'm not sure you need 4WD also. For the first price he quoted you I would have sold you a 997 ZTR. Just my .02
ChuckinNH
Elite Member, R.I.P.
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There was a discussion on another thread about this, and it is possible that an all wheel steer x700 series will trim a smaller circle without doing a three point turn than a ZTR without marring the grass. Don't want to start a war here since I have no experience with either. I do own a Simplicity Legacy with the 48 inch deck though, and would also recommend at least a 54" for trimming. My Legacy is about the same width as a x700 and it is hard to trim with the small deck. Four wheel steer would make it much better, of course, but I would still want the deck to extend beyond the wheels. I think the X700 series is about 47" wide, and you will regret the narrow deck.
unit40
Silver Member
If you have 5.5 acres of flat mowing, I think that calls for a 72" mowing deck and 31 HP aka ZD. Not to knock the Deere, I have a X744. The Deere is made to do more than just mow as the ZD is strictly mowing. The ZD has blistering blade tip speed which usually results in a good finish cut, although the Deere is no slouch either, I think were talking 18,100 FPS vs 17, 500 or so. But a steering wheel can provide you with a smoother steering while the sticks ona ZTR can be touchy and unforgiving if you sneeze real hard. If you want to add more color to your shed take a look at some of the Deere diesel ZTRs like the 997. It has 31 hp, 72' deck, 18,000 fps blade speed too. Probably a closer comparison to the ZD you're looking at.
LBrown59
Super Star Member
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He's right.Ob1kubota said:
