Buying Advice New to the site and to owning acres

[pitt_md]

If it's from lowes, it's probably made by MTD.
Better shop some more.


Refer to gauthier's post.

I would second this advice. I have had bad luck with the newer MTD stuff. I am not sure if it's just me and how hard I am on them but they just do not seem to hold up well at all. My father had a Cub Cadet for years and years and when he passed my brother got it. As far as I know he still uses it. My newer BIGBOX store Cub Cadet is not worth the powder to blow it to he|l.
JMHO and experience.

 

[hmblasi]

Thanks everyone for the advice. After much thought, research and somewhat out of need to get the lawn cut, I came up with a few realities.
1. Im dropping the cutting down to just under 4 acres. I still get the look, open feel and fun that I want, and over time, seriously cuts the amount of time I spend cutting.
2. Im going to buy a bigger tractor in years to come. Right now Im young and stupid enough to carry things I shouldnt, dig things by hand and whatever esle there is, but in several years, Im going to trade that in for a tractor with a FEL.
3. People ripping machines on the internet are a VERY small percentage of the owners of those machines.

I decided to go with John Deere first off. It has been a trusted name for far longer then Ive been alive, and Im sure it will be long after I go. There is also a dealer less then two miles from my house, for me, that is very important. I bought a Z425 from Lowes. After talking with the guy at John Deere for over an hour and deciding on this machine, he told me himself he would get it from Lowes if he was buying it. It is exactly the same as the one sitting in their showroom, they go from factory, to a John Deere dealer where the assembly is finished and then sold at Lowes.

The big advantage to buying from Lowes vice the dealer...the one at the dealer only had a 48" deck and was $4100 + tax. The one at Lowes, just over $3600 with a 54" deck (thanks to the military discount). I would have been stupid to buy from the dealer especially when the guy there told me I would be.

After using it for an hour...I love it, best purchase I ever made. It may not last as long as the commercial ones I looked at, but as long as I maintain it I dont see why it wouldnt last me for several good years at the minimum.

 

[Soundguy]

7ac to mow? time limited? I'd get a tractor.. say.. something in the 'classic' range..35- 50 hp to 70hp, and a 6-8/10' mower.

coulkd probably step into that on the high side for 9K$ ( 70hp / 10' ) or 3500$ on the low side.. and say 4000-5500$ in the middle. for somehting good and reliable.

soundguy

 

[Gittyup]

Well you didn' t spend $7K. You are looking at probably something like 200 hours per year or more. It'll probably last you 5 to 8 years or so.... maybe.

With the savings and perhaps some more money saved over the next year or two, keep an eye out for a good used 40+ HP tractor. If you wait and are patient, you can find a nice older machine with a loader and maybe a finish mower for around $5K. This will let you cut your mowing time from 3-4 hours to 2 -3 hours or less, depending on the size of the mower you put behind it. Your time is valuable, don't spend have of one day every week cutting grass. The sooner you get the tractor the longer your ZTR will last you.

I cut about 1 and 3/4 acres in about 1.5 hours on a GT. I wouldn't want to spend anymore time than that in the seat at one time cutting grass (in fact I rarely cut it all in one day). Makes my back hurt and my butt sore just to think about it.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. mow the strip right around the house, and brush hog the rest..

soundguy

 

[fredhargis]

After using it for an hour...I love it, best purchase I ever made. It may not last as long as the commercial ones I looked at, but as long as I maintain it I dont see why it wouldnt last me for several good years at the minimum.

In the end, it's whether your happy with your choice that's most important! Congrats, and enjoy.