Kubota or SCAG

maximus1277 · Mar 17, 2012

Ok.... I love kubota equipment, but I can't decide between the ZD331 and SCAG cheetah. Kubota has 15 hours on it. It is the rear discharge deck model which is not ideal for residential use around my house. The price is 12.5.

Scag has a Kawasaki air cooled engine. For the same money I can get it brand new with a triple bagger.

It would be nice to have another kubota around the house, but I just don't know which is a better way to go.

I have only 2 acres and currently mow with a 54 inch husky. Need something faster.

Help.

OrangeToys · Mar 17, 2012

I mow commercially, and I have 2 scags Tiger Cub and Turf Tiger. I considered the Cheetah last season but went for the Turf Tiger. I can tell you from experience that the Turf Tiger is the Best! and I have a Kubota tractor. Kubota has good stuff but they specialize in Big toys, my opinion.

Here is why I wouldn't go with a Cheetah...
1 the motors are gas hogs, and yes the Kawasaki is the Motor you want. the turf tiger with the Liquid cooled with last you a life time and burn half the fuel easily.
2 you can't mow as fast as they advertise it and get a good cut.

The only reason I like it is the the suspension.

Let me know if you have any questions

Tollster · Mar 18, 2012

I have a Kubota BX23 and while I like it, I think the scag would win hands down against a ZTR bota.

Kubota covers too broad of a range in equipment, while Scag has erned their stripes with one thing in mind..mowing. They must specialize in it and it must be good to deal with only one thing...unlike kubota.

By the way, I had it narrowed down between scag and exmark years ago,..I settled on the exmark lazer mostly due to dealer location...

And yes,I love my exmark and figure it will take me to the grave...which would not be bad considering I have had only one other mower in my lifetime...a wheelhorse...and yes it still runs as well.

OrangeToys · Mar 18, 2012

Tollster said:
By the way, I had it narrowed down between scag and exmark years ago,..I settled on the exmark lazer mostly due to dealer location...

And yes,I love my exmark and figure it will take me to the grave...which would not be bad considering I have had only one other mower in my lifetime...a wheelhorse...and yes it still runs as well.

exmark and scag I do believe have very similar deck designs

Tomtint · Mar 18, 2012

I have 2 Scags. They are great machines, but I would not buy another one with a Kohler. Get the Kawi.

foreman Etexas · Mar 18, 2012

I have a Exmark with Kawi(18hp vtwin phazer 34") and brother has one with Briggs(24hp vtwin LazerZ 60"),been running them for 5yrs and 1 of the years was commercial. Neither has needed anything but blades and oil/filter changes.I believe Scag is just as good from what I seen before we bought. Kubota I have know clue,I have 2 of there tractors but have never heard good or bad things about them,I wouldnt be scared to buy one after owning my tractors. Heck just get you a Dixie Chopper

Martian · Mar 18, 2012

My next mower will be a Bad Boy. Caterpillar diesel, 15MPH, and start at 11 or 12 grand. But, I have no knowledge of these models, just my $.02

foreman Etexas · Mar 18, 2012

Martian said:
My next mower will be a Bad Boy. Caterpillar diesel, 15MPH, and start at 11 or 12 grand. But, I have no knowledge of these models, just my $.02

I think FERRIS also have the cat diesels...

Yep!!

33.5 gross HP^ Caterpillar

Martian · Mar 18, 2012

foreman Etexas said:
I think FERRIS also have the cat diesels...

Learn something everyday, I did not know that and the local dealer sells them and I sit on 1 every time I stop in...

crbr · Mar 18, 2012

Scag, hands down for serious mowing...

Martian · Mar 18, 2012

foreman Etexas said:
Yep!!View attachment 256717 33.5 gross HP^ Caterpillar

I actually sat on that one, didn't know it was a Cat diesel, though.

Bird · Mar 19, 2012

I know of a Kubota dealer who also sells Scags. Some time ago, a salesman there told me that Scag is the best for gasoline powered mowers and Kubota best for diesel powered. He was not trying to see me anything at the time, although I don't know that it wasn't his standard sales pitch.

Dozernut · Mar 19, 2012

We had a Dixon ZTR and flat wore it out. Switched to a Kubota ZD21 with a bigger motor but cut fuel consumption in half. Scag makes a good mower but the diesel will burn less fuel. Just food for thought.

JOHNTHOMAS · Mar 20, 2012

Since your buying just move on up to the best mower made for speed and dependability. May be a few dollars more but spread out over several months isn't such a big figure. I have a F2680 for my fairly level rental property and I've had it almost 4 years with nothing done to it but oil and filters change. I also have F3080 4 WD for my hillside property and have used it for 2 mowing seasons and beginning number 3.
Why do you think rear discharge is bad? I prefer the rear discharge since it lets me cut on both side of the deck and lays the grass down spread out on the ground instead of making the windrows. I don't mow until my grass gets tall enough to know without a doubt where I've already mowed.

628pm · Mar 20, 2012

I tried out several scags a couple of years ago, when I finally purchased a new zero turn (had a simplicity cobalt), I went with the zd326P Kubota. I have no regrets about buying this mower. It has all the power you need, plus it does my small hills pretty good. I liked the f series, but couldn't justify the extra cost through my better half. I also have a good Kubota dealer in Okawville Illinois that is excellent to work with.

maximus1277 · Mar 21, 2012

Thank you all for your responses and suggestions. I made a tough decision to postpone this purchase for another year. I am leaning towards SCAG, but I don't like the air cooled Kawasaki engine. Hopefully next year, they will put in the liquid cooled EFI into the cheetah. Another way to compromise would be to get a turf tiger with a kubota diesel. Not cheap, but that may be the ultimate set up.

OrangeToys · Mar 21, 2012

the liquid cooled on the turf tiger is plenty motor. If that motor won't cut it then it need the tractor. I cut rough properties and stuff that's 1-2ft tall with it and I have no problem.

gdh · Apr 2, 2012

Maximus, I also am considering a ZD with rear discharge. Please elaborate why this is an undesirable feature. You may have a better understanding of its implications than I do. JohnThomas clearly likes it.

maximus1277 · Apr 2, 2012

GDH- I like the side discharge because I want to run a collection system. Not sure if I could do that with a rear discharge design.

bilrus61 · Apr 2, 2012

If your just mowing 2 acres fuel costs really isn't much of a issue like it would be for a lawn care guy. I have a cheetah and it will mow 2 acres in a snap. I've never had it in high range, it goes plenty fast in low range. You want your engine to match the life of the machine, most mowers are about 2000 to 2500 hours machines. Paying lots for a engine that has a 4000 plus hours life isn't a good idea unless your really going to put the hours on the machine and be willing to rebuild it when the time comes. My Scag Cheetah has the 31 Kawil on it. It just has 80 hours on it but thats LOTS of mowing for a homeowner. The 31 Kawi is put together in the USA out of Chinese parts. It has a so so reputation. If your going to bag you need power. Hold out for the Cheetah with the Briggs and Stratton big block 35 HP coming out this summer! Its really a Dihatsu engine made in Japan by Toyota.....woooo wooooo. They are getting a really stellar reputation. I think they are going to be hitting the dealers in a few more weeks. The 5200 hydros on the Cheetah are great and very durable. Go to Lawnsite.com to check out all the ZTR mowers. One thing bad about the Cheetah that you have to get used to is that the left hand fuel tank bocks out the view to the edge of the deck. You have to "feel" your way around trees and such. Other than that I can really reccomend the Scag.