Used SST18 or new SSt15/LT160

bmwk1200lt · May 6, 2004

I am hoping someone can give me some advice. I am looking at getting a JD for home use and maybe a little light mowing for profit. I have found what appears to be a great deal at my local dealer on a SST18 with blower/bagger, mulcher, and weights with 120 hours, The price is great but it doesnt have a warranty. I know that the transimission was replaced once, the gas tank was replaced and currently it appears that the steering actuator is out and being repaired. The question is, given the amount of repairs, should I stay away from this unit and purchase a new unit? I only have so much budgeted, so I would not be getting the same unit new, I would be looking at either the SSt15 or the LT160. Are the SST models troublesome? Any thought?

yellowsocks93 · May 6, 2004

JD Spin Steer mowers are junk. I work at a dealer and they don't sell worth crap. We have had new mowers on the showfloor for 2 years now and some are in storage not selling. They do have power steering which is nice but you have to be going at a creep to do a full spin around. It is not as fast as a normal JD Z-track mower. I have driven both many times and the normal Z-track or garden tractor would be built better with a much higher resale value in the future. Mileage may vary but in my experience I would not buy a JD Spin Steer mower.

Tractors4u · May 7, 2004

Nick can give you some good insight from a dealers perspective. I have had my SST18 for a little over a year now. It has been great and I have had no trouble with it. The Z Traks are great but they cost so much more. I couldn't even consider one of them. My SST18 cuts my yard in 1/2 the time that it used to take. One reason I think the SST's stay at the dealer so long is that don't try to sell them. If anything the dealers around here try to talk you out of them. A ZTR is not for everyone. One thing they point out around here is that the Spinsteers do not do well on hills. I can make it though /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif . SO far I am happy with mine, but it is a little disturbing at the lack of dealer enthusiasm about them.

bmwk1200lt · May 7, 2004

Brent,
I have noticed the same lack of enthusiasm at all the local dealers by me. One of the things that attracted me to the used SST18 was that he offered to sell it too me for $2300 with all the accessories I listed. I just fear that with the lack of dealer support that the resale and availability of parts if needed will be lacking..My land currently is very flat. My yard is quite small (1/4 acre), but I intend on buying a minimum of 2 acres within the next year. I also whent looking at the Kubota T series tractors. it appears that everyone is priced about the same, so the only real issue is reliability and support.

yellowsocks93 · May 8, 2004

We really don't get that many customers looking for or at them. I don't know what we could do to make them more popular because it is kind of a weird unit being like a garden tractor but a zero turn. I believe the one you are looking at has the 18 horse Briggs V-Twin. You should have plenty of power. Not a bad price and they do have a good 48'' deck for sure.