what's up with cub cadet?

[anthonyk]

I own a 1046 which I bought last year. It's got the 23 hp kohler command engine in it, which seems like a pretty good one. Overall, I like the unit a lot.

Yesterday though, I was in Home Depot and saw the "new" 1046, and it looked like a plastic disposable toy
It only had a 20 hp motor and that was the "courage" model, which I understand is not as durable.
Why on earth would they go backwards in power, quality and finish???

anthony

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

I own a 1046 which I bought last year. It's got the 23 hp kohler command engine in it, which seems like a pretty good one. Overall, I like the unit a lot.

Yesterday though, I was in Home Depot and saw the "new" 1046, and it looked like a plastic disposable toy
It only had a 20 hp motor and that was the "courage" model, which I understand is not as durable.
Why on earth would they go backwards in power, quality and finish???

anthony

MONEY????

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The 1000 series is the same as the rest of the MTD cookie cutter mowers. They are all made basically the same with different hoods and paint. These mowers are meant to sell cheap so they cut corners where they can. If you want a better Cub Cadet you have to jump up to at least the 1500 series.

 

[Hard]

I own a 1046 which I bought last year. It's got the 23 hp kohler command engine in it, which seems like a pretty good one. Overall, I like the unit a lot.

Yesterday though, I was in Home Depot and saw the "new" 1046, and it looked like a plastic disposable toy
It only had a 20 hp motor and that was the "courage" model, which I understand is not as durable.
Why on earth would they go backwards in power, quality and finish???

anthony

Anthony, I saw the same thing in HD. It sure looks like Cub by MTD isn't doing much to build a better product. Unfortunately, MTD builds all the Cub models up to the 7000 Series CUTs.

Best of luck with your 1046!

 

[Fordlords]

The 1000 and 1500 series Cubs started using the economy model Kohler Courage engines last year. These and the Briggs Intek are now the industry standard engines in just about every low cost lawn tractor there. -Fordlords-

 

[Fordlords]

As is stated with Cub Cadet, if you want a, "better," or real JD, better go to a dealer and get an X series JD. -Fordlords-

 

[wallace]

Or start looking at Simplicity.

 

[EuropaChris]

Or start looking at Simplicity.

I looked long and hard at Simplicity before I bought our '05 2544. There was no comparison in the dollars per quality equation. I got a lot more mower for the money. I spent $3K on the 2544, and that would have only bought me a midline Regent model, which is a pretty light duty machine from Simplicity.

It's unfortunate, as I used to live just down the road from the Simplicity factory in Port Washington, WI (we lived in West Bend). They are great machines, but are very expensive for what you get.

I also looked at John Deere (made in Horicon, WI) and was into the $5K range to just get warmed up to what I wanted.

So far I've been very pleased with the 2544. There are definitely some corner cutting issues, but they are pretty minor. Unfortunately, it appears that MTD is really starting to cheap out the Cub Cadet line and make it just another Big Box store piece of crap MTD clone. Maybe the 3000 series will hang on as a quality leader, but I'm not hopeful. MTD can't leave a good product alone.....

Chris

 

[Hard]

I looked long and hard at Simplicity before I bought our '05 2544. There was no comparison in the dollars per quality equation. I got a lot more mower for the money. I spent $3K on the 2544, and that would have only bought me a midline Regent model, which is a pretty light duty machine from Simplicity.

It's unfortunate, as I used to live just down the road from the Simplicity factory in Port Washington, WI (we lived in West Bend). They are great machines, but are very expensive for what you get.

I also looked at John Deere (made in Horicon, WI) and was into the $5K range to just get warmed up to what I wanted.

So far I've been very pleased with the 2544. There are definitely some corner cutting issues, but they are pretty minor. Unfortunately, it appears that MTD is really starting to cheap out the Cub Cadet line and make it just another Big Box store piece of crap MTD clone. Maybe the 3000 series will hang on as a quality leader, but I'm not hopeful. MTD can't leave a good product alone.....

Chris

Good luck with your Cub 2544 Chris. I'm sure you'll have good dealer support.

You're right about MTD, I think they may be going down a slippery slope regarding the Cub brand. Perhaps once Yanmar gets in there building the CUT's that kind of high quality may filter down to the entire Cub by MTD line. Prices may go up somewhat on the Cub line but there are plenty of other tractors Bolens/Huskee/Troybilt/Yard Machines/White, all by MTD, to fill those less expensive price/quality points.

Enjoy your Cub!

 

[ratherbefishing]

I saw the same thing the other day at depot and couldn't believe it. They are just another low end mower in there now.

I was also very dissapointed when Lowes sold out CC for JD last year (The sales guy here said their sales on lawn tractors have tanked since)... I bought my 2544 from a dealer, but was sure nice to go to Lowes and find my maintenance items. Depot doesn't carry crap for maintenance on anything they sell. Up until last week, Lowes still had a larger selection of CC parts than depot and they haven't sold the line it in over a year.