First riding mower - thinking Cub Cadet XT2 with Kawasaki?

[Enderman]

I was just recently given the go-ahead by the Mrs (don't judge, happy wife - happy life, as one friend says :laughing to purchase my first riding lawn mower for this upcoming season. I have only owned a couple walk-behinds and have never really loved either of them. They both had minor issues here and there, so I have no brand loyalty whatsoever.

That being said, after all my searching and reading reviews, reports, opinions, and so on, I believe I have arrived at one of the new Cub Cadet models, specifically the XT2 LX42 with the Kawasaki engine. I have just over a third of an acre to mow, with some very light sloping in a couple parts, so I don't need anything huge.

So, my primary question is, at the price point I'm looking at for the XT2 42" with the Kawasaki engine - $1799, is there something else comparable in another brand that I should also be considering? So far nothing else has stood out to me. And I'll be honest and say that I'm pretty sold on this mower, but I don't have anything to go on aside from the reviews I've read and the specs I'm comparing. I will say that I believe every neighbor I have has a John Deere of various sorts. I may get some funny looks on the first mow of the season when I pull out something that's not green and yellow, but honestly I don't feel as impressed or confident in a similarly priced JD, based solely on reviews I've read.

Secondly, I just wanted to get some confirmation that my wanting the Kawasaki engine is the definite way to go. In most everything I've read, it seemed like it was the obvious choice over the Kohler 7000 motor for $100 less. Again though, this is all fairly new to me.

Thanks in advance for any advice or info that might help!

 

[Arwing64]

For one thing, Cub Cadet in my opinion has a lot of problems due to the materials used to build it (has made in china all over it). I would go with a mower such as a Toro or a John Deere. A Kawasaki engine is a great engine. Powerful, reliable, and dependable. They are a bit noisy so you better have good neighbors. Also avoid the Kohler engines. They USED to be good. Now they are made in China and they will literally self destruct on the inside in just 50 hours. Kohler Command engines are an exception. Kawasaki and Briggs and Stratton is the best you can get in my opinion. The Vanguard engines are the best of the best, though are usually seen on commercial units.

In conclusion, I would sudgest getting a John Deere instead of a Cub Cadet. That's just me. I've had a Toro for 20 years and it still runs great. I also have a John Deere that runs good too. My neighbor bought a brand new Cub Cadet. He had to have it sent to the repair place 6 times.

 

[Ric]

I was just recently given the go-ahead by the Mrs (don't judge, happy wife - happy life, as one friend says :laughing to purchase my first riding lawn mower for this upcoming season. I have only owned a couple walk-behinds and have never really loved either of them. They both had minor issues here and there, so I have no brand loyalty whatsoever.

That being said, after all my searching and reading reviews, reports, opinions, and so on, I believe I have arrived at one of the new Cub Cadet models, specifically the XT2 LX42 with the Kawasaki engine. I have just over a third of an acre to mow, with some very light sloping in a couple parts, so I don't need anything huge.

So, my primary question is, at the price point I'm looking at for the XT2 42" with the Kawasaki engine - $1799, is there something else comparable in another brand that I should also be considering? So far nothing else has stood out to me. And I'll be honest and say that I'm pretty sold on this mower, but I don't have anything to go on aside from the reviews I've read and the specs I'm comparing. I will say that I believe every neighbor I have has a John Deere of various sorts. I may get some funny looks on the first mow of the season when I pull out something that's not green and yellow, but honestly I don't feel as impressed or confident in a similarly priced JD, based solely on reviews I've read.

Secondly, I just wanted to get some confirmation that my wanting the Kawasaki engine is the definite way to go. In most everything I've read, it seemed like it was the obvious choice over the Kohler 7000 motor for $100 less. Again though, this is all fairly new to me.

Thanks in advance for any advice or info that might help!

