Lawn Tractor - JD vs Craftsman

[ccsial]

There is one big difference between JD and BMW in my experience. I had two BMW's and they both spent a lot of time in the service department. I swithced to Lexus and Acura.

The three JD's I have had over the last 20 years spend 0 time in the service department.

 

[unit40]

My brother-in-law had an Acura which he loved and boasted how it was the best car ever made. The reason he doesn't like me so much is that everytime the family would get together I would always ask him, " So Mikey, hows the Honda?".

 

[LBrown59]

There is one big difference between JD and BMW in my experience. I had two BMW's and they both spent a lot of time in the service department. I swithced to Lexus and Acura.

The three JD's I have had over the last 20 years spend 0 time in the service department.

B-usy
M-echanics
W-orking

 

[viking65]

My brother-in-law had an Acura which he loved and boasted how it was the best car ever made. The reason he doesn't like me so much is that everytime the family would get together I would always ask him, " So Mikey, hows the Honda?".

LOL!!!!! just civics and accords...

 

[ccsial]

My brother-in-law had an Acura which he loved and boasted how it was the best car ever made. The reason he doesn't like me so much is that everytime the family would get together I would always ask him, " So Mikey, hows the Honda?".

That doesn't hurt my feelings. I love Honda. I even use Honda weed eaters. The Acura Legend was sold as the Honda Legend overseas. No stigma about Honda. Most of the Indy cars are Honda powered too. They used to make lawn tractors too but they quit that. I suppose they were too expensive.

Lexus is just a Toyota too. But my wife loves her 430.

 

[war_eagle]

I couldn't agree more on the Kia vs. BMW analogy. In fact it goes right back to what has been said previously: taylor the machine to its intended use. If you need a car to go back and forth to work or take the kids to school, the Kia will beat the BMW every day of the week from a value viewpoint. But then so will a bicycle. I think what many folks (at least I am) are really looking in the tractor world is neither the Kia nor the BMW, rather a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic. Something really reasonably priced, built tough as nails, and can be handed down to the kids and grandkids. Doesn't have to be the biggest, fastest, most luxurious etc., just a great machine for the $$. Anybody know of any that fits the description?

 

[DreaminGreen]

I couldn't agree more on the Kia vs. BMW analogy. In fact it goes right back to what has been said previously: taylor the machine to its intended use. If you need a car to go back and forth to work or take the kids to school, the Kia will beat the BMW every day of the week from a value viewpoint. But then so will a bicycle. I think what many folks (at least I am) are really looking in the tractor world is neither the Kia nor the BMW, rather a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic. Something really reasonably priced, built tough as nails, and can be handed down to the kids and grandkids. Doesn't have to be the biggest, fastest, most luxurious etc., just a great machine for the $$. Anybody know of any that fits the description?

The Honda tractors would have... man those things were built.
I wish they still made them!!! Scott

 

[CCinCT]

...Something really reasonably priced, built tough as nails, and can be handed down to the kids and grandkids. Doesn't have to be the biggest, fastest, most luxurious etc., just a great machine for the $$. Anybody know of any that fits the description?

I bought a Cub 2544 with those same thoughts. So far so good, but it's only been 18 months. I'll let you know in 13-1/2 years how it did

 

[Axeman]

I know this post has been going for a while but let me say this. Having owned both a Craftsman Gt and a JD X300, I can tell you there is no comparing the quality that you get with the JD. The Cratfsman was larger (and louder) but it never cut as nicely as the JD. I have approx. 2 acres of fairly rough, uneven hilly land to mow and they both handled the terrain about evenly. The turning radius of the JD put the Craftsman to shame. You could attach some light rear implements to the Craftsman....box scrapper, blade, etc. I had a box scrapper but it was basically worthless. My MF2300 does a great job of leveling. IMHO, the better quality, more expensive Craftsman cannot compare to the JD in quality or cut.

 

[Keef]

Most of the Craftsman lawn mowers are under $2,000 which is the max I could afford for a mower. My property is under an acre. I compared what they had to the John Deere 100 series. I found the John Deere had a couple of more features, and there were more complaints with Sears tractors compared to the John Deere. See my post on the John Deere thread http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/jd-buying-pricing/124095-100-series-they-worth.html There appears to be better reliablity with JD 100 Series over the Sears. Yes JD makes their 100 series themselves, and they talk about their frame not being multiple welds like other brands. Not sure how Craftsman makes their's but so far I am very happy with my 100 Series John Deere. Let's see how happy I am in 5 years.

Bear in mind I know there are many happy Craftsman owners out there, and you have to buy what meets your needs and finances.