The Winner Is.....eXmark

JimMorrissey · May 7, 2005

Wow is all I can say! If anybody is ever wondering about whether or not to go with a ZRT....DON'T, they are simply amazing, rough lawn or not. My prediction is that lawn tractors will generally be a thing of the past within ten years (for mowing lawns). This is not a fad. By the end of my first mow of the season, it felt almost like a ballet on that machine. Sorry for what may seem like a justification for the purchase, but it's not. I guess I was expecting less for my money.

This is the eXmark CT 48". You can see the specs at the eXmark site. I believe for the extra money it was well worth it.

http://www.exmark.com/popups/lazerZ_CT.html

TimberXX · May 7, 2005

nice unit... how much did you bring it home for?

DmansPadge · May 7, 2005

Nice machine! But I don't think the little guy on it can reach the controls! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

moss2940 · May 8, 2005

Jim,
Nice looking mower.
It looks like Cub Cadet missed out on two sales now. My Z-Force was supposed to come in yesterday, it was a no show. I was informed it would be the end of the month before it was to arrive. Needless to say I canceled it.
I wound up getting a 52" Hustler Fastrac from a local farm supply that had the nicest bunch of people working there.
I mowed with it today and it seems great.
I think we will both be happier in the long run having stepped up and bought a little more $$$ machine.
Now I have to wait for the grass to grow again before I can mow with it again. Maybe I will put some more fertilizer out tomorrow. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

theplayer · May 8, 2005

The Winner is Ferris..If you have any bumpy areas, the 4 wheel suspension is a must...

JimMorrissey · May 8, 2005

Moss,

Good decision. I'm sure the Cub would have been adequate, but you've now got a superior machine for a little more. It's good that you could buy local too. Post us some pictures.

I told my son he'd have to wait for the lawn to grow again....LOL. I also started mowing some areas that I left to grow wild in the past. Fertilizer sounds like a good idea /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I need to do some weed killing too. The new mower is a good reason to step up the lawn condition a bit.

JimMorrissey · May 8, 2005

Maybe for you it is. I didn't find it "a must", and there are no dealers around here anyway. I'm sure it's a nice mower though.

Gatorboy · May 8, 2005

( My prediction is that lawn tractors will generally be a thing of the past within ten years (for mowing lawns). ) 

I doubt this prediction will come true. ZTR's do have their place in the commercial mowing world, but with their higher price tag over tractors, I don't think lawn tractors will disappear.

JimMorrissey · May 8, 2005

True, lawn tractors won't disappear completely....that's why I said "generally disappear" and I'm thinking along the lines of homeowners, not commercial operations. I think the price and the quality of the Zs will even out and lawn tractors will be, lets say rare. However, people will still want garden tractors for small rototillers, snowblowers and mowing.

wushaw · May 8, 2005

Jim the Grasshopper brand offers all kinds of implements for their ft. mount mowers but not a tiller.
I also can see the regular garden tractor style mowers being reduced and more ZTR being offered and the price also coming down.
I completely understand what you mean about these ZTRs they bring the fun back to mowing /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

sportzkat · May 8, 2005

Very nice machine. I seriously looked at and Exmark before deciding to go with the Gravely. I have heard nothing but good things about Exmark, so I'm sure you will be very pleased with it. As far as the Ferris comment by another poster, I demo'd a Simplicity Citation w/ rear IS and I just didn't see that much difference. And I was looking for a difference, because I was very interested in the IS. Didn't get to demo a Ferris because of the local dealer. Also, I don't think that Ferris can compete with Gravely, Exmark, or some of the other big names when it comes to resale because thay are just not that well known right now.

Make sure to post a photo or two of your new baby!

theplayer · May 8, 2005

I test drove the Gravely..huge difference in the Ferris's ride with the 4 wheel suspension...I'm sure the others will follow suit soon. The Ferris has the same quality as the other biggies...PLUS the suspension...and somewhat better price. Unless the lawns you are cutting are totally flat, the Ferris is the way to go..IMHO.

Bird · May 8, 2005

( ZTR's do have their place in the commercial mowing world, but with their higher price tag over tractors, I don't think lawn tractors will disappear )

As more people buy ZTRs, so more are manufactured and sold, I wonder if the price differential might not come down a bit. It's fairly rare in my area now to see the commercials using anything but ZTRs, and now that I own a cheap one myself, I can see why. I have to mow at a very slow speed or I'll get done too quick and the fun'll be over. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

sportzkat · May 8, 2005

What Gravely did you demo? I saw a big difference between the 100 series and the 200 series, and I went with the 200 series. I agree that the Ferris is well built, but for the most part so are all of the commerical grade ZTRs I looked at. I heard a lot of good things about the Ferris ride, but unfortunately the dealer in my area is a hack and I didn't want to deal with him so I never demo'd the Ferris, but I did ride the Simplicity (built by Ferris) and I concluded that the Gravely was the best bet for me. Price between the two, comparing apples to apples, was about a wash in my area.

Hey, that's why they make more than one model!

frank_f15 · May 8, 2005

YOU like it that much ? i am seriously concidering a ztr (if not this year then next) i have looked at a few , but not tried one out, seems like a lot of dealers want you to buy without a test drive. around about what did that cost?
BTW i always figured you as Being taller , and with a red BINKIE /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JimMorrissey · May 8, 2005

Player, I checked out the Ferris. From what I found the Ferris was close to $1000 more. I can't remember exactly the price difference, but it was substantial, both on NY and NH.....Nice rigs though.

JimMorrissey · May 8, 2005

Frank, Yes they are without a doubt THE most productive grass cutting equipment I've ever used. They blow away a lawn tractor or a CUT with a mid or rear finish mower. I was sceptical, but that's no longer the case. Seriously......don't even think about spending your money on anything else if you are looking to cut grass /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

JimMorrissey · May 8, 2005

Sport...I didn't demo the Gravely.

JimMorrissey · May 8, 2005

I read your post again.....I'd get one this year if I were you /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I was only able to get the dealer down $150 from list. I believe it was $5450. Not cheap, but worth every dime IMO. All the commerical ones are nice from what I've seen. I'd take a look at Toro if you've got a good dealer in your area.