Nominations For Best $1600 Lawn Tractor

[bp fick]

OK, I've looked at them all. Owned a bunch of them and had really good luck with the all. Maybe I don't beat it up? I dunno. Maybe it's the maintenance? I don't know, but I have had outstanding luck even with MTD type, Craftsman type lawn mowers over the past 30-35 years. No complaints. Never had an engine failure. Don't expect to get more than 8-10 years out of one, but occasionally have, never had one go less.

Here are the rules.

Nominate the "best" Lawn Tractor, in your opinion, and why, for $1600. Sorry, but that's the budget. No nominations accepted under the guise of "spending an extra grand and getting soooo much more" logic. I get that. Truly do. But that's it. $1600.
Deck width is of no concern.


Your nomination may include a higher priced unit if you can verify that it is actually on sale at the limited price. I am quite open to suggestions. Tell me the warts, tell me the good points. BTW, no "options". That skews everything too much to compute baggers, etc.

Mucho appreciated. Genuinely.

 

[Johndeere3720]

I would say get a finish mower behind your bota.

 

[James Loehr]

They all look so bright and shine so nice what could be wrong with any of them? After having a Craftsman for five years and taking very good care of it the thing just started failing this year. The steering was becoming very loose. The mower deck would not stop. There was a place on top of the deck that needed to slide back to stop it. the thing was just worn down. I fixed that by putting another return spring on it. seemed to be working. A deal come along for a two year old Simplicity Regent with 75hrs on it.44in deck. The tractor looks like new. 1300.00 and my sears in trade. I went for it and love it. It is a step up from the box store stuff. My recommendation would be find a left over model or slightly used lawn tractor and leave the box store models to the uniformed. Believe me I've had them over the years. No motor problems just cheap build problems. P.S. The Simplicity Regent looks like my BX2360 has a baby brother.

 

[bp fick]

I would say get a finish mower behind your bota.

Tried one for awhile. It was admittedly too large, being a 60". Don't know if I would enjoy a 48" any better. But it is a thought. The separate riding mower serves another purpose, as it would be passed on to one of my kids, as the last few have. Hard to pass on a RRM without passing on the 'Bota and THAT ain't gonna happen!!:laughing::laughing:

So, your 15th birthday has to coming up soon? No?

 

[/pine]

I have had outstanding luck...

so what's the question again...?

 

[bp fick]

so what's the question again...?

Craftsman, Poulan, MTD, Husquarna, CubCadet, Bolens, Deere, YardMachines, etc The list is mind numbing and really, I suppose, given the common manufacturers, there are only 5 or 6 real "lines"????

Does anyone have a preference? Or a non-preference and why?

 

[Dmace]

I've had the best luck with Briggs & Stratton's motors so the Ariens 46" cut with 23hp B&S, hydrostatic drive and free blades for life from The Home Depot for $1,599 sounds like a good deal to me. The Craftsman YT4000 from Sears at $1,599 has the same 46" cut and basically same 24HP B&S V-twin motor with Hydrostatic drive so either of those two would be my pick.

 

[bp fick]

Thanks Dmace

When it comes to these things, I confess my ignorance. I don't know a K46 from a ??? Seriously. I plead ignorance. I don't know spindles, I don't know if electronic deck engagement and lift is good or something to avoid. We don't have pretty lawns up here, just yards. I don't know if these "budget" type machines are getting better or being made cheaper than ever.

What I know, I know. What I don't know, I really don't know.

 

[Johndeere3720]

Tried one for awhile. It was admittedly too large, being a 60". Don't know if I would enjoy a 48" any better. But it is a thought. The separate riding mower serves another purpose, as it would be passed on to one of my kids, as the last few have. Hard to pass on a RRM without passing on the 'Bota and THAT ain't gonna happen!!:laughing::laughing:

So, your 15th birthday has to coming up soon? No?

15 on July 10th.:thumbsup:

 

[Gale Hawkins]

We have good luck with the single bladed Snapper. It seems to like abuse.