New to me GT3200 ...

[MrWiggles2]

I have always felt its just marketing to the residential owner. In the 90's you'd find the Cub super garden tractors with 20 hp Kohlers powering a 60 inch deck. Course you could also find them with a diesel too. You could run your tractor with an 20hp and probably wouldn't find any performance difference. My Cub with its 18hp Vanguard is a strong performer and even in the thick stuff it goes right through it.

 

[Fordlords]

It is a marketing thing IMHO also, bigger HP numbers sound more pleasing to buyers for some reason. I have 18 HP on my 682 and it is more than adequately powered. On many manufacturers small engine lines, engines with close horsepower ratings have the exact same cylinder displacements. For instance with Honda the GX610 is rated 18 HP and the GX620 20 HP, yet they have the same 614cc displacement. The deal is the same with many of Kohler's engines including the 25 and 27 HP Commands- both are 725cc. What gives one a few HP advantage over the other could be anyone's guess, perhaps as stated a bigger carburetor, maybe a heavier flywheel, a different cam, etc-etc. Anyway, I haven't heard anyone with a 3200 gripe about it being underpowered /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

-Fordlords-

-Fordlords-
-Fordlords-

 

[Berak]

That's what I figured it just seems odd of them not to advertise the higher HP engine on their top of the line model, expecially considering it's weight and the fact it's the only one that has a 60" deck.

 

[ohmboy]

This thread has prompted me to let ya'll hear about my little bit of good fortune (at least in my humble opinion). Last July one of my sons-in-law ran across a 2001 3240 40th Anniversary model that on of his clients was selling. This machine had only 92 hours on it and looked showroom fresh. For $2000 I recieved the mower, dump wagon, and a set of new blades. I guess you could say that I got it at a divorce sale because the seller was getting one and moving back into the city. The low hours was because he only mowed a 1/3 acre lot and this included his house. Talk about over-kill!

I wasn't really in the market for a new mower, but I couldn't let this pass. My 2185 is still running strong with around 1000 hours. I can't say that it's been 100% trouble free, but nothing major. I purchased it in 1997 for what I thought at the time was a decent price of $3999. I guess it shows that the prices haven't gone up on everything! I still use it to mow my Mom's yard in another county simply because it fits my trailor much better with it's 48 in deck that the 3240 with it's 54.

After putting about 28 hours on the 3240 I can say it's one heck of a machine. I won't be putting the hours on it like I did the 2185 simply because I get finished so much quicker and I use it only at my house and not my Mom's or my Mother-in-law's like like the 2185 was used for.

As far as the HP ratings go, I too feel that it's a marketing ploy. The 3240 is listed as 22hp and the 2185 is 18hp. Can't say that I ever needed any more power. The "seat of the pants" dyno is the best judge to go by.

One other note, If I was looking for a new machine just to mow with I'd have to look at a ZTR. The son-in-law I mentioned earlier has a landscape business and runs primarily Toro ZTR equipment. Boy can they ever cover some ground and make it look good too! But for 2 grand I couldn't pass it up and I'm VERY glad I have it in my garage.

 

[Fordlords]

With the research I did on the Courage verital shaft engines now I know the HP thing is a marketing ploy. Years back there were actual displacement differences with Kohler engines between 8-16 HP. The only thing different on the vairous HP Courage twins is the carburetor. I'm sure a carburetor for the 23 HP Courage costs the exact same amount of money to produce as that for the 27 HP engine, yet they figure they can charge a couple hundred bucks more for the 27 HP engine. And it's not just Kohler, all the small engine manufacturers are doing the same basic thing.

-Fordlords-

 

[geneP]

Before I retired I was a fleet superintendent that included medium duty diesel trucks. The engine manufacturer reps told me that although it might cost little or no more to tune an engine for higher horsepower, the real costs to the manufacturer was the warranty claims on the higher rated engines. It seems logical that if an engine is worked in the upper ranges of it's power capacity, it's more prone to failure.

 

[Berak]

I just have to add one more thing I got out of this whole ordeal. When I called the dealer to order a new GT2554, Cub Cadet was offering a free tractor cover if you purchased it by 05/31 (I think that was the date). Well, I told him I'd take it on 05/30 and asked if he could set it up so that I got the free cover, even though I wouldn't be picking it up till a few days later on 06/02. Well, he must have set it up and put it in the system cause one day I come home last week and there's my brand new Cub Cadet tractor cover delivered to my door, even though I never bought the one he had! It's a real nice heavy duty embroidered cover that I'm sure retails for at least $100.

 

[JSharp]

I just have to add one more thing I got out of this whole ordeal. When I called the dealer to order a new GT2554, Cub Cadet was offering a free tractor cover if you purchased it by 05/31 (I think that was the date). Well, I told him I'd take it on 05/30 and asked if he could set it up so that I got the free cover, even though I wouldn't be picking it up till a few days later on 06/02. Well, he must have set it up and put it in the system cause one day I come home last week and there's my brand new Cub Cadet tractor cover delivered to my door, even though I never bought the one he had! It's a real nice heavy duty embroidered cover that I'm sure retails for at least $100.

I got the same cover with mine. Isn't it nice!

My 2554 was purchased before they extended the cover offer to the end of the month so the purchase sort of fell through the cracks, date wise. I emailed Cub support and asked why the website said I'd get a cover but the dealer said the the promotion was over? They told me to go ahead and sent in the offer and I'd get my cover.

Sure enough, it came in less than a week and it's very high quality item. Nicer in fact than a lot of expensive auto covers I've seen. I'm very pleased.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Hope you enjoy your new tractor as much as I've enjoyed mine. This is my first Cub but no regrets and am glad I chose it over the JD.

$4500, boy, what a deal.