You wont go wrong with the Cub Cadet mowers. The mower you're looking at would be a good choice with either engine Kawasaki or Kohler either one. I've run both the Kawasaki and Kohler and have never had any problems with either. At the present I'm running the Kawasaki engines. the FS 541, the FX 651 and the FJ 180v. The Kohler engines I was running all had better than 700 hours on them without a problem and they were on the Cub Cadet Z Force ZTR's. I personally wouldn't go near a Briggs engine, everyone I've ever owned ended up in the trash. Cub Cadet will also stand behind there warranty and I would buy from a dealer and not one of the big box stores if possible because the dealer will stand behind the mowers he sells before anything else.

 

[jmick35]

It's great you are moving up to a mower with a seat, you deserve it.
Do as I did, talk about all the sun you get riding the mower and the need for sun screen.
Now I just do the trimming and my wife does the riding, it is a team sport after all.
My winter project is replacing the Kohler engine in my Cub Cadet (it lasted 5 mowing seasons).
I changed the oil, filter, sharpened blades, and greased it each season.
It was worked on during warranty, I paid $250 for engine work out of pocket, I expected and deserved more.
My Cub rides great, mows really nice, mulches great, handles great, The Kohler Courage engine is scrap.
I bought a Craftsman rider with no mower deck and battery but it did have a strong Briggs twin cylinder engine for $50.
Current status is the new engine is in, I have to decipher wiring and get longer throttle and choke cables.
I have decided that my next rider will be green.
In fact I already purchased a John Deere 1025 Tractor Loader Backhoe that lives in my sons garage, (he convinced me we needed it and bought it 50/50).
If you do buy a Cub stay away from Kohler engines, just look at the feedback on the internet.

 

[7394]

Take your time & do your homework, Test as many as you can..

Best deals I've found was at years end, when Dealers are trying to make room for the New 2015 models..

You may still be able to find a leftover 2014 or earlier & cut a much better deal..

 

[bertsmobile1]

FWIW Kohler make 2 series of engines for domestic & light commercial ride ons
Command & Courage.
AFAIK the Command is still made in te USA & the Courage is made in China.
Kohler , like Briggs , Stihl & Husqvarna all have their own factories in China and most of what comes out of them is reasonable quality & value for money.
But they are the bottom end , ie cheapest end of their product line up.
The Command is a much better engine but it comes with a much higher price tag ( the magic pudding is a fairy tale ).
The Kawaka engine are all way over engineered for a domestic mower and come again with a higher price tag.
They are trying to edge Honda out of the mower engine market and can be considered almost equivalent to Hondas.

Also consider the cost of consumables as the Kawaka parts are nearly double the price of Kohler parts.

For domestic use I have a strong prefference towards John Deere for service & consummables prices.
The down side is they are a bit light so if your lawn is quite rough & you have a lot of falling branches they are not for you.

 

[Ric]

FWIW Kohler make 2 series of engines for domestic & light commercial ride ons
Command & Courage.
AFAIK the Command is still made in te USA & the Courage is made in China.
Kohler , like Briggs , Stihl & Husqvarna all have their own factories in China and most of what comes out of them is reasonable quality & value for money.
But they are the bottom end , ie cheapest end of their product line up.
The Command is a much better engine but it comes with a much higher price tag ( the magic pudding is a fairy tale ).
The Kawaka engine are all way over engineered for a domestic mower and come again with a higher price tag.
They are trying to edge Honda out of the mower engine market and can be considered almost equivalent to Hondas.

Also consider the cost of consumables as the Kawaka parts are nearly double the price of Kohler parts.

For domestic use I have a strong prefference towards John Deere for service & consummables prices.
The down side is they are a bit light so if your lawn is quite rough & you have a lot of falling branches they are not for you.

I think you'll find most engine manufacturers are or have a residential and a commercial grade engine. The XT2 Cub Cadet which is CC's new model this season comes with either the Professional grade Kawasaki FR series or the Kohler 7000 series engines, both are a good engines and are basically top line engines for what there in and being used in and for. If your talking about maintenance to the consumer ones no more expensive to maintain than the other.
At the present time I'd have to go with the Kawasaki FR series because its been out and being used for a good number of years and has pretty much proven itself where as the 7000 series kolher is relatively new, not to say its not a good engine.

