Buying first ZTR

[TinCup]

I'm looking to buy my first zero turn next week and am looking for pricing advice. I have it narrowed down to a Hustler Raptor SD or a Fastrak, both 48". I contacted my local dealer and was given quotes of 3899 for the Raptor and 5899 for the Fastrak.

From what I can see online both of those are prices advertised everywhere. How much room do I have to negotiate on a new mower?

 

[MRCo.]

On the RSD, none. They sell like hot cakes, so he doesn't have to drop prices to make a sale.

To start from the beginning, what is the mower to be used for? Area, etc.

 

[TinCup]

Just over 1 Acre of flat yard. Not many trees. No commercial mowing of any kind. Possibility of mowing the neighbors yard if they needed me to every now and then. But there yard is smaller than mine.

I want to buy once. I don't want to buy another mower for 10-15 years. That's why I was looking at spending more for the fastrak.

 

[MRCo.]

The RSD will do what you want, the Fastrak will do it with greater power, faster and comfort. Just more of everything. Is it the new model? Find one of last years mowers for a good deal. For an idea, I'm clearing a 2014 FSD for the price you are quoted for the regular Fastrak.

 

[TinCup]

I think they are 2014 models. I don't think the Fastrak the new black seat. I assume that would help with getting a better price If they are last year's models.

Too bad you are not closer. I would just buy that mower from you.

 

[Ric]

I'm looking to buy my first zero turn next week and am looking for pricing advice. I have it narrowed down to a Hustler Raptor SD or a Fastrak, both 48". I contacted my local dealer and was given quotes of 3899 for the Raptor and 5899 for the Fastrak.

From what I can see online both of those are prices advertised everywhere. How much room do I have to negotiate on a new mower?

Negotiations on mowers depends on a lot of different things. Can the dealer come down on there price the answer would be yes. What percentage you can get could also be dictated buy you as the customer and what future business you may bring him. Generally speaking the homeowner doesn't get to negotiate the price a whole lot. The RSD Msrp I believe is $3999 that's the Lowes and HD price so his quote or price of $3899 is already beat theirs.
You say I want to buy once and I don't want to buy another mower for 10-15 years, I personally would look for a good used commercial mower with low hours, better quality drives and engine. I don't believe you'll get get that kind of time out of either of those mowers.

 

[MRCo.]

Negotiations on mowers depends on a lot of different things. Can the dealer come down on there price the answer would be yes. What percentage you can get could also be dictated buy you as the customer and what future business you may bring him. Generally speaking the homeowner doesn't get to negotiate the price a whole lot. The RSD Msrp I believe is $3999 that's the Lowes and HD price so his quote or price of $3899 is already beat theirs.
You say I want to buy once and I don't want to buy another mower for 10-15 years, I personally would look for a good used commercial mower with low hours, better quality drives and engine. I don't believe you'll get get that kind of time out of either of those mowers.

48" RSD retails 3899, 54" is $3999.

Disagreed on longevity, I am servicing 10+ year old Fastraks that were the original design that wasn't as heavily made as the 2014 models. No issues, just oil changes and belts.

OP, if that is a 2014 model you can knock it down some more. Of course, if your dealer is small like me they may not be able to drop too much depending on their dealer cost structures... Its hard to pay the bills selling things at cost!

 

[TinCup]

Thanks for all the advice so far.

You say I want to buy once and I don't want to buy another mower for 10-15 years, I personally would look for a good used commercial mower with low hours, better quality drives and engine. I don't believe you'll get get that kind of time out of either of those mowers.

From what I can figure it shouldn't take much more than an hour to mow. Living in northern Indiana I don't think I will be mowing more than 30 weeks. If the Fastrak cannot last more than 350 hours I would be better off getting a cheap mower every 2 years. Spend 1200 bucks on a Craftsman every 2 years and sell it for half price. I might even spend less than the 6k I'm looking for now. And I would never have to work about stuff breaking. Well maybe haha

MRCo. That's good news. When I talked to my local dealer he originally pointed the RSD out to me and said it would work just fine and said it should last 10 years. Same with the Fastrak when I asked him about that one.

Totally understand that businesses have to pay the bills. I have no problem with them making money, I just want to make sure I can save some too. I am not really sure how big they are in terms of quantity of sales. I know the city I work for buys all there mowers from them. (I don't work for the dept that mows) They seem bigger than the gravely and Toro dealers I've been to in the past. I did get another online quote from a dealer a little farther away for the same prices. He said they are 2015 models as he sold out of all the 2014s. He said he ordered 50 raptors for 2015.

I hope to go in and talk with one or both on Monday since it's my day off.

 

[MRCo.]

Ah...I was talking 2014 on clearance price. That makes his price right on a 2015.

 

[TinCup]

One of the dealers had 2014 models the other had 2015s. They both gave me the same prices.