X340 or X500

[nebraskasparks]

I saw the pictures that you posted. I don't want to tell you how to spend your money...but the transmission on the x500 is going to take the torque you need along with driving the blades while you're mowing the grass (next year). Have you looked at tractorhouse.com for machines on there?

 

[jenkinsph]

Nice yard with some slight roll to it, the X360 should work well for you. I don't see any need for a mower larger than an X360 in your case.

 

[nebraskasparks]

Nice yard with some slight roll to it, the X360 should work well for you. I don't see any need for a mower larger than an X360 in your case.

I don't have an x360 but both the 360 and 500 have the power to drive a 54 inch deck when it comes to mowing and that's very very very nice.:thumbsup:

 

[nebraskasparks]

OOPS...I meant the 340 not the 360.

 

[rexwagon]

I figured...but I think my yard is hillier than the pics show. But I still think the 340 will be fine for me. I really like the traction pedal on the 500, though. Heck, my L120 lasted 6 years before problems set in.

 

[jcmseven]

Having been in your shoes and having folks tell me the same, it seems as though you are psychologically leaning to the X500 series but have not yet reconciled it in your mind. My advice with these machines is that they do last a long time with good service, which means two things: first, if you buy something you really do not want you will be stuck with it a long time unless you trade, which is always an expensive proposition, and second; these machines over several years offer very little difference in price per year, so a difference of $2-3 thousand dollars is not that great when spread over time and use. Looking at your pix, either a larger 300 series or the 500 series would do fine, but if your question was if you could justify a 500 for your yard, the answer would be yes. If I had your lawn and property I would be getting a 540 and not looking back, though there are some negligible differences in some areas to the higher numbered 300's which I have noted in previous replies.

John M

 

[nebraskasparks]

So......................which one are you going to get??? We're all waiting!

 

[rexwagon]

I'm going to get a new x500. Big question is when is the best time to buy it. JD has the $500 off until Feb 28th. I can not afford the plow right now so I plan on killing my L120 this winter. When is the best time to maybe get a few bucks off the price from my local dealer?

Should I get the other tires instead of the regular turf type? Any other options I should consider?

 

[Tlucch]

I'm fairly certain I'll be buying an x500 as well unless I get a huge Christmas bonus and get the 534. I also noticed the feb 28th deadline and my thinking is at least to wait until the middle of January. Dealers will be ordering new machines then and I think the x500 is still a safe bet to be in stock just about anywhere. Do you live near any tax free states? I'll be making a two hour drive to new Hampshire since Taxachusettes voted down a proposal to cut our sales tax in half. I've seen them as low as $4999 so that's what I'll be looking to spend.

 

[nebraskasparks]

I'm going to get a new x500. Big question is when is the best time to buy it. JD has the $500 off until Feb 28th. I can not afford the plow right now so I plan on killing my L120 this winter. When is the best time to maybe get a few bucks off the price from my local dealer?

Should I get the other tires instead of the regular turf type? Any other options I should consider?

X500 with Turf tires are fine...even on the slope I have pulling the commercial DR Power Vac. The X500 is great....the DR Power VAC is another story.

 

[rexwagon]

Thanks for the reply on the tires.

 

[martbret]

Sorry to chime in late, I bought an x-500 a month ago, it is a great machine I have 2 acres of rough field with x-mas trees, I agonized over spending $5000 hard earned dollars on a lawn mower. I looked at the x320 seriously but the diif lock of the x500 is what really sold me. When I took delivery of it the first thing I cut was the roughest field with knee high weeds and random grass, my first impression is wow this thing is great, it doesn't strain to mow under these conditions, also the roughness of the field isn't a strain on it, I haven't needed the diff lock until I mowed along the wet drainage ditch and then the wheels lock together and it just goes. I haven't had it long but I'm glad I spent the extra money for it. I can see getting many years of use out of it, with the 48" deck I paid just under 5000 cash.

 

[rexwagon]

To put closure on my topic...I bought an 08 X540 from a JD dealer. It only has 87 hours, has 54" deck as well as the HDAP tires. Got it for $4700.

Thanks again to all for the replies and I thought this could help others.

 

[Markcuda]

No pictures, you ain't bought it, so it didn't happen

 

[8086bruce]

Ya gotta have pics man!

 

[Markcuda]

Here are a few
Snow Storm February 1, 2011

 

[8086bruce]

Great pics mark looks like its working great for you! You look like your on:cloud9:

 

[rexwagon]

Finally got'er. Pic all snuggled in my garage. To much snow to get her in the shed so for now I'll park my 325i outside so my new baby is protected

I have this funny feeling we won't se any more snow this year now that I'm ready.

 

[Markcuda]

Looks good.
Is that the 48 inch blade?

 

[rexwagon]

Yes it is. And it's awesome. I pushed a little snow leftover from 2 weeks ago and I was amazed how easily the 540 pushed the heavy wet snow.