Buying Advice Need Advice on purchase - Garden Tractor

[MESSMAKER]

The Husqvarna and Craftsman mowers are manufactured by AYP (American Yard Products) while the Cub Cadet is manufactured by MTD if that makes any difference to you.

It is my understanding that AYP is no more. I think it is Husqvarna outdoor products. It is true that the Sears mowers are more or less the same. I have a Cub Cadet 2500 series and have not been pleased with it. I know a lot of people that have a Craftsman garden tractor and have had good service. I would be tempted to look for a 2-3 year old John Deere garden tractor. I sure wish I had done that.

It is the rare Zero turn that rides better than a tractor style but it is the future. I suspect in ten years a tractor style mowers will be rare unless it is big enough to have a 3 point hitch or is entry level and very cheap.

 

[oldballs]

If you are talking "lawnmowing", you can probably find something new or used at 3M -4M $$. But when you suggest "Garden Tractor", you aren't going to find anything new that's worth a dammmm at 3M $...or used for that matter. A decent "Garden Tractor" is going to have a 3 pt, the ability to mount a snow blade or blower as well as mow. And that's not likely to be found in your price range. Just my 2 cents.

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with oldballs on this, at $3000 you are at the top of the disposable riding mower, add a $1000 and you can get a better unit that will last with the better K58 transmission. I will admit to making the same mistake when I purchased my last new mower, if I had been participating and reading up on TBN I would have bought a better model. I strongly recomend you save up another $1000 over the winter and look at a Deere X320 or X324.