You can buy a whole lot of belts for the price difference. My lowly L120 lasted it's previous owner and I at least 12 years, and the new owner is delighted with it now - but it was overmatched by our terrain and the wife's driving. It simply wasn't up to the demands WE put on it.
Leonz, what you are describing (no belts) sounds like a SCUT. A Mahindra Max, a Kubota B or BX, a JD 1025, a Kioti CS2210, or similar would fit that bill. I just didn't want to shell out $15k+ to mow weeds. I've had the new Husqvarna GT48DXLS in deep grass, hit stumps and rocks, and already replaced the blades. Belts have probably saved the drivetrain some serious abuse. They absorb some of the shock that gears and drivelines transmit. Belts are only a small part of the equation - the rest of the components (and adequate belts) make a huge difference. Compare your LA115 components to a x540 - everything under the paint is different. Both belt-driven, but very different classes of machines.
I'm amazed at the difference between the $2000 and $3000 Husqvarna models. The $2000 box-store model would have been better than the old L120, but the extra grand upgraded the engine, frame, seat, transaxle, tire size....
Our Rhino is ten years old and still on it's original belt.