 

[ricson]

I just purchased the lx42, it is only available with the Kohler. The early release brochures were wrong. The Kawa motor is only available on the larger models.
Obviously I have not owned it long enough to know about durability. This is my first riding mower, I have around a 1/2 acre to mow.
I have mowed the yard 2 times and since it is off season. it really did not need the second mowing, I just enjoy using this mower so much, I had to run it again!
The turning radius is very tight, it is very comfortable to use, love the hydro-static, very smooth and it mows very smooth( the grass looks great).
I could not be happier with it, however keep in mind , I have never owned anything else, so I have nothing to compare it with.
I was also looking at the Husqvarna. Time will tell if I chose correctly, but 1 of my favorite features is the 12 position cutting height, the husky is only 6 position.
I sometimes like to mow just a bit closer or take just a small cut to smooth out the previous cut.
Will chime in in the future if I have any problems.
Hope this helps,
Rick

 

[bertsmobile1]

I think you'll find most engine manufacturers are or have a residential and a commercial grade engine. The XT2 Cub Cadet which is CC's new model this season comes with either the Professional grade Kawasaki FR series or the Kohler 7000 series engines, both are a good engines and are basically top line engines for what there in and being used in and for. If your talking about maintenance to the consumer ones no more expensive to maintain than the other.
At the present time I'd have to go with the Kawasaki FR series because its been out and being used for a good number of years and has pretty much proven itself where as the 7000 series kolher is relatively new, not to say its not a good engine.

Might be different States side but down here Kawaka parts are mostly only available as original.
The wholesale price is on average 1.5 times the price of genuine Kohler or Briggs parts and they are near twice the price of the aftermarket ( Stens , Rotary, Origon etc )
Thus the consumables for the FH 415 I am doing now are over $ 120 wholesale which will make them $ 160 when the customer gets the bill.
The complete service on the Kohler powered 61" Great Dane came in at $ 180 including labour and he has the heavy duty twin tube air filter fitted & that included 3 new blades.

 

[Danceswithtrout]

I just purchased the lx42, it is only available with the Kohler. The early release brochures were wrong. The Kawa motor is only available on the larger models.
Obviously I have not owned it long enough to know about durability. This is my first riding mower, I have around a 1/2 acre to mow.
I have mowed the yard 2 times and since it is off season. it really did not need the second mowing, I just enjoy using this mower so much, I had to run it again!
The turning radius is very tight, it is very comfortable to use, love the hydro-static, very smooth and it mows very smooth( the grass looks great).
I could not be happier with it, however keep in mind , I have never owned anything else, so I have nothing to compare it with.
I was also looking at the Husqvarna. Time will tell if I chose correctly, but 1 of my favorite features is the 12 position cutting height, the husky is only 6 position.
I sometimes like to mow just a bit closer or take just a small cut to smooth out the previous cut.
Will chime in in the future if I have any problems.
Hope this helps,
Rick

Hi Rick- this is incorrect. They did indeed put a limited run of the 18hp Kawi's in the XT2 42 inch model. I know- I have one stilling right in my garage. The price was what the OP said it was, $1799. My dealer said they tried to snap up as many as they could before grabbing the Kohler only models. I had both versions (Kohler and Kawi) out and running before buying (also compared it live fire against the 2014 YT42LS Husqvarna w/ the 18HP Kawi) The Huskies only better option in my opinion was the limited slip. Other than that the cub kills it on features and function, and most of all comfort. The Kohler engine side by side is louder than the Kawi but to be honest on driving and mowing, they were almost identical. I went with the Kawi only because I have used them in the past and they are damn near bulletproof for the applications that I use them for. Good luck with your new mower!