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Ok, I shied away from a 12-15yr old Craftsman RER because it has a Tecumseh engine and I'm not sure I want to invest/investigate in a B & S engine swap at some point (Craftsman rear engine rider)

So in my area there are a few used tractor/mowers for sale:

2006 craftsman riding mower lt3000 triple bagger - $650
2006 craftsman riding mower lt3000 triple bagger

Craftsman Riding Mower WITH BAGGER - $500
Craftsman Riding Mower WITH BAGGER

Snapper SR1028 w/ bagger, excellent condition $825
"Well maintained and runs excellent. Clean. Electric start. 10 HP with a 28" deck. Comes with new battery, blade, bag, and air filter. Tires are in great shape."

My house sits on 1/2 an acre and the land is flat as a pancake. I bought a house with exactly two trees that should be easily able to mow around. My lawn is a piece of cake.

What I am looking for:

- a reliable mower I can service myself and find replacement parts & service knowledge for the DIYer for years to come.
- something that will cut down on my mowing time significantly (I currently rock an 18in push mower)
- a bagger for leafs....hate raking leaves. Otherwise I'll mulch the clippings.

The Snapper seems to have a cult following and there is a lot of knowledge out there about them, they last forever (?), and are simple to work on, but it is the most expensive and has the most narrow cut (longest time to cut the lawn). I don't care all too much about my lawn looking like a putting green. So long as it cuts decent, get it done fast and be reliable.

I can't tell if the Craftsman models listed above are belt driven automatic or full hydro. Jerky takeoffs don't matter much to me, I want something I can fix if it breaks over time.

What would you throw your $ at?

What type of bidget are we talking about?

Just what reason you think they want to sell their old worn out Craftsman's for. I would be looking at them close before buying a used one. Just a little bit more money and you can buy a new mower.

I just negotiated a price on this one and I pick it up on Friday:
Snapper Riding Mower Model SR1028 Excellent | eBay

In the end I figured there was a reason why there is a cult following of the Snappers for their build quality, simplicity, and ability for homeowners to service/fix them. Plus it is a 2006 with a B & S motor I can find replacements for over time if need be vs. Tecumseh.

I paid more than the 42in wide Craftsman, but my street has 3 x Snapper RER owners who have had them for years and I guess while Craftsman is not a bad name, perhaps the Snapper will be the last mower I ever purchase (hopefully).

reynoldston said:

Just what reason you think they want to sell their old worn out Craftsman's for. I would be looking at them close before buying a used one. Just a little bit more money and you can buy a new mower.

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Those Snappers have a good following like the old Toros did. A friend of mine has three of them. He traded one off this fall for a ZTR. His wife makes good use of those snappers.