First timer window shopping for a mower

[Rpeter1]

First things first...............

You need to buy the land first. Then when you know if you have hilly ground, many obstacles to mow around etc. you can buy a mower to better suit your needs.

 

[jimbo64]

First things first...............

You need to buy the land first. Then when you know if you have hilly ground, many obstacles to mow around etc. you can buy a mower to better suit your needs.

I AGREE- UNTIL ONE KNOWS WHAT ONE DEALS WITH-THERE IS NO CORRECT ANSWER:thumbsup:

 

[meguell3]

Depends on where in VA - if it is close to Culpeper or Charlottesville I could recommend some reliable dealers that would not soak you ! AND steer you away from some that would !

Wow I had no idea you were that close to me, you're probably less than an hour away from me!
I can advise one place to steer clear of, James River Equipment in Ashland Virginia, they will burn you bad.
Random question: What the heck do you have that you need a Ventrac for? I'd kill for one of those things but for what they go for I think I'll buy a car first.

 

[Carl in CT]

I agree, worry about getting your land first. I also agree that John Deere is a good machine except for the ones in the box stores, they are what you pay for, not so great (not horrible either though). Don't pin yourself down to Deere either. I had every intention of buying a Deere but decided on a Simplicity instead. I have only had it a few weeks but I love it. Like I said, JD is good stuff, I just tought the Simplicity was better built and it suited me better.

 

[benski]

At this stage, don't worry too much about brand. Let us know what you've gotten yourself into, and there are a bunch of people on the forum here that can render valid advice. Best of luck!:biggrin:

 

[daddy3]

i like the self propelled honda push mowers good mowers fair price check { craigs list } farm and garden section

 

[BKBrown]

We have 10 Acres and NOTHING is level. The better half did not want to come home and find me under a tractor that had tipped or rolled. The Ventrac is so versatile that 1 machine does everything I need to do and I don't need more than one tractor. :thumbsup:

Wow I had no idea you were that close to me, you're probably less than an hour away from me!
I can advise one place to steer clear of, James River Equipment in Ashland Virginia, they will burn you bad.
Random question: What the heck do you have that you need a Ventrac for? I'd kill for one of those things but for what they go for I think I'll buy a car first.

 

[Black Bart]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I am presently looking for some land pretty close to Charlottesville. Between Charlottesville and Richmond actually, so I would welcome a recommendation of a dealer. I would go the John Deere route, but I'm working with a budget.

If you are on a budget then buy a John Deere cheaper in the long run.
When I bought my first JD my neighbor bought a new Ranch King and he ask me how much did I pay for my JD.
I said $2600.00 he said OH I could not afford a JD my Ranch King cost $995.00
When it was junk he bought a new one cost him $1295.00 when that one was junk he bought a new one it cost $1795.00 when it was junk he bought a new one it was $2595.00

I told him you bought a 995 then a 1295 then a 1795 then a 2595 and I'm still using my $2600.00 JD I don't think I could afford a Ranch King.

Since then he has bought a new Grasshopper I still have my JD have not spent a dime on it.

Buying those cheaper mowers are a false economy they cost much more in the long run

 

[bbourdon]

"If you are on a budget then buy a John Deere cheaper in the long run"

That might be true, but only for the upper level machines. The "entry level" mowers seem no better than all the other brands, and yet you still have to pay - simply because it says Deere on it...

 

[Black Bart]

"If you are on a budget then buy a John Deere cheaper in the long run"

That might be true, but only for the upper level machines. The "entry level" mowers seem no better than all the other brands, and yet you still have to pay - simply because it says Deere on it...

Well if you are referring to the cheap little things sold at the Big Box Stores I do not even regard those as true John Deere's.

I think JD made a mistake trying to compete with MTD.

I do understand that they wanted to get in on this market LOT of money to be made but it ruins their good reputation because people who buy them think they have a John Deere but it is no different than a MTD with Green paint.

I was referring to a REAL JD not those little sheet metal things.