Spencer
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2002
- Messages
- 1,267
- Location
- Western Michigan
- Tractor
- NH TC33D w/R4 Tires, Rear Remote, Hydraulic Toplink, 2 Auxiliary Work Lights, 7308 Loader w/Kasco Uni-Hitch (Quick Tach)
I bought a cheap Murray riding lawn mower for less than $1,000 back in October of 2002 or so. It ran pretty well upuntil 2011, but then it started acting up. Honestly, I can't believe I made it through last Summer with it, but somehow I did.
I can't really complain about the Murray, as it's purchase price along with a new starter last year and a couple of inner tubes has cost me less than $100 a year overall, but I do want to step up to something that will not only be a nicer machine, but something that I wouldn't feel bad about putting money into down the road should the engine or transmission need some work.
So, it is time to purchase a new riding lawn mower. My lawn is not too big (maybe 1/3 acre), but it is my elderly neighbor's lawn (probably 1.5 acres) that takes most my time.
I still have my NH TC-33D for real tractor chores, so I just need a riding lawn mower, not a garden tractor. I would however like as robust of a machine that I can get for under $3K (with 6% tax) though.
I've looked at all the big box stores, Tractor Supply Co., and Sears. I've also visited the local Cub Cadet dealer and wanted to visit the John Deere dealer about 30 minutes away yesterday, but the hours on their website were incorrect and they were closed.
The current place that I park my 42" Murray is in my lean-to right next to my NH tractor. If I go with something wider than a 46" deck it would likely not fit next to my tractor, so I'm looking in the 42" - 46" range.
In what little research I've done this weekend the Cub Cadet XT2 LX46" with a fabricated deck seems to be a pretty good bang for the buck. This is available locally from theCub Cadet dealer and they are a good little long established shop that I would feel a lot better about giving my money to than either a big box store or the JD dealership in the next County over.
It looks like the only thing the JD dealership has different than the big box stores for less than $3K out the door is their new S240 Sport. I did a search on here for both these models from CC and JD, but didn't come up with much.
As I know how proud JD owners are I would assume that between the two mentioned above the S240 Sport will receive the most recommendations, but when comparing the specs for the two I think the XT2 LX46" with the fabricated deck comes out ahead.
Having the mowing deck stay on when backing up is definitely a big deal to me and right out of the box the CC seems to have a much better system for doing so. I realize I could tamper with the RIO system on the JD, but I'd rather not have to.
So, please feel free to talk me out of the XT2 LX46", talk me into the S240 Sport, or talk me into something completely different. I'd like to purchase no later than this Friday, April 17th, so please speak up, as I really value the input of the membership here, but I've got to move quickly.
I can't really complain about the Murray, as it's purchase price along with a new starter last year and a couple of inner tubes has cost me less than $100 a year overall, but I do want to step up to something that will not only be a nicer machine, but something that I wouldn't feel bad about putting money into down the road should the engine or transmission need some work.
So, it is time to purchase a new riding lawn mower. My lawn is not too big (maybe 1/3 acre), but it is my elderly neighbor's lawn (probably 1.5 acres) that takes most my time.
I still have my NH TC-33D for real tractor chores, so I just need a riding lawn mower, not a garden tractor. I would however like as robust of a machine that I can get for under $3K (with 6% tax) though.
I've looked at all the big box stores, Tractor Supply Co., and Sears. I've also visited the local Cub Cadet dealer and wanted to visit the John Deere dealer about 30 minutes away yesterday, but the hours on their website were incorrect and they were closed.
The current place that I park my 42" Murray is in my lean-to right next to my NH tractor. If I go with something wider than a 46" deck it would likely not fit next to my tractor, so I'm looking in the 42" - 46" range.
In what little research I've done this weekend the Cub Cadet XT2 LX46" with a fabricated deck seems to be a pretty good bang for the buck. This is available locally from theCub Cadet dealer and they are a good little long established shop that I would feel a lot better about giving my money to than either a big box store or the JD dealership in the next County over.
It looks like the only thing the JD dealership has different than the big box stores for less than $3K out the door is their new S240 Sport. I did a search on here for both these models from CC and JD, but didn't come up with much.
As I know how proud JD owners are I would assume that between the two mentioned above the S240 Sport will receive the most recommendations, but when comparing the specs for the two I think the XT2 LX46" with the fabricated deck comes out ahead.
Having the mowing deck stay on when backing up is definitely a big deal to me and right out of the box the CC seems to have a much better system for doing so. I realize I could tamper with the RIO system on the JD, but I'd rather not have to.
So, please feel free to talk me out of the XT2 LX46", talk me into the S240 Sport, or talk me into something completely different. I'd like to purchase no later than this Friday, April 17th, so please speak up, as I really value the input of the membership here, but I've got to move quickly.
