When looking, check for things like no plastic idler gears on the deck, as little stamped sheet metal as possible, especially in the fram and deck. The frame should be heavy welded tubing. low pressure tires are a plus for better ride. ball or roller bearing in steering forks. comfortable seat, preferably with arm rests. adjustable controls that are easy to make slight movements when doing fine control, not too much resistance. We have just started selling Dixie Chopper, but they start out at about 6K (what a Mow-chine though!) I looked closely at Country Clipper and in fact will handle thier residential machines in the $3-4K range, and Toro in the under $3500 range. there have been lots of low price mowers that have come out and many of them look like the cheap lawn tractors, throw away units, hardly serviceable. I'd go to the dealer with the several brands and see the differences are between the models and drive the ones you are seriously considering, on your lawn wiht the blades running if possible.
